1/4" roundover?

How weird would a 1/4" roundover look on a tele? I'm stripping and refinishing my '72 Custom RI and I'd like to "true up" the roundover after all the stripping and sanding. Unfortunately, the smallest roundover bit I have is 1/4".
Any thoughts? I also need to make sure that it would work out okay with the pickguard...I don't want the pg to be floating in the breeze over the roundover. The pg on these things gets pretty close to the edge at certain points.

If your concerned, you should just get a 1/8 inch bit. They only cost a few bucks.

I think it looks great!! I used a 1/4" bit on my last build, if you do go with a 1/4" you also need to be careful with the heel. If you use a 1/4" bit your neck plate will hang over the edge, not sure about the pickguard though.

http://www.tdpri.com/forum/tele-home-depot/137014-yawn-just-another-p90-tele-build.html

I just used a 1/4" round over bit on my pine body I am building. Looks great. I don't think my Highway 1 tele has 1/8" rounded edges, but Im not sure that they are 1/4" either.

I use a 1/4" roundover more often than a 1/8" roundover and have not had an issue with the pickguard. Mind you I cut out my own pickguards from scratch and tweak them for each individual guitar if necessary. :wink:

Most teles have 1/8 to 3/16 radius roundovers. I put a 1/4 radius on one of the bodies I made and I didn't like it at all. The body is in my junk pile! It just doesn't look like a tele. That's just my opinion.
Cheers
ED

I don't like a 1/4" radius on a Tele at all. It just doesn't look right.

To make this decision based on the tool that you have is a mistake. Either buy the right tool or wait until you can afford buy the right tool.

Another consideration is the top thickness. Don't use a radius that is equal to, or larger than, the top thickness.

To make this decision based on the tool that you have is a mistake. Either buy the right tool or wait until you can afford buy the right tool.

I don't ever want one of my builds to be mistaken for a real Tele so I base my decision to use a 1/4" radius on the fact that I do not make exact copies of anything and I like to experiment and purposely make things look different. If you don't like a 1/4" radius that is fine, but you shouldn't try and talk somebody out of it based on your preference.

The Lite Ash Telecaster has what appears to be a 1/4 in. radius. Here's what it looks like.

......http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v208/jwells393/NewAlbum2/LABodyRadius.jpg

The Lite Ash Telecaster has what appears to be a 1/4 in. radius. Here's what it looks like.

......http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v208/jwells393/NewAlbum2/LABodyRadius.jpg

jack... do you know if that pickguard is cut smaller?

Why not try routing the 1/4" on a scrap bit of wood first.You'll get an idea of the size and shape of the roundover then.As said earlier I also think you'll have an issue with the neck plate if you roundover where the neckplate attaches.I'm a 1/8" man.

I don't think it's going to work out with the '72 Custom pickguard. It's too bad...I really like the look of the 1/4" roundover on scrap wood. I guess I could just cut the pickguard down a bit. The neckplate wouldn't too big of an issue... I could just leave a smaller roundover on that back section at the neck.

The neckplate wouldn't be too big of an issue... I could just leave a smaller roundover on that back section at the neck.

That's exactly what I do. :wink:

Go for it then my son.

If you don't tell anyone its not 1/8 inch, no one will notice aside from us guitar geeks. In all, it only matters what it looks like to you, and if it sounds good.

What radius does Warmoth use? I know it's a bigger radius than on vintage Fenders, might be 1/4" - I personally like that, before it feels much mre comfortable when playing (the edge of the body doesn't dig into your forearm and ribs as much).
If you decide for 1/4", you might try Warmoth pickguards, since they do fit exactly on their more rounded bodies...

Most teles have 1/8 to 3/16 radius roundovers. I put a 1/4 radius on one of the bodies I made and I didn't like it at all. The body is in my junk pile!
ED

Well if it just going to sit there, I'll happily take it off your hands.
After being glued to your CNC thread you've joined the list of builders whose offcuts are better quality than my final products. :wink:

If you don't like a 1/4" radius that is fine, but you shouldn't try and talk somebody out of it based on your preference.

He asked people's opinion of how it would look. I gave mine.

I stand by my statement not to base his decision on the tool that he had on hand. It's not the right way to go about things.

Well if it just going to sit there, I'll happily take it off your hands.
After being glued to your CNC thread you've joined the list of builders whose offcuts are better quality than my final products. :wink:

Sorry...A friend of mine saw it and liked it, so I did it up in Dakota red and put one together for him. IMHO the 1/4 radius looked hokey! I used all cheap stuff from GFS to build it and an allparts chunky neck. I have pictures of it somewhere. I'll find them and post them so you can see what the radius looks like.
Cheers
ED

PS...Thanks for your comment!:grin:

I'll see your 1/4 in. roundover and raise you a 5/8 in. roundover.

......http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v208/jwells393/RickenTelebacker/DSC03036.jpg

I think I'd like the extra roundover...the pickguard it the issue.
Here is pic of a guitar like mine...not actually mine, but a photo I found easily on the web.
http://lidbjork.homelinux.org/72cc/MIM_black.jpg
See how close the pg gets to the edge near the controls? I'm not sure how it would work out.

I'll see your 1/4 in. roundover and raise you a 5/8 in. roundover.

......http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v208/jwells393/RickenTelebacker/DSC03036.jpg

:shock: Hi Jack...I always wondered what that guitar was in your avatar! Is that one you made yourself? Is that a TV JONES in the neck? Binding on the back? I never noticed that before!
Sorry to hyjack the thread.
Cheers
ED

Ed ....... that's my semi-hollow RickenTeleBacker........... done with Rickenbacker 360 appointments.

......http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v208/jwells393/RickenTelebacker/Ric-TeleBodyFront.jpg

Ed ....... that's my semi-hollow RickenTeleBacker........... done with Rickenbacker 360 appointments.

......http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v208/jwells393/RickenTelebacker/Ric-TeleBodyFront.jpg

Jack that sure is purdy, this is the first big picture I have seen of that guitar. Your 5/8 " radious body just gave me an idea for a guitar I want to build for my brother. Did you have to offset your control plate any?

Sorry for the hijack. Is there a Rickentelebacker thread?

Jack:

That's an awesome beautiful axe. I love the way you have married the Tele and the Rick. Is the whole guitar made of light ash?

I saw a new line of Gruhn's being made by a luthier here in Nashville for George's store downtown, and he has an LP style guitar with a cutout similar to yours. Very cool designs, both.

Oh, and I just looked at my Squire Tele, and it has 1/8" radius roundovers.

Yeah.......... sorry for the hijack.

Colt ........ The control plate is in the normal location. I did the large radius in steps starting with a 1/4 in. roundover bit then proceeding through 3/8, 1/2 and finally the 5/8 in. bit. By the way, that 5/8 in. bit is a big chunk of metal.

mgdesigns .......... the body is made of maple ......... just like Rickenbackers.

By the way, the idea for this guitar was not my own. I saw the following picture that was posted here in the forum.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v208/jwells393/NewAlbum2/Ric-TeleHybrid2.jpg