gearhead1972 2012 Challenge Build Thread -- COMPLETED

Best Beginner category. I have finished a bunch of guitars and built a bunch from parts, but have never done one from scratch. I am looking to source some body wood right now from a friend, if he comes through I will build. Have a nice hunk of Maple in the basement for the neck.

Looking forward to seeing what you come up with.

good luck! I think this beginners category will give a lot of people (like me) ideas and confidence to try it out next year.

either that or scare them off! :mrgreen:

Thanks fellas, well I just sourced 9 1/2" x 4' x 2" hunk of walnut for the body! ahh this is going to be fun.

Welcome and good luck! :grin:

Dave

great score! Good luck, and I can't wait to watch.

Well here we go, my buddy I scored the walnut from is going to let me use his shop when I need for planing, and band sawing
Here is my starting shot
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-U6DEYAp8kWY/T2DHzSNehiI/AAAAAAAAD8E/LwwMjnzquNs/s800/2012-03-14_12-22-15_483.jpg

Drawing cut lines for the body blank
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-2CtZT3EqO-Y/T2FW0TTahfI/AAAAAAAAD8Q/l-OVWzEvMnQ/s800/2012-03-14_18-42-12_883.jpg

Had my buddy print me out a print from tdowns, and got the neck print from a harmony central post.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-m1x_eScR5Lc/T2FW0no34xI/AAAAAAAAD8Y/1bPwJH7w_Ds/s800/2012-03-14_21-19-11_189.jpg

Making sure they jive with the light box
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-QT_TvZhaomg/T2FW1Fu_vbI/AAAAAAAAD8g/fZPI2abKvWQ/s800/2012-03-14_21-21-10_789.jpg

Neck print glued to maple for rough cutting, will print another to make a template
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ReITGM6kd-Y/T2FW1vtznII/AAAAAAAAD8o/JaMBxhlkYMo/s800/2012-03-14_22-09-33_165.jpg

Cutting the body blanks, trying to plane them out for glue up, not working so well, going to have to wait till this weekend to get to go to my buddy's house who has a real planer and joiner. The walnut looks real good though from what I understand this stuff was reclaimed and is at least 100 years old.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-4Khlj1cxF5Y/T2J_e4zessI/AAAAAAAAD80/KAu7UUSt9sI/s800/2012-03-15_18-00-13_750.jpg

Rough cutting the neck blank, I resawed the first one too thin so I cut another to the right size.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-9m2fqBrP8JQ/T2J_fapAn6I/AAAAAAAAD88/NM3grLmyKJc/s800/2012-03-15_18-27-17_202.jpg

You can see the mismatch of the joint on the bottom here. The blanks are 2 1/8 thick, and bowed a little, but should plane down to 1.75 no problem.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-zBPMvhfpyhc/T2J_fyN-uhI/AAAAAAAAD9E/3FENwhl5viE/s800/2012-03-15_18-31-59_343.jpg

I have been wanting to do this for so long, glad this came up to give me a kick in the butt to get going.

I think I just sourced a set of American Tele pick ups from a good friend of mine, Sweet! Walnut body, Maple neck with black pick guard and harware, sound good? Lets hope lol and a tung oil finish on all wood.

Very good start, gearhead. I'll be watching you....muwahahaha (ummm, was that creepy
enough?)

Seriously though, you'll get through this and the odds are you'll end up with a new hobby
that consumes every waking moment of your spare time. And that's not necessarily a
bad thing. Good luck.

that's gonna look sweet...defintely an oil/varnish finish of some kind...

I'm partial to both minwax tung oil finish and tru-oil both. Either would look fantastic on this project:cool:

I like what I see here!

Very good start, gearhead. I'll be watching you....muwahahaha (ummm, was that creepy
enough?)

Seriously though, you'll get through this and the odds are you'll end up with a new hobby
that consumes every waking moment of your spare time. And that's not necessarily a
bad thing. Good luck.
Lol I have a guitar stalker now:cool: Yeah I know I will have a new hobby now, it was only a matter of time, I've done every aspect but building from scratch..

Cutting the body pattern
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Wy7rNPqtXT0/T2POs6ZkRjI/AAAAAAAAD9Q/nT5vXWDjXjM/s800/2012-03-16_16-39-32_572.jpg

Laying them out on the mdf
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-x5qcUttbjIU/T2POtDjm2iI/AAAAAAAAD9c/esOblAPoO9Y/s800/2012-03-16_17-24-17_407.jpg

Glued up to the blanks
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Y1luy3NIsHA/T2POtmBcWxI/AAAAAAAAD9g/_PgrayppAP8/s800/2012-03-16_17-37-44_811.jpg

After dinner I will go cut the templates. I hate, I mean absolutely hate having to bother other people to use their tools, but that what I will be doing tomorrow. So I have some new tools on my list.

Rough cutting the body template
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ATzaagGGsxs/T2QDhxXfhEI/AAAAAAAAD9s/TQWjfMt5wwo/s800/2012-03-16_21-44-49_509.jpg

Template all done
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-d-IDtf8VHEs/T2QDiBcauUI/AAAAAAAAD90/u3z1JmRDonc/s800/2012-03-16_22-42-32_759.jpg

Didn't have time to get the neck template done, I will do that in the AM

that's gonna look sweet...defintely an oil/varnish finish of some kind...

I'm partial to both minwax tung oil finish and tru-oil both. Either would look fantastic on this project:cool:

I used Formbys on the back of the neck of my Micawber build and love it, gonna stick with that.

Cutting the blanks to a more usable size
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-TbOsRQUO2mY/T2TD2wi8jWI/AAAAAAAAD-A/ua39yhTgrpg/s800/2012-03-17_11-45-10_63.jpg

Using the joiner to make a nice square glue joint
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-syjUHUhfQ1I/T2TD3T1BI_I/AAAAAAAAD-I/Hl55u9EjV4E/s800/2012-03-17_11-45-19_163.jpg

Starting to plane the blanks
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-biBqzE_Vgag/T2TD4bJ1-tI/AAAAAAAAD-Y/ZZbsuoReKwo/s800/2012-03-17_11-54-16_287.jpg

And after planing..surprise, surprise nice tigering shows up
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fe9chktsANU/T2TD38WzDLI/AAAAAAAAD-Q/oGo7GryFy28/s800/2012-03-17_11-49-01_230.jpg

Gonna glue these up today then head back to my buddy's tomorrow for final planing of the body blank

I want some walnut too, preferably like yours that gives such nice surprises!

Ready for glue up
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PiXfMOAKF6w/T2U95u1TqjI/AAAAAAAAD_k/FxHp3Levw6c/s800/2012-03-17_13-26-39_275.jpg

Some Titebond II
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-8Vqj1GnK46k/T2U96LZsESI/AAAAAAAAD_s/uPqc2GRy-XU/s800/2012-03-17_13-27-17_860.jpg

Spread out
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-q6FWONPuJkM/T2U96c5NYfI/AAAAAAAAD_0/M3CoXN408kM/s800/2012-03-17_13-29-14_609.jpg

All clamped up, gotta thank my buddy Bobby for letting me borrow these, and letting me use his planer and joiner.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-S8N1cPqbbdM/T2U99hPITXI/AAAAAAAAD_8/CKevMNXVUGo/s800/2012-03-17_13-33-45_489.jpg

Finishing the neck template
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-S8N1cPqbbdM/T2U99hPITXI/AAAAAAAAD_8/CKevMNXVUGo/s800/2012-03-17_13-33-45_489.jpg

Tracing the template for rough cutting the neck
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-XoL3aMpVvs4/T2U8lLQ_jYI/AAAAAAAAD-s/QDCYu9VMfw4/s800/2012-03-17_17-01-39_362.jpg

Rough cutting the neck
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Ri2VObMKpsY/T2U8lvMaP6I/AAAAAAAAD-0/gcvAo5zyUdo/s800/2012-03-17_17-12-33_584.jpg

Setting up template and router
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ITXJ77Jz8fc/T2U8mA3e-nI/AAAAAAAAD-8/H9UaxLB1Mto/s800/2012-03-17_17-24-08_696.jpg

Getting started
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QsnxxiiV90c/T2U8mlvb6qI/AAAAAAAAD_E/0cWOLvpUMXk/s800/2012-03-17_17-33-12_48.jpg

Done
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ueRUIFwTV4Q/T2U8ns6uUJI/AAAAAAAAD_M/DjN3RzDksLU/s800/2012-03-17_18-00-24_776.jpg

One minor tear out
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-dvZ6rGofWjc/T2U8n-gFchI/AAAAAAAAD_U/ehE3NlFt1Bc/s800/2012-03-17_18-00-44_493.jpg

Fret layout
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/--xMQV0kEhPU/T2U8oftJiWI/AAAAAAAAD_c/8JXqQ5unZ9o/s800/2012-03-17_21-21-18_618.jpg

Took the body blank out of the clamps and gave it a good sanding, After getting the glue joint even, the body was 1 11/16 thick, so no need to take it to the planer again, it will get sanded a few more times and will be dam close to 1.75 when done.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-s4fcHZlcu2E/T2ZCFAikMyI/AAAAAAAAEAM/1nTKYDlQB8A/s800/2012-03-18_11-47-04_499.jpg

Screwed the template down
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ruNdr2ckGQI/T2ZCFjG04II/AAAAAAAAEAU/1GK_-B5iV7g/s800/2012-03-18_12-26-56_481.jpg

Traced out for rough cutting
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-GKSP81Yw0gE/T2ZCGKsfz5I/AAAAAAAAEAc/__4PZTzmEck/s800/2012-03-18_12-29-22_697.jpg

Rough out
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-e8Rvamf7Bok/T2ZCGst7EmI/AAAAAAAAEAk/zgyJYg6dVdw/s800/2012-03-18_12-40-13_243.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5WKnC6tDdW8/T2ZCHbCPTqI/AAAAAAAAEAs/5c9mgs8e3bg/s800/2012-03-18_12-44-46_250.jpg

All routed, hmm was so excited that I didn't take any routing progress picks
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-R5sGT_H9PWQ/T2ZCHi6PmoI/AAAAAAAAEA0/xXjAZEhtaKw/s800/2012-03-18_14-23-18_965.jpg

Now off to some drill press work

Ok last installment for today
Using the drill press as a spindle sander (last tube left and its spent, need to pick up some more tomorrow) to even out the routing tracks.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-7z2KNo4fWG4/T2Z6uO27x0I/AAAAAAAAEBA/XFsSg52K7Ro/s800/2012-03-18_16-33-37_950.jpg

Hogging out pick up routes.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-krMe4OBHqsE/T2Z6u8XalZI/AAAAAAAAEBI/0jodEM3FXzk/s800/2012-03-18_17-54-43_329.jpg

Template back on to begin routing
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-YdVjPhbpD0w/T2Z6vCi1XsI/AAAAAAAAEB8/_iXICWTmzvo/s800/2012-03-18_18-17-00_356.jpg


Using a 1/4" template and just realizing that I only had a 1" template bit, I had to make a pick up template out of 3/4" mdf, I will also make this my neck pocket/string thru template.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6KhMCepEFsI/T2Z6vsua7UI/AAAAAAAAEBY/MU2FS2h1Li4/s800/2012-03-18_19-14-46_215.jpg

Pick up routes done.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-WXKsFwWUXsg/T2Z6weC5phI/AAAAAAAAEBo/yY2piz80mSM/s800/2012-03-18_19-16-40_237.jpg

Little hint of what's to come
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-G4O5Y8PniIY/T2Z6v6Sv79I/AAAAAAAAEBg/ErC0bHGSEXM/s800/2012-03-18_19-16-32_469.jpg

Drilling the wire channels
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-yqCcH2mZjIc/T2Z6wxE4anI/AAAAAAAAEBw/dsG8PhcQZ6g/s800/2012-03-18_19-20-26_297.jpg

Drilling out the output jack hole.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-arC5d3Gru1c/T2Z6xG5NycI/AAAAAAAAEB4/jt5WuJCVvxg/s800/2012-03-18_19-28-39_786.jpg

Wow great progress! And a really nice chunk of walnut. it will glow with some finish on it!

I love the black pg on the walnut!

Looks good, and the standard tele design always makes me happy!

If you're not careful, you're going to win the "first done" category. Great work thus far.

Great progress! Are you planning to bind or roundover?

Nice work. Lovin' the Sawstop. That walnut flame will pop like crazy when finishing. I did my contest build last year with walnut, finished it in Tru Oil and could not believe how the figuring went crazy.

If you're not careful, you're going to win the "first done" category. Great work thus far.
Hell no I have worked plenty in my life with wood and routers, but the fretting thing scares the hell out of me. So I am going to take my time with that and try to do it right.

Great progress! Are you planning to bind or roundover?
Just gonna be round over, have 1/4"R but really should do it right and pick up an 1/8"

Nice work. Lovin' the Sawstop. That walnut flame will pop like crazy when finishing. I did my contest build last year with walnut, finished it in Tru Oil and could not believe how the figuring went crazy.
Yeah that saw is awesome, wish it was mine, belongs to my buddy that has about 30k invested in his "home" shop lol. He got the saw stop used for 2k in Brooklyn, but it looked like it was used maybe 10 times.
Yeah I did the naptha/denatured alcohol wipe and boy did it bring out the flame, but its only gonna be on the top half. There isn't much on the bottom half, though that will be covered by the pick guard, so I think it will look great.

Just gonna be round over, have 1/4"R but really should do it right and pick up an 1/8"

Be careful around the input jack hole. The bearing is going to fall into it and mess up the roundover.

Be careful around the input jack hole. The bearing is going to fall into it and mess up the roundover.
Thanks, I probably would have caught that, but now I will know for sure. Guess I should have rounded over first, being my first scratch build I guess i'm doing alright, now I will know the proper order for the next one:lol:

Be careful around the input jack hole. The bearing is going to fall into it and mess up the roundover.
well I went and got a 1/8" round over bit and the bearing came no where near the output jack hole.:lol:

Not much progress, things will be slowing down for a bit, have to wait to get paid to buy the rest of what I need, plus I have a ESP LTD B4-Z Bass on layaway that is really itching to get home. I will probably route the neck pocket tomorrow.

Here is a little hint of what the wood will look like with the Tung Oil on it. I did round over the body today though.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-3PSayWU4ZWQ/T2ktYQteWGI/AAAAAAAAECI/S-7i6rN8GPs/s800/2012-03-20_20-30-38_888.jpg

Very nice. I'm dying to try tung oil on some of my later builds. It just seems to do incredible things for the grain.

Well I got the neck pocket cut today, and to my surprise, with just a little sanding on the neck it fit like a glove.

Pocket somewhat hogged out and starting to route.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Um4QCqTZLaY/T2p2IayF-eI/AAAAAAAAECU/o4VpM0WtF4I/s800/2012-03-21_19-16-23_488.jpg

Pocket all done
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-tsDBv9nCjHA/T2p2IymEWxI/AAAAAAAAECg/RbeVezgzV_0/s800/2012-03-21_19-39-17_358.jpg

Nice fit, first try. I think I found a new hobby :lol:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-e_O-rJOVNrk/T2p2JCF4q-I/AAAAAAAAECo/AOA2xc8hczc/s800/2012-03-21_19-46-06_313.jpg

Starting to look like something
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-HJ33-Cyh590/T2p2JjWn8qI/AAAAAAAAECs/9wnyZkyF8Eg/s800/2012-03-21_19-46-16_532.jpg

Great job on the neck pocket! Isn't that a great feeling? At least I'm guessing it's a great feeling, I've not had one fit like that before :shock::lol:

Great job on the neck pocket! Isn't that a great feeling? At least I'm guessing it's a great feeling, I've not had one fit like that before :shock::lol:
Thanks Roger, yeap great feeling, almost as good as sex lol

I'm telling ya, I am really enjoying this. I would like to thank whom ever came up with this idea, really got me going on doing something I have wanted to for so long. Oh and Thanks to Leo Fender on the Anniversary of his death.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-4Zw7MH82z7U/T2qOM1fMQlI/AAAAAAAAEC4/hns0rLGaouo/s800/2012-03-21_21-28-56_480.jpg

Awww, gearhead, I hate to take all the credit, shucks man. Oh, wait....you probably weren't
talking about me where you? Oops.

Great progress there you soon-to-be-a-full-fledged-Luthier,you! I like the contrast between
the woods too. It's gonna be a real beaut when you're done.

Word to the wise, it might be a good idea to occassionally bring your significant other
flowers and say nice things about how their hair looks, etc etc. etc. since that person
won't be seeing much of you from now on, lol.

Awww, gearhead, I hate to take all the credit, shucks man. Oh, wait....you probably weren't
talking about me where you? Oops.

Great progress there you soon-to-be-a-full-fledged-Luthier,you! I like the contrast between
the woods too. It's gonna be a real beaut when you're done.

Word to the wise, it might be a good idea to occassionally bring your significant other
flowers and say nice things about how their hair looks, etc etc. etc. since that person
won't be seeing much of you from now on, lol.
Thanks yeah i like the contrast, and i think black hardware is gonna really contrast nice especially on the headstock. Oh and the wife plays a little guitar, a little drums, and sings in our band, so she has the sickness just like me lol

Just sent in a $148 stew mac order. Fret saw, radius sanding block, fret wire ect...lol Still have about $100 worth of stuff in my cart at GFS, thats gonna have to wait till next week.

First coat of tung oil on the body
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-O0zGcwDGuq4/T25WksBAq_I/AAAAAAAAEDE/YCNt4oNqusc/s800/2012-03-24_18-55-23_773.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-jXZmeKxPDd0/T25WlJRO3UI/AAAAAAAAEDM/nhaV-re0bqY/s800/2012-03-24_18-55-39_43.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ANN8RlDjbEk/T25Wl17-iII/AAAAAAAAEDU/LdOmh8A4v90/s800/2012-03-24_18-55-51_616.jpg

That's a nice, deep color.

Beautiful walnut. Your guitar's going to be a stunner. And congrats on that neck fit. I am so freaking jealous. . . .

My buddy brought over the pick ups today. He says he thinks they are out of an American tele, but they look like MiM ones to me, who knows.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-1zkk_JsrlMs/T2-3a9j50WI/AAAAAAAAEDg/TucCx0q2tYw/s800/2012-03-25_15-53-01_435.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-VFy5v5PRWK4/T2-3bW8J4pI/AAAAAAAAEDo/K-PzELfS8a0/s800/2012-03-25_16-17-39_528.jpg

Mr. Fed Ex guy left me a present when I got home from work.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-91qPYSEdlfI/T3PPPfZD1NI/AAAAAAAAED0/IQunIGpTfCs/s800/2012-03-28_17-49-18_445.jpg

Setting up router jig for truss rod cut
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-aolKhwOjBj8/T3PPRbbVcYI/AAAAAAAAED8/6sLdJCAKjkw/s800/2012-03-28_18-59-21_42.jpg

First pass done
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-BKwXtYUKpLc/T3PPR1AqYkI/AAAAAAAAEEI/T_P2BkyqEaY/s800/2012-03-28_19-18-33_61.jpg

Yup I ordered a hot rod double action, before doing my research. Some have done them with no problems in one piece necks. Heck I like a little challenge so I went with it. Bought some epoxy to glue the skunk stripe in with, I think it will be fine.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-06Qha0ql2yY/T3PPSaCmN9I/AAAAAAAAEEM/WSaZdpL_RPA/s800/2012-03-28_21-40-26_901.jpg

My first official fret slot cut ever.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4aPqABqiNPE/T3PPSoLNZWI/AAAAAAAAEEg/137LaM-O4E0/s800/2012-03-28_21-56-14_249.jpg

And that's all she wrote
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-zHDw4gqe4XU/T3PPTKgGTCI/AAAAAAAAEEc/Z0_L3LOE2VE/s800/2012-03-28_22-28-49_91.jpg

Tomorrow hopefully I will get the skunk stripe in and start putting the radius on the fingerboard....
My goal is to be done by April 15th not May 15th

You're doing a great job, man. The figuring on that walnut
is awesome. As someone else said, the black pickguard is
going to look great with it.

How's the body weight?

You're doing a great job, man. The figuring on that walnut
is awesome. As someone else said, the black pickguard is
going to look great with it.

How's the body weight?
Hmm you know what, I haven't even weighed it, but it don't seem too heavy. I remember flipping around the ash body I did my Micawber build with last year and it may be a little heavier.

You're doing a great job on the neck

Skunk stripe cut and ready to go in.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-shUYpaPFN3I/T3Ub-CsqIYI/AAAAAAAAEEs/XrfeXrgLCH4/s800/2012-03-29_18-59-29_296.jpg

Epoxy setting
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uFgxMLoHaEc/T3Ub-uhzY9I/AAAAAAAAEE0/w2vDhzqHgB8/s800/2012-03-29_20-32-46_311.jpg

Bringing it down to the maple
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-SX-hdgYUGwk/T3Ub_Es21dI/AAAAAAAAEFE/NvNygyJ4_sQ/s800/2012-03-29_21-28-46_998.jpg

Done.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2Sd420Thi-Y/T3Ub_QvI3ZI/AAAAAAAAEFA/9zH9SvI9hb8/s800/2012-03-29_22-04-24_792.jpg

Tomorrow I will drill the tuner holes, reduce the headstock and start shaping the fretboard.

You're doing a great job, man. The figuring on that walnut
is awesome. As someone else said, the black pickguard is
going to look great with it.

How's the body weight?
Weighed it tonight, 6 pounds 10.8 ounces. Neck is 1 pound 7 ounces. So we are talking 8 pounds without any hardware or pickups..ouch.

Nice work! Good luck, and keep us posted!

Drilling the tuner holes
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-QAS2IJ53zaU/T3aHFQq6kMI/AAAAAAAAEFQ/59DnPP5W-1s/s800/2012-03-30_21-31-40_953.jpg

Using a router bit in the drill press to bring down the head stock, It was late and didn't feel like hearing the router. I actually worked very well.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Lv_yU0e-iic/T3aHGDfEfgI/AAAAAAAAEFY/g7EAzCaSEoc/s800/2012-03-30_22-05-25_486.jpg

Nice and shaped
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-u8AwTpAPNHs/T3aHGXx6WzI/AAAAAAAAEFg/TzmawSVwDb0/s800/2012-03-30_23-09-16_368.jpg

Starting to radius the neck
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9VSI39Tds6Q/T3aHHHjcMhI/AAAAAAAAEFo/fPXOiF6RF9s/s800/2012-03-30_23-12-49_645.jpg

Radius done
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qQLADjlAY8E/T3aHIQK78WI/AAAAAAAAEFw/EyUpBk1Revw/s800/2012-03-30_23-38-04_400.jpg

Little macro shot
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-B7IpGaNLkSc/T3aHInAvGCI/AAAAAAAAEF4/smEwtnLqwB0/s800/2012-03-30_23-38-32_393.jpg

Tomorrow, well later today I am going to put in the fret markers, then start shaping the back of the neck.

Yet another productive day
Drilling out for fret markers
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-xR2TZmxPy40/T3eg0GWg3jI/AAAAAAAAEGE/9WF_4hWtnLk/s800/2012-03-31_19-04-59_292.jpg

Setting markers with super glue
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ztvxOHmK3lI/T3eg0dfJtrI/AAAAAAAAEGM/I-tqVZ-v9H8/s800/2012-03-31_19-18-06_184.jpg

All set and sanded flush
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aTSBm983ZEo/T3eg1FlToBI/AAAAAAAAEGY/uHd6UNkgkmA/s800/2012-03-31_19-38-27_981.jpg

Started shaping the back of the neck, gonna finish after dinner.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tP7Ki4Pfj8w/T3eg1Za-azI/AAAAAAAAEGc/Tk5Ib9cr_pU/s800/2012-03-31_19-44-16_576.jpg

Ordered the rest of my parts last night, and hopefully will start setting frets tomorrow.

Nice job on that fretboard. This is going to turn out to be an awesome neck, congrats!

Nice job on that fretboard. This is going to turn out to be an awesome neck, congrats!
Thanks man, I just hope I got the fret locations right, I am 99% sure they are right.

Thanks man, I just hope I got the fret locations right, I am 99% sure they are right.

You'll be comforted to know that I've had two that worked when I was quite
a bit less than 99% sure I had them right:shock:

I like the skunk stripe with the 2-way rod. I would have never thought to do it like that.

nice clean work so far. you'll have to keep us posted on how that truss rod works out with the skunk stripe. i'd like to do a 1 piece maple neck eventually, but with a dual action truss rod.

nice clean work so far. you'll have to keep us posted on how that truss rod works out with the skunk stripe. i'd like to do a 1 piece maple neck eventually, but with a dual action truss rod.
Will do, after I routed the channel for it I took a 3/16 drill bit and hollowed out a little bit under the edge of the route facing the headstock to lock it in. The other side of course is under the neck pocket. This will help if I need to use it for back bow. The neck is straight as an arrow right now,and I did adjust the rod for some relief a little while ago and no problem. As for holding in the other direction I did use 3200psi epoxy with about 9 square inches of surface area that works out to be around 28,000 pounds of shear strength the truss rod would have to create to blow the skunk strip out.

Ok all done for the night, very happy with the results

Shaping pretty much done
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-WfaQsPfB73o/T3fWQtxmcYI/AAAAAAAAEGo/jWoGOEbwnwQ/s800/2012-03-31_22-09-11_525.jpg

Side dots done
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-kM2_Eqm3U3Q/T3fWQ91nMQI/AAAAAAAAEGw/jOPoXITL9z8/s800/2012-03-31_23-33-15_832.jpg

Smooth as a baby's bum
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-gOFhnDainS0/T3fWRvy4xeI/AAAAAAAAEHA/f2ZqysIwYBE/s800/2012-03-31_23-34-04_24.jpg

Ready for frets :mrgreen:
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-FNqilQTC-sU/T3fWRdoYwbI/AAAAAAAAEG4/bkmXnQZ-WXk/s800/2012-03-31_23-33-42_135.jpg

I was going for a nice C shape like my 2 Teles, but ended up with more of a D and that's fine because it feels real nice.

Dude. Wow!

Looks Terrific! Congratulations on an awesome job so far. I cant wait to see the final product. BTW - I use Tung-Oil on a lot of my wood turning and it produces an excellent finish - its what i'll use on my next guitar build for sure. Great Work Dude!!

Ok so the most frightening part for me was nothing but a boogie man. "You have nothing to fear, but fear it's self"

Frets cut and ready to go
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-k0D-uZbr_hU/T3jxQMUatOI/AAAAAAAAEHM/AaexDb0dLdg/s800/2012-04-01_17-30-51_362.jpg

First few done, The first one I did (21st) was the only one that gave me a problem. The side on the top of the pic didn't sit completely down, but I decided to just leave it and deal with it when leveling. That worked out fine
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-aFY0EyCqDCk/T3jxQhb1xzI/AAAAAAAAEHU/h2Vc_lA_jhE/s800/2012-04-01_17-48-48_348.jpg

Little more progress
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/--knwBi6WXgY/T3jxRcTUQXI/AAAAAAAAEHc/O0B-_WPiuWo/s800/2012-04-01_18-07-43_428.jpg

all done with that one minor problem, not bad for the first time.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Yh4-BdykzN0/T3jxR6k_7xI/AAAAAAAAEHo/Bqf7mE3uR9Q/s800/2012-04-01_18-17-46_274.jpg

All leveled, and polished
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-M_JpMGT895k/T3jxSB0erPI/AAAAAAAAEHs/Sqsb0KQ9b1Y/s800/2012-04-01_20-00-38_724.jpg

:mrgreen:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SVxxeMNOkac/T3j28fjNwvI/AAAAAAAAEH4/0RYFeTqUQvk/s800/2012-04-01_20-45-27_86.jpg

Nicely done. And you're right, that first fret job has a bit of a pucker factor to it. Once you realize that there's nothing magic about it, it's pretty enjoyable.

I think it's a lot better than "not bad". I think it's "great"!

Wow dude you should be very proud of that neck! Awesome job!

Excellent! I am hoping to get some actual work done on my project soon, even though i am (sadly) disqualified from the challenge.

Body buffed out.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-qZbwxP5ajSg/T3o_jjM8U7I/AAAAAAAAEIE/QSELJqlM0jM/s800/2012-04-02_18-35-46_54.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1cjI03cnq0A/T3o_kHmYVCI/AAAAAAAAEIM/iLqEPCMTlBk/s800/2012-04-02_18-35-58_574.jpg

Almost there, can't wait for the rest of my parts.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6Gz1bkyJdZU/T3o_khfqITI/AAAAAAAAEIU/0w0hXcNuhM4/s800/2012-04-02_20-04-08_673.jpg

I like the looks of that!

Very nice flame in that walnut.....

Very nice!

Couple of coats of Tung oil on the neck.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-_6Iz1iO68UM/T3uHID5ixeI/AAAAAAAAEIg/fvZexH5EpHU/s800/2012-04-03_18-48-39_558.jpg

Kinda perfect timing, need about 2 days to get the amount of Tung oil I want on the neck. Parts shipped today, so should be here Thursday or Friday. Only things left after buffing out the neck is to drill the string through holes, drill for the string ferrules, bridge holes, wire control plate, and drill the neck mounting holes in the heel. woo hoo almost there!

I love the finish on this guitar, great work!!

Parts came in will start putting it together when i get home from work

WOOT! :mrgreen:

Here is the rest of the parts
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-UmwUmwCTfRI/T3zhL2nJj6I/AAAAAAAAEIw/LZZteed2Iqs/s800/2012-04-04_17-21-50_195.jpg

Drilling the string holes and the bridge mounting holes
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-19Rufh4L8OI/T3zhMTGLS_I/AAAAAAAAEI0/GT57mWRw3UQ/s800/2012-04-04_19-10-50_494.jpg

So here is my one mistake, not too bad. Didn't get the through holes lined up right out the back (drill press isn't deep enough) and then had tear outs when drilling the ferrules. No big deal though.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-JsyuBAnt17E/T3zhMxQ-rKI/AAAAAAAAEI8/Bd0QDr5qY4I/s800/2012-04-04_19-30-58_458.jpg

Off to put the rest of it together. Will be back with more pics and hopefully a video of it playing.

Very nice flame in that walnut.....

Nicely placed on there, too - Sweet!

Wow, man. You're practically done too! What the heck is going on around here today?

Look at all the black hardware. Good choice, for this challenge. :mrgreen:

Controls all done.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-sUSDNBzkHME/T30UkusyyEI/AAAAAAAAEJI/FoYK2ul1nvk/s800/2012-04-04_21-57-05_885.jpg

Finishing the tuners
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-bwVtbT1OntY/T30UltB8r5I/AAAAAAAAEKc/a9JCbjRJNX4/s800/2012-04-04_22-24-10_8.jpg

All done!:mrgreen:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xP34sZmC08Y/T30UmfuQhbI/AAAAAAAAEJY/qGQdQ3bcR5A/s800/2012-04-04_23-09-12_831.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-2R3cCmtkPWM/T30Um8sjASI/AAAAAAAAEKg/NUWBTtTkUo4/s800/2012-04-04_23-28-09_571.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-gwm-HzEfOxY/T30UoVXbBJI/AAAAAAAAEKk/iknng4N0f0s/s800/2012-04-04_23-28-54_306.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-LJbvz3qx7bY/T30Uo3DLjeI/AAAAAAAAEKo/Iqr6xeA3dGc/s800/2012-04-04_23-36-48_332.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Dc1GZoz825E/T30Up7QYrVI/AAAAAAAAEKs/tlD9YlKT3As/s800/2012-04-04_23-37-00_785.jpg

My god what an experience, I am so glad I did it.

Here is my video
ltudD7_qSCE

oh yeah I put it on a scale and it is freaking 9.6 pounds lol may as well have built an LP.
Some minor details to sort out tomorrow. The nut slots need to come down a little and I need to intonate it better. I just got it in the ball park to make the video. The Neck is like a baseball bat, but I will live with it.

Congratulations - Seriously sweet guitar. Nice playing too.

Very nice, the black hardware is subtle and doesn't distract from the beauty of the wood.

Well done Gearhead!!!!

Barncaster

That's a build to be proud of. Did you say beginner class - WOW!!!

Nice job gearhead!

Nice build. Quick too! I'm still routing and sanding.

Great job! Definitely something to be proud of.

I concur with Glen Smith, the black hardware was the right choice.

Excellent job! I jumped to the end of the build. I'm gonna go back and read it thru.

Well done!

Nice job Gearhead!

Man that's fantastic!!!! Now, how long before you start your "next" build?

Great job !

I agree, looks awesome!

Man that's fantastic!!!! Now, how long before you start your "next" build?
haha. I really need to get the bass I put on layaway, so that's what I need to concentrate on next. Then I may start another.

That is a great instrument and played very well. Loved the tone. You should be proud of that one.

Beautiful work man! Great aesthetics and sound.

Nicely done! It sounds and looks great!!!

More black hardware, it is funny how the trends go.

Well I wasn't exactly happy with the playability of the guitar last night after putting it together. Open chords were out of tune = high nut. So when I got home from work tonight I took out the feeler gauges and with the 3rd fret fretted I got around .020 between the 1st fret and the bottoms of the strings. So I filed each slot to where I got .006. Wow what a difference, I played that bad boy for over an hour with an ear to ear grin. I absolutely love it! The neck is kind of thick d shaped baseball bat thick, but I will get used to it. I would like to thank you all for your kind words and the chance to participate. A year and a half ago I had no Tele's now I have three :mrgreen:


https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-vpgMR6a0cNY/T35XGFDteeI/AAAAAAAAEK4/WuURXLCTNkw/s800/2012-04-05_21-59-37_359.jpg

It is amazing what a good setup will do to a great guitar. That Is a great looking one you made there.

Another thing I wanted to mention last night and forgot. These Wilkinson EZ lock tuners rock. Once the string it stretched they don't budge

Great guitar! Love the walnut and the black hardware! Good job!

Did another video with some gritty playing...I have been playing bass exclusively for the last 3 months so my guitar playing is a little rusty. Absolutely love the way this thing sounds and plays.
5KDV0bNcHUk

I like the 2nd video better. Clean and sterile just doesn't do it for me. I would love to be that rusty some day :mrgreen:

I like the 2nd video better. Clean and sterile just doesn't do it for me. I would love to be that rusty some day :mrgreen:
Yeah I like the second video better also, but needed to show that it stays in tune so the clean one is better for that.

Whoa! Beginner class? I wish my first had been that goodlooking and well playing. Impressive!

OH, yeah! That second video does it!!! Very cool build!!!

I gotta let my exclamation mark key rest now.

Ok, now you're just rubbing it in, ain't ya?

LOL, both videos were cool in my book.

That is one awesome looking 'first' guitar. Nice job!!!

I like that guitar so much. Basic design, black hardware looks good on brown. Congratulations!

Is the body finished just with tung oil and polished?
Just the look I like!

Is the body finished just with tung oil and polished?
Just the look I like!

Yup, about 8-9 coats of tung oil, then knocked down with 0000 steel wool, then polished with a swirl remover, finally waxed.

Nice work gear head. Looks and sounds great.

Nice guitar! I think you might need to put the video and final pic in one post, then notify the admin you're done? See sticky...

You appear to be completed. Now you have until tonight to put in the final post info and contact me to close the thread.

http://www.tdpri.com/forum/2012-tdpri-tele-build-challenge/326277-final-days-every-contestant-please-read.html#post4150195

http://www.tdpri.com/forum/2012-tdpri-tele-build-challenge/326378-contact-me-when-completed.html

Walnut is quickly becoming my favorite. Nice work!

Dep

Wow glad I decided to check the boards, I would have been DQed.
Here is my final photo
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-2R3cCmtkPWM/T30Um8sjASI/AAAAAAAAEKg/NUWBTtTkUo4/s800/2012-04-04_23-28-09_571.jpg

and my Video
ltudD7_qSCE

Nice job on your build. That black hardware looks good!

Thanks Folks, I love thinking of a theme for a guitar then just making it come to life. The day before the challenge started I read the threads about it beginning. I new I had a piece of maple for the neck in the basement. I immediately thought about some walnut a buddy of mine had scored. The layout with the all black hardware and pick guard instantly came to my mind.
Just like I did to this guitar almost 2 years ago. This one is a real keeper.
Gold Top (http://www.archive.agileguitarforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=35065)

Congratulations - You were my #1 pick. I love that guitar :grin: I'm kind of a sucker for black hardware & wood grain.

Gearhead, beautiful guitar. When I saw the finished product, I thought "that could have come from the factory." Great job, beautiful wood, and you can see that I appreciate black hardware myself.

Congratulations!

Congratulations, Gearhead; may this be the first of many for you to enjoy.

Yours was my favorite in the first time class.

Great Job and Congrats!!!!

Thanks guys, Nosmo as soon as I saw the inlaying on the back of your bass, I knew I would be going for 2nd or 3rd.

Congratulations, man, that's a beautiful first gat and an excellent result. Look forward to seeing more of your great work in the years to come.

So I got my Amazon gift certificate last night, went ahead and ordered another mic stand, 25ft mic cable and a speaker cable to have a back up...$49.60 lol send that money right back into the music. Thanks Guys!

Congratulations, man, that's a beautiful first gat and an excellent result. Look forward to seeing more of your great work in the years to come.
Thanks Phil, means a lot coming from you, your just plain crazy with your build man.