Thinline TL-1TB

[Sonic Mountain]

Hmm, that's an unusual problem. I normally find the graphtech ones I use a little snug and sand them down a bit.

I don't see any problem with a shim on the head stock side. Can we see a pic of it in the slot, just out of curiosity?

[Shambrick]

Thanks Sonic,

Sure - I'll take a couple tonight and get out my callipers so that I can share accurate dimensions.

[TZK321]

OK, time for an update gents. I have made a lot of progress over the past few weeks, although still a long way to go!

Design decisions:

1. Switch from tune-o-matic bridge to tele style 3-saddle bridge (ground out to allow for bigsby string clearance). Requires adjusted neck height and break angle to suit this change, and a new cavity for ground wire to bridge...

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I'm wondering why you'd opt for the Tele bridge. If you're going to install a vibrato I would've thought you'd go for a roller bridge.

[Sonic Mountain]

You can use a few different styles, but it is not uncommon to retain the Tele bridge and remove some of the plate for string clearance from the trem. I guess it keeps it more in the style of the Tele guitars with the bridge pickup in the ashtray. There is that cavity for the pickup to take into consideration if you went to something like a TOM roller.

[Shambrick]

I'm wondering why you'd opt for the Tele bridge. If you're going to install a vibrato I would've thought you'd go for a roller bridge.

I was about to write a detailed response, but Sonic has summed it up nicely in his post!

2 underlying reasons:

First, I had no problem with the operation of the kit bridge, I just wanted a tele style setup. Lots of research went into the decision, driven by my desire for a certain aesthetic. That La Grange Sultan just gets my juices flowing...

Second, my daughter has a Thinline 72 Squire and she was interested in trying a Bigsby setup. So I rolled two thoughts into one guitar build.

[Shambrick]

You can use a few different styles, but it is not uncommon to retain the Tele bridge and remove some of the plate for string clearance from the trem. I guess it keeps it more in the style of the Tele guitars with the bridge pickup in the ashtray. There is that cavity for the pickup to take into consideration if you went to something like a TOM roller.

Nice guitar!

[Shambrick]

As requested, an update on the relative size of my nuts :

Original plastic nut:


New Bone Nut:


Nut Slot:



The plastic nut, when glued in place, was fine. The bone nut is .3 of a mm too narrow, and so it flops around quite a lot in the slot.

[Sonic Mountain]

Yeah that’s a combination of slightly too big slot and slightly too thin nut. Theoretically it should be 3mm. A small shim should do it. You can find out what the fret measurement should be using the stew Mac fret calculator, that will tell you if you should shim in front or behind the nut.

[Dedman]

That is unusual, I'd check with Adam, perhaps you got the one in 500 that was a bit thin. I've used the Pitbull bone nuts in 90% of my builds and they have been fine so defiantly check with Adam. And failing that I'd shim it.

[TZK321]

Once you've got it strung, will the strings hold it in place?