First build, gonna be a learning experience for sure...

So my idea is a tele (alder body, as I couldn't find a decent priced ash locally), with a 2 peice maple neck.

I will post pictures as I get some stuff done, Im going to be working on it the majority of today.

Anyways, for the neck, I have a few questions. Its gonna be a two peice maple neck (maple neck, with a maple fretboard, W/ the woodgrain flipped for extra strength). Should I put the truss rod route in the back of the neck, or under the fretboard? which would be easier? If I do it under the fretboard, I could still route out enough for a skunk stripe to be put in.

If you have any other tips for the build, thatd be great, im open to hear all your ideas.

Take a look at the build threads here if you haven't already. You will find more info than you can digest in a lifetime. There are no quick answers and a lot of the build is your desires and expectations. Good luck with the build and welcome.

rout under the fretboard it easier cause you don't need stripe plug.
that is my advice, but i'm yet to make a neck ;-)

Should I put the truss rod route in the back of the neck, or under the fretboard? which would be easier? If I do it under the fretboard, I could still route out enough for a skunk stripe to be put in.

If you have any other tips for the build, thatd be great, im open to hear all your ideas.

Routing in the back isn't all that difficult once you have all the jigs. Do a search for Jack Wells' one piece neck build thread. The many pictures help a lot!
On the other hand, routing under the fretboard for a hotrod truss rod (straight channel) is probably easier. Routing twice (TR from top, skunk from bottom) seems overkill to me. It might influence neck strength as well.

Good luck with your build.

So my idea is a tele (alder body, as I couldn't find a decent priced ash locally), with a 2 peice maple neck.

I will post pictures as I get some stuff done, Im going to be working on it the majority of today.

Anyways, for the neck, I have a few questions. Its gonna be a two peice maple neck (maple neck, with a maple fretboard, W/ the woodgrain flipped for extra strength). Should I put the truss rod route in the back of the neck, or under the fretboard? which would be easier? If I do it under the fretboard, I could still route out enough for a skunk stripe to be put in.

If you have any other tips for the build, thatd be great, im open to hear all your ideas.

Routing it from the back is no big deal at all. In my last build thread (http://www.tdpri.com/forum/tele-home-depot/263775-mojotrons-former-build-challenge-thread.html) I explain how to put together and use the jig for doing that. In fact the whole process of making a neck from making the template to making the nut slot are in there: Feel free to ask questions. Jack Wells threads on making necks I got a lot out of - and there are lots of great build threads in the 2011 build challenge threads that show how people have solved all of the same challenges in sometimes very different ways - you should read through those. The tough parts are not the ones that look tough - they are the parts that look easy until you try to do them - but it's all very doable.

What part of Washington are you from - or is that Western Australia?

Routing it from the back is no big deal at all. In my last build thread (http://www.tdpri.com/forum/tele-home-depot/263775-mojotrons-former-build-challenge-thread.html) I explain how to put together and use the jig for doing that. In fact the whole process of making a neck from making the template to making the nut slot are in there: Feel free to ask questions. Jack Wells threads on making necks I got a lot out of - and there are lots of great build threads in the 2011 build challenge threads that show how people have solved all of the same challenges in sometimes very different ways - you should read through those. The tough parts are not the ones that look tough - they are the parts that look easy until you try to do them - but it's all very doable.

What part of Washington are you from - or is that Western Australia?

I've been reading a ton of the build threads, and done a ton of research building guitars. Finding info on necks is the hardest because alot of people get pre made necks instead haha.

and I'm from arlington. About 45 minutes north of Seattle

and to kermito, I'm sticking to a single rod style instead of the dual for the hot rods.

I've been reading a ton of the build threads, and done a ton of research building guitars. Finding info on necks is the hardest because alot of people get pre made necks instead haha.

and I'm from arlington. About 45 minutes north of Seattle

and to kermito, I'm sticking to a single rod style instead of the dual for the hot rods.
You are right, most people do buy necks, however in all of the 2011 challenge builds everyone had to make a neck from scratch - so there's a ton of threads with necks being built there.

I'm down in Sumner - work downtown Seattle - not too far away.

Let us know if you have questions - the place to start is always making the templates, then processing the wood, then getting to the 2-D profile of the body/neck from the templates (basically copying he template), then routing the trussrod channel, drilling the access holes, then drilling the tuner holes, gluing on the fretboard (if making it with a separate fretboard, then shaping the back of the neck, then shaping the radius on the fretboard if not already done, cutting fret slots, inserting the frets, finish the finish-work, level and crown, make nut slot, make nut then nut-slotting and setup: On the body there would be drilling all of the bridge holes, pickup, control and the neck pocket to route, then the electronics... then assembly starting with the neck bolt holes...

That is the basic progression of events.

You are right, most people do buy necks, however in all of the 2011 challenge builds everyone had to make a neck from scratch - so there's a ton of threads with necks being built there.

I'm down in Sumner - work downtown Seattle - not too far away.

Let us know if you have questions - the place to start is always making the templates, then processing the wood, then getting to the 2-D profile of the body/neck from the templates (basically copying he template), then routing the trussrod channel, drilling the access holes, then drilling the tuner holes, gluing on the fretboard (if making it with a separate fretboard, then shaping the back of the neck, then shaping the radius on the fretboard if not already done, cutting fret slots, inserting the frets, finish the finish-work, level and crown, make nut slot, make nut then nut-slotting and setup: On the body there would be drilling all of the bridge holes, pickup, control and the neck pocket to route, then the electronics... then assembly starting with the neck bolt holes...

That is the basic progression of events.

Yea I have been practicing with templates first, just getting the cutting of the shape down, and I made 3 neck shape templates, and 2 body ones. I cut out the body today, and I did what you did in your build, glued the 2-D drawing onto the blank. That really did help instead of having pencil marks.

I will post pics up in a little bit, I have to run into town for a few so I don't have the time right now.

Tomorrow I think im going to build a few practice necks with 2x4's. And build the jigs needed for the truss rod channel and what not.

Thank you for all of your advice, its helping a lot.

Yea I have been practicing with templates first, just getting the cutting of the shape down, and I made 3 neck shape templates, and 2 body ones. I cut out the body today, and I did what you did in your build, glued the 2-D drawing onto the blank. That really did help instead of having pencil marks.

I will post pics up in a little bit, I have to run into town for a few so I don't have the time right now.

Tomorrow I think im going to build a few practice necks with 2x4's. And build the jigs needed for the truss rod channel and what not.

Thank you for all of your advice, its helping a lot.

Grab some maple 1x4 from home depot and practice on a real neck for about $6. 2x4 pine is not much like what your gonna be making in the end. If you are buying the pre-slotted-radiused fretboard it fits great on the HD maple necks. ;-)

My body blank (3 piece alder from North Ridge Hardwoods)
http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k557/bross_guitars/IMAG0028.jpg

All cut out
http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k557/bross_guitars/IMAG0032-1-1.jpg

My body blank (3 piece alder from North Ridge Hardwoods)
...
All cut out
...
Looks great!

WAY nicer than my first cutout. :-)

Thank you, I'm pleased with how it turned out

A little update:
last night I got a piece of maple and made two fret board blanks out of it.
I have school tonight, so i'm not going to be able to get much done today.


But I have a quick question..
so since I'm using a separate piece for the fret board, and doing a top route, should I cut to the bottom of the truss rod channel in the drawing? I'm using the template thats been on here quite a bit. I think its ed hawleys?

And I'm changing the headstock up a little bit, to put my own touch on it and what not. I'm going to draw some stuff up at school tonight (im going to school for computer drafting and design, so I have access to autocad and other drafting/3d modeling programs)

Okay, so im back to doing a rear route
and I want to know, whats the difference from having the truss rod go all the way through the neck, and having a stopper at the end of the skunk stripe and thats where the rod ends too? if that makes sense..