TLA-1 "Slugger"

[Scott J.]

Well, here I was thinking "now that its finished I'll just take a couple of pics to finish off the build diary", only to realise that I hadn't even started one for this build! 8O ... Doh! (another Homer moment! )

Yes, its been a while (studies and exams have gotten in the way of more important things - like getting this build completed! ) ... but here it is.

(the "Nickel-Odin" (nickel-plated EX-1) is still being worked on so in the meantime I completed the Tele "Slugger")

Taking it from the top, back at the beginning of December last year I received the TLA-1 that I couldn't resist ordering (especially due to the fact that Adam had so kindly marked down in price as a sale-special )

The ever-exciting unpacking was followed by inspection - despite a few glue spots (some in areas where I had to wonder "how the pharq did they manage to get glue stains there!) it was judged to be another excellent PBG product.

Always destined to be a white body with black guard (nicely offsetting the rosewood fingerboard) ... as it would turn out it eventually become a "reproduction" of the '58/'59 telecasters - the only 'casters issued with a "top-loader" bridge and the first time they brought out rosewood fretboards (OK, so the specialists will know that they didn't produce tele's in white in '58 or '59 ... but what's a nice colour between friends! )

These first pics show the obligatory "in the box" pic, inspection and dry-fit.

[Scott J.]

More inspection and glue spots

[Scott J.]

The dry-fit

[Scott J.]

Shaping the headstock ... simple enough exercise? HAH! a little bit of an on-line search for headstock templates unearthed 8-9 subtley different "standard" tele headstock shapes - not just different by year or model, but also different within the same year and model!

I guess that considering they were originally cut and shaped by eye (rather than by CNC machine) there was bound to be a degree of variance even within the same run.

Eventually settled on what was correct for the period and appeared to be the most nicely balanced shape (I've always really liked the shape of the tele and pre-CBS strat headstocks!)

So after the attack of the coping saw, shaving and shaping of the neck and much, much sanding I ended up with the following ...

[Scott J.]

You'll notice the fret board looks a little scrappy around the first fret - I cleaned this up after the previous pics were taken

[Scott J.]

... and then on to the body!

Following the obligatory three and half months of sanding (just kidding - more like 4-5 hours) we commenced on the application of colour.

Always an exciting time to get some colour on it, I'd decided to go with the Wudtone "Olympic Girl" white ... as it turned out, maybe not such a good idea.

Initial inspection of the Wudtone "OG" showed that it appeared to be quite "thin" (not a lot of solids in the solution) but persisted with it in the hope it would colour up nicely ... as it turned out it didn't. It produced more of "lime-washed" effect - very nicely too I must admit but not the tradional solid white I was after.

First pic shows it after 2 coats of base colour

Second pic shows it after 5 coats of base colour

Third pic shows it after 5 coats of top colour

... nope it just didn't get the white I was after

[Scott J.]

Oh well, lesson learnt ... and here comes the "banishment to the Naughty Corner"!

As with most of us who suffer from the "its not right unless its right" syndrome, there was only really one other option and at least it fit with the "period" of the guitar I was building ... the ubiquitous traditional auto-finish favoured by Fender (and others) ...

... NITRO-CELLULOSE!!! 8O (no point hiding it in a small-sized font! )

(DB - I'm prostrating myself in contrition as I write this )

So a trip down to Sydney Guitar Set-ups to pick-up a quality nitro (always an exciting shopping trip with all the parts and bits and pieces that they have - you name it they've got it ... and at damn good prices too!)

The first pic is after the first two dust coats

The second pic is after another 3 full coats and a polish and buff.

For a "rattle can", it gave quite an excellent finish and still had enough in the can for another 2-or-so full coats

[Scott J.]

Next step shielding.

At this point, I'll explain the name I've given her - "Slugger"

Although reminiscent of one of the greatest baseball bats of its day, the "Louisville Slugger" (and probably aligned with my hopes for this little axe), the name of this baby "Slugger" actually comes form the shielding material!!! :?

A bit of research found that while adhesive-backed copper shielding tape for electrical purposes can be a little on the expensive side, adhesive-backed copper "slug repellent" tape for gardening purposes is exactly the same product and considerably cheaper! (4m roll, 30mm wide - $6.95 at the "big green B store") ... apparently gardeners use it around the base of the trunks of trees and bushes to repel slugs - the moisture in the body of the slug/snail causes an electric shock when in contact with the copper, so they can't actually move across it)

... anyway, long story short, that where the name "Slugger" originated.

[Scott J.]

Now what always eventuates as the scariest part of the build ... where we face that "point of no return" activity that if we screw-up we'll never forgive ourselves!

... setting the neck and positioning the bridge!

Getting it all generally square (and as close as) in both planes took about 20 minutes ... refining down the last 0.005mm until I was happy took almost another hour! 8O (yes, that's it! - no it isn't - now that's it - no it isn't ... you get the idea! ) ... being a self-critical nitpicker can be such a pain in the arse!

[Scott J.]

Back to the neck ...

Before final attachment, I gave it a complete fret job, cleaned up the fretboard, replaced the standard plastic nut with a traditional bone nut, and gave it couple coats of antique finish.

Applying the decals and a couple of covering licks of harder, Wudtone clear neck finish and I had what was feeling like a really nice piece of playing machine 8-)