BAR's TL-51

[B.A.R]

Hey everyone,

Got my first kit this morning, was pretty excited to open it up and have a quick look. Seems pretty good, the grain looks nice and I can't see any machine marks or anything yet.

One thing I did notice though is the string through body string holes aren't square and from the 1st staring hole to the 6th to slowly comes forward toward the neck. Is that normal? Doesn't seem right and is that going to be a huge problem going forward?

I'll put photos in the post below this one

Thanks!

[wokkaboy]

Hi Ben, please post some photos of the kit and the string through holes. If the string through holes on the bottom of the guitar are all aligned and fairly equi spaced shouldn't be an issue. Do a mock build and put the bridge pickup in bridge plate, put the neck in the pocket and pickguard on and check you can push a string through the bridge plate ok. Will also run you through the scale length to make sure you will be able to intonate the guitar. Often the bridge pup cavities are too far south on pretty well all the Tele kits

[B.A.R]

[wokkaboy]

Hi Ben, kit looks pretty good. The top string through holes aren't aligned but you can always drill them out a bit as it will be covered by the bridge plate.
I'm interested to see how the mock build goes as your bridge plate position is pretty well fixed with the string through holes.
The string through holes on the bottom look better than the top that's much more important.

My guess is the string through holes are new to the factory so they must be fine tuning the drilling technique.

Also make sure the string ferrules are included

does this have chrome hardware ?

[wokkaboy]

no worries Ben, yes the ferrules are bottom, 2nd from right next to the neck screws. They hold the string ball ends in place and stop them pulling through the wood. They will be knocked into the string through holes on the bottom of the guitar.
Don't stress too much about the intonation we will run through that, probably best we check this before you go much further.
We just need to check the distances from the 12th fret to the bridge saddles.

Also if you want to keep your address and phone number private I'd remove that photo and turn the A4 sheet over and post another photo

[B.A.R]

Thanks for the heads up on the address there mate, deleted that pic.

Yea it has chrome hardware.

So although the holes aren't inline you think it will be ok? Or do you think I should be looking to send it back and get another body?

Thanks again

[Andy40]

I think those holes should be fine as long as they feed through the tele bridge holes. They shouldn't adversely affect intonation as the sadddles will determine the scale length

[wokkaboy]

Hi Ben, next step do a mock build. Put both E tuners on. Put the bridge pickup on the bridge plate, there will be 3 springs that go in between the plate and the pickup mounts. The screws should be in the same parts bag section as the springs.
Put the pickguard on so you can get an idea how it all fits together, no need to install neck pup yet.
Put both E strings on and put a bit of tension on the strings so you can get an idea of outside string to edge of fingerboard offsets should be pretty even both sides.
Then wind all the bridge saddles as far forward (toward the nut/neck) and please give us the measurement centre of 12th fret (fret wire) to both E string saddle grooves.
Ask any questions if you aren't sure.

Is there much movement in the neck pocket ? If it is a tight fit then we need to align the bridge so both E string offsets are about the same

[B.A.R]

Hey mate,

I hadn't seen your message until now, but I did a little mock build anyway, not as in depth as you said.



As you can see it fits together OK, where the bridge is sitting all the holes line up for the strings through the body



Its a little further back than I would have liked

Would have preferred it further forward maybe like this...



I'll do the tuners strings and bridge when I get a chance, maybe tonight. Neck fit in snuggly, I wouldnt say it was super tight, felt pretty good actually

Cheers again

[wokkaboy]

no worries Ben, a little wiggle room in the neck is good. If you need to move the bridge forward you should be able to drill a small channel in the string through holes on top of the body.
I'd wind the saddles as far forward as you can and please give us centre of 12th fret to both E saddle distance where the bridge plate lines up with the holes like in the 2nd photo