Lefty Telecaster First Build

[catmeowin]

So my kit came and I'm about to get started. Just got back from Bunnings with some water based wood filler and various grades of sandpaper. I have a pre diluted solution of Colortone vintage amber stain and I plan on using boiled linseed oil as a finish for both the neck and body. Today I want to cut out the headstock, sand and stain the neck. Any tips? Wish me luck

[Trevor Davies]

Tips:
Don't sand above 180 g (I go to 240 g) paper before you stain.
Sand more than you think you need to.

Good luck

[catmeowin]

I went to 400. Staining made the grain stand up so gave it another light sanding with 600, then applied some linseed oil. After 10 minutes I wiped off excess and it is now drying. Will post pics when I get a chance.

[catmeowin]

So after 3 coats of Boiled Linseed Oil, I've assembled the guitar today. The neck pickup has no output on the B and E strings? All others are OK. Everything else is great. Waiting on a set of nut files. The only thing this could be is missing pole pieces inside the pickup housing, right? Pics coming.

[Trevor Davies]

So after 3 coats of Boiled Linseed Oil, I've assembled the guitar today. The neck pickup has no output on the B and E strings? All others are OK. Everything else is great. Waiting on a set of nut files. The only thing this could be is missing pole pieces inside the pickup housing, right? Pics coming.

Hi catmeowin,

Are you using the kit strings? They often do not have enough iron to get a good output. Is the output for the B & E strings on the bridge pup weaker than the other strings?

I have not heard of a pickup with missing pole pieces!

[catmeowin]

Hi catmeowin,

Are you using the kit strings? They often do not have enough iron to get a good output. Is the output for the B & E strings on the bridge pup weaker than the other strings?

I have not heard of a pickup with missing pole pieces!

Really?! I didn't think of that. I am using the cheap kit strings for initial setup etc. Will try changing strings. That sounds much more feasable than missing pole pieces!

[catmeowin]

BTW the output on the bridge pickup is perfect.

[catmeowin]

Here's a video demonstrating the issue. Hopefully you can hear ok.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/oJVOuyRl8_c

[Trevor Davies]

Here's a video demonstrating the issue. Hopefully you can hear ok.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/oJVOuyRl8_c

From the video, I think the neck pup is really close to the low E and quite far from the high E string. This may be affecting the volumes.

But, I would be trying good strings.

[catmeowin]

From the video, I think the neck pup is really close to the low E and quite far from the high E string. This may be affecting the volumes.

But, I would be trying good strings.

No the pickup height is even across the strings. I have a fair bit of experience setting up guitars. Will try some other strings tomorrow. Thanks for the ideas.