Gitlvr's 2012 Challenge Build Thread -- COMPLETED

[gitlvr]

I'm in! Looking forward to this!

[RogerC]

Originally Posted by gitlvr

Looking forward to this!

So am I! I'm excited to see what you do. Good luck, man!

[Muzikp]

Heads up - I think your title is supposed to have the year in it. Good luck.

[gitlvr]

Thanks, Roger! Glad to see you in as well. Good luck!
Muzikp, thanks. Title corrected.

[crazydave911]

Good to see ya' back

Dave

[gitlvr]

thanks, Dave. You as well!

[oigun]

Up, up and awaaay! have a great challenge Mike! May the FORK be with you

[gitlvr]

Thanks, oigun! But I actually need to back away from the FORK(and the table).

[hockeygoon]

Sweet! Looking forward to what you come up with.

[jkingma]

Is it safe to assume your entry will have a tilted back headstock...

[rcole_sooner]

We're gonna have us a lot of fun!

[gitlvr]

Originally Posted by jkingma

Is it safe to assume your entry will have a tilted back headstock...

Nope. This will be a more "traditional"(kinda, sorta, maybe) type build this time around.

Originally Posted by rcole_sooner

We're gonna have us a lot of fun!

Yes we are. I've been looking forward to this for almost a year now!

[gitlvr]

Been watching some of the build threads while waiting on photos to upload. This is gonna be killer! Lot's of really good looking builds, I think.
Time for me to join the fray. Here's the requisite pic to start.

From left to right:
Black pickguard material, white ash body blank, and maple neck blank. I'm still waiting on my fretboard wood. Hoping it shows up today. Will post it with the Challenge PDF when it gets here.
Ok, so this guitar needs a pickguard. Can't hide what I'm building anymore,


After taping the template to the pickguard material, I break out my trusty jig saw.



And here it is trimmed to the template.

[gitlvr]

Chuck a 3/8 bit into my drill...



...and drill holes in each corner of the humbucker routs.



And cut that out with the jig saw.



And the completed guard with all holes drilled and the edges rounded over(lost the pics of that somehow).

[gitlvr]

On to the body blank. Here it is with the body outline traced.



And again with the trusty jig saw.



And here it is roughed out.



Next step is to attach the body routing template.



And on to the router.

[gitlvr]

The next step would normally be to flip the body over, chuck a bottom-bearing router bit into the router, and finish routing the body to the template.
Unfortunately, the next step for me is not that one.
When removing the template, I found my first problem with this build.



The rear screw holding my template down broke off. I tried grabbing it with pliers, vise grips, anything I could think of. No dice. It's broken too close to the top.
The only option was to chuck a plug cutter in my drill.



Once i drilled deep enough, i was able to get the screw out. I followed that with a plug from the offcuts of the body. Probably could have used poplar dowel rod, since this area will be covered by the bridge. But I've got the ash laying on the deck at my feet. Be a shame not to use that.



Then I went ahead and flipped it over, placed the proper router bit in my router, and finished the job.





I'll let that plug dry real good, and come back to the body at a later time.

[RogerC]

bummer to start a build like that, but at least it's out of the way now

[gitlvr]

Originally Posted by RogerC

bummer to start a build like that, but at least it's out of the way now

Just a bump in the road. I'm sure it won't be the last. I learned a long time ago, mistakes will be made. It's only wood. There's usually a way to deal with it.

[tklaavo]

Looking good! Damn I hate screws breaking. Luckily that spot will not be seen.
I envy people who live in a place where it's possible to work outside..

[gitlvr]

The '72 Deluxe has always been my dream tele. Since the first time I saw it, it's haunted my dreams. So when last year's Challenge was done, and i started thinking about this year, I thought, "Why not?". There will be a few differences with my version of this axe. Firstly, the fretboard will not be maple. Yeah, I know, but i can't stand maple fretboards(yeah, I know). Everyone talks about them being so fast to play on, but to me, the lacquer grabs and slows me down. I'd guess it's like the way some players complain that the back of the neck gets sticky and slows them down. I wouldn't turn down a good guitar because of a maple board, but if I'm gonna build what would essentially be my dream tele, it won't have a maple board.
Coincidentally, look what Fedex just dropped off.



LMII's 2nd grade Padauk fretboard, with the "proof" pdf. Been wanting to try alternate fretboard woods, and Padauk was first on the list. Anyone got any advice for working with it?
The other differences with this build will be that the truss rod will be adjustable from the heel, and it will have a typical Gibby type jack plate.
So, on to the neck. Here it is drawn out on the neck blank(I know it's hard to see, but trust me, it's there).



You know what this means.



And rough cut to the line