Gavmeisters Tele build for Dharmah

[Gavin1393]

I am building this guitar for a friend of mine Dharmah. He loves a good Tele and because of this I am building a copy of a limited edition from the Fender collection.

[Gavin1393]

The caps on these are usually quite thin, so I have given it the appearance of a standard thickened 'F' style guitar using balsa wood and some magnets to glue the balsa to the underside of the cap.

[DanMade]

Dharmah Is one lucky fella.
Loving all the little tips your giving in these latest build diarys Gavin. That's a great idea using the magnets to help fix the balsa to the interior of the body. I will put that India in the bank for later.
You sure are keeping yourself busy wit all these new builds.

[stan]

didn't know balsa was magnetic... f hole looks great Gav

[Gavin1393]

Haha, I will share my secret move! Cut an exact 'f' hole shape 5mm wider at the edges but solid. Hence it is an outline of the 'f' hole shape. Then lower two rare earth magnets into the telecaster 'f' hole cavity, place glue on the balsa wood and then lower the shaped balsa wood trough the cavity so that it rests on top of the magnets. Carefully bring another two magnets evenly towards the 'f' hole. The magnets beneath the balsa wood will then raise the shaped wood and affix it to the underside of the cap of the Tele. Leave for a bit and it will be glue. Then using a knife ir in my case a dremel, carefully cut out the 'f' hole using the existing 'f' hole border as your template. Sand lightly to finish!

[gavinturner]

Looking great! The f-hole upgrade is a great idea and looks awesome.

Cheers,
Gavin.

[Gavin1393]

Many, many coats later.....hard to get this thing white!

[gavinturner]

Gav, coats of what? Is it Wudtone? Looking great!

thanks,
(the other) Gav.

[pablopepper]

Olympic girl?

[Gavin1393]

Yes, it is Olympic girl mixed with copious amounts of stewMac white....