Gavins Black Ash Tele

[gavinturner]

Ok, so I'm sure I read it here somewhere in the past. Who-ever posted it, I apologize that I cannot recall the source of the information. Anyway, I got tired of waiting for shielding tape to arrive in the mail and decided to try the slug barrier tape from Masters. The long and the short of it - it works amazingly well. Just like copper shielding tape with conductive adhesive. You can even solder on to it. Awesome.

And so with my slug tape in hand I got all the shielding done today on the Tele, as well as soldering wires from the bridge to the bridge cavity wall, and thence to all the other cavity walls. With the shielding in and grounded, I proceeded to install my 4-way Oak-Grigsby switch and Bournes pots into the control plate. Everything is soldered up now waiting for the pickups to be attached to the switch and the output jack to its two little wires.

That's tomorrow's job. Unfortunately now that the bridge is in it looks like the neck is going to need a shim. Bummer. Has anyone else found that with their Ash Tele kit?? Maybe I should lower the nut first?

cheers,
Gav.

[andrewdosborne]

Nice work with the Slugga! Maybe worth fixing up the nut first before shimming, on my recent LP-1 had a similar issue but as set neck was a lot more of a panic (thought I had made a very good looking ornament at one point...)

[wokkaboy]

nice one Gav with the Slugga shielding, I found it online https://www.masters.com.au/product/9...rrier-tape-10m
could be a cheaper option mate $12.98 for 10m!
so is the action too high at the 21st fret ? I'd lower the nut as Andrew suggested.
My ash tele's action isn't too bad, its a bit high but I haven't really set it up yet and can lower the saddles a bit so think mine will be fine. Can't wait to hear how the slugga shielding goes !
DB will order you another fortnight in the naughty room for shopping at the big Blue shed and another fortnight for bragging about it on the forum hahah

[pablopepper]

I use that slug tape. Very cost effective. Shimming a bolt on neck is easy, Gav, had to do it with both of the tele kits I've done.

[Fretworn]

I used slug tape from B****gs on my guitar. The only difference I can see between it and the expensive guitar shielding tape is that slug tape is a bit thicker and less likely to tear (and significantly cheaper).

[wokkaboy]

sounds good Pablo and Fretty, I'm gonna give it a go !

[WeirdBits]

Ok, so I'm sure I read it here somewhere in the past...

You may be thinking of Scott J's "Slugger" Tele build.

The TLA is looking great Gav, starting with the nut should give you a better idea of what's required.

[gavinturner]

Thanks @Andrew, @Wokka, @Pablo, @Fretty and @Wierdy for the positive comments. Great to know I'm not alone on the Slugga front. After shielding the TLA and soldering with abandon, I reckon it's awesome stuff and very cost effective. I'll be using it on all my builds from now on. Definitely give it a go Wokka! I find that when you are already a permanent resident of the naughty room, it's great to take any opportunity to wind DB up :P.

Yeah @Wokka the action is high at the 21st fret, even with the saddles down to minimum. Normally I'm used to the strings being on the deck with the saddles down. Oh well, I'll file a new bone nut and get the action down to where it should be at the first fret and then I'll see how things look.

@Pabs, out of interest what do you use to do your shims?

cheers,
Gav.

[wokkaboy]

no worries Gav, I'd even remove the neck first and make sure there are no burrs from the drill holes in the heel and the pocket is free of shavings and make sure the neck heel is seated flat while you screw it in. Sometimes I've done this and the neck is angled a bit and affects the action. Then I'd try the nut and see how you go. I'd also check the earth wire under the bridge plate isn't making the bridge slightly proud.
Another thing to check is I check another tele build and see how much of the maple of the neck is above the body, it should be about 2-3mm, then the fingerboard ontop of that.
I'll be going to Masters tomoz to get me some slugga tape, I don't care any more I got life in the naughty room ages ago haha
I'm the chief beer pourer so I've been promoted !

[gavinturner]

hi guys,

A little more progress today. I got the wiring completed and in. There were a few tense moments until I realised the 4-way switch was earthing out on the shielding. A piece of milk bottle placed in the bottom of the cavity sorted that out. I finally got the output jack plate screwed on and she makes noise!

I also managed to get the frets levelled and re-crowned, so the only thing left to do now is to file a new (bone) nut and worry about the neck angle. I reckon she'll be done and twanging early next week!

cheers,
Gav.