THE ULTIMATE ROCKABILLY GUITAR - a budget GibbyFendyGretschy-Caster...

Hello all!

I've just posted my intro so I guess I officially am a TDPRI-member! The reason I joined is that I've always wanted to build my own guitar. You guys make it seem soooo easy that I decided to finally jump right in and start a project:

THE ULTIMATE ROCKABILLY GUITAR. On a budget...

The base will be a... surprise surpise... Telecaster. But it won't look like a Tele for long... So die-hard tele-fans should click away right now!

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/telecustom_project_2.jpg
^ This is what I've 'won' on a Dutch auctionsite: A Squier Vintage Modified Telecaster Custom II, in parts...

I had been looking for this Squier, a cheap P90-equiped guitar, for a long time and was about to order a new one online. So I kinda felt lucky when I found this project online. This is my first 'build', and I'd rather cut into an abandoned project than into a fresh new guitar... This used to be a good player with good sounding pick-ups.

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/telecustom2_3.jpg

I see the Telecaster as Fenders' version of the Ford Model T. Just like the classic car, a Tele is the perfect base to build your own model hotrod. I'm planning to chop and channel a Tele-body to my own design featuring hints of Gretsch and Gibson next to Fender ofcourse. This is what I came up with:

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/telecustom_project_16.jpg

Whether people will see this as a Telecaster or not is not of my concern. I've set my mind to it and I'll stick to it. I already have a Tele that I'm happy with. Besides... This wasn't a real Fender Tele to begin with ofcourse, with it's Squier headstock, Duncan designed P90's, and Les Paul control lay-out.

For inspiration I have looked at pics of some of my rock'n'roll pioneering heroes and their guitars:

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/invloed_1.jpg
^ Scotty Moore's Gibson

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/invloed_2.jpg
^ Cliff Callup's Gretsch

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/invloed_4.jpg
^ James Burton's Fender

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/invloed_5.jpg
^Carl Perkins' Gibson

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/invloed_3.jpg
^ Eddie Cochran's Gretsch

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/invloed_6.jpg
^ Johnny Meeks' and Paul Burlison's Fenders

I could go on and on and on, but you get my idea...

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/invloed_7.jpg
^ Some more inspirational shots of Gretsches. I really like that cute Rambler (top right) and at the moment I plan to use the colorscheme of the Bambooyellow-Copperdust (bottom right)

Oh yeah, and it'll be semi-solid...

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/telecustom_project_4.jpg
^ I thought the body used to be black, but it was the blond version to begin with... But it has been black, transparent blond, and finaly dusted primer grey...

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/telecustom_project_13.jpg
^ Thick layers...

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/telecustom_project_15.jpg
^ But nothing a beltsander can't handle...

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/telecustom_project_18.jpg
^ Time to transfer my design to the wood. Flipping the paper to the lower bout to create some symmetry.

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/telecustom_project_19.jpg
^ So here it is. Ready to be cut...

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/telecustom_project_20.jpg
^ No turning back now... (or should I say mega-heavy rellic ;-)

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/telecustom_project_21.jpg
^ Roughly cut out my design with a handheld jigsaw...

As you can see, I don't have much of the 'essential' tools so I layed the beltsander on it's side and with a few tweaks made it sand square... It works great on the outside curves. If I won't come up with an idea to square the innercurves I'll just have to sand it by hand...

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/telecustom_project_26.jpg
^ I still have some hours to sand and refine the bodycontours but it's getting there. Made some mistakes so it's not exactly like my innitial design. Still, very close...

Oh, I almost forgot. This Marc Bristol song kinda inspired me too:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8zPmiLc4R4
^ Sucker for a cheap guitar - performed by Ronnie Dawson and Nick Curran.

Went to a yard sale the other day
when I looked on the table I said hey, hey hey!
It was a Japanese copy of the same guitar
that Buddy Holly was a-playin' when they made him a star
when I looked at it close it was a Fender by heck
with a Gretsch tailpiece and a Gibson neck
I asked the lady hey, what's the price
and she said twenty-five bucks if you treat me nice
Well I'm a sucker for a cheap guitar
yeah I'm a sucker for a cheap guitar
some day I'm gonna be a star
right now I'm a sucker for a cheap guitar

Cheers,
Jeffrey

that's cool.

Following with interest, go ahead.......

Jeffrey, you got it goin on! That's a heck of a start to a long career here at TDPRI! We like builds and we like pictures and you're knockin me dead with both. Can't wait to see the finished product!!

You're messing with a classic shape there. Not easy I to pull off... but I think you did it!

Siskel and Ebert would give it two thumbs up if Siskel weren't, well, dead, and Ebert weren't darned near retired. Keep up th' good work! So I didn't see what you're figuring on doing for pickups - Filtertrons for the Gretschy vibe?

wait...so are you going to chamber the body if you are you adding the f hole? im guessing you're going to plane it down and add a lam top rather than cover it up with a very large pickguard with all of that routing? little nervous about that neck pocket, what are you down to 2 screws now or were you able to save it? cant tell from the last photo

Very nice!!! I like it

Thanks guys! :-)

Jeffrey, you got it goin on! That's a heck of a start to a long career here at TDPRI! We like builds and we like pictures and you're knockin me dead with both. Can't wait to see the finished product!!

- I'm a show'n'tell-kinda-guy. Expect to see lot's of pics if and when I post. I love to document builds as much as looking at others'

You're messing with a classic shape there. Not easy I to pull off... but I think you did it!

- 'Messing with a classic shape...' Well, remember... Mr. Leo Fender did that before me. He improved the Telecaster and called it ...The Stratocaster. ;-b

Siskel and Ebert would give it two thumbs up if Siskel weren't, well, dead, and Ebert weren't darned near retired. Keep up th' good work! So I didn't see what you're figuring on doing for pickups - Filtertrons for the Gretschy vibe?

- I had to look up 'Siskel and Ebert'... I don't think we got that show over here in The Netherlands...
- I'm on a very tight budget, so no (expensive) Filtertrons here.... Funny you should say that, btw: Filtertrons were introduced around 1958, which made em post-rockabilly, right? I can't come up with any rockabilly-pioneer with a Filtertron-equiped Gretsch (except for Chet Atkins). Yet a Filtertronned Gretsch seems to be THE most popular guitar for Rockabilly nowadays. I guess we have to thank Brian Setzer for that. (I think his sound is amazing if not perfect btw...) Also, using Filtertrons will make it too much Gretsch, and thus a 'fake' Gretsch. Just as much as painting it orange will. For the same reason I can't paint it gold because it would be too much Gibson. And it would have been too much Fender if I had kept the Tele-lines.

I really want a good ballance in the looks of the guitar so I plan on just using the pups that came with the guitar:

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/telecustom_project_3.jpg
^ 2 P90's. Duncan designed (If that's worth anything...) I've seen and read great reviews of these pups in this guitar so I'll stick to them. I'll be trying cream covers though for that little bit of extra vintage vibe. And MAYBE in the far future I'll replace the bridge P90 for a DeArmond as a tribute to Eddie Cochran's modified Gretsch...

wait...so are you going to chamber the body if you are you adding the f hole? im guessing you're going to plane it down and add a lam top rather than cover it up with a very large pickguard with all of that routing? little nervous about that neck pocket, what are you down to 2 screws now or were you able to save it? cant tell from the last photo

- Yes, I want to chamber the body, but only for aesthetics. At the moment just enough for the f-hole to be a 'real' hole. I don't know if planing is nessecary. I hope not... The original 3 ply pickguard had some thickness. I'm still figuring out a good but cheap way to cover the body. For instance I've thought about full body pickguard material, just like Gretsch has been doing since the 50's with drum-material: Sparkles and pearls. But I think I'll be going for someting more traditional (and cheaper) and install a (laminated) wooden top. I wonder if a backside from an acoustic will do...

- Well, there is not much of a pocket left... (just like a Stratocaster) But I'll still be using all four screws:

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/telecustom_project_27.jpg

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/telecustom_project_25.jpg

^ I just discovered a problem... The allignment of the neck is way off. (not only from my shaving and scraping! ;-) But the pick-ups and bridge were mounted slightly off-centre too, making it hardly noticable and perfect for playing. I think I'll have to redo it and plug the screwholes in the neck and drill 3 new ones...

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/telecustom_project_28.jpg
^ Line Nr.1 is the centreline from the neck/pups/bridge. Line Nr.2 is the official body-centreline... Also notice the 'less precise' positioning of the string-through-body holes... The low E was spot-on, but going to the treble E the spacing increased compared to the spacing of the holes in the bridge...

Ah well...
I plan to plug the holes and install a Bigsby anyway.

Cheers,
Jeffrey.

Interesting build. Sound/video demo required when done!

Florentine cutaway looks wicked. Good luck with the build. Watching with intrest.

I like where this is going!

Having fun watching! I love anything rockabilly and agree with you on the Setzer sound; he is my only guitar hero.

I'm liking what I see so far... And have found my new theme song..." Sucker for a cheap guitar"! I have an addictive personality, don't drink much or do drugs anymore, but I've been thru dozens, if not hundreds of guitars. Looking forward to the completed project.

Nice shape man!

Damnit! I want to see more of this already....

Funny, I never thought of and have never seen anyone drastically change the shape of an existing body. I like the thinking on this and it opens up alot of possibilities. Great stuff.

Goodness gracious! One idea... a dynasonic in the bridge. You'll get some twang, gretschines that is very close to telecaster bridge pup.

Thanks!
Glad to meet all of you open-minded Tele-lovers. Progression is slow because lack of parts and essential tools. I've spend some (a lot of...) hours sanding to make the sides as symmetrical as I possibly can with sandpaper and my two hands. That went quite well, if I do say so myself. I also keep on refining the curves for a perfect flow in the bodylines. Too boring to take out my camera...

Next step is to plug the body holes en some holes in the neck. Remember the poor allignment? But I'll have to wait for a decent drill...

I've also made a list of parts I want to order online later this week.

Interesting build. Sound/video demo required when done!

I'll post a vid when done. But I'll have to warn you: My guitarplaying kinda sucks...

Funny, I never thought of and have never seen anyone drastically change the shape of an existing body. I like the thinking on this and it opens up alot of possibilities. Great stuff.

I admit it's a bit tricky... Even more so with a tele-body. Not much to cut off of. (not to mention messing with a classic shape...) It would've been better to use a 'normal' Tele-body instead of this Custom II model because of the extensive routing near the edges. But the overall shape of my design fits. Ofcourse I cut off more than I wanted but thats the risk for using a jigsaw instead of a router.

PLUS: messing too little with the shape of a classic can easilly result in a cheap-looking, badly designed knock-off... And eventhough this is 'just' a Squier, I want to avoid that as much as I can... We'll just have to see if I'll succeed...

Having fun watching! I love anything rockabilly and agree with you on the Setzer sound; he is my only guitar hero.

Setzer's sound is magic... Most authentists(?) won't agree if I say he has the perfect rockabilly guitarsound but I realy think he has. Not authentic, just evolved.

Goodness gracious! One idea... a dynasonic in the bridge. You'll get some twang, gretschines that is very close to telecaster bridge pup.

Yes sir. As I said before: Maybe I'll install a bridge DeArmond pickup just to get that Eddie Cochran-vibe. But this is a budget-build and I'm guessing a DeArmond wont be cheap... (I just discoverd that TV-Jones is now offering DeArmond style pups. YUMYUM! Also in P90 covers. Very expensive though... Besides, this being my first project and having no experience in electronics whatsoever I'll follow the straight and narrow, and 'just' use the P90's for now...

On Gretsch forum there's is a bit of hype going on with GFS pups you get from
Guitar Fetish. They have very - so they say - dynasonic sounding alternative on budget:

http://store.guitarfetish.com/vintagestyle.html

http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/yhst-50206111187217_2099_11684379

It sure looks like one... except the missing screws for pole height.

http://store.guitarfetish.com/

On Gretsch forum there's is a bit of hype going on with GFS pups you get from
Guitar Fetish. They have very - so they say - dynasonic sounding alternative on budget.

Hey Varakeef,

Thanks for thinking with me. I was aware of these GFS pups. I REALLY like the look of these. Unmistakably based on a DeArmond looks-wise, but I'm not too sure about their sound. I've been lurking around on the Gretschpages-dot-com for years now, so I've read a lot about the likes and dislikes on these GFS's. Opinions vary between 'okay/good sounding pick-ups' to 'sounds not a bit like original DeArmonds'. And the last comment was by a guy who really knows a thing or two about vintage pick-ups...

If you read the discription on the GFS-site it also states that 'these GFS NY II' really makes a difference compared to DeArmonds/Dynasonics.' So they themselves say the sound is far from the same.

My guess is these are good pick-ups both in sound and looks. Although the price is very low in comparison, it's still 40+ bucks extra to spend on my budget project... I'm also not too sure about the height of these pups... They are 'surfacemount' and that makes em too high for a Telestyle body. Then I'll have to sink them in like the cheaper Electromatic Jets. Not liking that either...

But I'm really tempted to try these out though...

'No adjustable polepieces'... Have you noticed the (new?) GFS Surf 90 Alnico II Rockabilly Pickups?
http://store.guitarfetish.com/gfssu90aliir.html
Too bad they haven't jammed them into the DeArmond-style covers...

I'd like to hear more comments about these GFS NYII Surface Mount Handmade Alnico Pickups from other builders who have used them. Any of you out there?

Having said all of this...
The difference in sound between cheap and expensive pick-ups probably won't be noticable if I'll be playing the guitar because of my poor playing-skills... I'm shure I can even make the most expensive TV-Jones pups sound cheap...
;-)

Yes, these Surf Pups look good too, but somehow the dynalike frames do it for me.

You're right about the sinking I guess. However I'm tempted about the idea of trying a neck pup version of the dyna frame into bridge position (which is lower, but I don't know if it's low enough).

Yes, these Surf Pups look good too, but somehow the dynalike frames do it for me. You're right about the sinking I guess. However I'm tempted about the idea of trying a neck pup version of the dyna frame into bridge position (which is lower, but I don't know if it's low enough).

That's a clever idea!
But it means ordering both...

On the other hand, I came across another builder who flushfitted his DeArmond by cutting off the base-surounding/footprint and covered the holes with homemade aluminum pickup surroundings. Really slick! And that is something I wont be afraid of doing myself...

And for those who are interested: I've added some pics of my guitars in my intro-thread. Just click on the link in my signature below...

Damn - Eddie Cochran was a cool looking dude.

Good idea !! The shape of the body reminds me a Bigsby guitar !!

BTW, the guitarist pictured with Gene Vincent is Russell Williford, not Johnny Meeks.

To paraphrase Eddie Cochran-

"That guitar's good lookin', man, wow, that's somethin' else..."

Also, I have used GFS pickups in my Teles- I like them just fine.

Damn - Eddie Cochran was a cool looking dude.

Well I guess he had it all in the 50s. The looks, the guitar, the musiciansship. Yeah, he was a cool looking dude. Ofcourse dying terribly young(21!) never gave him the opportunity to grow fat, forty, and bald... Like most of us. ;-)

Good idea !! The shape of the body reminds me a Bigsby guitar !! BTW, the guitarist pictured with Gene Vincent is Russell Williford, not Johnny Meeks.

Hey, thanks man! I've never heard of Russel Williford being a guitarplayer for the Blue Caps. He was sort of the in-between I guess... Is it he who got featured in the 1956 movie 'The Girl Can't Help It'?
Never too old to learn...

Yeah, I can see a resemblance with the Bigsby guitar. Ididn't do that on purpose :-)
But also, there is this rumor about Mr Bigsby lending out his guitar to Mr Fender, who came up with 'his' first electric guitar with many simmilarities just a few weeks later...

To paraphrase Eddie Cochran-
"That guitar's good lookin', man, wow, that's somethin' else..."
Also, I have used GFS pickups in my Teles- I like them just fine.

Hahaah, thanks man! I could't have said it better myself.
Ah, you've got some experience with the GFS pups... The ones we've talked about? Want to hear some more about them. I'll try and do a search on your buildthreads. Thanks for replying.

Looks like your having fun and like your versatile usage of your belt sander-A great all around tool! Another way to get your chamber is to work from the back to hog out the cavity and then fit a 1/4" or so thick wood cover/fill plate. Typicaly this would be set into a rabbet ledge but sounds like maybe you don't have a router and the rabbet cutter. In a pinch you can do it with a close fitting cover piece that has a slight beveled edge and fit snug and wedge-like into the opening, then epoxy that in with hardware store $4 tube epoxy. Fit it up slowly and careully using a wood file and 60x sandpaper and block or such, and leave it 1/16 or so above the body surface. Sand flush with BeltSander. Assumes you will paint the back side though, or live with the 'patched' look.
Another thought is - I've done similar projects where the pickups decision was going to be trial and error and maybe many of those, so I used cheap doorskin type plywood or whatever as pickguard pickup holder, then cut the pickguard at the final wiring up. Heck stiff cardboard and tape will get you there.

I was looking at JJ Cale stuff recently and one pic showed him having quite some 'customized' homebrew unit he was pluckin' on. Not. Pretty. But he is JJ Cale so no one cared...
Anyway...Cheers... and ...Go Florentines!

Thanks Dr. Ow
Cool to read about different sollutions. I think I'll go conservative though... Just cap the top with a nice-ish piece of wood and in the back 2 cavaties for the electronics. Just have to figure out how I want to mount the P90s: Adjustible screws on the sides or through the pickups...

Trial and error is my way of learning.

Maybe not a big deal for most of you talented and seasoned guitarbuilders, but to me it is. Today I've been plugging and filling some holes in body and neck with dowels and toothpicks...

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/telecustom_project_32.jpg
^ The string-through-body holes were very sloppy and off-centered and I wont be using them anyway with a bigsby being delivered to my doorsteps soon...

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/telecustom_project_30.jpg
^ some very nessecary acupuncture treatment for the tired old body. Tomorow he's gonna be fine...

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/telecustom_project_31.jpg
^ Looking like a scenery from a Tim Burton movie...

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/telecustom_project_29.jpg
^ I had to drill out and plug the neck too because of its mis-allignment to the body. I guess they did one hole right...

Funny... Look at those two small blobs of white just above/below the fretboard. It's glue that 'traveled' almost an inch through the dense wood...

Oh, and I've noticed that the part of the neck that slides into the neckpocket is not level. I'll have to fix that...

Glue is dry, so it's time to clean things up...

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/telecustom_project_33.jpg
^ But first, look at how wobly this side of the neck is. I know: Don't trust wide-angled photographs but this is how it really looks like. Wobly. The surface of the neck is straight though...

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/telecustom_project_34.jpg
^ Planed it as good as I can by hand...

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/telecustom_project_35.jpg

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/telecustom_project_36.jpg
^ nice and flush, but ofcourse still needs some filler..

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/telecustom_project_37.jpg
^ I'm still refining bodycontours while I'm working on it...

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/telecustom_project_38.jpg

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/telecustom_project_39.jpg

Change of plans...
I've got such terrible tool(bits) to work with, so I decided to not go with a carved out cavity, but with a carved through cavity...

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/telecustom_project_40.jpg

So this body's going to need a top AND a back...

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/telecustom_project_41.jpg
^ I kinda feel bad about destroying a rather large piece of good wood...

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/telecustom_project_42.jpg

So, now I'm on the lookout for a top and back...

Hey, whatever floats your boat, just hope she doesn't end up neck heavy.But then again, with the hardware you plan to use, probably no danger in that,

Dave

Hey, whatever floats your boat, just hope she doesn't end up neck heavy.But then again, with the hardware you plan to use, probably no danger in that,

Dave

Yup. Trial and error my friend. I don't think making things too light is a problem at all. There is more than one way to make things heavier. I think I'm creativve enough to find sollutions to that sort of problems, and we'll just have to wait and see if it all works.

My main concern is that in the end it'll look good and don't sound and play like crap.

It's fun to experiment a little and do things differently :-)

I like your attitude on this rudolf :). Think this will turn out just right.

Still itching to see more......

Yup. Trial and error my friend. I don't think making things too light is a problem at all. There is more than one way to make things heavier. I think I'm creativve enough to find sollutions to that sort of problems, and we'll just have to wait and see if it all works.

My main concern is that in the end it'll look good and don't sound and play like crap.

It's fun to experiment a little and do things differently :-)

You know, this little world needs more people like you :smile:

Good work! If you´re looking for top/back material, check out espen.de

One of the coolest build threads currently on the forum! Love it, can't wait to see the results (and I'm already scheming for doing something in a similar vein...)

I like your attitude on this rudolf :). Think this will turn out just right.

Thanks! I hope it will too. This guitarbuilding-hobby is new to me...

Still itching to see more......

Me too... I'll have to wait for the stores to go open again. Extra long weekend with closed shops on these easter holidays... Have to get some extra wood...

You know, this little world needs more people like you :smile:

Nah... this world needs more time. And girls.

Good work! If you´re looking for top/back material, check out espen.de

Wow, that's a bookmark for shure. Thanks! But I gues I'll go searching in Holland first... I'm not eager to order stuff online. Infact, this squier is my first online purchase. And I met the guy in person just to make shure I get what I pay for. So for wood I'll probably go to a specialized store in person.

Oh, and I'm a follower of your 'Gretsch thread'. Way cool idea of cutting the DeArmond to fit in that body and making a pick-up ring out of aluminum... Really slick!

One of the coolest build threads currently on the forum! Love it, can't wait to see the results (and I'm already scheming for doing something in a similar vein...)

No way! There are lots of cool builds going on. Especially on the $210-build competition threads! I'm amazed at all the creativity people come up with to build something that they thought up themselves.

Can't wait to see what you'll come up with. I think the trick is trying to not make a 'fake fender' or 'fake gibson' or 'fake guild' or 'fake whatever' while designing a desirable shape...

Thanks guys!
Jeffrey

i admire the crude approach and perserverence. it's not easy when you don't have the right tools. most people would have given up by now. looks like its turning out pretty good.

i admire the crude approach and perserverence. it's not easy when you don't have the right tools. most people would have given up by now. looks like its turning out pretty good.

Thanks,

I knew I would run into some issues when doing such a project, but next to wanting to make a guitar I want to learn building. What better way than to make mistakes and just do it better the second try.

Knowing that I want to use a solid color makes it a lot easier to make 'crude' decisions on things that won't be visable on the outside... I think finishing is by far the hardest part of a (this) build.

Scroll down this thread (from the TDPRI) to look at various photos of a guitar that sounds like something the original poster may be interested in: At about the middle of the page you can see how thick the body is. This guitar is a cross between a 6120 and a Tele. It is NOT a thinline.

http://tinyurl.com/yhchczq

Scroll down this thread (from the TDPRI) to look at various photos of a guitar that sounds like something the original poster may be interested in: At about the middle of the page you can see how thick the body is. This guitar is a cross between a 6120 and a Tele. It is NOT a thinline.

http://tinyurl.com/yhchczq

Ofcourse I've come across this guitar while 'researching'. I must admit I don't like the overall shape of the guitar but it is truly an amazing, if not very inspiring build. Lots of ideas, like the bigsby: Very unusual for a Tele. All in all: great crafstmanship. Do you really think it's almost as deep as the Gibson you mentioned before? It's definately deeper than a standard Tele, but I think that because of it's much smaller size it APPEARS as deep as forementioned Gibson.

now that I see it again, I remember a holowbody Tele (probably thinline) build by TV JONES for Brian Setzer. It looked very much like this one but more Fender than Gretsch. It had DeArmonds. I have a pic of it SOMEWHERE in a guitarmag, but I can't find it... I've never seen Setzer with it though...

Thanks for the comment, and for the link!
Jeffrey

Man, these major reshape mods usually end in disaster once they break the saw out... but you really made a nice shape! I'd play the heck outta that. Can't wait to see it done!

Man, these major reshape mods usually end in disaster once they break the saw out... but you really made a nice shape! I'd play the heck outta that. Can't wait to see it done!

Thanks.
Yup. Always tricky, messing with a classic shape. I concluded that a Telebody had JUST enough wood to cut my design out of. I think I lost a bit of the subtlety my initial design had. I'll keep that in mind for my 2nd build...
;-)
Now that you mention it... While cutting and sanding the body I get more and more ideas for reshaping Telebodies...

This is really awesome. Great build

Thanks Roger :-)
-
http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/telecustom_project_44.jpg
^ Yesterday I've been buying some parts to get me going again. I kinda got lucky with the guy charging old prices for new stuff I bought, so I treated myself to this fun book. I've just quickly browsed through the pages and found it really entertaining. Good shots and easy to read. But within the first 24 pages I ran into 2 mistakes. Correct me if I'm wrong but...

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/telecustom_project_45.jpg
^...I always thought a DeArmond was a singlecoil..

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/telecustom_project_46.jpg
^ ...is there such thing as metalic blue oil stain..?

:-S

But overall it seems like a good read for a rookie like me, and I've learned alot already by just checking the pics. It comes with an actual size blueprint.

I went to Vox Humana in Vlaardingen (NL) for some...

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/telecustom_project_47.jpg
^ New goodies!

I finally got my hands on the Bigsby I planned to use on this project. It's a licensed one. B50. I'm a big fan of the original 'american made' Bigsbies, but this new Asian version does just fine. As a matter of fact, I'm really impressed about how well it's made. It looks and feels much more precise than the original. My original B7 rattles much more than this new licensed one. I have yet to play an instrument that has fitted a cheapo to really check the differences/similairities... The cosmetic differences can be spotted only from up-close. I really think they nailed it in the looks-departement. But I still prefer the sloppy vintage 'handmade'-look of the originals though...

I also got some cream soapbarcovers, (but I don't know if I'm going to use em. Depends on the final bodycolour.) cream and black bindingmaterial (sjeeez, it's just plastic...) 3 compensated saddles, coppertape, and some miscelanious hardware...

For knobs I want to use the ones I made for my Epiphone:
http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/telecustom_project_50.jpg
^ ..........Before.................................. ........................^ and after...

They are spun(?) aluminum audioknobs from a radio/electronics store. I've always preferred Gretschknobs over anything else. I don't care much about Telestyleknobs. Those G-knobs are so much more detailed and subtle. With a lot of imagination you'll see a resemblance in 'my' knobs.

I did that some 15 years ago, but just to show you how I've made em:
http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/telecustom_project_51.jpg
^ Attached it onto a drillbit, and made shure it sat straight...

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/telecustom_project_52.jpg
^ While spinning, I carved off the lower portion of the grip with a small file...

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/telecustom_project_53.jpg
^ Used some sandpaper and after that a bit of pollish to make it smooth and shiny...

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/telecustom_project_48.jpg
^ Don't we all love to do a mock-up once in a while during a build..? ;-)
The guitar is kinda small, ...but the Bigsby dwarves it even further...

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/telecustom_project_49.jpg
^ Btw... The odd-looking top is just a roughly cut mock-up quickie, won't be using it as the final top. And I won't be using this bridge either...

^...I always thougt a DeArmond was a singlecoil..


They are single coils. Whoever published that was mistaken.

IMO, DeArmond Dynasonics make for the coolest of the various rockabilly tones. The GFS Surf 90s are a good, cheap way to get it.

They are single coils. Whoever published that was mistaken.

IMO, DeArmond Dynasonics make for the coolest of the various rockabilly tones. The GFS Surf 90s are a good, cheap way to get it.

Yeah, I thought so too. But the pickup does look kinda odd... The black looks 'vintage' but I've never seen such a footprint on a vintage black DeArmond. I thought all the black reissue DeArmonds had this footprint (not Dynasonics and such) but not the vintage ones...

Wow! Do you have some experience allready with these Surf 90's? I thought they were brand new...

Yeah, I thought so too. But the pickup does look kinda odd... The black looks 'vintage' but I've never seen such a footprint on a vintage black DeArmond. I thought all the black reissue DeArmonds had this footprint (not Dynasonics and such) but not the vintage ones...

Wow! Do you have some experience allready with these Surf 90's? I thought they were brand new...

The Surf 90s came out a couple of weeks ago, I think. I have a pair on my Tele - they sound great. Lots of Gene Vincent and Duane Eddy tones out of them.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c22/umafloresta/Surf/IMG_4971.jpg

Nice guitar, Uma Floresta!
I've spend some time reading your own post of your experience with the different pups. Quite interesting.

You were telling that the screws on the surf 90s were cosmetically, but on the GFS-site I've read that the pole slugs ARE adjustible by turning those screws. But correct me if I'm wrong...

I was hesitant about the looks of it being a humbuckersized DeArmond style pickup, but it looks really nice. The best way to fill a Humbuckercavity anyway.

Thanks.

Nice guitar, Uma Floresta!
I've spend some time reading your own post of your experience with the different pups. Quite interesting.

You were telling that the screws on the surf 90s were cosmetically, but on the GFS-site I've read that the pole slugs ARE adjustible by turning those screws. But correct me if I'm wrong...

I was hesitant about the looks of it being a humbuckersized DeArmond style pickup, but it looks really nice. The best way to fill a Humbuckercavity anyway.

Thanks.

Thanks! The GFS site claims that the screws can be raised up and themselves act as a way of balancing the signal - but they do not raise up the magnets themselves. But, in practice, the screws themselves don't raise up far enough to make a difference anyway. Luckily, I don't find string balance to be a problem.

Thanks! The GFS site claims that the screws can be raised up and themselves act as a way of balancing the signal - but they do not raise up the magnets themselves. But, in practice, the screws themselves don't raise up far enough to make a difference anyway. Luckily, I don't find string balance to be a problem.

Hmmm... I don't think I like that idea of cosmetically placed screwheads. (that is something I should've come up with, not a pick-up company... ;-) So that is a bit of a downer. I assumed they had to build it humbuckersize just to make the elevating of the polepieces possible... If the screws are just cosmetically, why didn't they build it into their NYII housings...

But the important thing is, they do sound a lot like DeArmonds. Maybe I should just order some and find out myself.
Thanks for sharing info.

Hmmm... I don't think I like that idea of cosmetically placed screwheads. (that is something I should've come up with, not a pick-up company... ;-) So that is a bit of a downer. I assumed they had to build it humbuckersize just to make the elevating of the polepieces possible... If the screws are just cosmetically, why didn't they build it into their NYII housings...

But the important thing is, they do sound a lot like DeArmonds. Maybe I should just order some and find out myself.
Thanks for sharing info.

Yeah, the screws are a bit daft, but I guess they wanted to give them a retro look. It'd be great if they released these in the NYII format as well, but regardless of all that, they do sound very good.

...but regardless of all that, they do sound very good.

And that's all that counts, really. Let's not forget: these pickups still look cool. Oh, now I start to wonder if GFS could build a Surf 90 into a P90 cover and compete with TV-Jones' P90-covered T-Armonds...

Awesome build, looks great!

Awesome build, looks great!

Thanks IrishTele!

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/telecustom_project_54.jpg

I had this problem of a neck that wasn't centred.. So I had filled the holes and after fixating the neck in the right position on the body I carefully drilled new holes using the bodyscrewholes as a 'guide'.. It worked like a charm.

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/telecustom_project_55.jpg

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/telecustom_project_56.jpg

Here you can see the dowels being far off. With the neck and body disassembled I was able to drill the holes the right size.

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/telecustom_project_62.jpg

Funny...
I just realize that when I'm doing graphic-design and illustration, and use a guitar in a cartoony way, I always come up with a one F-holed, florentine cutaway design almost similar to my own build right now!

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/telecustom_project_57.jpg

And now the fun stuff begins...
Sawing the F-hole and P90 cavaties. The top and back are laminated hardwood of unknown origin. Remember: I will paint this body in an opaque bodycolour.

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/telecustom_project_58.jpg

(electric-) jigsaw snapped right off in my guitarbody...

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/telecustom_project_59.jpg

I can do this all the time: Making a mock-up.

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/telecustom_project_60.jpg

Now it is really starting to look like something. :-)
(I just hope I'm still doing things right... Still avoiding the scary router..)

Freakin' cool, man!!

Looking great!

I am interested in seeing how you make that bridge work with the Bigsby.

Hey thanks guys!
Wow, I guess this is a 5 star thread right now! I'm flattered and hope I'll live up to your expectations...

I am interested in seeing how you make that bridge work with the Bigsby.

Well... err, by not using it. ;-)
As I stated above or on the other page somewhere. The bridge is there to make it easier for myself to visualize how 'busy' the top is going to be. Eventually I'll be using some sort of notched bridge. I have three compensated sadles allready but no baseplate yet. I want to try and make one from scratch, but if I should fail I'll be cutting up a three saddle-type bridge.

I thought I read on line somewhere about a way to use a Bigsby with a regular Tele bridge, so I figured you had a mod you were using to make it work. I searched the thread for the word bridge before I posted, but I didn't find where you talked about it.

Hey thanks guys!
Wow, I guess this is a 5 star thread right now! I'm flattered and hope I'll live up to your expectations...



Well... err, by not using it. ;-)
As I stated above or on the other page somewhere. The bridge is there to make it easier for myself to visualize how 'busy' the top is going to be. Eventually I'll be using some sort of notched bridge. I have three compensated sadles allready but no baseplate yet. I want to try and make one from scratch, but if I should fail I'll be cutting up a three saddle-type bridge.

Another idea would be to use a Gretsch style bar bridge, without the wood piece underneath - just screw it into the guitar. I don't know how well that would work.

http://i499.photobucket.com/albums/rr353/araTguitars/Gretsches%20-%20Compton%20Bridges/DSC01976.jpg

@jbmando
Looking at your tiny avatar... Is that a P90 Squier on the left?

Another idea would be to use a Gretsch style bar bridge, without the wood piece underneath - just screw it into the guitar. I don't know how well that would work. [/IMG]

That really is an option I considered. I have a few unused compensated bigsby bridges in my partsbox. But this being my first build, I'm a bit scared to screw on stuff that can not be adjusted... I can screw on a Tele bridge and still have sufficient room for intonation. So, I don't know yet... The Gretsch/Gibson style bridge will certainly clean up the allready cluttered appearance of the top. But then again, I want this guitar to still have some Tele-herritage besides the neck...

Decisions, decisions...

By the way... Those polepieces of the Dynasonics are about to fall out! ;-) Is that common? My brother has a Silverjet, but I can't remember the polepieces sticking out that far..

@jbmando
Looking at your tiny avatar... Is that a P90 Squier on the left?



That really is an option I considered. I have a few unused compensated bigsby bridges in my partsbox. But this being my first build, I'm a bit scared to screw on stuff that can not be adjusted... I can screw on a Tele bridge and still have sufficient room for intonation. So, I don't know yet... The Gretsch/Gibson style bridge will certainly clean up the allready cluttered appearance of the top. But then again, I want this guitar to still have some Tele-herritage besides the neck...

Decisions, decisions...

By the way... Those polepieces of the Dynasonics are about to fall out! ;-) Is that common? My brother has a Silverjet, but I can't remember the polepieces sticking out that far..

I think most people shim up the pickup itself rather than put the pole pieces that far up. But it's not my guitar, just something I found online.

@jbmando
Looking at your tiny avatar... Is that a P90 Squier on the left?


Yep!

Yep!

http://www.squier-talk.com//forum/album_photos/thumbnails/0/653e9cc40a2b2730da73134d776e29e0_250.jpg?dl=126626 6307

Thanks for sharing. Nice threesome!
What do you think of your Squier P90? My build used to be one too... Though I've never played, or even heard it in person. I just bought it in pieces in a plastic bag...

I like the P90 Squier. It really shines for overdriven rock sounds. I play the CV which has been "Esquiered" and the BSB a lot more, but when I want to cop some Social Distortion or something like that, the Custom II is the ticket.

Looks cool! I'd use a tune-a-matic or bar bridge on that, or a Jazzmaster bridge like on a typical B5 equipped tele.

Have you seen TV Jones' new DeArmond replica pickups? He offers them in a P90 Soapbar mount too...they'd fit your guitar without any work..

Looks cool! I'd use a tune-a-matic or bar bridge on that, or a Jazzmaster bridge like on a typical B5 equipped tele.

100% tune-o-matic!!!
There are very nice one with roller saddles on ebay for around $20. It's the same kind of stuff Setzer uses to stay in tune (Sperzels help too...). I use the same setup on my modified Ibanez AF75 and it works great.

The wood you have found for the caps looks good, why conceal it?
And the f-hole shape and placement are very tasteful.
I would do a cream binding and a clear or gretsh orange laquer.
Of course, you would need a router for the binding channel :grin:

Anyway, very nice work so far, I look forward for the next steps
Cheers

I like the P90 Squier. It really shines for overdriven rock sounds. I play the CV which has been "Esquiered" and the BSB a lot more, but when I want to cop some Social Distortion or something like that, the Custom II is the ticket.

Heheh.. sounds perfect. I kinda like those primitive rock tones. Don't know if it'll work with rockabilly, but my guitar will be more about attitude than pure vintage rockabilly twang.

Looks cool! I'd use a tune-a-matic or bar bridge on that, or a Jazzmaster bridge like on a typical B5 equipped tele.

Have you seen TV Jones' new DeArmond replica pickups? He offers them in a P90 Soapbar mount too...they'd fit your guitar without any work..

Thanks Walter.
But, damn.. You make me doubt my choice again. I've thought about the tune-a-matic and jazzmaster bridges.
Tune-o-matic: Most of the times that set-up will work, but I did came across examples that just didn't work with the tensionbar... Strings were touching the metal of the bridge itself...
Jazzmaster: That probably should work considering the Bigsby-sets available today. But people seem to be more happy with just a notched three saddle tele-style bridge. I think that's the only way to make shure the strings only make contact with the sadles and not the bridge itself.

Also, if this body is anything, its rather smaller than larger than a standard Tele. Not much, (hopefully not at all) but in this case the measurements are really critical.

And there are probably some issues on there way because of the extra height of the top it'll get. Ofcourse I'll try and minize that as much as I can.

Oh, and I like to make the parts myself as much as I can.. But as I said:
Now I'm in doubt...

T-Armond: Oh man, I would love to try anything TV Jones'... But for now those are really out of reach for me considering my budget. This guitar is one big experiment/first-time-hobby-project. I chose this squier as a base for my project because of the rave-reviews it received. Especially it's pick-ups... But if money was no object I'd go for the best vintage-sounding TV-Jones P90 and DeArmond, just to pay tribute to the many rockabilly players using either one of them, and in particular Eddie Cochran ofcourse, who used both.

If I pull this first-build off succesfully I'll probably make another one using higher grade components...

100% tune-o-matic!!!
There are very nice one with roller saddles on ebay for around $20. It's the same kind of stuff Setzer uses to stay in tune (Sperzels help too...). I use the same setup on my modified Ibanez AF75 and it works great.

The wood you have found for the caps looks good, why conceal it?
And the f-hole shape and placement are very tasteful.
I would do a cream binding and a clear or gretsh orange laquer.
Of course, you would need a router for the binding channel :grin:



Thanks Doubletriode!

Tune-o-matic: Check my previous post nr.76.

Top/Back wood: I guess in the pics the wood looks way better than IRL... I'm trying to make a perfect ballance between Gretsch, Gibson, and Fender. Painting it any kind of orange will make it too Gretschy just as much as painting it gold wil make it too much Gibson... For now I'm planning Bambooyellow/Coppermist. A tasty Gretsch two-tone that'll make it more 'vintage' than Gretsch I hope.

Binding: I have 1mm cream (plus 0,5 black), but I'm in doubt that it will not work with the bambooyellow. I have the same problem withe the soapbars ofcourse. We'll just have to wait and see...

F-hole: I traced one of Gretsch Aniversary and just scaled it to fit the dimensions of my guitar. It's still pretty oversized though... But I like that.

Router for the bindingchannel: Not looking forward to that... :shock:

Thanks for the feedback guys! I'm still learning...

Since you already have the compensated tele saddles, and you say you might make the bridge plate yourself, why not do something like this (http://www.tdpri.com/forum/telecaster-discussion-forum/195405-cool-mahogany-bodied-custom-esquire.html). A jazzmaster bridgeplate with tele saddles... Ever since I've seen that I've always wanted to see someone else use it, and since this is such a mixed bag build it could be perfect.

This is a great thread. I'd also like to 'thank' you for introducing me to the gretsch rambler! It's something I'd never seen before and now I am seriously wanting one!

Since you already have the compensated tele saddles, and you say you might make the bridge plate yourself, why not do something like this (http://www.tdpri.com/forum/telecaster-discussion-forum/195405-cool-mahogany-bodied-custom-esquire.html). A jazzmaster bridgeplate with tele saddles... Ever since I've seen that I've always wanted to see someone else use it, and since this is such a mixed bag build it could be perfect.

This is a great thread. I'd also like to 'thank' you for introducing me to the gretsch rambler! It's something I'd never seen before and now I am seriously wanting one!

First of all, I love your avatar!

That's another good idea. Thanks! I'm wondering if the screws are penetrating both walls. If so, then there wouldn't be any stringheight adjustments... If not, then I don't see the point of using 'just' the jazzmaster bridgeplate. But it's a cool option nonetheless.

Yeah... The Gretsch Rambler is such a nice looking guitar. I guess you could say it's Gretsch's take on Gibson/Gretsch/Fender-crossover guitar. I'd love to own one. I wonder if this 'thinlinemodel' came before Fender's...

Good point there. I already thought I was set with my guitars, an 83 tele and a 1930s Martin, and usually I'm good at saying "yes that's a nice guitar, but I don't really need it", but the Rambler says "yes you do need me".

Thanks for the compliment on the avatar, it's amazing what you can do with Microsoft Paint. It's all about the basic tools :cool:

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/telecustom_project_63.jpg

Not much to see, but I've been planing the topside of the original body. I had to take off 4mm for it to accept the cap for the top. I got it pretty flat for now but I still have to sand to make shure it's really flat.
shaving off 4mm takes a lot of time...

Some more goodies from the partsbox:

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/telecustom_project_64.jpg

An original Bigsby bridge! You remember back in the days?...the one you got for free when you ordered a Bigsby? I think the company finaly became aware that these bridges almost always ended up in the partsbox. I've got 3 of em...

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/telecustom_project_65.jpg
^ It certainly looks the part but...

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/telecustom_project_66.jpg
^ ...it's not going to work in this way. The baseplate makes it sit way up high while in the lowest position. Only using the bridgepart means I have to fixate the bridge in the right position. Not eager to do that with a non-adjustable bridge...

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/telecustom_project_67.jpg

But all those chunks of aluminum look kinda cool...

Oh, and another partsbox item: An Aria pickguard. Just for fun. Not going to use that either but it helps me visualize all the parts together.

Wow! That is an absolutely awesome look you got cookin there! You really pulled off the design part. IMHO that is pretty hard to do. Very sexy! I can't wait to see how that turns out. Nice work!

Sweet lookin axe, can't wait to see more!

now these are the kind of topics I love! can't wait to see the result: mojo axe!

btw: this would look super with a snakehead

Thanks guys!

Damn... I'm reaching my photobucket bandwith-limit again because of lot's of threadviews. I guess tdpri-dot-com is quite popular... :-/

mmkco: Wow! That is an absolutely awesome look you got cookin there! You really pulled off the design part. IMHO that is pretty hard to do. Very sexy! I can't wait to see how that turns out. Nice work!

Just trying to combine the best features of the classic designs. Although I lost some subtlety, I'm glad it came out almost as good as my thumbnail design. Now making it all work will be the hard part...

Rattfink: Sweet lookin axe, can't wait to see more!

Me too! Just waiting for some time ...and money.

helectrics: now these are the kind of topics I love! can't wait to see the result: mojo axe!
btw: this would look super with a snakehead

Yeah, that may be the ticket to a better looking axe, but the guitar wll loose too much of it's Fender-vibe if I delete the Telecaster-head...

Thanks for the input.

With the thinline-style top, are you able to router out a "trough" for the bridge to sit in to bring it to the proper height or do you plan to shim the neck?

With the thinline-style top, are you able to router out a "trough" for the bridge to sit in to bring it to the proper height or do you plan to shim the neck?

Not made up my mind about that yet. My original plan was to use a regular low cut'n'notched 3 saddle bridge, ...but because of input of all you guys I'm thinking maybe a bar or tune-o-matic is more appropriate for this guitar. I'm building on a budget so I can't get too crazy with the options...

Check out these bridges:
http://www.comptonbridges.com/
You could place it on top of the guitar, with strings going over it (and shimmed for the necessary height) before drilling the holes for the mounting studs - then you simply shift it around until you found the right intonation, and then mark the position where the holes for the studs have to be.
BTW, those are really well made, and the guy who makes them is a nice fellow with great customer service!

Great job man . I have one of those tele`s and i will never look at it the same because lurking under that black finish is any number of variations on a theme just waiting to jump out. Cant wait to see the finished work of art .

Check out these bridges:
http://www.comptonbridges.com/
You could place it on top of the guitar, with strings going over it (and shimmed for the necessary height) before drilling the holes for the mounting studs - then you simply shift it around until you found the right intonation, and then mark the position where the holes for the studs have to be.
BTW, those are really well made, and the guy who makes them is a nice fellow with great customer service!

I just ordered one of these for my faux Jazzmaster. I'm going to see if I can finagle it into working.

Thanks RomanS for the Compton-link. I was wondering who made these bridges. They look friggin' cool! But are there any pro's and con's compared to a compensated Bigsby-bridge? On their site Compton claims that their bridge is 'compensated', but to me it looks like a straight bar, although slanted. My Bigsby bridge truely IS compensated. Do I make any sense? Still learning...
Uma Floresta, tell us what you think of it when you've installed it.

I'm leaning more and more towards somehow using my Bigsby bridge...

Thanks jamesachaplin. What do you think of that P90 Tele? Is it any good? I'm collecting other peoples opinion about that guitar. I've never played one myself... Oh and I feel honered that you've decided to spend that all-important first post on my thread! ;-)

Uma Floresta, tell us what you think of it when you've installed it.


Will do!

The Bigsby bridge is compensated for WOUND G-strings - the contact point of the G-string sits farther towards the neck than that of the B-strings.
The Compton bridge is compensated in the sense that the low E string contact point sits farther back than that of the high E, and all the other strings sit in-between - for most accurate compensation, the G-string contact point should sit farther back than that of the D-string.
So, for "modern" string sets (plain G-string, not wound), the Compton bridge is better compensated than the Bigsby bridge, but it isn't compensated as perfectly as a six-string bridge or a 3-string Tele bridge with compensated saddles (to see how it fares in comparison to an uncompensated 3-string Tele bridge, you'd have to do a side-by-side test...)
To confuse matters even further, there is a version of the Bigsby bridge that is indeed compensated for modern (plain G) string sets - but this one is rarer than hens' teeth, I think it was oinly made by Bigsby for some Guild semi-acoustic guitars...

Oh, and her's what I'm using my Compton bridge on:
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e323/RomanSonnleitner/clw7081.jpg

Thumbs up!

This is a great fun looking project.

Love the spirit of adventure around here.

@1955 Thanks! and @Ronsonic: Welcome on te forum.

@RomanS That is a cool guitar! The color of that burst is gorgious...
Thanks for the info. Most of it I knew already but I've been very inactive in guitarplaying. I think I even haven't bought strings in the past 8-10 years... I was aware of the (un)wounded string issue but didn't think of it. Those Comptonbriges... Are these rocking bridges like Bigsby bridges? (slightly slanted underneath to both sides to alow some pivot room?)

At the moment I'm still a bit lost on what kind of bridge to use... I think I'll try to go Bigsby/Compton/barbridge style.

Btw: I'm surprised at how much difference in sound each metal makes after hearing the soundclips on the Comptonsite... It doesn't make it any easier...

Those Comptonbriges... Are these rocking bridges like Bigsby bridges? (slightly slanted underneath to both sides to alow some pivot room?)




No, those are straight underneath, no rocking action.
BTW, that "guitar" was a super-cheap Clearwater mini-12-string guitar from Ebay; 19" scale (kinda like a regular guitar capo-ed at the 12th fret); I replaced the pickups & electronics, made a new nut, and turned it into a 10-string, I use it for getting pseudo-mandolin-y tones...

Wow, that's a bookmark for shure. Thanks! But I gues I'll go searching in Holland first... I'm not eager to order stuff online.

Don´t worry, they´re nice people to deal with. Even when I´m calling talking very bad German...:-) And just specify exactly what you want and they´ll fix it, no prob. But I know what you mean, always nice to be able to make your selection "live" so to say...

Dank u wel for liking my build, hope to get started again soon.

And don´t forget to keep your hands and fingers WAY out of harms reach when using woodworking machines. Things can go very wrong very fast in ways that are complete disaster to a guitarplayer.

Maybe I´m a bit late on this, but if you want to use the Bigsby-bridge, just get some 120 grit sandpaper, put it on a flat surface and sand the bottom support of the bridge until it´s flat. Work slowly and check often to make sure you don´t tilt it.

Btw, with that bridge, have you checked the string height? Take a long straight edge, rest it on the first fret and the top of the bridge. Assuming the bridge and fretboard radii are the same you should have about 1-1.5mm clearance on the 12th fret high to low E.

@ RomanS
I didn't notice that it was rather a small guitar because of my screen not showing the pic totaly. I had t scroll down to see all of the guitar. Still, it is a cool looking instrument...

@ Fezdeluxe
I'm sure they are... But I just don't have ANY experience on ordering online. I feel more comfortable to see and touch what I'm paying for. I saw a piece of wood online that I wanted and went to the store to get it. When I got my hands on it it was so dissapointing... All wobly. I'm kinda handy and creative but I'm not a craftsman. That piece of wood wich looked good on the site was not for me. Glad I didn't ordered it online...

But also I got into an interesting conversation with the outcome that for my project I didn't need a fancy piece of wood to cap my body. A decent laminated piece will suffice.

Fezdeluxe wrote: And don´t forget to keep your hands and fingers WAY out of harms reach when using woodworking machines. Things can go very wrong very fast in ways that are complete disaster to a guitarplayer.

Heheh... I know. And I have to remind myself everytime whenever there are hazards. Especially of the powertool-kind... Today I burnt my thumb on a scorching hot piece of powersanded aluminum.. You know, the first three seconds you think it feels cold, and then you're pretty sure it's not...

Oh, and thanks for the info. Much appreciated!

So, the three-saddle bridge that I'd planned is on hold cause I had this compensated aluminum Bigsby bridge that wanted to use somehow on my build. But it was way to high and that meant I had to modify it rather heavily. Not afraid to do that, but I didn't want to mess up that bridge. Looking at the Comptonbridge-site it came to me that a bridge doesn't have to be difficult...

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/telecustom_project_68.jpg
^ ...so I searched for a piece of aluminum (round bar) and to try and carve out a bridge myself.. That way, I could decide for a straight bar or a rightly compensated one, and use the original Bigsby bridgeplate.

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/telecustom_project_69.jpg
^ First the trusty beltsander and finetune with files..

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/telecustom_project_70.jpg
^ shape is still rough but you can see how I've tried to compensate it for the unwound G string...

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/telecustom_project_71.jpg

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/telecustom_project_72.jpg
^ Here you can see how much lower my new bridge can sit on the original Bigsby base.
And below: I haven't carved a pivot point yet, and I doubt it if I ever will...

Still not finished. I have to do some more carving and sanding. Maybe some pollishing, but I kinda like that brushed aluminum-look. I did that to my bigsby a few years ago and it was instant'vintage'. I'm not sure if it'll work but can't see why not either... Maybe the compensation is too much or whatever...
We'll see.

wow! gorgeous bridge you've made.

I like that bridge a lot! Very cool!

Thanks guys!
I just hope it does what it's supposed to do...

There is a chance it's going to be a little light, hope it works, but I've had Bigsby bridges sound a little "plinky" on the treble strings, and this one has even less mass...I'll keep my fingers crossed.

Very nice work indeed. Fun to work with alu, huh? :-) Especially when discovering that it is excellent for transferring heat to your hands...:-) You´re welcome, just ask if you need any help or advice. I´ve worked on a guitar or two.

Very nice work indeed. Fun to work with alu, huh? :-) Especially when discovering that it is excellent for transferring heat to your hands...:-) You´re welcome, just ask if you need any help or advice. I´ve worked on a guitar or two.

Thanks!
Yup: Aluminum is the woodworker's metal. I do have some experience with aluminum. As an artist I made a piece out of aluminum a few years ago. A working oversized cloths-pin. A lot of carving and it came out great. And last year I've made/restyled a lot of aluminum bicycleparts. I love de look of sharp brushed and handpolished aluminum.

Heheh... I've lost some of my fingerprint on my thumb and the edge of the aluminum bridge left a mark...

There is a chance it's going to be a little light, hope it works, but I've had Bigsby bridges sound a little "plinky" on the treble strings, and this one has even less mass...I'll keep my fingers crossed.

Haven't thought of that. Good point. But on the other hand: Looks can be deceiving: At the moment my bridge still has relatively a lot of mass. Maybe as much as the Bigsby has... My bridge is considerably wider at the lowest part. There is much more material carved from the Bigsbybridge.
Hey, ...and maybe thay 'plinky'-tone will suit the guitar just fine. ;-)
Remember it is a tad bit smaller than a Tele, which is rather a small guitar to begin with.

Thanks for the feedback guys.

Nice bridge - keigave brug :-)

Very nice bridge, looks gorgeous!
You have great manual skills and a good eye.
I love the looks of brushed aluminium too.

But...
If you use a fixed compensation bridge, changing string gauges (or brand) can become a problem if the bridge is fixed to the top
If it is not fixed and you are a heavy picker (like me (-;) floating bridges are a pain in the a..
I had to pin mine on my converted AF75 Ibanez as it kept moving and messing with intonation.
Your guitar being solid body you have the chance of being able to use a tunomatic mounted on studs, so, do yourself a favor...
If you are concerned about the height of the bridge, remember you can sink it into the top to lower the saddle height. Not difficult, and you do not need a router if you have good chisels :grin:
As you are on a budget I looked on ebay and found that:
http://cgi.ebay.ch/HIGH-QUALITY-ABR-TYP-ROLLBRIDGE-CHROM-SONDERPREIS_W0QQitemZ300414586573QQcmdZViewItemQQp tZGitarren?hash=item45f21acecd
Cheap and effective - it should keep the beast in tune...

Another trick to help with changing string on the bigsby is to pull out the pins who anchor the ball end of the strings. You can do that with pliers. Then you drill through the bar using the pin holes as guides, Chamfer the holes and you're done!

String changes become a breeze!!!

Good luck with your build

Silvio

I'm so impressed with that bridge. Nice work!

The bridge looks beautiful! A question, though: is the aluminum hard enough so the wound strings won't wear grooves in it when you use the Bigsby?

I'm so impressed with that bridge. Nice work!

Thanks! It's fun when you reach the point of 'hey, that's starting to look really good!' :-)

Nice bridge - keigave brug :-)

Heheh, thanks. That sounds familiarly Brabants to me! ;-)

The bridge looks beautiful! A question, though: is the aluminum hard enough so the wound strings won't wear grooves in it when you use the Bigsby?

Thanks. Yeah, thats a question I asked myself the first time I saw the aluminum Bigsby bridges. I really don't know and we'll just have to wait and see. I know for shure it'll leave 'marks', but I doubt it that the strings will act as saws once they're settled in. EDIT ...the Bigsby bridge was of the rocking type so the strings and bridge didn't have any friction. Hmmmm... :-/

@ Doubletriode

Thanks for your thorough advise and tips. Highly appreciated!

I know what you mean and I think you may be right on every aspect... However, I want to try out this homemade piece first. I think it'll work (for me), or I'll just have to learn the hard way. If there are problems with intonation or moving bridge I will still be able to: pin it; replace it with a three saddle fenderbridge; tun-o-matic... I'm just not to fond of a tom... I saw several installed in a way that the strings to the bigsby were actually touching(!) the edge of the bridge...

And I guess I'm not really a 'hard picker', so I'm not foreseeing a real problem. I've played some guitars with floating bridges and I never had issues with moving bridges, eventhough I did mostly rhythme.

I've read about the bigsby-trick... But I didn't had any problems changing strings on them either... Only when installing the bigsby itself and you're trying to do the first two strings.

Thanks for your time and input!

Cheers guys!

Yeah man, that bridge is really wonderful. Did you have an idea of how you were going to do the hard lines before carving, or did you just go for it? It looks very designerly. Makes me want to drop out of industrial design school.

Yeah man, that bridge is really wonderful. Did you have an idea of how you were going to do the hard lines before carving, or did you just go for it? It looks very designerly. Makes me want to drop out of industrial design school.

Edit: Drop out of industrial design school??? But why?

Thanks.
No... Just eyeballing it. I really didn't know how to measure and mark the round piece of aluminum. I did try my best on the curvature though. I think that is of the most important. intonationwise... Well, there are just too many compensation possibilities. From straight-bar to compansated G-string... I just looked at the Compton and Bigsby bridges and came up with a mix :-)

The fact that it looks cool, well... that's just the way of the 'functional' carves, I think.

Very pretty your bridge is! Actually the whole thread is a classic one, one pleasant surprise one after another.

Is your bridge going to rock? I think it's the essence of every good vibrato systems (like Gretsch rock bar, mustang bridge in dynamic vibrato and Bigsby rocking bar).

You could try taking your aluminum bridge and putting it on a Jazzmaster style bridge, removing the Jazzmaster saddles. You could use a couple of the screw holes to attach it to your bridge, drilling holes in your bridge to match, of course.

That way you'd get a no-friction rocking bridge.

Thanks guys!

Very pretty your bridge is! Actually the whole thread is a classic one, one pleasant surprise one after another.

Is your bridge going to rock? I think it's the essence of every good vibrato systems (like Gretsch rock bar, mustang bridge in dynamic vibrato and Bigsby rocking bar).

Not at the moment. I think I'm gona put it on as it is, with just a flat bottom. Do you think it will be nessecary to rock? I thought so too, really, but looking at the highly appraised Compton bridges... They do NOT rock either, yet they are especially designed for Gretsch(type) guitars. And we all know what THAT means: BIGSBY VIBRATOS..

You could try taking your aluminum bridge and putting it on a Jazzmaster style bridge, removing the Jazzmaster saddles. You could use a couple of the screw holes to attach it to your bridge, drilling holes in your bridge to match, of course.

That way you'd get a no-friction rocking bridge.

Now you've made me curious... I want to know what the underside of a Jazzmaster bridge looks like. Is it slanted to both sides to provide the rocking-action?
While it's an interesting idea putting the bar and the Jzzmstr-bridgeplate together, I just can't see it work visually...

So..
I'm just going to continue with the idea of my bar on the Bigsby-foot. First try to actually make the guitar function and then testdrive it for a while. Taking care of all the little problems that are bound to occur. Maybe there won't be any bugs. But I don't think I am that lucky. If there are I'll try and take care of them later.

Thanks guys. Keep the tips and advice comming!

The Jazzmaster underside is flat but the posts rock in the bottom of their holes (the screws are 'sloppy'). It did not work well and the post holes are not at the same location points as a tunomatic (untidy plugging of holes). Ideally, the Bigsby likes a well raised bridge, so the neck has to be angled back.
There's a good pic here (unbranded jagmaster) http://www.axesrus.com/axehardware.htm#Misc (scroll through images to 1of3)

I've used a tunomatic with a jazz/jag trem but had to make that rock. The Bigsby does not move as much as a jazz/jag/mustang/strat but both my Bigsbys use rollers.

My Gretsch Special Jet (DeArmond 2000) had a lot of problems with the soft mahogany body not holding the stop bar tailpiece. So I fitted a B7 with a weird and wacky Rikki type solid four-post bridge plate and modified set of large roller saddles from another unit to fit.

Tip when tuning up - depress the lever and push (rock) the saddle back towards the tail, then it all stays in tune when used.

Thanks guys!



Not at the moment. I think I'm gona put it on as it is, with just a flat bottom. Do you think it will be nessecary to rock? I thought so too, really, but looking at the highly appraised Compton bridges... They do NOT rock either, yet they are especially designed for Gretsch(type) guitars. And we all know what THAT means: BIGSBY VIBRATOS..



Now you've made me curious... I want to know what the underside of a Jazzmaster bridge looks like. Is it slanted to both sides to provide the rocking-action?
While it's an interesting idea putting the bar and the Jzzmstr-bridgeplate together, I just can't see it work visually...

So..
I'm just going to continue with the idea of my bar on the Bigsby-foot. First try to actually make the guitar function and then testdrive it for a while. Taking care of all the little problems that are bound to occur. Maybe there won't be any bugs. But I don't think I am that lucky. If there are I'll try and take care of them later.

Thanks guys. Keep the tips and advice comming!

http://cn1.kaboodle.com/hi/img/2/0/0/10b/5/AAAAAkt97m0AAAAAAQtW5Q.jpg

It rocks in little metal cups, set in holes drilled in the body. The pointy screw ends fit in little divots in the cups. It allows you to get rocking action without having a very tall bridge.

Well, about roller bridges - expereinces may differ, but myself, I HATE them - had one of the stream-lined Wilkinson TOM-style roller bridges - http://store.guitarfetish.com/wibrrobrlost.html - on my Bigsby B16-equipped Thinline, and had nothing but trouble; had all kinds of weird noises and overtones going on, and a serious reduction in sustain was noticeable; I replaced it with a TuneOMatic (the Duesenberg-made one, with stainless steel saddles), and that works perfectly, without any tuning problems (and that TOM does NOT rock at all...)

Personally, I believe that roller bridges don't work as intended, anyway...
Think about it: the roller sitting with it's full-length surface on its axle has a much larger area of contact (and much more friction), than the string sitting on the roller (-> much less friction); so, when you use the Bigsby, what is going to move? The string across the roller surface (relatively small area of contact between the two), or the roller on its axle (relatively large area of contact)?
I have yet to find a roller bridge where the roller actually turn when using the vibrato - on the two kinds I owned so far (that Wilkinson from above, and an Ibanez version), the strings simply slid across the rollers, just like on a fixed saddle, no turning at all...

For the roller to really work/turn they would have to sit on needle bearings, but I guess that wouldn't be too good for sustain...

I agree with Roman on the roller bridges - they don't work, and don't sound good either.

I am sorry to hear you had bad experience of roller bridges RomanS.

The stock bridge on my Yamaha SA20B is a floating wooden base with a steel saddle of fully adjustable nylon rollers, it's worked perfectly for 40+y, its B7 I added a few years ago.

The one I put onto the Gretsch has rather large wheels. I removed the standard fixed saddles from a Ricki type bridge unit and modified it to take them. It was this guitar that I tried the Jazzmaster bridge unit on, it did not move well, made strange noises etc. The Gretsch is now glassy clear voiced and the B7 can be waggled at least 2 tones each way without problems, no weird noises.

The one with the jag/jazz trem had a fixed Tunomatic but had tuning stability problems until I rounded the tops of its screw posts (non-thumbwheel) to allow a slight rock. Screws held in the electric drill and attacked with a file, I don't have a lathe either ;-)

I've posted pics of all of these three guitars on here before. I found the string needs to grip the roller and have a mechanical advantage over it, they must roll smoothly. A drop of oil helps. I did not like the look of the TOM type roller bridges, the rollers are so tiny.

I found that if the strings grip on a fixed bridge then when the vibrato was used, they would not return to the same position, result tuning instability. I can see that it will work if the strings can slide smoothly over the saddles: perhaps if there is less pressure on the bridge e.g. the shallow break angle as found on a B5 tele, however our OP is building a Gretsch-like, presumably with a raised floating-base saddle, so having greater down-force.

Anyway, there's more than one way to do it. I really like that hand made compensated saddle (I'm trying to carve one from Box (buxa) for the jazzbox but have to use steel-working tools on the timber), you can always make it rock later if there's a problem.

The stock bridge on my Yamaha SA20B is a floating wooden base with a steel saddle of fully adjustable nylon rollers, it's worked perfectly for 40+y, its B7 I added a few years ago.

+1 on the SA series trem/bridge combo.. awesome tone and tuning stability..

Originally Posted by Jefrs: ...Ideally, the Bigsby likes a well raised bridge, so the neck has to be angled back...

Or... moving the Bigsby/tensionbar towards the bridge to create a similar angle.. right?

Anyway, there's more than one way to do it. I really like that hand made compensated saddle (I'm trying to carve one from Box (buxa) for the jazzbox but have to use steel-working tools on the timber), you can always make it rock later if there's a problem.

Cool! Looking forward to see that.

Originally Posted by Uma Floresta: It rocks in little metal cups, set in holes drilled in the body. The pointy screw ends fit in little divots in the cups. It allows you to get rocking action without having a very tall bridge.

Ah! I didn't know that.

Well, about roller bridges - expereinces may differ, but myself, I HATE them - had one of the stream-lined Wilkinson TOM-style roller bridges - http://store.guitarfetish.com/wibrrobrlost.html - on my Bigsby B16-equipped Thinline, and had nothing but trouble; had all kinds of weird noises and overtones going on, and a serious reduction in sustain was noticeable; I replaced it with a TuneOMatic (the Duesenberg-made one, with stainless steel saddles), and that works perfectly, without any tuning problems (and that TOM does NOT rock at all...)

Personally, I believe that roller bridges don't work as intended, anyway...
Think about it: the roller sitting with it's full-length surface on its axle has a much larger area of contact (and much more friction), than the string sitting on the roller (-> much less friction); so, when you use the Bigsby, what is going to move? The string across the roller surface (relatively small area of contact between the two), or the roller on its axle (relatively large area of contact)?
I have yet to find a roller bridge where the roller actually turn when using the vibrato - on the two kinds I owned so far (that Wilkinson from above, and an Ibanez version), the strings simply slid across the rollers, just like on a fixed saddle, no turning at all...

For the roller to really work/turn they would have to sit on needle bearings, but I guess that wouldn't be too good for sustain...

I see why you've chosen the wilkinson. That bridge looks nice!

Interesting... Your thoughts on the rollertyp bridges. It sounds very logical but... Perhaps there is more than one way to explain them. I don't want to sound too technical or go scientific on you guys but maybe the (or some)rollerbridges work on the fact that the larger surface of the string divides the force over the larger surface of the roller making the friction actually LESS than on a non-roller bridge.

Above is just a theory to point out that you can look at it from different angles. For example: Over the past few weeks I've learned that there are so many different views on what gives a guitar it's specific tone... Like pick-ups (obviously) and certain wood, neck-construction, string through, bridgeplates, etc etc... And the thing that baffled me the most was to hear the huge difference in tone by just the different sort of material the same bridge is made of...

I guess, whatever you use, it's all personal and you just have to work out for yourself what's best.

It's great to read everybody's experiences.

My experiences with Bigsbys and bridges are a Jazzbox Epiphone with B6/7 and its standard rosewood bridge which sucks very much, and a hollowbody Gretsch with a standard Spacecontrol bridge to which I added a B6 Bigsby. And I must say: I LOVE that bridge! I've owned this guitar for years and NEVER had ANY problems with that bridge. I don't own it anymore but I 'm guessing it is a rockin bridge also. But I won't be able to use that kind of bridge because of its height and it's obviously overprised as are all things Gretsch...

Thanks guys. I'm learning so much.
Oh, and please feel free to post pics of what you're trying to explain.

To al: much obliged!

You really should try Gretsch rocking bar bridge sometimes. It was really an eye opener for me. Really nice ring, sustain, no unnecessary parts. Beautiful in it's simplicity.

and a hollowbody Gretsch with a standard Spacecontrol bridge to which I added a B6 Bigsby. And I must say: I LOVE that bridge! I've owned this guitar for years and NEVER had ANY problems with that bridge. I don't own it anymore but I 'm guessing it is a rockin bridge also.



...another great example of how experiences differ: the singer in my band has a Gretsch Black Falcon, also with a B6 and Space Control bridge - and that thing goes out of tune even when you only look at the tremolo bar hard; fortunately, he only uses it for strumming cowboy chords, never touches the tremolo.

You really should try Gretsch rocking bar bridge sometimes. It was really an eye opener for me. Really nice ring, sustain, no unnecessary parts. Beautiful in it's simplicity.

Sounds good! I really like the 'Beautiful in it's simplicity' -part. Wish that I had the opportunity to try out ALL of the suggested bridges, but my budget doesn't allow me to...
;-)

...another great example of how experiences differ: the singer in my band has a Gretsch Black Falcon, also with a B6 and Space Control bridge - and that thing goes out of tune even when you only look at the tremolo bar hard; fortunately, he only uses it for strumming cowboy chords, never touches the tremolo.

yup... That's what I mean. Guitars are magic. :-)

Hmm... My brother is a Gretsch-fannatic, and plays two hollowbodies (a 6120 and my ex-anniversary) and three jets. They ALL run Spacecontrol-bridges. I should ask him about what he thinks of them and it's tuning-stabillity...

But... That is too bad about that black falcon. I would change the bridge if I had that big an issue with it...

Well, that's what I would, too - but he's not a gear-hound like me; he's a great singer and songwriter, but only plays a bit of rhythm guitar, and doesn't know anything about the technical aspects of guitars - but he's got plenty of money (from a "previous" life - used to manage a big company, and retired to raise a family and concentrate on making music...) to only buy REALLY nice gear (like that Gretsch, or his Collings acoustic).
Here's a pic of that Black Falcon, from when I had it on loan for a couple of weeks:
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e323/RomanSonnleitner/gretschP6874.jpg

Drool...

..oh, and instead of changing that Spacecontrolbridge, another option is ofcourse replace the Bigsby for a Cadillac tailpiece... That's what I would do if that falcon was mine and if I was a rhythm player. I love them tailpieces on big guitars...

Thanks for the pic.

Well what I'm doing after having had this Gretsch here on loan for a while, is building a Cabronita-style Tele, with TV Jones PUs, a hollowed-out body, and a Bigsby (already have all the parts, except for the pickups, just need some spare time, and some consistently nicer weather, so I can spray-paint outdoors...)

Roman, weird that Falcon goes out of tune that badly. Probably just needs a setup, the bridge stuck down with some tape, and the nut slots looked at.
Looks like that bridge is sitting a little far back in that pic too - did it intonate like that?

My fav. archtop bridges are tune-a-matics, and I recently got a Stainless steel Tru-Arc (= bar bridge) that I love so far, it sounds great and stays in tune like a champ!

I have this schaller roller bridge on a non-trem guitar and love it. Does anyone have any experience with it on a bigsby guitar. It might work for you.

@ RomanS
Those seem to be very clean and cool guitars. A bit pricy but thats understandable I think. So that makes it a very logical choice to build.

Just promise to do a thread about it!
:cool:

I have this schaller roller bridge on a non-trem guitar and love it. Does anyone have any experience with it on a bigsby guitar. It might work for you.

Thanks. I get very easily (but maybe not nessecary) worried about string-angle issues towards the bigsby with these kind of bridges...

...My fav. archtop bridges are tune-a-matics, and I recently got a Stainless steel Tru-Arc (= bar bridge) that I love so far, it sounds great and stays in tune like a champ!

Walter, maybe too early to ask... But, do you miss the lack of compensation or lack of intonabillity (is that correct english..?)

@ RomanS
Those seem to be very clean and cool guitars. A bit pricy but thats understandable I think. So that makes it a very logical choice to build.

Just promise to do a thread about it!
:cool:

I will, I will (but first up on my "to build" list is a double-neck lap steel...)

Roman, weird that Falcon goes out of tune that badly. Probably just needs a setup, the bridge stuck down with some tape, and the nut slots looked at.
Looks like that bridge is sitting a little far back in that pic too - did it intonate like that?



I think I took that picture right after he brought it over to my place - I did do a setup for him, and adjusted that floating bridge for correct intonation...

Frankly, if it was mine, I'd pin the bridge, and slap locking tuners on there if that wasn't enough to keep it in tune, but I don't want to do that on somebody else's (even if it is a band member) EXPENSIVE guitar...
And he only uses it occasionally as a back-up to his Collings acoustic, anyway - most of the times it just sits in the case (ahhh, the lifestyles of the rich & famous :mrgreen:)

But enough off-topic chatter, let's get back to the real topic of the thread, Herr Rudolf's great build!

...But enough off-topic chatter, let's get back to the real topic of the thread, Herr Rudolf's great build!

Don't hold back on the chatter guys! Cool guitars like these are always on-topic in my thread.
Did I mention I love pics?
:-)

In that case...:

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e323/RomanSonnleitner/gbfP6876.jpg

(now the bridge sits at the right spot!)

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e323/RomanSonnleitner/gbfP6878.jpg

Sounds good! I really like the 'Beautiful in it's simplicity' -part. Wish that I had the opportunity to try out ALL of the suggested bridges, but my budget doesn't allow me to...
;-)

Just go to a shop that sells Gretsches and do some test driving. You'll notice that guitars with a bar bridge feel superior to any other bridge option on Gretsches. No matter what's the price range or model. It just excels with Bigsby.

I'm not suggesting you to buy them all :mrgreen:

I have this schaller roller bridge on a non-trem guitar and love it. Does anyone have any experience with it on a bigsby guitar. It might work for you.

I have one in this guitar, but I would change it to a bar, if the spacing would be correct. But I'll do it somehow, someday:
http://muusikoiden.net/dyn/users/3191.jpg

This with a Bigsby bar works better:
http://i532.photobucket.com/albums/ee324/chesterburger/Hagstrom/PICT0938.jpg

I think it as my ultimate rockabilly guitar. A Phat Cat in the bridge to get that P90 sound. Otherwise it's kinda gretschy too with mud switch and all.

Walter, maybe too early to ask... But, do you miss the lack of compensation or lack of intonabillity (is that correct english..?)
You know, I thought I would, but I don't! Intonation is actually very good on the Guild I have the Tru-Arc on, it starts getting a little sour around the fifteenth fret, but not much, and it's not like you spend a lot of time there on a big box with a single cutaway. Very light strings might not work as well, but with my usual 11's, it's no problem at all. I was sceptical too before I tried it.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v66/WalterBroes/GUILD-2.jpg?t=1271761758

A little inspirational music for your building pleasure. :mrgreen:

HDq-bLjpCC4

Thanks RomanS for the Compton-link. I was wondering who made these bridges. They look friggin' cool! But are there any pro's and con's compared to a compensated Bigsby-bridge? On their site Compton claims that their bridge is 'compensated', but to me it looks like a straight bar, although slanted. My Bigsby bridge truely IS compensated. Do I make any sense? Still learning...
Uma Floresta, tell us what you think of it when you've installed it.

I'm leaning more and more towards somehow using my Bigsby bridge...

Thanks jamesachaplin. What do you think of that P90 Tele? Is it any good? I'm collecting other peoples opinion about that guitar. I've never played one myself... Oh and I feel honered that you've decided to spend that all-important first post on my thread! ;-)

Hello Rudy, thanks for your reply. My P90 tele is sitting right next to me and i still have mixed feelings about it . I bought it when i split from my missus cause then i could finally afford a new guitar . The neck is solid . a bit of a baseball bat for my liking, so i am investigating how to thin it down . The guy who makes my surfboards gave me some 800 grit sanding mesh and said he skinned down the neck on his jazzmaster by holding the mesh in his hand and working it to and fro till it felt right. Dunno bout that . I have a TELE that i made and every guitar i pick up i put down and keep going back to my old favourite. That guitar has nicks and cuts from the router , slips and scratches but on stage it feels real comfy and i know what i can do with it . The P90 , i shall persevere with cause i like the sheer force of the pickups , they dont whisper they ****in shout. Great value for the cash . $500 AU Dollar . But damn i just missed an ebay for n Epiphone dot studio at $320. AUD, it s nice to have a variety of sounds at hand.
Keep up the good work you are making that guitar for all of us .
James

Wow!
Thanks for the pics guys.

@ RomanS
Those newer Gretsches just get better and better. This one looks gorgious man... For a Falcon it seems very understated. Love it!

@ Walter Broes
That's what I suspected. I just could not believe that so many players were using straight bar un-compensated bridges on high-end guitars if they had big stability and intonation-issues. By the way, I think that I am just too inexperienced to actually notice intonation-issues...

Oh and I've seen that guitar like a million times played live on stage. Nice one!
:-)

Varakeef wrote: Just go to a shop that sells Gretsches and do some test driving. You'll notice that guitars with a bar bridge feel superior to any other bridge option on Gretsches. No matter what's the price range or model. It just excels with Bigsby.

Well... That's easier said than done. Around here in Holland Gretsches have become popular only the last decade, but in guitarstores they're still treated as oddballs... There are just not too many to choose from to try out. Most of them seem to be fitted with either Spacecontrol bridges, Setzer's choice of Bridges, and those that are mounted on the electromatic series. But 90% it's the Spacecontrol. I've never seen the Gretsch barbridge IRL. And to travel to all of the guitarstores... nah.. It's easier and probably cheaper to order all of the bridges to try them all out...
;-)

I'm not suggesting you to buy them all

Heheh, I know but you are not the only one that has suggested a particular bridge that I should try out on my build:

- Mightyaxeman -> Schaller Rollerbridge
- Walter Broes -> Tune-a-Matic AND Tru Arc
- Jefrs -> Yamaha Rollerbridge
- RomanS -> Compton bridge
- Doubletriode -> Rollerbridge
- Uma Floresta -> My homemade aluminum piece bolted to a Jazzmaster plate
- Varakeef -> Gretsch Rocking barbridge

Catch my drift?
;-)

Hey, those are some nice guitars! I love the thriftstore-vibe that just oozes off of them... I'm wondering about the stringangle on them but ofcourse we can't really judge with just a frontal view... Thanks for sharing!

@ Arlo
Thanks! More Rock than Billy, but it's always fun to see the Rev in action.

@ Jamesachaplin
Thanks. I'm getting a bit scared... hearing about very loud pickups. It's not the first time someone said that. Heheh, I can't wait to try em out though!
I really don't know what is the best way to thin it down. About your friend's method: Aren't you worried that you'll be taking more off of the middle section? As far as I can feel I like the chunky neck.

Btw, I paid 190,50 AUD for mine, but as it was someone elses project it was in a really bad shape... I'm still encountering fitting-issues. That means a lot of work but it's still fun and I learn a lot from it. If I hadn't found this project I would've bought a new P90 Squire. Around here they are 395 AUD, max!. So I guess guitars are a bit pricy down-under?

Oh, and please... don't call me Rudy.
Don't ask...
;-)

Cheers,
Jeffrey.

Sorry Jeffery, i know the feeling , please dont call me Jim.
Had a jam the other night and swapped between the single coil tele and the p90 tele and every time the sound was overdriven by the p90s but cleaner with the single coils .
Get back to work
James

I have this schaller roller bridge on a non-trem guitar and love it. Does anyone have any experience with it on a bigsby guitar. It might work for you.

I have use a few, and like the results I have gotten.

There is one on my avatar I used with a jaguar trem on a tele, and see this link for one I did with a bigsby. http://www.tdpri.com/forum/telecaster-discussion-forum/103020-fz-bigsby-tele-build.html

Those with a roller nut, and roller tees is a great setup.

You could try taking your aluminum bridge and putting it on a Jazzmaster style bridge, removing the Jazzmaster saddles. You could use a couple of the screw holes to attach it to your bridge, drilling holes in your bridge to match, of course.

That way you'd get a no-friction rocking bridge.

Here's an example.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c22/umafloresta/Surf/IMG_5242.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c22/umafloresta/Surf/IMG_5245.jpg

Hello Tele nuts, ive just tuned in again and it seems a bit quiet . I was wondering how Herr-Rudolphs Rockabilly guitar is going . There doesnt appear to be any recent pictures. Just wondering???????

Hello Guys!

Sorry for not responding sooner. I didn't got any tdpri-notifications in my mail. The project is on a hold because I'm too bizzy with my work and other things. And to be honest, I've slightly lost interest on building because of some difficulties I came across whit this project. But don't worry. I'll probably be back before you know it.
Cheers,

Jeffrey

Hello Guys!

Sorry for not responding sooner. I didn't got any tdpri-notifications in my mail. The project is on a hold because I'm too bizzy with my work and other things. And to be honest, I've slightly lost interest on building because of some difficulties I came across whit this project. But don't worry. I'll probably be back before you know it.
Cheers,

Jeffrey

Hello Herr_Rudolph/ Jeffery, Yeah **** happens and we get sidetracked. Ive got a Jazzmaster body and strat neck in my shed waiting to be routed and fitted. HAd the wood for 5 years then the body shaped rough for 2 mean while life goes on . I recently changed the neck on my Black Tele like yours to a generic brand strat neck and it has become a lot more playable. A smaller handfull .
Keep the faith ther inspiration will come when needed.
James

Thought I'd revive this and see if you ended up permanently sidelining the project. Pretty amazing what you've done as of the last pics here. I'm subscribing in the event that you end up finishing it.

Thanks Roger :-)
-
http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/telecustom_project_44.jpg
^ Yesterday I've been buying some parts to get me going again. I kinda got lucky with the guy charging old prices for new stuff I bought, so I treated myself to this fun book. I've just quickly browsed through the pages and found it really entertaining. Good shots and easy to read. But within the first 24 pages I ran into 2 mistakes. Correct me if I'm wrong but...

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/telecustom_project_45.jpg
^...I always thought a DeArmond was a singlecoil..

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/telecustom_project_46.jpg
^ ...is there such thing as metalic blue oil stain..?

:-S

But overall it seems like a good read for a rookie like me, and I've learned alot already by just checking the pics. It comes with an actual size blueprint.

When i was in high school i found this book in the library. i remember when i did i was so stoked all i read was that freaking book thats usually what my nose was stuffed into when i was in class :wink: so yea i can say my senior year was full important learning :mrgreen:

There was a reference to Uma Floresta posting about testing different pups....
I just cannat find this thread.. any pointers, anyone??
TIA

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/jeffwar2/telecustom_project_71.jpg


That Bridge you made......... it's freaking.......... SEXY!!!!!!!! good work my friend!:shock:

Cool topic!

That bridge in the front looks a lot like the Supro-clone I made!
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1176.snc4/154865_1533202327727_1164861593_31201331_7501768_n .jpg
:mrgreen:

I think I'll follow this one.

Kinda reminds me of these
http://www.bigsbyguitars.com/images/Bigbsy-BYS50-600.jpg
http://www.bigsbyguitars.com/images/Bigbsy-BY50-600.jpg

Btw, is this thread too old?..

Hello Guys!

Sorry for not responding sooner. I didn't got any tdpri-notifications in my mail. The project is on a hold because I'm too bizzy with my work and other things. And to be honest, I've slightly lost interest on building because of some difficulties I came across whit this project. But don't worry. I'll probably be back before you know it.
Cheers,

Jeffrey

ouch...
I guess I could answer best by quoting myself...

I've been and still am very busy with my work and other timeconsuming hobbies and the steps I have to take with the guitarproject are kinda big. I still don't have the right tools to do and make exactly what I want. And rather than rushing things just to have a working piece of wood, I'd like to take some more time off till I can really bite into the project again. But looking at the pics you can bet it starts itching again...

@ thunders1988
Wow! Great minds think alike huh? :wink: I guess it's just a natural shape you get when compensating a bridge in the middle. Where did the rosewood(?) bridge end up on?

@ msfenderarg
Well, the teleaster has come full circle hasn't it? If I remember correctly Leo Fender stole a lot of the ideas Paul Bigsby came up with. I think we can safely say (well, not eactly on this board :rolleyes: ) that the telecaster was loosly based upon the original Bigsby guitars...
:oops: :cool:

---

Thanks for the interest guys, and reminding me I still have a cool project waiting for me...

ouch...
I guess I could answer best by quoting myself...

I've been and still am very busy with my work and other timeconsuming hobbies and the steps I have to take with the guitarproject are kinda big. I still don't have the right tools to do and make exactly what I want. And rather than rushing things just to have a working piece of wood, I'd like to take some more time off till I can really bite into the project again. But looking at the pics you can bet it starts itching again...

@ thunders1988
Wow! Great minds think alike huh? :wink: I guess it's just a natural shape you get when compensating a bridge in the middle. Where did the rosewood(?) bridge end up on?

@ msfenderarg
Well, the teleaster has come full circle hasn't it? If I remember correctly Leo Fender stole a lot of the ideas Paul Bigsby came up with. I think we can safely say (well, not eactly on this board :rolleyes: ) that the telecaster was loosly based upon the original Bigsby guitars...
:oops: :cool:

---

Thanks for the interest guys, and reminding me I still have a cool project waiting for me...

Well, IIRC Paul, Les and Leo got together a couple of times to talk about guitars.(In Les' garage, he was living in CA -again IIRC)
Mostly because neither Paul nor Leo played guitar, and therfeore they needed some feedback/input from a guitar player, and apart from being a musician, Les was, well... a Genius.

ouch...
@ thunders1988
Wow! Great minds think alike huh? :wink: I guess it's just a natural shape you get when compensating a bridge in the middle. Where did the rosewood(?) bridge end up on?

Thanks for the interest guys, and reminding me I still have a cool project waiting for me...

That's very true. I made this one for a '58 Supro Dual-Tone I'm restoring...
It took me a while to get it right. I hope they intonate right.
And I wish I had some metal-working skills.

Lookin' good man!