Second Build TLA-1

[stansby40]

Finished the SG so its time for another guitar I have always resisted that is a Telecaster. Got a TLA-1 kit and some upgrades which were:

Wilkinson Bridge
Benson Pickups
Bone Nut (coming)
Wiring upgrade kit

I think I will paint his one white.

The mock assembly pic is attached although I have already shaped the headstock and adjusted the bridge pickup rout to fit the bridge.

One question though, the tuner holes dont line up particularly well (see pic) and I dont want to redrill and veneer. Is there any other solution than just put up with it?

[Sonic Mountain]

You don't need to worry about veneering. They generally need around >1mm adjustment so any dowelling and re-drilling is hidden by the tuner washer. It is annoying, but not a massive job to do.

[stansby40]

The neck has been stained with Feast and Watson Golden Teak to give that old school look. Will finish the neck with Tru Oil.

The Body has been undercoated with SCA rattle can. The colour of the photo is not right its actually more a grey/white colour. Will finish the body with white acrylic lacquer paint using a touch up spray gun and a compressor. Hope my technique is good enough.

[stansby40]

There is now 9 thin coats of Tru Oil on the neck. Three coats then sanded with 1000 grit, another 3 coats sanded with 1500 grit and finally another 3 coats and sanded with 2000 grit. I have never used Tru Oil before but I am impressed with the ease of use and the finish you can build up.

Body painted white and had serious problems trying to spray paint. I am am amateur at spray painting and although I followed the advice on the tin of paint to dilute by 20%, the finish was very splotchy and flakey. I think dilution of 1:1 would have been a lot better. I sanded it all back to bare wood, and then undercoated and top coated with spray cans. I havent given up on the spray gun as yet and will attempt to spray the clear coat but will dilute it 1:1 and not go by the recommendation on the can of 20%. The paint is from SCA and may not have been the best choice, perhaps should have gone to an automotive paint specialist.

Rattle can gave quite a good finish and followed the method of Phrozin ie 3 coats x 3 wet coats 20 minutes apart. Quite cold in Tassie but appears to have worked quite well.

[McCreed]

Looking good standsby40.
I'm new to using a spray gun for my finishing but 1:1 seems to be pretty standard for single pack lacquers. Plus the Tassie factor, I can see where 20% could be problematic. I wouldn't go that mix even in a "QLD Winter"

re: Tru Oil, yes, it is the shizzle. I'd done a number of bodies & neck with it before I got my spray gear, but even now it will always be a consideration when I'm contemplating a new build.

Also, FWIW, I tried a DIY recipe for Tru Oil that I read on several forums, and it just isn't the same! Birchwood Casey must have a secret ingredient in there. I did quite a bit of experimentation with ratios and components, and it still never came out like the real thing.
It was usable, but not the same. Didn't dry or build up as quickly.

[stansby40]

Sprayed a series of 5 x 3 wet coats of clear acrylic lacquer. My spray gun technique must be rubbish as I got a lot of orange peel and overspray from the sides onto the top and back. Hopefully there is enough lacquer to sand smooth but I suspect I will have to do a great deal of sanding. Will let it stand for 4 weeks until I sand it back. Still some work to do on the neck until then.

[McCreed]

My spray gun technique must be rubbish as I got a lot of orange peel and overspray from the sides onto the top and back.

I'm still learning proper gun technique as well, but I'll say that the results I'm getting with the gun are still better than I got with rattle cans. So that's encouraging at least

Unfortunately I find it an expensive exercise to spray just for practice, but when I do spray, I always do a some test passes on scrap timber or masking paper taped to a big piece of cardboard and experiment with setting and pass technique first.
I am a work in progress.

[stansby40]

McCreed yes I agree the potential for spray gun finish being better is there. Actually after a week of drying it has flattened out somewhat with some areas looking great with hardly any orange peel effect. Yes getting practice is the hard part maybe I should respray my faded Hilux Ute! I will probably do one more guitar, the ES-3, as a friend of mine is a jazz guitarist and has suggested he wants a hollow body guitar.

[stansby40]

Decals attached, tuners and string guides are on ready to attach to the body. Meet the Marcaster (Mark is my first name). Still 2 weeks before the final sanding and polishing of the body can take place so playing the waiting game.Tru oil finish turned out well, shiny but not super glossy.

[McCreed]

Neck looks great!
Nice tint. Is that just Tru Oil, or did you tint the timber first?

Also I like how the headstock shape is definitely tele, looks a bit fatter & longer. (to my eyes anyway)