Bluesmartyboy - first ever build TLA-1 with Maple fingerboard....

[Bluesmartyboy]

So.....its arrived.....positively shitting kittens with anticipation.....

So first things first......managed to get the packaging open without destroying anything.....result.

Took some pictures with neck clamped on and a few bits in place.... Will need to rescale the pictures on the computer before I can post them...

First impressions....

Nice grain .... Hoping to go with a light coloured stain and satin finish....

Glad I opted for the groves tuner upgrade.....

Kicking myself I didn't order the bone fret nut.....the plastic one looks cheap....

Tone riders doh......later date I think....

Pick guard will require so minor adjustments to fit.....

Wiggle room on the neck....

Frets will need levelling and profiling....took a straight edge to the neck and has either a curve or frets need a lot of work

No pre drilled holes for the bridge so may look at a wilkinson unit....



First Question.....re Mock build....should I be drilling any holes at this stage or simply....make sure everything is there and fits together ish.....

Time to go to dan murphys and get a decent bottle of bourbon for the build....blantons reserve sounds nice.....

See ya all around the forum

[wokkaboy]

Hi BSB,
the mock build is to make sure everything fits together. probably best you drill your bridge holes once the strings are on and you can line up the neck alignment.
I'd say your neck has has front or back bow out of the box so don't worry about fret levels till the neck is flat.

bourbon sounds good for the sanding process

just a friendly reminder this is a family friendly forum so please keep the language fairly clean

cheers

[Bluesmartyboy]

So heres the first three photographs showing the grain....and scratch plate / neck detailing that will be required.

Isn't sanding therapeutic .....

Time to start looking around the forum for ideas of how to know when you have sanded enough....

I believe that DB's moto is when you think you have finished sanding, sand some more.......

well my answer to that is along as there is a good bourbon left......

my idea is to infuse the guitar with the smell of bourbon and open the grain up with some quality music in the hope that eventually it will become a quality guitar to play for years to come.

Seriously though.....do other builders think that a satin seal will bring out the grain more than a high gloss coat.....

stuck on which to run with.....

[wazkelly]

Nice looking grain.

Currently sipping on some Jim Beam while reading latest posts (ran out of cold beers and just re-stocked the fridge) and wish you a warm welcome and good luck with completing this build.

Probably best to save the juice for when you have finished a sanding session just in case you get caught up in the moment and sand too much away haha.

Light colour with black scratch should look good. Satin or Gloss, it mostly looks satin until you polish things up a bit and you will know what looks best for you. Best to keep an open mind as every build throws up a few curve balls and surprises along the way.

[Andy40]

Hey BMB,

Welcome to the forum. neat lookin kit you got yourself there. I like your plans. Its definatley worth getting a bone nut though, but that can be done anytime or even later on down the track, same with the pups.

If you are thinking of changing the bridge, or any mods that might affect holes in the body, I would probably hold off on sanding until those mods are done, then take up your sanding again. Invariably, when modding, drilling etc the body may get knocked around a little (we all make mistakes), which only means you have to sand again

[Bluesmartyboy]

Hey guys, thanks for the positive vibe so far.....

Questions: difference between graphite and a bone nut ??? Preferences etc....

Also my blank has no pre drilled bridge holes so I should be all good for scale length position etc or will I have to route the bridge pup cavity ?

Actually did initial shaping of the headstock today....will post pictures later !!!

Have a great weekend everyone !!!

[tonyw]

Sipping on a Double Jack as i type, the guitars are better after a few shots, but i dont do any sanding lol.

As long as your saddles are at 25.5" 648 mm your good to go.

I love satin finishes

[Tweaky]

That seems like a very nice piece of wood [well the front at least] it would seem a shame to cover it with a solid colour.

I've got a US Fender Tele that is a transparent crimson.[Pardon the finger marks all over it ]


It's got the typical Fender Hi-gloss finish on it, but the grain is still visible beneath it, if it pops enough for you then go gloss, if you want to see more of the grain then, some sort of satin like finish would be better, dingo bone finishes fit that bill.

By the way, you don't need to stain the guitar prior to finishing it, you can always add colour/ tint to your finish of choice and just spray it on [this also makes it easier to re-do if you change your mind, as no colour would have impregnated the wood ].

[Bluesmartyboy]

thanks for the advice Tweaky.....still trying to decide colour for the body.....saw a really really good Green....think it was a dingo tone....and i think i want to do the neck the aged telecaster maple look....can anyone tell me what it is....

Anyway here is a few updated photographs.......headstock shaping.....tools used for the shaping.

Coping saw,
Dremel Multitool with drum sander attachment.
Sandpaper started on P100 then 160, 240 so far.....

So Graphite Nut or Bone.......

[wazkelly]

Looks good mate.