nialldabass' 2012 Challenge Build Thread -- COMPLETED

As I live in Ireland, there is no money and I'll be using whats available to me woodwise in my very meagre wood stash. Got a few available parts and some new stuff on the way.

I think I'm gonna call it a FATLINE, or maybe it sould be PHATLINE, to try and keep in with the 'kids', but I'm probably already 10 years out of date:mrgreen:

Should get a start at the weekend. With pics to follow

Oh! I've never built a tele before or a bolt on neck, so I got alot to learn over the next few weeks, but being a non conformist, there will be no plans no templates and a large dose of 'winging it', So if your into car crashes this could be fun to watch.

Best of luck to everyone and may the best guitar win.


Niall

Welcome and good luck! :grin:

Dave

Ádh mór oraibh!

Nice. Consider me a rubbernecker:lol:

And Good Luck!

Plans and templates are overrated, anyway. I keep waiting for somebody to simply whittle a guitar one of these years with a pocketknife, or something.

Good luck!

Every journey begins with the first step. As the old saying goes," Come on in, the waters fine!". We were all beginners once. Glad to see you're in.....Good luck!

Right lets get this show on the road

Well it was Paddys day here Satuarday and Mothers day sunday, so I did not get as much done as I'd hoped
First up wood shot

All my math is metric I'm afraid

Poplar 230mm by 36mm, couple a bits of flat sawn maple 24mm, some sapele and some 30 year old oak kitchen cabinet doors with 8mm thick panels

http:/http://img801.imageshack.us/img801/5117/1021469y.jpg/

Poplar body blank glued up

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/9458/1021470.jpg

Sapele neck, gonna be a three aside angled headstock, so I needed to do a little scarf at the very end of the headstock should miss the tuners so should me no strength issues

http://img818.imageshack.us/img818/5962/1021471.jpg


I'm gonna put a maple fretboard on this as I do not own a guitar with a maple board, however I'm using a gibson scale with 22 frets just to be different
http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/6066/1021474.jpg
http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/1672/1021475.jpg
http://img845.imageshack.us/img845/1545/1021476.jpg
http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/5237/1021477f.jpg


Next up the body, placed inch squares on it and drew out the tele shape

http://img808.imageshack.us/img808/6892/1021478.jpg

Marked and scored out the fretboard

http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/3334/1021479.jpg

Here is the inside of the back made from the oak, I think i may need to plane down a little it might be a bit heavy

http://img834.imageshack.us/img834/6329/1021480.jpg

and here it is with the body partially cut out with a jigsaw, need some cleaning up

http://img861.imageshack.us/img861/6194/1021481l.jpg


And I got these parts from a company in England called Axesrus, a great company to deal with and seem to be the same pickups as the GFS fro what i can find out, great pickups not tried these mini hums but i bet they are great. I skimpt a bit on the electronics but they had this ready made assembly for £15 mini pots and a three way switch, but if i fall in love with this git, its an easy upgrade

http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/7762/1021473.jpg

More to follw and thanks for looking

Well...thanks for sharing. I think those mini-hums will be super cool. Can't wait to see it finished.
Good luck!

Just a quick update got more done but that will have to wait till tomorrow

Here is my Ahem! 'Ross' sander, ok its a belt sander clamped on its side and a hand drill in a press, but it works surprisingly well, although I do worry about burning the drill out, I also had to cut away part of the housing on the belt sander at the front end, and it was only the the very sides of the neck pocket that i needed the drill for, it came in very handy cleaning out the inside cavity though.

http://img594.imageshack.us/img594/5862/1021483.jpg

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/2929/1021482.jpg

I managed to get the rest of the inside cleaned up, well as cleaned up as needed, glued on the back and and sealed with a coat of orange shellac

http://img607.imageshack.us/img607/6943/1021484.jpg

I was gonna double bind but as she is such a big girl I thought she deserved a nice big round backside:wink:

http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/759/1021485.jpg
http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/6066/1021487i.jpg

Here's a look at the top

http://img861.imageshack.us/img861/7083/1021488.jpg

Like I say she is a bit of a big girl but I hope to get it down to about 48mm, so she may not be Fat but a little chubby, and who can complain about that eh!

http://img821.imageshack.us/img821/5778/1021492.jpg

And If I can shave her down to 4 1/2 pounds after pickups routing and sanding I won't be too disapointed

http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/3465/1021493.jpg

Couldn't resist throwing up this pic, And I'm going for a fairly classic 3 tone sunburst but I'll see where the wood wants to take me

http://img861.imageshack.us/img861/7918/1021495.jpg

And the big van came to my house today, very late in the day but bringing some goodies, so I can get back on to the neck

http://img811.imageshack.us/img811/8982/1021496q.jpg

Thanks for looking

Niall

That's gonna be one stiff neck! :wink:

That's gonna be one stiff neck! :wink:

Oh! Is that not how its done?

Seriously, thats thats got me in stitches,:lol:

That's gonna be one stiff neck! :wink:

That IS the neck.

:wink:

That IS the neck.

:wink:

Yeah! Well I'm going for first one finished, just wait till you hear her, elastic bands for frets and steel rods for strings, its a bass don't you know, its gonna be awesome:mrgreen:

Not alot got done today but a couple of things I've never done before, first of I had to plane the top down a little and after about 2 hours I managed to shave of another 2mm, oh! for Barnaby's skills (a little in joke for the secret mlp'ers here) then drill a few holes, thank God for batteries and the whole electrickery malarkey.

http://img856.imageshack.us/img856/8647/1021497.jpg

And a little rasping

http://img803.imageshack.us/img803/2991/1021502.jpg

And my first atempt at binding

http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/1457/1021503.jpg

Gonna try and get it finished off tonight and clean up in the morning

Took the tape off and did a quick clean up, yikes! What do I do now? I'll carry on and see if I can clean it up better, just scraped it, might come up better, maybe see if i can melt a little binding and fill a little here and there, did't cut my insise corners at the right angle atall. Might just have to take of 2 bits an redo with a better cut, we'll see:sad:

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/2637/1021507.jpg

http://img809.imageshack.us/img809/310/1021508.jpg

I'm A bit more confident about the outside binding now, none of those pesky internal cuts:rolleyes:

binding F holes is tough. Don't be too hard on yourself. After all, this is a challenge, so stretching yourself should be part of what you do on this build. You'll come out of this with a whole new skill set.

binding F holes is tough. Don't be too hard on yourself. After all, this is a challenge, so stretching yourself should be part of what you do on this build. You'll come out of this with a whole new skill set.

Thats Exactly right, the whole build was for me to do stuff I'd never done before
Bolt on neck, Hollow body, maple board,body binding, the only thing stopping me doing a trad headstock was the fact I had three a side tuners already and I'm not keen on the snake head, although Igork may of changed my mind a little
I've cleaned it up a little more and I am gonna try a little drop of enamel paint at the corners, I have some, somewhere, if only I can find it, and I'll post pics.
Thanks for the words of wisdom its as good as a pat on the back

Looks very much like you've got skills to compare to Barnaby's. I know he'd be proud.
Love the binding, and 2.5 hours is about right, hand tools, power tools, don't matter.

I think you've inspired me to build a "Truss Rod Neck" on my next one. It will save a lot of
time sanding and finishing and be much less messy.

Looks very much like you've got skills to compare to Barnaby's. I know he'd be proud.
Love the binding, and 2.5 hours is about right, hand tools, power tools, don't matter.

I think you've inspired me to build a "Truss Rod Neck" on my next one. It will save a lot of
time sanding and finishing and be much less messy.

Dont hold me on the sound now, you might need overwound pups with alnico xxv magnets

Cleaned up a bit more and Found some old stopping wax I've had about 20years (I'm a French Polisher by trade), and did a little fettling I think its gonna be fine, I'll know better for next time. its the inside angle thats gonna annoy me.

before

http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/1266/1021510.jpg

And after a bit

http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/1599/1021511.jpg
http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/5885/1021512.jpg

I'll carry on for now and come back to it in the finishing stage, the wax will only pick up a load of dirt, and can react badly with nitro, so I might need to put a lite wash coat of thinned out pva before laquer

Just a quick update after the 'f' hole fiasco, here is the truss rod routed out, top route under fretboard jobby, 2 way truss, think I'm gonna put a maple overlay on the headstock, and a maple truss rod cover

http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/9066/sany0401p.jpg

Great save on the f-hole!

Nice work on the F-hole. They are tricky!

Nice recovery on the f holes. Looking forward to the rest...

Got the lid glued on and the binding channel cut, pre bent the binding, thanks to whoever showed this in their thread, cant remember who sorry but it was a great tip and you know who you are. Used the socket trick worked a treat

http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/6272/1021519.jpg
http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/4697/1021520.jpg

Binding is all done now, sorry no pic should have the finished pics tomorrow

The big question is, have I done wrong, binding before cutting out my neck pocket?
I figured I would get a neater finish, or am i gonna regret this?:shock:

Thanks for the kind words guys and thanks for looking

Niall

I don't think so, niall. The worst case scenario, you may have a little spot to touch up
because it gets hit by the router or something, but probably not. And yes, I've watched
it done both ways, so all is good.

I've done it both ways, I got better results when I did the pocket first but not much better. You'll have no problems, it may just take a few extra minutes to clean up the ends. Don't worry it'll come out great, you do nice work :wink:.

First up I need to come clean and put my hands up and admit I may of broke rule no 8 by posting another build on this thread, I appologise and In my defense I was trying to prove my lack of posting was not down to non guitar related issues such as the wife and kids.

raises hand over bible
I solomnley swear my life has been taken over by guitar building, and will let no other outside intrests come between me and luthery.

I'll carry on for now and hope I don't get disqualified (I really hope I dont, not that I have much chance of winning with all the great build going on, but this is one of the most fun things I've done in a very long time) if i do I'll just move it to the home depot and carry on there.

Got the binding done and I'm pleased with the top, First time binding, I dunno what I was worried about, the sides however have slight gaps in places and the bearing wheel seems to of put a slight groove, not sure if I tipped the router over slightly, this poplar sure does dent easy, could not get a good shot of the problem and as the edges will be opaque its not gonna be an issue bondo will be my freind:mrgreen:
http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/1643/1021523d.jpg

And with a little mineral spirits

http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/3221/1021531.jpg

And a close up

http://img703.imageshack.us/img703/1511/1021524.jpg

that's looking sweet. I don't think you've broken any rules. I think that rule was put into place becuase, in the past, people have built 2 ro 3 guitars for the challenge. I think he wanted to make sure that you were just submitting 1 instrument and that that thread didn't get obscured by tons of pics/info from another build.

that's looking sweet. I don't think you've broken any rules. I think that rule was put into place becuase, in the past, people have built 2 ro 3 guitars for the challenge. I think he wanted to make sure that you were just submitting 1 instrument and that that thread didn't get obscured by tons of pics/info from another build.

I hope you're right, I'll try and get a good chunk done this weekend and keep my fingers crossed, if I can get a second page up the mods might not look back at the first page lol

Sometimes, at the rate I work, it FEELS like I'm building 2 or 3 at once.

Hey! thanks man we'll get there,, and I think the last one was a compliment, I'll take it as one anyway lol

And since you did such a great job on the binding, here's an extra post to help push this
to "Page 2".....now I'm sounding like Paul Harvey. Good day!

And since you did such a great job on the binding, here's an extra post to help push this
to "Page 2".....now I'm sounding like Paul Harvey. Good day!

Hey! E money, Do you ever sleep?

Hey! E money, Do you ever sleep?

Only on Saturday nights, between 12:00a to 3:30a. Sleep is way overrated.

Another great build. There's so many talented people on here. Just saw a custom shop tele with maple cap natural finish for 4k (retail). Most of the challenge guys could produce a better looking guitar.

I really like the binding on the f holes.

Finding it hard to keep up on the build threads.

Cheers

Yeah, they all sort of blend into each other.All I recall is that there's someone pounding sevaral aligators into shape on an anvil to make a multilayered gator-stick mando with broken glass inlays that have been baked in the oven until the teeth fell out. o_O

Only on Saturday nights, between 12:00a to 3:30a. Sleep is way overrated.

Well I'll be checking, but I bet you post

And thanks alot guys, you know who you are and what you did lol

And keeping up with everyone's builds and skill level is the biggest challenge, I think thats what makes it so great, everyone is pushing their own abilities, and I think we are all learning somthing new, just from reading each others threads.

I realise that my thread started of stating 'no templates', ' I'm unconventional' blah blah blah! But I'm just about to make a neck pocket template and mini hum template, I'm gonna shave down the back a little more and I'm doing a trad 3 colour burst, the only unconventional thing I'm doing is the Gibson scale, and that may change as I'm yet to cut the neck out. Oh! and the angled, 3 a side headstock, which is hardly a break from convention, I think old Leo knew what he was doing somehow and compared to what else is going on round here.................could we have a new 'Most Traditional Tele' prize, I might be in with a shout.......not.

You didn't get DQed... but I removed the other build. Please keep your build thread to ONLY about your Challenge Build and nothing more.

Thanks

the binding look great, very nice job

very nice looking build. that binding turned out great!

Hey! thanks to you guys and to the mods, just a small update today, I'm hoping for a very big update tomorrow, got the whole day for guitar building yipee!:mrgreen:

First of I glued on a maple overlay onto the headstock

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/2919/1021532.jpg

Then rough cut out the neck, the fretboard is just sitting there unglued

http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/2079/1021533.jpg

I've now glued on the fretboard and will shape the neck and cut out the neck pocket tomorrow, as the guitar is still a little fat I've decided to depen the pocket and put a heel on the neck, will only be about 4mm thicker, I've thought about recessing the plate, but I'll make a dogs dinner out of it. I'll sleep on it and prob just work the pocket and neck untill I'm happy. So fingers crossed I'll have a neck and body happily married the next time I'm posting

I'd just like to say to all the builders out there reading this, that I try and visit most threads and try and leave a comment if I think i can add somthing, But wow guys I would be here all day, the level of this years builds seems higher than ever, its just an honor to be in the same competition. And just a big thank you for all the great info freely imparted by all the good folks. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for all your generosity, so thank you all.

And I do not have a clue who I'll be voting for, I think it may all come down to the songs played in the videos:mrgreen:

Niall

You're doing great work, and well said, btw. I concur with the whole statement. Except
for the "voting" part, because this may be waaayyyyy too tough for me and I don't like
having to put in effort, of course. Maybe you should just cast my vote too.

Oh No!! now I need to build a bass!! Looking great Niall, keep up the good work!

You're doing great work, and well said, btw. I concur with the whole statement. Except
for the "voting" part, because this may be waaayyyyy too tough for me and I don't like
having to put in effort, of course. Maybe you should just cast my vote too.

Hey thanks, But I don't know what to do with my own vote, for me last year had a couple of stand outs, not the obvious ones mind but as I say I'm looking for reasons other than purley guitar building, which is wrong, but at least I have a few weeks left till I need to worry about it.

Oh No!! now I need to build a bass!! Looking great Niall, keep up the good work!

Thanks but I think my name might confuse people, I was playing bass in a band when I picked that online name and I've just stuck with it, the only four strings I play now are my Ukes:mrgreen: And its just an Homage to one of my favourite bands Here and Now. This will have the full compliment of 6 strings
10's

And on to todays update. Well I did not get quite as far as I wanted my second child broke her little finger and we had a few hours up the hospital, I told the wife i'll just tape her two fingers together, but no, a couple of hundred quid later and she has her two fingers taped together. Granted its not masking tape but still:lol:

Any way Ithought I'd start of with the shop sound system, old school, none of that fancy CD nonsense...........what do you mean mp3

http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/1351/1021536.jpg

Right the Idea is to marry these 2 together, and yes I am doing a volute, why not, adds to the challenge if nothing else

http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/2416/1021537.jpg

Now do you remember my fears about binding before pocket?

http://img818.imageshack.us/img818/8826/1021538.jpg

Oh! well live and learn

Cleaning up the pocket corners

http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/8633/1021539.jpg

Look, no hands

http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/3069/1021540.jpg

My pocket arrangement, I'm very happy with it

http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/3241/1021541m.jpg

Fret markers going in

http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/8894/1021542.jpg

Side dots

http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/313/1021543.jpg

And a couple of final shots I have repaired the binding using model cement, seems to melt the plastic nicely. we shall see come clean up

http://img851.imageshack.us/img851/1868/1021544q.jpg
http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/2593/1021545.jpg
http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/9063/1021547.jpg

Thats all for now, might be Friday before I can get the pups routed, She is bang on 6 pounds as is and the neck has alot to come of it yet, and I shall leave you with my secret neck carving tool, she kicks like a mule and any rough skin needed taken of the ends of your fingers she will be only happy to assist. Not for the faint harted

http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/2294/1021534.jpg

That cheesegrater's got me scared... good luck. Hope your daughter heals up just fine, too.

Very nice work. I like that "neck carver". Looks like it can chew through some pretty tough wood (or skin....or...)

What a sweet looking build , love the bound f-hole , and the neck is looking great . I have one off those cheese graters , never tried it , kicks like a mule eh , maybe I won't try it :lol:
Hope your daughter heels up fast .

Sorry to hear about your daughter. I bet that blue tape would have worked.

That neck is beautiful. I really like the headstock shape & veneer. I would never even consider binding an F hole. Looks too hard to me. Your's turned out great.

I really like the binding in the f hole! I want to try that but it looks pretty tricky.

Very nice work. I like that "neck carver". Looks like it can chew through some pretty tough wood (or skin....or...)

That cheesegrater's got me scared... good luck. Hope your daughter heals up just fine, too.

What a sweet looking build , love the bound f-hole , and the neck is looking great . I have one off those cheese graters , never tried it , kicks like a mule eh , maybe I won't try it :lol:
Hope your daughter heels up fast .

Sorry to hear about your daughter. I bet that blue tape would have worked.

That neck is beautiful. I really like the headstock shape & veneer. I would never even consider binding an F hole. Looks too hard to me. Your's turned out great.

I really like the binding in the f hole! I want to try that but it looks pretty tricky.

Thanks alot guys, well you know kids they just get on with it, she said it was sore but it was just the fact it was so swollen that we knew somthing was wrong.

And that cheese grater works great with the sapele not so well with the maple, and it needs to be on a very slow setting, you can get it down pretty close but then its back to rasps and scrapers and sandpaper.

Right big update got a few hours in this evening and got alot done

First up this is the rough carve on the neck
http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/4703/1021549.jpg

And I put a coat of shellac on the freatboard and hit it with 2 heavy coats of precat laquer, wet and dry 800 grit and buffed with a rag no compound, all before fretwork:shock: Again I may have my thinking all wrong.
http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/2517/1021551.jpg

Trying to get my pocket and neck as neat as possible
http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/2070/1021554.jpg

Routing for pups, I have to admit I wish I spent more time on my template, not as neat as it could of been
http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/2130/1021555.jpg

Cutting out for control cavity
http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/3862/1021556.jpg

And as its a thin top just cleaned up with a chisel
http://img638.imageshack.us/img638/2149/1021557k.jpg

Finished carving the neck and got the tuner holes drilled
http://img831.imageshack.us/img831/7965/1021558.jpg

My fret slotting jig, ok its a saw with a bit of tape for a stop, but I take my time and it works
http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/333/1021561n.jpg

Then I run a square file on its corner just to ease the edge of the slots
http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/1964/1021562.jpg

Fretting, I use a cut of bit on a dremmel, and I get a very neat close finish
http://img813.imageshack.us/img813/3588/1021564.jpg

Done
http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/4928/1021565.jpg

And after a quick filing
http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/2181/1021571.jpg

One or two more bits and I'm ready to finish I can't believe it
http://img815.imageshack.us/img815/8743/1021566w.jpg
http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/6378/1021568.jpg

My original plan was for a sunburst, but I'm quite liking the look of it right now, its just that stinkwood poplar round the edges thats gonna spoil a natural finish, I'll think abouy it for a while:confused:

clear top, black back and sides? It is bound after all so you will have a definite break between the two.

That looks very classy! Great work!

Very nice guitar. Really like the bound f-hole. I agree with RogerC....very classy!

Great looking build Niall:cool: Love the headstock,
Can't wait to hear it:wink:

One or two more bits and I'm ready to finish I can't believe it


This build is looking really good, that is going to be an awesome guitar. I know the feeling where you can't believe it's time to finish. I always have that dreaded fear right before I squeeze the trigger on the spray gun, fear that I've forgotten something. Looks like you haven't forgotten anything, can't wait to see what you decide on for the finish.

clear top, black back and sides? It is bound after all so you will have a definite break between the two.

The backs the same as the front so I really wanna keep the grain showing, update coming up.

That looks very classy! Great work!

Very nice guitar. Really like the bound f-hole. I agree with RogerC....very classy!

Thanks guys, just trying to keep up with everyone else, not such an easy task

Great looking build Niall:cool: Love the headstock,
Can't wait to hear it:wink:

Lol I'm sorry I gave you a hard time ...... not:mrgreen:

This build is looking really good, that is going to be an awesome guitar. I know the feeling where you can't believe it's time to finish. I always have that dreaded fear right before I squeeze the trigger on the spray gun, fear that I've forgotten something. Looks like you haven't forgotten anything, can't wait to see what you decide on for the finish.

Well, I have a big update coming, got the first coats on and...... I'm yet to fit the bridge, drill for earth wire and...... still not drilled for output jack, I'm sure I'll find more:rolleyes: And thanks

Right been busy over the long weekend, but the wifes birthday and kids being invited to birthday's miles away, plus that other build have stopped me from getting round to posting so here is a big hit

First up I got a little shellac rubbed into the neck
http://img826.imageshack.us/img826/3933/1021574.jpg

Then hit it with a couple of wet coats of precat
http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/2346/1021575d.jpg
Came out quite nice but I'm gonna matt it back with wire wool and wax
http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/2938/1021582.jpg

Next up I made a couple of decals. Now I should explain, my cousin passed away just before Christmas, and we played together in a band for 4 or 5 years, he was a great guy and a terrific song writer and one of his most memorable and I think the one he was most proud of was a song called Preacher, and this is my first chance to remember him in my own way, and will be a little reminder to me everytime I pick her up and hopefully a little of his talent will rub of on me.
http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/6829/1021585.jpg
http://img842.imageshack.us/img842/7969/1021587.jpg

I epoxied some maple and black pickguard together to make the truss rod cover
http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/6995/1021591.jpg
http://img833.imageshack.us/img833/5943/1021590q.jpg

Grain filled the body withwater bassed filler, fine filler used for decorating:mrgreen: but I added a little colour
http://img571.imageshack.us/img571/4439/1021588.jpg

Then I went to work with staining, I mixed up some spirit stain using chrysodine and black with methylated spirits and started to see what I could get, trying to get the poplar and oak to marry up, and boy it really bit into the binding, that was fun cleaning:rolleyes:
http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/1204/1021595c.jpg

Spirit stain dries super fast so before too long I hit it with some laquer, Now normally I would seal with shellac, but that would of pulled the spirit stain of
http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/1828/1021596.jpg

And without flash
http://img571.imageshack.us/img571/1474/1021597.jpg

Side profile, the poplars not too bad the odd touch up
http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/7718/1021600.jpg

And the back
http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/1088/1021603.jpg

And with neck fitted, the colour match is not perfect but near enough for me
http://img854.imageshack.us/img854/7631/1021608.jpg

might have a tune up before long, need to sort out a youtube account, oh! joy

Wow , beautiful , and a very nice tribute to your cousin .

Um...WOW!!!!

I too have learned all about getting stain on binding. It's so hard to clean it up, you got it looking perfect. Great job on this and cool tribute to your cousin. Only one suggestion though - stop hitting your thumb with a hammer http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/6995/1021591.jpg :mrgreen:

Great job Nialdabass!!!! The stained burst came out looking awesome. Can't wait to see
the video now, so snap to with that account-setting-upping.

Fantastic work, Niall! I really like what you've done there. The truss rod cover detail is perfect, the tribute to your cousin is touching, and the burst is perfect. Can't get much better than that.

Very nice. I love the headstock, truss rod cover, decals and all.

Wow , beautiful , and a very nice tribute to your cousin .

Um...WOW!!!!

I too have learned all about getting stain on binding. It's so hard to clean it up, you got it looking perfect. Great job on this and cool tribute to your cousin. Only one suggestion though - stop hitting your thumb with a hammer http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/6995/1021591.jpg :mrgreen:
Haha! Well spotted, I was actually screwing a screw down to my bench, when the drill slipped off the head of the screw straight into my thumb, with my 5 yr old standing there watching me hop around muttering profanities under my breath, very painfull.
Great job Nialdabass!!!! The stained burst came out looking awesome. Can't wait to see
the video now, so snap to with that account-setting-upping.

Fantastic work, Niall! I really like what you've done there. The truss rod cover detail is perfect, the tribute to your cousin is touching, and the burst is perfect. Can't get much better than that.

Very nice. I love the headstock, truss rod cover, decals and all.
Thanks alot guys, that means alot coming from you.

Just a small update as I ran out of laquer, got some more now so we are back on track.

I'll start of withe the 3 on a strip tuners Wilkinson delux, cheap but nice repo's
http://img801.imageshack.us/img801/6753/1021616.jpg

Next is fret work, I needed to do more than I thought I would, but not too bad, these are vintage speck frets, the only fret wire I had so these might get changed at some point if I cant get used to them, I use a spirit level with a milled edge that I've filled with sand and it works great, only cost 10 euros
http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/4823/1021617.jpg

Here I am roughing out the bone nut, no gator bones round these parts, thank heaven
http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/6549/1021619f.jpg

I then use the dremmel to polish up the freats and the finished board
http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/8586/1021623a.jpg
http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/8021/1021626g.jpg

Here it is just after running out of laquer, and as its pre cat I'm using, I'm hoping to get it polished up by tuesday, but I'll try not to rush, as I normally do when this close to the finish.
http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/5892/1021621l.jpg
http://img833.imageshack.us/img833/4189/1021622.jpg

really like the finish on the body and the wood grain pops!

That thing is getting nicer with each update. Good on you!

What a beautiful guitar this is turning out to be :smile:

Wow, fantastic looking axe! That thing would do em proud at the Oprey, or rockin at the Woodlands! :) :)

Excellent work in every aspect. Nice fix on the binding!

Great looking build. The tribute to your cousin is very nice!

Pure class - nice build and liked how you were using some old school tools like paring chisels. The headstock design is excellent.

Really well done.

Still lookin' good; I love the way the finish makes the f-hole binding pop. And the neck/body color match looks great, too.

I made it my aim to catch up on some build threads today. I'm really sorry that I've missed this one before now. I remember your LPJr/tele, the stain work on this one brought it to mind instantly. You've done a fine job with the oak, something which isn't easy, and I love the attention to detail on the headstock, I'm so envious. And you say your a french polisher, something I thought extinct. As my grandmother used to say, "The Irish can make anything". My paternal great-grandmother was born in Tyrone, and was an artist and her father was a silversmith. You continue a fine tradition :grin:


Dave

Great work! Love the burst.

Beautiful job. That white binding just pops with that color.

Dep

You've done such a great job! The finish looks fantastic, and all the details are awesome.

really like the finish on the body and the wood grain pops!
Thanks, but I think I have the tree to thank for that:mrgreen:

That thing is getting nicer with each update. Good on you!
Thanks E, although I'm thinking I should of gone green now:lol:

What a beautiful guitar this is turning out to be :smile:
Thanks, not quite got the finish to your standard not by any stretch, but she'll do, for now but I can see her getting alot more laquer in the near future, this oaks tough to fill.

Wow, fantastic looking axe! That thing would do em proud at the Oprey, or rockin at the Woodlands! :) :)
Thank you kindly sir that is a compliment and a half:mrgreen:

Excellent work in every aspect. Nice fix on the binding!
Thanks, I need to take a close up of the fix, it came out pretty good, used a little acrylic white paint before top coat and I'm happy enough with it

Great looking build. The tribute to your cousin is very nice!
Thanks man

Pure class - nice build and liked how you were using some old school tools like paring chisels. The headstock design is excellent.
Thanks, I'm alot happier getting a little nick from a chisel than I am getting one from a router:shock:

Really well done.
Thanks

Still lookin' good; I love the way the finish makes the f-hole binding pop. And the neck/body color match looks great, too.
yeah the laquer I got has quite a yellow tinge so its mellowed out real well, the neck and body colour is not near enough to match and too near for a nice contrast its somewhere inbetween, the crowds only gonna see the front anyway:mrgreen:


I made it my aim to catch up on some build threads today. I'm really sorry that I've missed this one before now. I remember your LPJr/tele, the stain work on this one brought it to mind instantly. You've done a fine job with the oak, something which isn't easy, and I love the attention to detail on the headstock, I'm so envious. And you say your a french polisher, something I thought extinct. As my grandmother used to say, "The Irish can make anything". My paternal great-grandmother was born in Tyrone, and was an artist and her father was a silversmith. You continue a fine tradition :grin:
Dave
Hey! its tough keeping up with all the builds, I'm getting everyones mixed up.
Thanks for the compliments, I actually grew up in London, irish parents, living with a whole bunch of Irish and West Indians, which believe it or not have a very similar culture. And I started out in the piano trade french polishing, but it was just a job for me, oh! how education is wasted on the young.Married an Irish girl and thought it a much better place to raise kids, so here I am with a brand new hobby that I'm determind to get good at, got a few builds to go yet :lol:




Great work! Love the burst.

Thanks

Beautiful job. That white binding just pops with that color.

Thanks

Dep

You've done such a great job! The finish looks fantastic, and all the details are awesome.
Thanks

Little update

Started of with the nut, I use a razor saw to get going
http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/4287/1021628.jpg

Then onto the nut files
http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/1456/1021630.jpg

Wired her up
http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/8489/1021635.jpg

And hey presto
httphttp://img600.imageshack.us/img600/6425/1021634.jpg://

I've strung her up now and there are a few dead spots on the board with the action down where I want it so I've tweaked the truss rod and gonna let it settle
overnight and see if I need to go through with a rocker on the frets, i may just any way, should of done it before stringing but you know what its like:rolleyes:
Also have a bit of an earthing issue with the front pup, hope its just bad soldering, in my haste

Absolutely gorgeous guitar! Great job Naill. I really like the headstock, and like others have said, very nice tribute. I will probably copy that headstock in the future.

Absolutely gorgeous guitar! Great job Naill. I really like the headstock, and like others have said, very nice tribute. I will probably copy that headstock in the future.

You know i have a team of lawyers ready to defend my copyright don't you, i hope you have deep pockets cause i'm earning nothing at this guitar building game:mrgreen:

What a stellar looking guitar. Those pickup covers are cool and so are the surrounds. What are they? It's probably in here somewhere but it takes me so long to sound all these thread posts out that sometimes I skim :mrgreen:.

What a stellar looking guitar. Those pickup covers are cool and so are the surrounds. What are they? It's probably in here somewhere but it takes me so long to sound all these thread posts out that sometimes I skim :mrgreen:.

You and me both brother,
The pups are bought from a company in the Uk Axesrus, and seem to be the same as the GFS stuff, I think from the Artec factory in Korea, they are both rated at 8.2k and have alnico V magnets. They are mini hums and called "Mini Magic Mirrors" . never used them before but their other pups have been good so fingers crossed

You know i have a team of lawyers ready to defend my copyright don't you, i hope you have deep pockets cause i'm earning nothing at this guitar building game:mrgreen:

Ha, I will do my best to alter it just enough to get by. :wink:

Absolutely beautiful, Niall. You say you're not making any money building guitars, but dude, with work like that, you could be...

Beautiful guitar Niall, Great job.!!!

Hey, no fair whipping out the "Double Secret Agent Nut Filing Kit". There ARE rules you know!!!

(snicker).

The mockup confirms what I've been suspicious of the whole time: a great looking guitar!
Nice work.

Well done. Love the 'burst and contrast of the white binding.

Absolutely beautiful, Niall. You say you're not making any money building guitars, but dude, with work like that, you could be...
I can keep on dreaming:mrgreen:

Beautiful guitar Niall, Great job.!!!
Thanks man I'm catching up to you, or I was.........see next post

Hey, no fair whipping out the "Double Secret Agent Nut Filing Kit". There ARE rules you know!!!

(snicker).

The mockup confirms what I've been suspicious of the whole time: a great looking guitar!
Nice work.

Thanks E, that kit was 25 euros made by a company called Boston, Nut files are the V variety, but it beats what I was using before

Well done. Love the 'burst and contrast of the white binding.
Thanks Maricopia

Well Daddy was sitting on the sofa admiring his handy work when his 11month old crawled over and pulled herself up beside him, wow that looks good, real tasty, and takes a bite out of it, she has 4 teeth but only managed to gain purchase with 3, so after kicking her accross the room (not really, it was a compliment after all, a love bite if you will) I was left with this
http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/5073/1021638b.jpg

Anyway I'm Glad she did, the back needs more laquer and the tops far from perfect, How long we got left?:lol: Its creeping up alot faster than I thought

Boy, those Irish girls are frisky! :lol: I'd leave it. I mean you can't get a better memory of your little girl than that. She'd be with you every time you played it.

I wouldn't fix that, for all the money in the world. That is the perfect "relic" job, because as said above it is full of memories.

I wouldn't fix that, for all the money in the world. That is the perfect "relic" job, because as said above it is full of memories.

+1

See , that's why I don't allow any eating in my shop , it just drives me nuts when someone takes a bite out of one of my guitars:lol: Seriously Niall , don't know if I would repair that , down the road you'll look at that and remember days gone by :smile:

I'm with Nosmo and the rest. The guitar will eventually get marked up and scratched with belt rash or something else. This way the first scratch is from your 11 month old. And years from now when she's asking for the keys to the car, you can point to the teeth marks and say, "I don't know..."

Boy, those Irish girls are frisky! :lol: I'd leave it. I mean you can't get a better memory of your little girl than that. She'd be with you every time you played it.

This brought tears to my eyes. I'm getting soft in my old age I guess, but I'm in the camp of leaving it.

Right time to bite the bullet, i'll try and get a better vid when i have got such claw handed playing going on, but you'll get the idea, I was using a Laney cub10 with a cloned sho pedal (thanks to .11gauge on the burnt fingers forum), but it comes over too strong in the recording, I'll do somthing with cleans, and different pickups, I just needed to post before my limit was up lol
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIqP6gh9OYw&feature=youtu.be

sorry cant figure out how to post vids:rolleyes:

Just click the youtube icon in the menu bar above the reply text box and paste the code below between the brackets

ZIqP6gh9OYw&feature

ZIqP6gh9OYw&feature

Right time to bite the bullet, i'll try and get a better vid when i have got such claw handed playing going on, but you'll get the idea, I was using a Laney cub10 with a cloned sho pedal (thanks to .11gauge on the burnt fingers forum), but it comes over too strong in the recording, I'll do somthing with cleans, and different pickups, I just needed to post before my limit was up lol
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIqP6gh9OYw&feature=youtu.be

sorry cant figure out how to post vids:rolleyes:

duplicate post deleted

Awesome job , my fav Jeff Beck song! Congrats man fantastic looking and sounding build!

Sweet Nial! Fuzzy goodness! Teles can rock out.

Barncaster

Some great, smooth playing Niall. Big thumbs up!

Nice !! Great job Niall, Well done.

Nice video - great guitar!

I've gotta ask..............did you fix the bite marks?

Well played...in every sense of the expression :wink:.

Nice work. Congratulations on a great build!

Great job , nice playing , congrats :)

That is awesome and sounds great!!!

I'd leave it. I mean you can't get a better memory of your little girl than that. She'd be with you every time you played it. +1,000,000

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

Well guys its been great fun, lifes overtaken me a little in the last couple of weeks but here is my final posting and moody pic.
Well done to everyone for taking part it really has been very educational.

ZIqP6gh9OYw
http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/2680/1021684a.jpg

See you all on the homedepot pages in the near future, I have a Strat build coming up which I feel I'm gonna need alot of help on, but I'll post the build and you can all chip in, and then I can ignore you all and fall flat on my face:lol:
And a big thanks to the mods for putting this together

Niall