TDPRI 2010 $210 Tele Build Challenge - The Sidetablecaster

[tuuur]

Alright, I'm in!

I got a sidetable I inherited from my grandma after she died six years ago.
We can't really find a spot for in our house, so all the time it sat in our garage. I cannot get to dispose of it though... so I plan to use the tabletop for the body of this tele. That way I got something special to remember her by.

I'd like to try FINALLY to make it a bound body, will be my first.

Here's the compulsory source wood picture. It's a mid 20th century side table for the top, and IKEA planks for the rest of the body.

[alias23k]

The Grannycaster, awesome tribute.

[tuuur]

I found a neck for 30 euros on the dutch craigslist derivative called Marktplaats, which I try to secure tomorrow.

Furthermore I looked what I got so far in the parts bin:

- two Allparts 250k log pots w. solid shaft.
They were €8.50 a piece (just to show how expensive stuff can be here). I don't know if I'll ever use those in another guitar 'cause the shafts are too thick; no knob in my partsbin fits. Maybe I can sculpt one myself; from the table's legs maybe! Or maybe I'll deem them too expensive and use something else.
- two knurled matte metal Tele knobs. Don't fit aforementioned pots.
- a Wilkinson 3 barrel Tele bridge
- a Maxxon pickup; originally meant for bridge, but with the chrome neck pickup style cover. This came from a Aria Tele.
- 6 tuners from that same Aria. No screws though... maybe if I search in earnest I can find them.
- no name 5 way switch with round tip
- Fender bone nut
- string trees
- strap buttons
- black 1 ply pickguard

Parts still missing:
- control plate
- neck plate
- output jack and jack plate
- binding

Tools still needed:
- robosander
- StewMac routerbit for binding

[tuuur]

Here is the table top. It's a bit scratched unfortunately. I'd like it to have the same mirror like finish again as it had. It's got a nice flame! I have no clue as to what kind of wood that is, but I think it looks good. It's got a nice tone when you tap it.



And here is the underside of that top.

[tuuur]

As the pickup I want to use in the neck position was squealing like mad in the guitar it was originally in, I am starting to read a bit about wax potting that pickup.

For instance:
Lindy Fralin's article at StewMac dot com
This article at Premium Guitar dot com
This article at project guitar dot com

If I follow Fralin's advice I am in for a thermometer that can go past 150 degrees F/65 degrees Celsius.

[crispy king]

How wide is your TRYGGVE?
I've just looked online and the widest they sell is now 11 inches.
My entry may have just failed before it has begun.

Edit: Never mind. It seems TRYGGVE are now the small sizes and BRODER are the larger sizes. Brodercaster perhaps.

[Moggl]

Originally Posted by tuuur

two Allparts 250k log pots w. solid shaft.
They were €8.50 a piece (just to show how expensive stuff can be here). I don't know if I'll ever use those in another guitar 'cause the shafts are too thick; no knob in my partsbin fits. Maybe I can sculpt one myself; from the table's legs maybe! Or maybe I'll deem them too expensive and use something else.

Rockinger has cheaper ones for us Europeans, they even sell mini pots for € 2.90.

http://www.rockinger.com/index.php?list=WG122

Good luck with your build! :-)


Cheers,

Moggl

[68thinline]

That table top looks like a veneer: the seams & grain on the bottom look totally different from the top. Still, I like the idea of recycling Grandma's table.

You should definitely go for the wood knobs.

[tuuur]

Originally Posted by 68thinline

That table top looks like a veneer: the seams & grain on the bottom look totally different from the top. Still, I like the idea of recycling Grandma's table.

You should definitely go for the wood knobs.

I think you're right in assuming this is veneer.
I'm not sure if I could sand the deep scratches out; I'm thinking to arrange it so that the scratches are underneath the pickguard and leave the finish intact as much as possible.

Now those wood knobs will pose quite a challenge with my minimalwoodworking skills...

[tuuur]

Crispy, thanks for the ikea update. That broder in your thread looks much better than my tryggves, so for next projects I think I'll switch too.

Moggl, thanks for that rockinger link. I'm still finding my way in the european parts jungle.

[crispy king]

That broder I bought was the only one that looked like that. All the others looked like tryggves. Choose carefully, many had circular patches where they must have cut out a knot.

[tuuur]

Originally Posted by crispy king

That broder I bought was the only one that looked like that. All the others looked like tryggves. Choose carefully, many had circular patches where they must have cut out a knot.

Yeah, I had one of those too. Used it for a shelf instead...

[tuuur]

Alright, been basically just thinking about what to do the last few days.
The plan is to make this a 12 string.

- body as mentioned in first post, top and back sidetable wood, center hollowed out TRYGGVE

- neck is in the mail as we speak. It's send to me by TDPRI'er Olaftheholy who was so kind to offer it to me! Big big big thanks for that!
It's a maple neck with paddle headstock.

- bridge is a 6 saddle tele style, like the picture but then shiny chrome. My plan is to create grooves to the right of the mounting bolt, to accomodate the 2nd string. No idea if this is anywhere feasable...



- pickup will be a GFS lil puncher:



- pickguard a w/b/w/ esquire:



- control plate could be a P-bass/Squier '51 style plate that TDPRI member GEISHA offered to me. Another big big big thanks!

- only thing really missing now is tuners. I found these 6 on a plate r/h tuners, that according to GFS used to be part of a 12 string set... but where to find the l/h ones? I'd really love to have those because of the split shafts.

[Leigh]

Originally Posted by tuuur

Now those wood knobs will pose quite a challenge with my minimalwoodworking skills...

Never done wooden knobs before but I'm guessing that is where the pillar drill will come in handy

[jimdkc]

Originally Posted by tuuur

- only thing really missing now is tuners.

tuuur,

PM sent...

Jim

[tuuur]

Originally Posted by jimdkc

tuuur,

PM sent...

Jim

Thanks for that! Trying to get them to ship to ye olde continent now...

[tuuur]

Did some measuring today.
I have a Yamaha FG420-12 acoustic 12 string guitar. The distance between those strings is 3mm; if I go with my plan in adding grooves to the saddles of the 6 saddle bridge, the distance between the strings would be 3mm too.

Looks like I'm good to go!

[Moggl]

Just a thought on the Collins bridge: These CAN be a little wobbly, if it gives you trouble, you might want to lock it down with an additional screw 'in front' of the pickup. (bottom left in the picture you posted.)

[tuuur]

That's an idea Moggl... indeed in the previous guitar it was built into, it did not sit flush on the body.

Now: a list!

Have got:
wood: tabletop - $0 (inherited)
wood: IKEA tryggve - ca 5 euros
bridge: Collins - ca. 15 euros
strap buttons: $4
250k log pots: 17 euros
knobs:$0 (from leftover wood)
wire: $0 (from dead computer power supplies and lamps)

On its way:
neck: $0 (gift from olaftheholy)
controlplate, output jack: 5 euros (from GEISHA)

Have not:
tuners (waiting on reply from seller)
pickup
pickguard
pickguard screws
neck plate
neck screws
string retainer
nut (Rickenbacker states the neck width at the nut of a 360/12 is 41.4mm; one of their nuts should be possible)
binding (have to research what width I need, and which router bit)

Tools needed:
Robosander (from Stewmac; they got three tastes, which one should be best for tele bodies?)
Binding channel bit for handrouter (again stewmac)

[68thinline]

Looks like you'll have plenty of cash leftover.