motor_city_tele's 2012 Challenge Build Thread -- COMPLETED

humm what? did somebody blow a whistle.

Dude, if you've planned anything close to what you did last year, I can't wait to see it!

Dude, if you've planned anything close to what you did last year, I can't wait to see it!

ditto

it'll be a first for me.

lots of stuff in it that I've never used before.

Pb and Feldspar mostly.

waaay intrigued :cool:

it'll be a first for me.

lots of stuff in it that I've never used before.

Pb and Feldspar mostly.
Peanut butter?
Good to see you in, but the whistle hasn't sounded just yet.

Good to see ya' back, good luck! :grin:

Dave

You'll be hard pressed to top that marquetry flag you made last year. That was really good. Have fun and good luck.

Awesome - more challenge vets! Good Luck MCT!

Pb and Feldspar mostly.
Pb as in lead (the metal)? THAT should be interesting...

for those who are in the race to finish first, lets see sommat. it's been like 1/2 a day already.

Put me down on the list of people that are really going to interested in your build this year. Loved what you did last year.

here is what I will be building my 2012 challenge out of.

The long piece of rough sawn lumber is called Guyana Rosewood or Wamara. It is sap wood so it is light in color. I will be making the neck and body supports out of it. It is a very dense wood so the shaping and machining may take a toll on my cutting tools. The rest of the material are sheets of glass. The plan is to build a sunburst esquire.

http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_001.jpg

tootles - jb

Wow.

Motor City I know you are in this years guitar build,by the way ,great job last year.But does that put the amp build on hold?Can't wait to see that build too. Good luck!

One of the 5e3's is mostly built. needs the cab though. I'll try to keep that going too. I figure if I'm already going to fire up the table saw, I'll at least cut some pieces for my amp. I plan on doing my video using the homebuilt amp.

Sheets of glass?! Really?!

It
Just
Got

INTERESTING!!

:lol:

That's funny - I thought I read he was using glass to make a telecaster...naaahhh!!! couldn't be.

No, it'll be a teleGLASSter :mrgreen:

Will he be playing slide using a wooden slide? lol

Will you have to squeegee it down after each night of gigging? Might be the first instrument where cleaning it with windex IS the recommended method.

here is what I will be building my 2012 challenge out of.

The long piece of rough sawn lumber is called Guyana Rosewood or Wamara. It is sap wood so it is light in color. I will be making the neck and body supports out of it. It is a very dense wood so the shaping and machining may take a toll on my cutting tools. The rest of the material are sheets of glass. The plan is to build a sunburst esquire.

http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_001.jpg

tootles - jb

jb,

I guess there will be no amp or stage bashing with that rig. You know what they say about people who play glass guitars.....

Barncaster

Be carefull with that glass, before you know.....
IOPZ_QXAM64
it will break :rolleyes:

I found my huge roll of butcher block paper and made a couple of tele body tracings. I needed to know if my hunk of rosewood is going to be enough wood to make all of the wooden parts. I think I have enough - barely. The sketch on the right is a quick pattern that I will use to cut the glass pieces.

http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_002.jpg

That's about I could muster this week.

Cool a tiffanycaster! Or is it a cathedralcaster? Will it have internal lighting? That would be cool!

You know what they say about people who play glass guitars.....

They shouldn't play the Rolling Stones??

Will it have internal lighting? That would be cool!

I'm thinkin' it'll have to light up to have any merit as a lampCaster. The question is do I tear apart one of those Harbour Freight LED flashlites or do I use 6.3 volt incandescent bayonet mounts that I have for my amp builds. and of course, there is the power source to deal with. a 9 volt battery would probably do the job but where does it go. then there is the switch factor.

here is what I will be building my 2012 challenge out of.

The long piece of rough sawn lumber is called Guyana Rosewood or Wamara. It is sap wood so it is light in color. I will be making the neck and body supports out of it. It is a very dense wood so the shaping and machining may take a toll on my cutting tools. The rest of the material are sheets of glass. The plan is to build a sunburst esquire.

http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_001.jpg

tootles - jbIUH3JQjcweM

This is going to be a good one... are you going to use foil or lead cane?

Very cool. Can't wait to see this take shape.

For the switch, just tie it into the jack - use a stereo jack so one part is only the negative connector on the light circuit....

When you build a guitar as nice as the one you built last year, it makes it kind of tough to step it up a notch dosen't it? I think you're on the right track though. This should be awesome.

This is going to be a good one... are you going to use foil or lead cane?

It'll be foil.

tootles - jb

I started cutting glass this evening. If you haven't stumbled upon Vicky Payne on PBS and watched her stained glass show, this is how it's done.

The pattern is pinned down and the pieces are assembled on top of it.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_017.jpg

Some card stock is slipped under the pattern.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_003.jpg

Some transfer paper (carbon paper) is slipped between the card stock and the pattern.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_004.jpg

A good sharp strong pencil will transfer the piece outline onto the card stock.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_005.jpg

The template for the next piece of glass is ready. I mark the top with an X
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_006.jpg

The template is cut out and the outline is traced onto a piece of glass. Since this piece is black, a paint pen is needed to see the lines.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_007.jpg

The paper is removed and the glass is ready to cut.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_008.jpg

I use an oil cutter. I push the cutter down with pressure that scores the glass. It snaps off pretty easy with a pair of glass cutting pliers.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_009.jpg

The piece is shaped with a glass grinder until it fits accurately against the piece next to it.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_010.jpg

When the piece is the correct shape, copper foil is applied along the edges.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_011.jpg

The edges are burnished with a piece of dowel.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_012.jpg

The piece is positioned and flux is applied.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_013.jpg

The soldering gun is ready to go. A damp sponge is used to keep the tip clean.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_014.jpg

Tack the pieces together.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_015.jpg

Repeat this for every piece of the puzzle.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_016.jpg

Tomorrow I'll cut and grind the red, amber, and white glass.


btw, earlier I got started on my 2014 build challenge. - 2 years from now

Remember that cherry tree I cut down? Here is the trunk staring at some serious bandsaw.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_019.jpg

It was a hell-a-va lot easier getting it into the trunk the second time.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_020.jpg

I will stack the pieces in a corner someplace for the next year or so to dry.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_021.jpg

Incredible. This is going to be out of this world.

Of all the builds, I think this is the one, well in the top two, or three...dang it, I really want to see this one!

If, for any reason, you're not happy with it when you're done I'll send you my address.:grin:

Wicked work, I think you'll have to change your handle to "Tiffany" as in Wm. not the Redhead...

This gonna be, quite possibly, the coolest guitar I've ever seen. Exciting just watching
it develop.

Oh...and I've got this feeling your trunk looks a lot like mine, lol.

I find it hard to believe you are only building one or are there others being built in the background that you are not telling us about.:shock:

I said this on another thread, and I'll say it again here--

I just KNEW that my cement guitar would be the most inventive use of materials this year... WRONG :lol:

This is going to look spectacular!

Back to the grind -

I can't imagine doing this without a diamond glass grinder. It's almost like building guitars without the internet.

Red glass is all cut, foiled and tacked
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_022.jpg

Amber glass is all positioned and foiled too.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_023.jpg

The control plate (faux, made of glass) is positioned and foiled and tacked. btw. I will not have any volume, tone or cocked wah circuit. It's straight outta the coil and into the amp.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_024.jpg

finished with the beading and patina just in time to see how it looks in the direct sunlight. Sorta looks like a sunburst.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_025.jpg

next week I'll be doing the wood and stuff. - we'll see. first things first, clean the shed and organize everything.

tootles - jb

Great idea! I had thought about making a stained glass pickguard, but the whole top out of SG looks sooo cool. Great execution on the cutting and soldering too - that is another hobby of mine, and results like yours are hard to achieve. My hat is off to you my fine sir!

It seems like a whole lifetime since I did stained glass. Cool concept JB. Excellent work on that glass.

Steve

Heck with the build, you should just start making
These in different models and selling them. Tele,
Star, LP....wow

Perfect!

Beautiful ! That looks fantastic in the sun light .

nice...this will need LED back lighting

:shock: I'm just speechless, jb. That is remarkable.

Wow, this has to win for the sheer ambition of it. I doubt I could contemplate pulling that off. Very impressive.

nice...this will need LED back lighting

I was just thinking the same thing. If you can pull off the backlighting that's gonna be awesome.

Wow, thats awesome.

Stunning, MCT.

Another winner for sure.

:smile:

Brilliant concept MCT Isn't it different standing outside looking into the box?

To power an internal back light I'd think about a phantom supply up the cable?

Jb.

That is really impressive. Impressive just to come up with the idea even more to execute.

Cheers

You got skills. Wow!!!

:shock:

Impressive!

Recidivism....
Might as well load up your StewMac shopping cart...

(What a jaw-dropper!)

April Fools.

Actually, I'm way behind the pack. Kinda gettin lapped by the field - Just like Kyle "guitar killer" Busch was this afternoon.

Hear are the milled pieces I made by cutting up the Wamara on the table saw.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_018.jpg

I dug out the band saw to cut up the puzzle pieces that will make up the body frame, but first, glue up the small extra piece I will need for the neck.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_026.jpg

done with the rough cutting of the neck. The Wamara wood wreaks havoc on bandsaw blades.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_027.jpg

Here are a few of the smaller blocks glued up and drying.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_028.jpg

For the main body block support, I pulled out the big clamps.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_029.jpg

This is the template I'll use to glue up the smaller pieces.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_030.jpg

Here is some of the pieces in place
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_031.jpg

The rest of the pieces in place but not glued yet.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_032.jpg

My router template fits
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_033.jpg

A shot with the glasswork top.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_034.jpg

next week, more glasswork and glue-ups - maybe some router table work too.

tootles - jb

Plenty of time. :wink:

Its looking good.

This is so cool. Is that glass heavy? I don't know why, but stained glass has always
"looked" heavy to me.

This is so cool. Is that glass heavy? I don't know why, but stained glass has always
"looked" heavy to me.

I think this guitar is going to be pretty light. The glass top and back are 1/8 inch thick. Stained glass is alot lighter and tougher than you think. Yes it is brittle in large sheets, but when they are cut into pieces and held together with lead, there is a little bit of give to them.

Still, given enough gain and feedback it could be a real 'Memorex' moment (only the olde guys are gonna get that one). Keep a camera handy! :mrgreen:

Hey Maricopa,

Can you hit the high note? You're younger than I am. The older I get the more my range kind of settles into duck fart land.....

Barncaster

No I'm also definitely in the lower octave range.

Is it live or is it Memorex? Glass... cool idea.

""Once I had a love and it was a gas
Soon turned out had a heart of glass""...

glad it's not another blondie....:wink:

on the weekend I was talking to a stall holder at a local flea market.. he just happened to be holding an old Birko electric soldering iron... with a tip about 1/2" thick copper..:shock:.. I said , geez mate that's huge. a hundred watter maybe.. he looked at the tag.. 130 W..

I suggested it was probably for roof/gutter soldering,, or maybe stained glass working.... the price tag was $5... :!:.. the light bulb went off in my head...

$5 ! , I should just buy the thing... just in case I need mega heat for something.. bending veneers on the larger barrel...or doing some stained glass/lead work.....
now there's a lead light glass Tele build.... like? who'd have thought of that?...

I'm impressed...:grin:.. and have the big iron now.. mmmmmm :cool:

Hey Maricopa,

Can you hit the high note? You're younger than I am. The older I get the more my range kind of settles into duck fart land.....

Barncaster

Does a duck's fart echo????

Apparently their quack does not!!! which weally quacks me up!:lol:

it's glorious day in the big mitten. The sun is out, the ducks are on the lake, and I think the shop-vac is already empty. In a couple hours, I'll be cuttin up something. not sure what but there is sawdust on the menu for today.

I can't wait, it is looking good so far.

Totally off the hook Motorcity! Looking very cool so far. Can't wait to see this baby come together.

Man is this Wamara dense. Like steel it is. so much like steel that I believe adding a truss would be a moot point.

The frame is all glued up
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_035.jpg

The back glasswork is starting to take shape.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_036.jpg

Gonna do some fiber optic thinking in the next few days. maybe instead of a truss rod, I could add some type of fiber optics in the channel. The fret markers and side dots should light-up if things work out.

Seriously!!! Fiber optic lights. This is going to be awesome, you are way creative and talented.

Damn, I was hoping I would be the only one doing fibre optic fret markers! This blows me out the water!

So the stained glass top & back are not enough? You have to add fiber optics just to make sure we all look like we're 20 years behind you? :shock: It's just not right I say.

I can't WAIT to see this thing lit up!!!! I may stop building my own just to make sure I
don't miss any updates in this thread.

I'm calling it a night. I think I'm done with the glass, at least for now. I might make the fret markers out of glass, not quite sure.

I decided to go with the tobacco burst for the back.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_037.jpg

Here is a close up of the lower horn.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_038.jpg

The back placed onto my body frame. I will be routing the perimeter later next week and we will see about placing the illumination components.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_039.jpg

tomorrow looks like cookin and fishing.

The Crabapple tree is in full bloom
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/apple_blossom_001.jpg

http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/apple_blossom_003.jpg

The cherry tree would have been in bloom also but it was cut down a few months ago.

That tree is so pretty you had to post a guard dog eh?

The glass back is superb.

At least you didn't lie about cutting down the cherry tree (see what I did there?)....buwahaha

At least you didn't lie about cutting down the cherry tree (see what I did there?)....buwahaha

some green cherry tucked away for the next year or so. No lie.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_040.jpg

here is a shot of the back.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_041.jpg

too windy to fish today.

tootles - jb

Awesome pic! Them blossoms are beautiful. It is really nice and green around here too. A couple of weekends ago, all the redbuds were in bloom, for my bicycle ride.

Remember those free Harbour Freight LED flashlights they used to give away with a coupon. Well I took one apart to see if there is any usable parts. Pretty basic for the most part. 4.5 volts and 9 LEDs in parallel. I should be able to figure some way to hook it up inside the lampCaster. The trick will be the battery compartment and the switch.

9 LEDs in a cluster.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_042.jpg

till next time - tootles - jb

Man this is going to be so cool motorcity! Your really upping the game here :shock: Keep up the amazing work.

Expecting storms off and on all day. I might get some work dons and I might not. Just in case the latter, I thought I would update on the stuff that got done yesterday.

I routed out the neck with my flush cut bit using a the router table. This wood is so hard and dense that I only took 1/4 inch at a time and that was a little too much. After that I clamped it down and swapped out a 1/4 inch straight cut bit and routed out a 1/2 inch slot where the truss rod normally would go.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_043.jpg

I drilled some 1/16 inch side dot hole on an angle so they would intersect the shallow channel in the back. I threaded some fiber optic cable into the holes, down the channel and out the heel.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_044.jpg

The heel will be the access point for LED transfer. That little area between the neck pickup and the heel will house a LED that will point directly at the hole in the neck heel.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_045.jpg

Looking very cool!

The ends of the fiber optic are glued into place
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_046.jpg

The cable is secured inside of the channel with epoxy
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_047.jpg

a quick test shows the light being transferred to the side markers
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_048.jpg

When when the slow set epoxy is cured, I'll glue in the skunk stripe and secure the heel ends of the fiber.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_049.jpg

Awesome man! I am doing LEDs in my fretboard but I could never pull it off in this time frame. Keep it up!!!

I think you need a sequencer connected into the fret dots and individually light them up.

Are the fret markers just going to be dots of light, or are they going to light up the glass inlays that you will install in the fingerboard? :wink:

I think you need a sequencer connected into the fret dots and individually light them up.
You could use this
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x137/Koenbus/Fretledsscheme.png

Are the fret markers just going to be dots of light, or are they going to light up the glass inlays that you will install in the fingerboard? :wink:

I was originally planning on using the fiber to illuminate the transparant resin dot inlays but the tests I did did not yield satisfactory results. So I decided to just light up the side dots and call it a day. The fret markers would be created in my usual way (apoxy sculpt).

Now that I have gone back and looked at my latest post, I can see that the little string of LEDs in the photo might be interpreted as being created to set inside the neck to light up the fret markers. Not so. That is just a test strip I use validate some of my thoughts and ideas. I will not be inserting that string of LEDs into the neck. That would be crazy. Any fool knows that the LEDs should be set into place then soldered.

So due to popular demand. I will rethink the fret markers and somehow illuminate them.

I was originally planning on using the fiber to illuminate the transparant resin dot inlays but the tests I did did not yield satisfactory results. So I decided to just light up the side dots and call it a day. The fret markers would be created in my usual way (apoxy sculpt).

Now that I have gone back and looked at my latest post, I can see that the little string of LEDs in the photo might be interpreted as being created to set inside the neck to light up the fret markers. Not so. That is just a test strip I use validate some of my thoughts and ideas. I will not be inserting that string of LEDs into the neck. That would be crazy. Any fool knows that the LEDs should be set into place then soldered.

So due to popular demand. I will rethink the fret markers and somehow illuminate them.
Sweet...

I'm wondering what would happen if a fiber optic strand was centered under an mother of pearl marker. Would it glow?

Sweet...

I'm wondering what would happen if a fiber optic strand was centered under an mother of pearl marker. Would it glow?

It would not. At least I don't think it would. There is just not enough candle power in the fiber to light up anything but the end of the strand. due to the bend, I needed to use no more than 1.0mm fiber. any wider would not bend within the neck channel.

I did try to illuminate a few items to see if they would glow, but it was just not enough.

An LED mounted in the neck? now that's another story.

Doing a little searching on-line to see what's available.

I might bite the bullet and pick them up at RadioShack.
I think using a slow boat from China might be cutting it close to the deadline.

I stopped off at the local RadioShack and rummaged through the three drawers of LEDs. I found a couple packs of these, 20 assorted LEDs for 3.19. Don't know the specs but bought them anyroad. The website for these has some good information though. All of them are around 2.8v .020 amps. Lots of good reviews on the website and some informative wiring schemes too.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_050.jpg

I drilled out the fret markers carefully starting with 1/16. then 1/8 then 5/32 then 3/16 and finally 7/32 being very weary of the fiber that lives in the channel next to the holes. I gave each LED a slight dab of epoxy and pushed them in.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_051.jpg

Before the 60 minute epoxy cures, I'd better check each one to make sure it still lights up. I found a 330 ohm resister and hooked it up to the 4.5 volt battery pack. Without the resister, these things don't live very long.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_052.jpg

hey, it lights up. I'll run 8 red and 2 orange lights but not tonight, the Red Wings are going to be on in a little while, plus The epoxy needs to cure.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_053.jpg

tootles - jb

Hey jb,

Where are you going to put the smoke generator and pyrotechnics pack? I think that would really freak the audience out if the guitarist's guitar started smoking and blowing up during a hamster lead. Very Spinal Tap. ;>)

Barncaster

I think you should put an LED on every fret and then wire pressure switches in the frets so that when you press down, your LED lights up. You'd have your own light show :mrgreen:

Oh man! I'm glad I'm getting caught up this morning; I think Colt was talking just the other day, in the main DIY forum, about "someday" wiring side dots with in-neck fiber optics. Apparently, the future is now.

Yep, this challenge is the Detroit Auto Show of the guitar world-- all the newest innovations and best craftsmanship are on display.

Ohhhhhh....loving those markers. You're going to need to do a "black out" video segment
for us, don't forget.

Wow!!

Well I took a big bite this time. It's one of the reasons I haven't been making my usual to do lists. It is time to face the music and get a grip on the tasks at hand. - It's a long list but here goes nuthin .

Body
rout outside shape
bandsaw inside shape - sand smooth
rout/carve/rabbit for glass
neck holes
neck pocket
drill jack hole
design and carve out battery and switch compartment
drill string through holes
rout edge radius
drill LED bridge for neck
drill wiring channel to neck
fix dents/dings
sand sand sand
vinyl sealer
apply black lacquer to edges
clear coat
Wire LEDs
apply reflective mylar to all inside edges of body
adhear LED wiring harness
glue front glass to body

neck
drill neck mounting holes
drill small tuner guide and mounting holes
cut headstock to 1/2 inch
widen fret marker holes to 1/4 inch - careful now there is an LED at the bottom
glue in skunk stripe
epoxy and flush cut heel end fiber optic strands
sand back contour with trusty belt sander
glue clear acrylic rod pieces into fret marker holes,
radius fretboard - sand smooth
cut fret and nut slots
press in frets
file fret ends
make nut - woof
add logo to headstock
drill out final size hole for tuners
vinyl sealer
clear lacquer
clean up frets and polish
add tuners and string tee

hardware and assembly
make bobbin out of garolite
cut 3/16 steel rod for poles
glue/solder/tape neodymium magnets into place 2-3 per pole
assemble bobbin
wind bobbin and add leads
add baseplate
wind butcher string around magnet wire
pot pickup
make saddles
assemble bridge
bolt on neck
wire neck LED circuit to body
make battery/switch cover out of garolite
add jack
add strap buttons
wire jack to coil
glue back glass to body

finish 5e3 cab
mount speaker
mount chassis

make video

Yikes! Looks daunting when you spell it all out! I noticed the amp cab too, I had that on my list but I still can't figure out where the dang speaker ended up after the storm. Oh well, looks like a store bought amp for me this year!

Good luck on your build, I'm sure you'll get there.

So, I'm thinkin'... what, three more hours, tops?

Kidding. It'll be fun for us to watch you work your way through the list.

Yikes! Looks daunting when you spell it all out! I noticed the amp cab too, I had that on my list but I still can't figure out where the dang speaker ended up after the storm. Oh well, looks like a store bought amp for me this year!

Good luck on your build, I'm sure you'll get there.

That's interesting because I was all ready to pull the trigger on a new Celestion 12 inch when all of the sudden, I looked in my yard and there was a 12 inch guitar speaker hanging off of the big oak tree.

just kidding.

Just keep pluggin away. Slow & steady, you know, like that hairy tortoise. It may seem like a lot to do, but when you read the list......it's a lot to do :oops:

That's interesting because I was all ready to pull the trigger on a new Celestion 12 inch when all of the sudden, I looked in my yard and there was a 12 inch guitar speaker hanging off of the big oak tree.

just kidding.

Musta really been one heck of a storm then since I'm building a 5f1 and it was an 8" weber last time I saw it! :razz:

All of the finger dot LEDs are in place and have been wired up in parallel. There is a lot going on inside the truss rod channel.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_054.jpg

So I drilled a smaller secondary hole in the heel to house the electric wires so when I clip off the fiber ends flush I won't have to worry about breaking the copper wires.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_055.jpg

I pushed everything down into the channel as far as I could and did a quick circuit check to make sure I didn't create any shorts.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_056.jpg

A shot from the top. I'll be adding some type of clear rod into the holes to transfer the light to the top of the fingerboard. The twelfth fret will house two amber lights. All of the others are red.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_057.jpg

No going back now. The skunk stripe is glued in.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_058.jpg

I mixed up some epoxy and flooded the hole in the heel. When that cures, I'll trim off the excess and sand then polish the ends of the fiber.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_059.jpg

Got a couple tasks crossed off the list. now I need to find some 1/4" clear acrylic or lucite rods to insert into my fret dots holes.

In the dark, that thing's going to look like some secret Air Force project flying on the stage, if that fourth pic is any indication. A question: are you worried at all about the truss rod crushing anything if you have to adjust it?

EDIT: question's already answered; no truss rod! Very bold!

Neck work this afternoon. First, the excess headstock material is removed
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_060.jpg

Next, the beltsander is clamped down to a secure surface.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_061.jpg

The process of carving out the back contour is slow and steady. I keep the neck constantly moving to keep the belt sander from creating an unwanted groove. This wood is pretty hard so it's best just to hang in there and take my time.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_062.jpg

While I'm at it, I sanded the fiber in the heel flush.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_063.jpg

The headstock holes get drilled. I will be using these to mount my neck into the radius jig so they are only 1/8 inch for now.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_064.jpg

The other end gets some 1/8 inch hole too. I have to trust my templates at this point. The holes will line up with the body when all is said and done.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_065.jpg

The neck is roughly shaped.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_066.jpg

I need to enlarge the fret marker holes from the top.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_067.jpg

After all that, I tested the LEDs to make sure they are still intact.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_068.jpg

OOhhhh...aaaahhhhhh....love them LEDs!!!

Lots of skills being exhibited here. I'm loving it!

Acrylic rod - no
tinted epoxy - might work
it'll be fine

I mixed a batch of epoxy and added just the tiniest smidgen of aniline dye after I mixed it. I filled the voids with the liquid and worked out any voids that may have developed. I'll let this cure overnight.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_069.jpg

It's a wash. Wamara won the battle of the body. It cost me two bandsaw blades. This wood is just too darn hard to shape into the frame that I'll need to pull this off. Plan B, use poplar. Poplar is a good strong wood that will cut and shape much easier. So I'll glue up some pieces and start the body frame again.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_070.jpg

tootles - jb

I quick shot of the new glued up body blank top half with the 5e3 chassis I plan on using for my video. I hope I have enough wire.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_071.jpg


http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_072.jpg


http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_073.jpg

You sure do have some artistic skill. This things gonna be pretty awesome, and pretty :wink: You'll have the coolest guitar to use around Christmas for sure.

The design of your body looks pretty good even without the glass. That's going to be a sweet combination.

it is time to add my radius to my neck

First thing I do is secure both sides of the heel to the base of the sled.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_074.jpg

next I secure the headstock to the sled. Now you can see why drilling out the tuner holes to their final size would be a mistake. I will use this setup to cut my slots when I'm finished with the raduis.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_075.jpg

The business end of the contraption. The two runners ride along a matched pair along the top of the jig. This wood is so hard, that I'm going to take three passes, 1/16 of and inch at a time. Normally I can do my maple necks using a single pass.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_076.jpg

Now jump into the time machine and step back a couple years.
The following four images demonstrate the jig in use only. This is one of the 14 maple necks I made previously. I didn't get a good photo of the Wamara being shaped.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/esquire_058.jpg

http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/esquire_060.jpg

http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/esquire_061.jpg

http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/esquire_062.jpg

Fast forward two years - Flux capacitor could use a little tweak. almost ended up in August instead of April.
A little bit of sanding and it's done. perfectly straight and a consistent 9.5 inch radius.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_077.jpg

using a pattern bit to shape the body. I like to make four or five passes, even with poplar.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_078.jpg

While the mdf template is still handy, I like to start the holes in the top.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_079.jpg

Then I flip the body, and flip the template and drill the holes from the bottom. Drill just the six.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_080.jpg

Then I finish up without the template
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_081.jpg

Neck holes too.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_082.jpg

cutting fret slots the old fashioned way, by hand. I start the slot in the jig.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_083.jpg

then I pull out the sled and finish the slot by hand. I like to use a pulling stroke only. It keeps the saw from wanting to buckle, it is so thin.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_084.jpg

It's a chilly one today, High in the Low 40's and a few sprinkles. Not too much wind so all in all workable.

First I glued on the 1/4 inch poplar that gets me to a final thickness of 1.75 inches.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_085.jpg

Next a traced the outline and bridge area of the top glass. I will be eventually carving out a rabbit that the glass will sit in.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_086.jpg

Then the same thing for the back.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_087.jpg

The frame is ready for a little Dremel action. But first I must get some layers going. t-shirt, t-shirt, sweatshirt, old leather jacket.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_088.jpg

I never noticed this printing on this bit before. No wonder it is my favorite.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_089.jpg

After a couple quick passes on the router table and a few hours with the Dremel, I'm ready to go inside.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_090.jpg

Another of my favorite bits.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_091.jpg

All this carnage is making me thirsty.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_092.jpg

Still got a few minutes before the Nascar race so maybe I'll do a quick look see at this thing with the LEDs. A quick positioning with some tape and turn off the lights and close the shades.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_093.jpg

Switch on.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_094.jpg

That looks awesome! Great work!

That is so cool looking. Can't wait to see the finished product.

This is brilliant. What a great build.

The little lights aren't twinkling, Clark.



(Amazing work!)

Wow wow wow wow!!!!!!!!

I'd better knock some of these out today.

Body
rout/carve/rabbit for glass
neck pocket
drill jack hole
design and carve out battery and switch compartment
enlarge string through holes
rout edge radius
drill LED bridge for neck
drill wiring channel to neck
fix dents/dings
sand sand sand
vinyl sealer
apply black lacquer to edges
clear coat
Wire LEDs
apply reflective mylar to all inside edges of body
adhear LED wiring harness
glue front glass to body

neck
press in frets
file fret ends
make nut - woof
add logo to headstock - sharpie
drill out final size hole for tuners
vinyl sealer
clear lacquer
clean up frets and polish
add tuners and string tee

hardware and assembly
make bobbin out of garolite
cut 3/16 steel rod for poles
glue/solder/tape neodymium magnets into place 2-3 per pole
assemble bobbin
wind bobbin and add leads
add baseplate
wind butcher string around magnet wire
pot pickup
make saddles
assemble bridge
bolt on neck
wire neck LED circuit to body
make battery/switch cover out of garolite
add jack
add strap buttons
wire jack to coil
glue back glass to body

finish 5e3 cab
mount speaker
mount chassis

make video

I love lists - that's what I do to keep me from actually doing anything. :lol:

Time to make a rabbit for the glass to lay in. I start by cutting a small slot in the face keeping close to the line but not too close.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_095.jpg

Then I run another channel on the inside a little less than 1/8 inch.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_096.jpg

When that is finished, I use a chisel to pry out the waste wood.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_097.jpg

Dremel the rabbit smooth and expand it out to the line.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_098.jpg

Test fit seems good.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_099.jpg

Now more sanding and added a roundover to the edges.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_100.jpg

Back fits good
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_101.jpg

top fits good
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_102.jpg

The LEDs get soldered to a string every few inches or so.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_103.jpg

18 LEDs in parallel - two Harbour freight flashlites put to good use.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_104.jpg

My list didn't get too much smaller today, but I did get one big step out of the way. Tomorrow I'll probably do the frets.

Great job on the rabbiting much patience needed there. I think the wood body frame is cool in its own right. I cant wait to see those panels light up.

It was raining when I drove to the office. It was raining when I drove home. I think it's still raining now. Oh well, sometimes it does that. Tomorrow I'll work on frets and do some neck pocket routing.

Til then I can only post a quick shot of the neck with the LED fret markers and the fiber optic side dots Illuminated.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_105.jpg

Also got a package in the mail, tuners, neck plate, jack, string tee.

tootles - jb

Very cool! That is going to really help set off the glass panels!

Freaking AWSOME!

That's outstanding!

How cool is THAT?

OK, that's it. Next year I'm building a guitar that plays itself. :lol:

I'm gonna build a cold-fusion-powered one.

Way, way cool. Get a circuit to make them slowly pulse like some of Star Trek's best. It's too late but I'm getting all excited over this. Oh, being a geek is problematic sometimes......

Barncaster

can't wait to see this one in action

the fiber optics look great!

Rain held off for a few hours so I went for it.

Bolted down the template and routed out for the pickup
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_107.jpg

So far so good. time to move on.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_108.jpg

No more need for the neck template hole, so I set up to rout the neck pocket. Even with 9 nails in position, this thing has some jimmy to it. I eyeballed the neck mounting holes and clamped it down.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_109.jpg

This is an important rout. better double check and triple check things before flipping the switch. First check the alignment on the right side using my neck template.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_110.jpg

Then check the left side. looks pretty close to me.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_111.jpg

Now ever so slowly rout the pocket about 1/8 at a time, measuring after every pass. This is not your everyday tele body so measure the depth to the bottom of the routing guide - not the top of the neck pocket. the glass will take up at least 1/8 of an inch
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_112.jpg

With that done, I marked where I will need to drill the holes to mount one of the LEDs and the wires to connect the fingerboard LEDs.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_113.jpg

Last two holes before the rains. The big one in the side and a small one near the pickup.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_114.jpg

This is where alot of projects go pear shaped. Remember, haste makes waste and neck pockets are important. measure thrice and cut once.

Boy oh boy, I'd be happy with just the body core. It is the ultimate in light weight (not that I care, but apparently a bunch of guys here do). The glass simply puts it over the top.

I love a non traditional look :-)

I hauled out the big box of fretwire - I am using LMI 7400 - medium
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_115.jpg

Chop Chop - time is running out
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_116.jpg

I use my homemade caul and push them in with an empty drill press
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_117.jpg

Little jewelers file all taped up so it doesn't dig into my palm.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_119.jpg

I like to do these by hand. I've got to be careful with this Wamara. I wouldn't want to ding the edge and damage my file.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_120.jpg

On the other end of the table the body is hanging to dry with a few color coats on it.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_121.jpg

I rubber cemented a couple of 100% printouts of the flatwork onto a scrap of garolite.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_122.jpg

I rough cut it with my Dremel saw, next I'll sand and file it to the lines.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_123.jpg

I drilled out the holes for the poles and the mounting screws. I always like to start with a small hole and work up to the correct diameter.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/medium/2012_Challenge_124.jpg

I'll probably finish up in a few days and record my video on the weekend.

My to do list is starting to shrink.

Body
enlarge string through holes
clear coat/polish
apply reflective mylar to all inside edges of body
adhear LED wiring harness
glue front glass to body

Neck
make nut - woof
add logo to headstock - sharpie
drill out final size hole for tuners
clear lacquer/polish
clean up frets and polish
add tuners and string tee

Hardware and assembly
cut 3/16 steel rod for poles
assemble bobbin
wind bobbin and add leads
add brass baseplate
wind butcher string around magnet wire
pot pickup
make saddles
assemble bridge
bolt on neck
wire neck LED circuit to body
add jack
add strap buttons
wire jack to coil
glue back glass to body

finish 5e3 cab
mount speaker
mount chassis

make video

It was a bit too humid outside to spray any lacquer (especially over black) so I decided to work on some of the small but time consuming steps. At this point in the challenge, having blush show up with less than a week to go would be bad. I'll spray tomorrow when the humidity is lower.

All my garolite pieces have been cut, sanded and finished. Two pieces for the bobbin and one for the battery cover.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/2012_Challenge_125.jpg

my truss rod steel will make good pole pieces for my pickup. I cut them off with a hack saw. Notice the el cheapo harbour freight clamp. It has the mod that allows someone over six years old to give it a good squeeze.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/2012_Challenge_126.jpg

The rods are all cut and filed. First they are pressed into the bottom.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/2012_Challenge_127.jpg

Then I add my two wooden spacers and press on the top. I gave both halves a tiny bit of CA to secure them tightly in place.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/2012_Challenge_128.jpg

Almost done. I just need to drill a couple small holes where the brass eyelets will be inserted. I'll drill the holes, then wind and add the eyelets afterward. I'll just tape the wire on the outside before I start my windings.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/2012_Challenge_129.jpg

I cut my brass saddles from 5/16 stock and drill the holes. I used to use a jig but ended up just eyeballing them from now on. It seems to work out just fine. After the holes, I tapped. use plenty of oil and don't crank on it. A tap will break off inside the saddle easily. Well sorta easily. The first two holes are always fine. It's that third hole where a tap will likely shear off inside the saddle. Of course, it will be there forever once that happens.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/2012_Challenge_130.jpg

I like my saddle to have a bit of texture to them. It seems to hold the string in place a little better.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/2012_Challenge_131.jpg

I created the height adjustment screws 6-32 with my Dremel and screwed them into the saddles. The bridge is ready for the pickup.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/2012_Challenge_132.jpg

tomorrow - lacquer, maybe a bone nut carving, maybe even do a little LED wiring, we will see.

tootles - jb

Hey Motor,

Non-magnetized rods? I can't wait to see your design, magnet choice, placement and winding on this!

Barncaster

***Non-magnetized rods? I can't wait to see your design, magnet choice, placement and winding on this!***

It won't be anything out of the ordinary.

Single Coil, 6 Iron Rods, 1 Flat Ceramic Magnet

My neodymium design will have to wait.

I will attempt to get over 10k of windings of 42 gauge wire on it.
I won't be counting the windings but will be measuring the resistance
every so often until I get 9000 - 9500 ohms.

It'll be a chubby little fella.

The higher resistance should counter the brightness normally associated with ceramic magnets. We will see - or i mean hear.

tootles -jb

Hey JB,

So you have oriented the ceramic magnets' poles to be on the long flat sides?
All of the magnetized Alnico bars I get have their poles oriented along the long, thin edges. Do you reorient?

PS - Awesome build! Love the home-brewed hardware!

Barncaster

Sprayed some clear lacquer after work. Between coats I needed to do sommat constructive like maybe wind a pickup. can't make a nut, the neck is hanging in the shed.

Instead of dragging out the sewing machine and setting up my counter and all, I decided to use my drill to spin the bobbin. works great.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/2012_Challenge_134.jpg

I like to guide the wire between my fingers and hold it between a small scrap of fabric. I found that the friction co-efficient between skin and wire is rather high and it is hard to keep consistent drag on the wire without breaking it.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/2012_Challenge_135.jpg

After a few minutes of winding, I see the coil is starting to get a bit chubby.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/2012_Challenge_136.jpg

No need to stop and take a reading, I'm just gonna fill it up as much as I can. Done, I don't think I could get even one more winding on it. C'mon, It's just one tiny wafer-thin mint.

To answer Barncaster's question, this is a mockup of the ceramic magnet I'll be using. The magnet has always been oriented in this direction.

Anyone who is interested pickup design, magnetic fields, and the science surrounding them can visit this link (http://www.moore.org.au/pick/06/06_gobd.htm).

The bobbin poles are made from 3/16 inch 1018 cold press steel.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/2012_Challenge_144.jpg

The leads are taped up and the brass eyelets are squeezed into the base. The wires are soldered to the eyelets.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/2012_Challenge_138.jpg

Now I need to find a piece of butcher string to wrap my windings. I'll use this F2D streamer lead that should work just fine.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/2012_Challenge_140.jpg

I'll get a reading before potting because the heat will increase the resistance. The goal was between 9000 - 9500 ohms. yes, success.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/2012_Challenge_139.jpg

Time to heat up the rice cooker with 4:1 paraffin to beeswax.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/2012_Challenge_141.jpg

tiny bubbles exit out of the top.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/2012_Challenge_142.jpg

after 15 minutes the bubbles stopped and out it comes.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/2012_Challenge_143.jpg

That's it for today. tomorrow is golf so I'll probably post something on Thursday.

tootles - jb

I love the reaction I get when I tell outsiders "Yep one guy is making a stained glass telecaster". At first I get the tilted head raised eyebrow look. Then I explain how it has lights etc. Then they all go "Whoa that sounds cool".

I'm really looking forward to seeing this all done. In fact it may be the only guitar I'm looking more forward to seeing finished than hearing finished. Although I suspect it will sound great also.

I love the reaction I get when I tell outsiders "Yep one guy is making a stained glass telecaster". At first I get the tilted head raised eyebrow look. Then I explain how it has lights etc. Then they all go "Whoa that sounds cool".

I'm really looking forward to seeing this all done. In fact it may be the only guitar I'm looking more forward to seeing finished than hearing finished. Although I suspect it will sound great also.

Haha, I get the same thing. I talk about the stained glass, and the concrete, and the popsicle sticks, and the wrought iron, and the prehistoric dinosaurs and so on. One friend asked me the other day if anyone was using wood this year!

Here is my latest list to do. It is manageable but don't let down your guard. Mr. Murphy loves that.

Body
enlarge string through holes
hookup all 28 LEDs and battery and switch too.
apply reflective mylar to all inside edges of body
polish sides.
glue front glass to body

Neck
make nut - woof
drill out final size hole for tuners
clean up frets and polish
add tuners and string tee

Hardware and Assembly
bolt on neck
wire neck LED circuit to body
add jack and cup
add strap buttons
wire jack to coil
glue back glass to body
add strings
setup

I really do like the garolite for my bobbins. It is rigid, thin, strong, black and mills easily. The pickup templates stick to it with rubber cement and peel off easily afterwards, though I kinda do like the look of them with the paper stuck to them. Heck, maybe I'll leave it on. I know, I'll go one better, I'll do the same thing to the body, that might look cool. Wait, here we are. I'll do the whole damn guitar like this, down to the last number 3 woodscrew. Just kidding, that would be crazy. Sometimes I let my mind get away from me.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/2012_Challenge_122.jpg

I wired up the pickup to the leads, screwed it to the bridge and gave it a test. - works fine.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/2012_Challenge_1441.jpg

I'll let the lacquer cure a couple more days before final finishing, but in the meantime, I'll wire up the internal power source,
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/2012_Challenge_145.jpg

It will sit in the end. The strap should do a good job hiding the hole.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/2012_Challenge_146.jpg

Just in case, I'll add a battery cover.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/2012_Challenge_147.jpg

A dog treat bone from the pet store makes a decent bone nut blank for about 20 cents apiece. I sliced up enough for about 25 or so nuts.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/2012_Challenge_148.jpg

I used my homemade caul to trace the fretboard radius onto the nut blank
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/2012_Challenge_149.jpg

My Dremel makes short time of the blank.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/2012_Challenge_150.jpg

Nut in place - move on to the holes in the back.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/2012_Challenge_151.jpg

Dremel - it has 1001 uses
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/2012_Challenge_152.jpg

Ready for the strings but not until the weekend.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/2012_Challenge_153.jpg

The sun is setting and I couldn't help myself. - The top is just set in place being held in by friction.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/2012_Challenge_154.jpg

I'm thinking this should be in an art gallery or museum somewhere. Outstanding !

Hey JB,

Love the burst! Over 9 on the pickup is going to be a screamer! Can't wait to hear it. Maybe Manfred Mann's "Blinded by the Light" for the demo? ;-)

Barncaster

I love this guitar. I would have to learn a bunch of spirituals and play it on Sundays.

I think you should have a little pull chain to turn the light on :razz:

It is so seriously cool. this is what happens when a true artist-craftsman turns his attention to a guitar.

Nice burst! :mrgreen:

That is just too cool.

Maybe Manfred Mann's "Blinded by the Light" for the demo? ;-)

Barncaster
Not to nitpick but that's a Springsteen song. Manfred Mann did make it a hit though.

Back on subject though, that guitars looking good!

This is my box of grits and rags. Time to buff it up
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/2012_Challenge_155.jpg

If you don't know the routine yet, It's 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1200, 1500, 2000, medium cut, then finesse-it II
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/2012_Challenge_156.jpg

Power tools this late in the game can be a bit risky. I enlarge slow and steady one size bit at a time, until I am at the diameter I need.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/2012_Challenge_157.jpg

Ready to press into place.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/2012_Challenge_158.jpg

I screwed on the neck and glued in the LEDs onto the frame using a hot glue gun.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/2012_Challenge_159.jpg

Now all the wires have been hooked up and secured to the body frame. I must now add my reflective mylar to the inside to maximize the candle power of 18 LEDs. - Pop-Tart wrappers make a good material.This week - Blueberry.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/2012_Challenge_160.jpg

A quick test of the circuit.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/2012_Challenge_161.jpg

One more connection to solder up.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/2012_Challenge_162.jpg

Ready to seal it up.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/2012_Challenge_163.jpg

First the top . . .
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/2012_Challenge_164.jpg

then the back.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/2012_Challenge_165.jpg

We will see how it all turns out tomorrow.

When I'm showing people all the cool guitars being built in this challenge, this is one of the first I go to. You built a fantastic guitar last year and you sure did not disappoint this year. Amazing craftsmanship!

I got to the pictures of clamps on the leaded glass and reflexively winced and ducked all at the same time..........

first ever build challenge guitar to use Pop Tart wrappers in its construction. That might even beat the popsicle sticks!

Can't wait, can't wait, can't wait, can't wait, can't wait!

Can't wait to see the results!

I prefer the brown sugar and cinnamon, but I still wouldn't turn my nose up to playing this thing every week at church. There guitar has so many "rights" I'm awestruck.

http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/2012_Challenge_166.jpg

http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/2012_Challenge_167.jpg

http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/2012_Challenge_168.jpg

http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/2012_Challenge_169.jpg

http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/2012_Challenge_170.jpg

http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/2012_Challenge_171.jpg

http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/2012_Challenge_172.jpg

http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/2012_Challenge_173.jpg

Come on!!! We're all in suspense over here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: :lol:

http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1218/2012_Challenge_final.jpg

N2rbWCoaoDM

Just brilliant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Awesome - what else can be said. How much?

Incredible!

for those interested,

The esquire weighs 7.6 pounds.
pickup is 9150 ohms CW north polarity - ceramic bar magnet.
there are 18 LEDs in the body
saddles are brass
finish is lacquer
neck is 9.5 inch radius - medium frets
switching is null - none - pretend - pickup to jack
no caps, no pots, no cocked wah. just 100% pickup.
player is Mike V. and that is the first time he picked up this guitar.

It has been and always will be a pleasure participating in the TDPRI Challenge.

Thank You All for the Kind words. - jb

OMG.....that's unbelievable! The talent on this board is awe inspiring!

Crazy, genius, awesome . . totally insane!!!

Don't get me wrong, this guitar is just not my cup of tea . . a little bit too much church window for my taste . . ;-)

But the work you did . . GREAT!

:cool: