Telecaster Build - Phase 1

I have an extra SX neck so I've decided to make a guitar out of it. I'm planning on buying a body from rondomusic in a little over a week and I'm having trouble deciding on colors. I wouldn't mind spending a little bit of dough on the color of the paint but whatever paint I use, I would like to be able to buy a clear coat locally that doesn't cost $16 a can. I really don't want to spend $50 on a finish.

I'm also going to be buying a router for this. I know little to nothing about word work but after reading the build threads here and with a little assistance I feel like I'll be able to do an acceptable job. My first goal was to strip the neck and reshape the headstock. I got that done and it looks good! Well, to me it does.

Anyways, I want a tele bridge pickup with a Gibson style humbucker in the neck. I also am pretty set on the warmoth style guard as well as adding a Jazzmaster/Jaguar tremolo system. I liked the bigsby on my tele is just made it too damn heavy. Here are my mock ups, which do you think looks best?

http://i858.photobucket.com/albums/ab147/portugalwillie/TeleJazzCompOrange.jpg
http://i858.photobucket.com/albums/ab147/portugalwillie/TeleJazzPink.jpg
http://i858.photobucket.com/albums/ab147/portugalwillie/TeleJazzAgedWhite.jpg
http://i858.photobucket.com/albums/ab147/portugalwillie/JazzTeleSeaFoam.jpg
http://i858.photobucket.com/albums/ab147/portugalwillie/JazzTeleBrown.jpg

I am using Mixwax lacquer spray can on my current build. Looks amazing. Ate 1 can already, but I am confident I will finish with the 2nd can. At $7 a peice at Wally World it's hard to beat.

BTW, competition orange gets my vote.

What style pickguard is that? Anyone have a drawing? That exactly what I want on my latest build, cause I want to show off more of it's grain.

Also, what do you use to make these mock ups?

Not really in love with this relic thing, but thought you might want to check out this trem, http://www.guitarfetish.com/Vintage-Style-Surface-Mount-Whammy-Bar-Hofner-Vibrola-style_p_839.html
I have 2 friends that have them and I've been surprised how good they look and how light they are.I installed one of them (on a hollow body) and was VERY surprised how well it stayed in tune............just a thought, and one that prevents a LOT of routing, those JM trems are a pain!..........:smile:

I'm not into relic's either, but I chose oly white, for me its just classy looking and certainly vintage. I like the trem you have chosen, mainly because there is a switch to lock it out if you bust a string, it also doesn't require all the routing in the back and all the hassle of a strat trem system. That was always a point of contention with the strat and busting a string in middle of a song. Should be a nice project, good luck with it.

Regards,

D.

I am using Mixwax lacquer spray can on my current build. Looks amazing. Ate 1 can already, but I am confident I will finish with the 2nd can. At $7 a peice at Wally World it's hard to beat.

BTW, competition orange gets my vote.

What style pickguard is that? Anyone have a drawing? That exactly what I want on my latest build, cause I want to show off more of it's grain.

Also, what do you use to make these mock ups?

http://www.nymphusa.com/kisekae/8.0/tele8001/base.asp

That is the link for the tele builder I used. On top of that I used the builder on offestguitars for the Jazzy trem as well as the Mustang builder on shortscale.org for the comp stripes. After that I used photoshop to combine everything.

The pickguard it also a warmoth style pickguard. I really like it because it doesn't cover the entire bottom horn.
It can be found here
http://www.warmoth.com:80/Pickguard/TeleHybridPickguard.aspx


Also, the I really love the looks of relics and if I get a good finish (it will be my second) then I won't relic it. I just figured it won't come out the best and a relic is a good way to hide a lot of finishing mistakes that I will make as I try to find a method and and the talent it takes to get a really good finish!

Not really in love with this relic thing, but thought you might want to check out this trem, http://www.guitarfetish.com/Vintage-Style-Surface-Mount-Whammy-Bar-Hofner-Vibrola-style_p_839.html
I have 2 friends that have them and I've been surprised how good they look and how light they are.I installed one of them (on a hollow body) and was VERY surprised how well it stayed in tune............just a thought, and one that prevents a LOT of routing, those JM trems are a pain!..........:smile:


Also, I really love the Jazzmaster tremolo system. I know it gets a bad rep but if they're set up properly they rock! Bend up, bend down and it has a long tremolo arm!

Also, the I really love the looks of relics and if I get a good finish (it will be my second) then I won't relic it. I just figured it won't come out the best and a relic is a good way to hide a lot of finishing mistakes that I will make as I try to find a method and and the talent it takes to get a really good finish!

Haha, I did that with this one.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vcsj6HzHehM/TKVMZvj5NfI/AAAAAAAADWA/N92tGGWDBSw/s400/2010-09-30_19-10-43_452.jpg

Except I would not accept having it flawed to begin with. I sprayed and resanded the base coat at least 10 times until it was perfect. And THEN reliced it. I just had to know I COULD do a really nice finish.

I just figured it won't come out the best and a relic is a good way to hide a lot of finishing mistakes that I will make as I try to find a method and and the talent it takes to get a really good finish!

The most important skill required to get a good finish is lots and lots of patience. Rush into it before the finish is fully dry, especially lacquer, and you can forget it.
Also, prep work is important. Sand every scratch, blemish, dip, or anything out of the body before you begin. Make sure it's as pristine as you can get it before the finish goes on. If you find in the prep stages that you are getting frustrated or in a hurry, or that it's taking too long, walk away. Come back in a day or two and work on it some more. If necessary, do this until you get the results you're looking for.
Patience is THE virtue to finish work. MHO.

Right-o

My first attempt at refinishing went fairly well. My main goal was to just get half way decent at spraying evenly and learn when/how to wet sand. My goal was just to get something that didn't look awful. From 3 feet away the guitar looks great but up close it's pretty rough. I'm having fun learning how to do this stuff and with one electric guitar that is playable (last project I was working on my only guitar) I'll be able to stay more patient.

There is nothing worse than having the itch to play guitar when you're 1/2 way through the prep stage of painting :(

I had really good results on my first build with Deft clear laquer, on top of ReRanch BSB.
Lot's of wet sanding and finishing it off with a buffer and it looks sweet

Portugal---You stated on 11/6 that you were going to buy a tele body from Rondomusic , I went to there site ,because I'm looking for one too,How does someone order one from them

If you go to rondomusic.com

then look to the right, there is a link for parts/bodies. It is 40 for body and around 10 for shipping. I just however bought a guitar body from guitarfetish.com that was already painted for 35 shipped. It will take a little work to get the sx neck to fit but the way I see it, I don't have to buy finishing supplies and I get a cheaper body. Well worth it.