TLA-1 "Plus" (First Build, FINISHED)

[ihasmario]

Hello.

I am working my way up to building a Tele Plus MK1 style guitar from the TLA-1. I just started the kit a few days ago. I've attached some pictures of the guitar, I've sanded and stained the guitar with 2x coats of a Deep Colour Stain - Azure Lagoon, a darker azure lagoon and one of the black ones in a kind of bursty thing.

I've started the burst already with the deep coats, but will make it more pronounced (probably) when I get to the base coats.

You'll notice some patches of the stain are darker. I had some glue problems and after toothing the glue a bit (couldn't seem to remove it entirely), I managed to get a stain going. Feels different to the touch, but should be fine once it is all coated. In the pictures this area is still wet. It's quite thick there and will overstain, but I am hoping I will be able to sand it back a little once it is dry and then match the colour around it without too much hassle.

Not sure if I'll give it another deep colour coat, but I am considering it since it seems to be getting more blue as I go. The stains match on both sides, the picture of the back of the guitar is just a little over-exposed.

The kit was routed by dingo for the bridge pickup to accept a lace dually/humbucker thing... I tested some of the black stain on the inside of the routing (along with some extra wood he kindly provided).

Not really a guitar player, don't really know what I am doing but having fun already...

Thanks...

[crundes]

Looking great Mario! The grain through the azure blue looks really nice.

[gavinturner]

Great start on the burst. It's goig to look great when you are done.

cheers,
Gav.

[lawry]

Hi Mario. Personally, I like the look of that 'dirty' colour ing. It gives it some real attitude. I'm keen to see how you progress.

[ihasmario]

/<\\/p>[/<\\/p>[]<\\/p>/]<\\/p>/Quote from crundes on March 30, 2014, 16:50
Looking great Mario! The grain through the azure blue looks really nice.

Yeah most of the grain looks nice. I'm kind of in two minds about that one plank where the grain doesn't match the rest. On the one hand it's a bit of a sore thumb, on the other it doesn't seem ashamed to be a sore thumb and isn't without its charm.

Here's an unstained pic/dry setup by DB while he was routing the options. He was kind enough to throw in the gold metal thingy... I've got some shaping to do on the white plastic if I choose to include it, but I am thinking I will trim it back or something or discard it, but then I need to find another metal thing for the neck pickup.

When I get the funds and I am at that stage of the build I will probably look at replacing the gold thing with a silver/chrome one, or maybe swap them all out when I have the interest in that side of things.

Thanks, couple of days more staining ahead of me before I start on anything else though. Pretty nervous about the through body stringing since I have no idea how it works and no access to a drill press. Soldiering on.

Chris

[stan]

looking tough already, that finish looks good

[ihasmario]

After the two deep coats I only did one base coat (I think). There is now about three top coats on, not quite dry on the top on the last one. Doing some baking. The colour buffed out okay, not the best, but no skin off my back.

Three pics, one with flash to show the gloss.

Shaping the headstock now - a real PITA because the wood is hard, I can't find the coping saw and I am taking a bit of wood off. Using the rasps is hurting my hands (I have CTS). Will add headstock photos when it is closer to completion

Still not sure what I'm going to do with the rear of the neck/fingerboard (need to research what to do with fingerboards).



Chris

[ihasmario]

The headstock turned out pretty good I guess. Not sure if I will keep the shape or file it out. May even out the bevel (I don't know what that stuff is called). Did it by hand so it's kind of rough.

Out of EG top coat now. Had a bit of a panic when some dust got all over one of the coats, but managed to fix that. Need to buy some of the spray lacquer stuff/neck finishing...

Contemplating wudtoning the headstock and the back of the neck.

Could someone who knows something about guitars (and is watching) let me know if there is a way to make the fretboard a bit darker? If I end up wudtoning the headstock I think the fretboard will stand out too much. Or is it best to just leave the fretboards alone? Thanks guys

Chris

[Brendan]

Love the take on the headstock! Great idea! Nicely executed as well...

[Fretworn]

Awesome headstock. Is it a particular person's profile, or just a generic silhouette