HiddenGuitarist's TLA-1 and TLA-1R Builds

[HiddenGuitarist]

Intensifier coat applied to the bodies and PBG decals on the rear of the headstocks. Other decals to be printed this week, then final coats to be applied on the next two weekends to bodies and necks. Moving steadily forwards...

[HiddenGuitarist]

And now with custom decals:

First top coat applied to bodies and necks today. Final coat should go on on Friday (assuming the weather is favourable). Forgot to take any pics after the latest coat, will update after the final coat goes on.

In the meantime, order for the final consignment of parts has been placed, so I can get started on wiring and soldering the control plate over the remainder of the Easter weekend and installing shielding while waiting for the finish to cure.

[Andy40]

Nice idea with the pitbull decal on the back of the headstock.

The DT final on the body will take longer than the neck to cure, make sure you try the fingernail test so your not putting another wet coat over a non cured coat.

Man these are looking great these builds.

[HiddenGuitarist]

Thanks for the pointer on the top coat, Andy, duly observed I'm very pleased with how they have come up so far (the only thing that can ruin them now is me ), and impressed too with the quality of the wood (these being my first PBG kits).

So, the finish is all on, and I am waiting (im)patiently for the curing to complete. In the meantime, I've put the shielding tape in the body cavities, and wired up the control plates as far as I can until I can get everything mounted on the guitar. One guitar is having the conventional three-way Tele switching, the other is having four way switching with the addition of the pick ups-in-series option. In order to get the four-way lever switch to work, I had to widen the slot in the control plate slightly (the four-way lever has an extra few mm of movement to fit the extra throw on the switch, though the switches are the same physical size). I used a Dremel with a metal cutting disc to remove a bit of material from each end of the slot; not the tidiest of jobs, I'll admit, but not something you're too likely to notice.

Here are the latest pics:

No 1:


No 2:


Control plate wiring:


Back to the waiting...

[Dedman]

I'd just like to say that I fully endorse your colour palette

these twins are going to be awesome

[HiddenGuitarist]

Thanks for the vote of confidence, Dedman.

It's been a while since I last posted, and a lot has changed since then. So much so, that I not have two completed guitars! Things completed since then as follows:
fret level, dress and polish
fingerboards oiled (lemon oil)
full hardware assembly
pickup and output jack installation and connection
initial troubleshooting (no major issues, just a couple of bits of stray cable shield that kept on pressing against the jacks and killing the output)
truss rod and action adjustment, bridge radius set, and intonation

There a couple of minor things still requiring attention, particularly the nut slots, and the action at the nut is a little too high on both. They're still acceptably playable though, so I can still be enjoying even while I'm waiting the right tools to finish the job!

Here are some progress and final shots:

Fret leveling was definitely required, quite a bit of variation at the top of the fingerboard


All together now:

[HiddenGuitarist]

Job done:


I've already put the white pickguard/rosewood fingerboard (I'll have to think of a better nickname) one through her paces at a band songwriting weekend session, and I'm really pleased with how this one sounds and plays. Yet to make any judgements on the other one, but I'm confident she'll hold her own

[Thigg88]

Great work i wouldn't want to pick a favourite out of them

[andrewdosborne]

A lovely pair of Teles if I do say so myself

[Drummerdude]

Awesome job and I love the white pearloid pickguard on that color. Great work..