pulaifaz's 2012 Challenge Build Thread -- COMPLETED

Here we go

I have been gathering some wood to have different options, but this is the current plan:

chambered alder body
figured maple top
one piece maple neck

Welcome back, and good luck! :grin:

Dave

thanks crazydave - you too :cool:

Good luck, man. Sounds like it's gonna be quite the looker

thanks RogerC - you too

these are kind of my inspiration, I know they have been done before, but any of these would make me real happy to have

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-iFz6af3pTEA/T2CmOZJCBOI/AAAAAAAABTI/ew3xpUaeMY0/w500-h333-k/Fender-Select-Carved-Maple-Top-Telecaster-Amber%2B%2528Small%2529.jpg


https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-yoYl0LDD_ow/T2CkljFvZeI/AAAAAAAABSs/fQHRWu6fH3c/w246-h372-k/GuitarTelecaster.jpg

Here's some of the wood that I will use

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-DCHtYHiWwhc/T2Jyy92ol2I/AAAAAAAABTQ/olKoXKcHGxM/s512/wood.jpg

some lightly figured maple for a top, some maple neck blanks, alder for the body, a sapele neck blank, and a tiger rosewood fingerboard blank.

Preparing the alder body blank

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-r3PsQp4rtvg/T2PpNMgIRlI/AAAAAAAABTg/D67BRUZqAVw/s640/body+blank+1.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ITZATXK_hCE/T2PpMyvuZSI/AAAAAAAABTk/P1IfGsegNDc/s640/body+blank+2.jpg

Nice - ready for joining

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-dzCUsvh_MCI/T2PpMwQ-RdI/AAAAAAAABTc/u95RgoWbDI0/w489-h368-k/body%2Bblank%2B3.jpg

glue applied

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-3BEOcqrbxFg/T2PpNWp1afI/AAAAAAAABTw/h2O8a8DVWp8/s640/body+blank+4.jpg

clamped

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ULKDWGX3fDw/T2PpNXRbz4I/AAAAAAAABT8/c4Fo6MTnTpI/s640/body+blank+5.jpg

Build has been going quite slow - but here we go again

body blank ready to be cut

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-m0vA9eXni6s/T2zSC5tOV2I/AAAAAAAABUc/Zfu5nnZ_0OQ/s640/body+blank+6.jpg

retrieved the tele templates from storage

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-tZN_Do53zpc/T2zSC6bUjSI/AAAAAAAABUg/THqiSfHyBNM/w423-h377-k/templates.jpg

cutting the body

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-1UoSwfH29A4/T20FOtCuiaI/AAAAAAAABVE/HGqAT7u7OYU/s640/body+blank+7.jpg

body ready for sanding and routing

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-pHRIk5K9IMw/T20E3M4wz8I/AAAAAAAABUw/-ObXJdHWAJQ/s640/body+1.jpg


Getting the maple neck blank ready

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wAWof6I7GOc/T20E3Zqm-VI/AAAAAAAABUs/LFv9UpGPfdg/s640/neck+blank+1.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4KT6Ap8iYe4/T20E3AY3eQI/AAAAAAAABU0/vPGrl-qZvNk/s640/neck+blank+2.jpg

1" Maple top ready to be joined.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-IQybi-Kl_-U/T24fGNmxl_I/AAAAAAAABVw/oUdyI8fxD0w/s640/maple+top+2.jpg

Since the maple top is very thick, the Alder body's thickness needs to be reduced.

I am reducing the thickness it to about 1.5", I made a very simple routing box

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-6Ty5HJxgfKg/T24fFZXYThI/AAAAAAAABVQ/mizA0X04aXI/s640/body+2.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Om_T4JTipXw/T24fFYAT82I/AAAAAAAABVs/YlcklpbYnpo/s640/body+4+thick.jpg


https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-W4EMpYHSVEQ/T24fFmsefHI/AAAAAAAABVc/rWMgMrY6VHE/s640/body+5+thicknessed.jpg


I am waiting now for the maple top's glue to dry

How's it going, pulaifaz?

Your plan for maple and alder sound great, and good
job on the thinning jig. I like those "inspiration tele's"
you showed -- are you going for one of those in this
build?

Looking forward to seeing more... :grin:

thanks flatfive

I am going for the 1st tele in the inspiration above. It's been going really slow due to work and also have had a ton of issues with a relatively new purchased router table.

I made a new router table top, and I am ready to sand and route the body, I have the maple top glued and cut roughly, and also started with the neck, I'll post some photos later today or tomorrow.

The body was sanded amd routed

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-4r8k0zzl5CQ/T3YUp7uwkAI/AAAAAAAABWw/zkRgz_eceqk/s640/body+routed.jpg

The maple cap almost ready

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mGXky8B1H6U/T3YUp2S5zbI/AAAAAAAABW0/NM3K4B7HkSI/s640/maple+cap.jpg

the maple cap is pretty thick, it will be carved

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ql379D4AYG4/T3YUpyc2LCI/AAAAAAAABWs/FA7cLVsjhsU/s640/body+maple+cap+thick.jpg


The alder body is pretty light: a little over 3 lbs :grin: but I will still chamber it, which is the next operation

Chambering the body, I left an area unchambered for the belly cut

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-l4HGu8-wGfE/T3ZbBex-DlI/AAAAAAAABXI/cyOhM1xSU-w/s640/chamber+1.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-rE-xS4m2SvQ/T3ZbBoIbWQI/AAAAAAAABXQ/Zw5T5gvokkk/s640/chamber+2.jpg


ready to be glued to the maple top

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-UlLd8pNnKZI/T3ZbB4Y7a7I/AAAAAAAABXU/e7YmtAH1SLk/s640/chamber+glue.jpg

still more clamps were added

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ixjBoiPf3BI/T3ZbBQGg7nI/AAAAAAAABXE/y2toiFvbbu0/s640/body+w+maple+cap.jpg

The body and the maple before thicknessing

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-uKOn_CHyerM/T3fVcVaZNFI/AAAAAAAABXs/tL1ZwYKlde8/s640/body+6.jpg

the body after rough routing the carving steps, it will need a lot of sanding

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-LCRotXU0LoI/T3fVcb4fSSI/AAAAAAAABXo/2eBUy1IzU9o/s640/body+8.jpg

I need to sand-off the routing issues

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WPZJnZt5d6c/T3fVccqCxRI/AAAAAAAABXk/-WUhr7HxoVM/s640/body+7.jpg

The weight was 7 lbs before the chambering, routing the top and the carve, it is now down to 4 lbs :grin:

Sanding the carve

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-qEtrLK7djMU/T3i0iWAqKEI/AAAAAAAABYU/VPY1vMGugCg/s640/body+9.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-IyfnDwc55Jk/T3i0iDXrXyI/AAAAAAAABYE/JkBg_72qnqw/s640/body+11.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aph66fZHzvA/T3i0iM5Y19I/AAAAAAAABYA/jWNwwwFRf7g/s640/body+12.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-uSmx9AJ_zQM/T3i0iegln4I/AAAAAAAABYQ/mi23zAZjgpo/s640/body+13.jpg

Wow, nice job on the carved top! I guess you have just
a little final sanding to do?

Wow, nice job on the carved top! I guess you have just
a little final sanding to do?

thanks flatfive - it still needs some final sanding, however, I haven't decided yet how pronounced I want the carve's curves ...

Nice way to shave 3lbs off that thing! Have you chosen which of the finishes you were
debating about? Either will be pretty sweet.

tasty carve. that's on my list of things to do on a future build.

Nice way to shave 3lbs off that thing! Have you chosen which of the finishes you were
debating about? Either will be pretty sweet.

thanks emoney, I love how light it feels - regarding the finish, at the moment I think am going for an amber on the top and darker body

tasty carve. that's on my list of things to do on a future build.

thanks RogerC - it's a lot of work, but I think it's worth it

Great build, going to look nice. Would you mind sharing how you roughed in the contours for the carve?

thanks Muzikp

sure, I didn't take any photos, but I used my Les Paul carve templates that were borrowed from another builder called ex-nihilo in mylespaul.com - follow this thread (http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/luthiers-corner/124446-exnihilo-vintage-burst-build-4.html) it has a link for the download

Starting work on the 1 piece maple neck

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Ecvl4gnhdRE/T30Fal2-DSI/AAAAAAAABaE/smP_wjaBOpg/s640/neck+1.jpg

I will use a two-way truss rod with the adjustment at the heel

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-c8fsyAtiFC4/T30Fa-5MkkI/AAAAAAAABas/8XnLJ1gkefI/s640/neck+2.jpg

routing the truss rod channel

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-wWK4DSFosWI/T30Fa2GNKLI/AAAAAAAABaM/rr_XAUQsTGA/s640/neck+3.jpg

channel is done

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-YrU3pJ9ZG-Q/T30FbCJ20iI/AAAAAAAABaQ/pzYpGJdsrfU/s640/neck+4.jpg

fitting the truss road adjustment nut

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-rL-X_RZVhe4/T30FbiGQF-I/AAAAAAAABag/AstJ6eKvtPw/s640/neck+5.jpg

finished

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-HJbv-3heaQo/T30FbaEKzCI/AAAAAAAABak/j477PE8p2AU/s640/neck+6.jpg

Starting to look at possible finish dyes

amber

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3YvE2YDLDFg/T30FagKXM7I/AAAAAAAABaA/tnrHVhoqc7c/s640/dye+2.jpg

this one is called merlot

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-hlkxAgSMtuI/T30FasLMNNI/AAAAAAAABZ8/KwrPgLqW0TI/s640/dye+1.jpg

Continued shaping the neck

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IoF7zX43rms/T35dowvlLBI/AAAAAAAABa8/oLI_9l2gqY4/s640/neck+7.jpg

it will be routed next

while routing the neck the template slipped and the neck was damaged beyond repair, I decided not to use any screws to hold the template

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-3N8nUmRqyuo/T4DCFZ_E0tI/AAAAAAAABbI/kaxBGHwGL3I/s640/damaged+neck+2.jpg


https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-lfqHsDWw3sI/T4DCFRx0deI/AAAAAAAABbE/rf_qLn5Q-00/s640/damaged+neck+1.jpg

so off to start another neck from scratch .....

here's the new neck blank

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-OZ170qf6s7E/T4DCFiWaNKI/AAAAAAAABbQ/3AiN88mqOFw/s640/neck+8.jpg

for this one I cut closer to the lines, and the straight sections were routed and the rest were sanded with the ROSS

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2qM4M3ul5Hs/T4DCF1FvnJI/AAAAAAAABbc/BBCxoV2F2Tg/s640/neck+9.jpg

next I glued the skunk stripe, using some oak

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-wIbWds4o5Do/T4DCFVsMbJI/AAAAAAAABbM/fB6t5nrwf1E/s640/neck+10.jpg

Love the guitar. Your giving me inspiration for my next build.

With the carve did you have templates for each step? If you I'd how did you design them? Just freehand?

Cheers

thanks Guitar novice

one template per step

I like your inspiration guitars also. The carve you are doing looks real nice, can't wait to see the finished product. Good luck!

Great woodworking skills Paulifaz. I like the anber MHO.

I like your inspiration guitars also. The carve you are doing looks real nice, can't wait to see the finished product. Good luck!

thanks BRO

Great woodworking skills Paulifaz. I like the anber MHO.


you're too kind Tonetele - but I feel I am more like a hack who has learned a lot from all the kind people in this forum who share their jigs and techniques

I carved the back of the neck using Bill Scheltema's neck router jig and some sanding

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-4vs-DuwFaBI/T4I9Z3fRndI/AAAAAAAABbs/OQlw5XxK4ug/s1359/IMAG0057.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-cVNdzS0kbE4/T4I9h9JXhuI/AAAAAAAABb0/SPZwKskJWcE/s1359/IMAG0058.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Uuw7rM9oHE0/T4JBbJopijI/AAAAAAAABcA/2qmAOSS5dks/s640/neck+11.jpg

I love that jig

Man, I think I like both those colors. It's really shaping up nicely!

Man, I think I like both those colors. It's really shaping up nicely!

thanks emoney - I can't decide about the color, but there's still a lot of the wood work to be done before I get there

Nice work with the Scheltema jig! You stop the carve further
than the headstock than I do, but that is probably a good idea.
I really like the control and consistency you get with that jig.

thaks flatfive - I already destroyed one neck by going too far, that jig is awesome

continued work on the neck -

tuner holes

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-INAd10UqzYw/T4OFqm76n7I/AAAAAAAABcI/UJMEXzPxVVE/s1359/IMAG0059.jpg


laying out the next steps

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-YPgpG0qnMZc/T4OGByMKjrI/AAAAAAAABcY/GO6AlWK2094/s1359/IMAG0061.jpg


https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-HT1__O6OSGM/T4OFz0bPo7I/AAAAAAAABcQ/CD0x5TvNzPA/s1359/IMAG0060.jpg

it's going really slow during the week, started carving the neck transitions in the back

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-N175MC8_lgQ/T4hMJwXaMJI/AAAAAAAABck/MvfZpjyq6hI/s640/neck+12.jpg

I carved the back of the neck using Bill Scheltema's neck router jig and some sanding

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-4vs-DuwFaBI/T4I9Z3fRndI/AAAAAAAABbs/OQlw5XxK4ug/s1359/IMAG0057.jpg

I love that jig

I really want to build one of those. Of course right now I am in a time crunch to get this guitar done. I wonder if I can make it and set it up in less time than I can manually carve the neck I am working on?

I really want to build one of those. Of course right now I am in a time crunch to get this guitar done. I wonder if I can make it and set it up in less time than I can manually carve the neck I am working on?

my guess is that if you already have successfully carved necks, it's going to take longer to build the jig

my guess is that if you already have successfully carved a neck, it's going to take longer to build the jig

+1. It's not just a matter of building the jig -- it takes a while
to tweak it. I accidentally built a banjo neck the first time I
used mine. :eek:

You know, "slow going" is better than "no going", and you'll get there. You've great
up until this point and I'm looking forward to seeing it through the end.

thanks for the encouragement, emoney, my wife is also asking about when she will see the new guitar

You know, "slow going" is better than "no going", and you'll get there. You've great
up until this point and I'm looking forward to seeing it through the end.

+1. You'll get there.

thanks Roger, this is easy as compared to the challenges in your build

Continuing with the neck, thinning the headstock using a router

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-OA9_SA5TQCY/T4n8MXZwrtI/AAAAAAAABdE/aLRIziF9cAA/s640/neck+13.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-rEjNQcPIIX8/T4n8MVevmJI/AAAAAAAABc8/XO-70EnD_1o/s640/neck+14.jpg

done

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-9-LFeiW-pKI/T4n8MW0cArI/AAAAAAAABdA/vld8zBLBNPM/s640/neck+15.jpg

did the headstock transition with the ROSS and a lot of sanding

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-krA4EWKbEeM/T4n8MnK1YNI/AAAAAAAABdQ/NxRuOHn_YdY/s640/neck+16.jpg


https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-D7qzdAjx19g/T4n-hYLibfI/AAAAAAAABek/lYTpy_02OJw/s640/neck+26.jpg

starting the fretboard slots using another simple jig

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-74VtcR9IPAQ/T4n8NFxSE4I/AAAAAAAABdc/WqiWU_FYI84/s640/neck+20.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lqIHQymeV5E/T4n8NRjWtLI/AAAAAAAABeU/EgqLMkiUK3M/s640/neck+21.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-v50HIzbHXsE/T4n8NvE-5tI/AAAAAAAABds/xH5t-D8TrqU/s640/neck+22.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qkrkUDG4EiI/T4n8N3gu9tI/AAAAAAAABd4/xoztrwGQeo4/s640/neck+23.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-2FfN0GZ0oTE/T4n8OApfSSI/AAAAAAAABeA/shr-69OnjYY/s640/neck+24.jpg

preparing the neck for fret markers

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-v0e3WcfD6Go/T4n8OS-_ZNI/AAAAAAAABeE/1C5z8Wb69Cs/s640/neck+25.jpg

that's it for now

put the fret markers and sanded the 9-1/2 " radius

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-0SUAFPpI2Zg/T4tsSZLUVDI/AAAAAAAABew/SEImDBQs36w/s640/neck+27.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-13fof2OkvwU/T4ttpL3QVKI/AAAAAAAABfA/YVJ6qoSUjiM/s640/neck+29.jpg


https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Keam1SlqJVA/T4tsSuCcKRI/AAAAAAAABe0/8kzs-MEOt9M/s640/neck+28.jpg

Good job on the neck, man. You're rounding the back stretch now!

thanks e$, one month still to go, congrats on your build looking good

Added the side fret markers

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-t-1u7AD3Y0c/T43-sT9gpxI/AAAAAAAABgA/dek2CXIXRp4/s640/neck+30.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/--SGTyV3Cy0Y/T43_VZRVQ-I/AAAAAAAABgI/5X8GENpvLT8/s640/neck+31.jpg

done

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-cDVCTK1ipzc/T43-rSeYbqI/AAAAAAAABfw/PLZvph9b9Yo/s640/neck+32.jpg

working with the body again

laying out the pickups and the neck

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-dPSEjYcxajM/T43-qYJ7NpI/AAAAAAAABfI/ZITdmvT5jWE/s640/body+14.jpg

preparing the body for the neck

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-B5HxSzQQG1M/T43-qVDGdNI/AAAAAAAABfM/5OFhE404miE/s640/body+15.jpg

the neck pickup slot on the left and right will be curved, I am not sure if I should thin the top a little to have the top flat, it has plenty of room

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-4VG2g3kA5hM/T43-rPENMKI/AAAAAAAABf0/h_tvjIeggCk/s640/body+17.jpg

any opinions? suggestions?

Were it me, I'd flatten it a little. Better to do it now so your p'up sits flush I think.
Might want to check all the back to the bridge, just in case. If need be, you can just
route the entire pickup plane and reshape the edges. It'll look nice.

thanks emoney - makes a lot of sense, I removed a little over 1/8"

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-HkW6wPIRA10/T440nCgk2vI/AAAAAAAABgU/UdKdzmOxVkw/s640/body+20.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-b5VElaTePZM/T440nGk0sWI/AAAAAAAABgQ/lbMaSV1irGk/s640/body+19.jpg

the bridge also fits well

I finished the neck pocket, but I guess my template is incorrect, I have a minor issue to fix on the pocket's left side

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-gndWk6YTAAI/T5CpmThbwJI/AAAAAAAABgo/y31A6zAbGKY/s640/body+21.jpg

another cosmetic issue is that the truss rod hole shows, and I wasn't planning of using a pickguard that would hide it, it doesn't bother me too much and maybe I'll add a wood plug

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5MzBQLVNLLc/T5CpmdZTVQI/AAAAAAAABg0/RJlRWgC-erc/s640/body+22.jpg


finally starting to look like a guitar :grin:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JkM_TsF2SkU/T5CpmbJHXTI/AAAAAAAABgs/rkK3O5HMPH0/s640/body+23.jpg

still a lot of work

Nice work, pulaifaz. I love your neck slotting jig, I'm going to mod mine to match it. The body front carve is going to be awesome, too.

thanks Stratenstein, that jig is simple and works fine for me, just make sure that the neck is centered plus use double sided tape to hold the neck in place. I need to add something to control the slot's depth

fitted the neck to the body, and drilled for the screws

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-KG_qBfIr-XI/T5HfYXrub5I/AAAAAAAABhc/8gPtLEF7m4M/s640/neck+33.jpg

started removing material for the pickup slots

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-jaVhBSRQRVU/T5HfYCxeEKI/AAAAAAAABhY/ZXAIFvisyvI/s640/body+24.jpg

routed the slots

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-kIBd3aAun84/T5HfBtEEo1I/AAAAAAAABhI/PYa25eDa3Ns/s1359/IMAG0064.jpg

tested for rough fit

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-wxYkglvxZks/T5HfAdpP3wI/AAAAAAAABhA/KyM_HBnG_dY/s1359/IMAG0063.jpg

started the controls slot

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RJ2juu74N9I/T5HfC4gOnnI/AAAAAAAABhQ/3WuDDQBjWEM/s1359/IMAG0065.jpg

since the controls are located in the carve's curve, I stopped for now, trying to figure out how to proceed

...
since the controls are located in the carve's curve, I stopped for now, trying to figure out how to proceed

I guess with those holes drilled, you're committed to using a
control plate, so I guess this means you'll need to flatten
that part of the top.

Another way to go would be something like an inlaid "control plate"
made of wood, maybe in a contrasting color. But I think that would
go too far away from your vision.

I really like the carved top.

thanks for the suggestion flatfive, I am studying the photo below that I used as my build's inspiration and it looks like the control plate was fitted or recessed, is that what you mean by inlaid ?

I am trying to figure out how to do that, I like it

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-iFz6af3pTEA/T2CmOZJCBOI/AAAAAAAABTI/ew3xpUaeMY0/s640/Fender-Select-Carved-Maple-Top-Telecaster-Amber+%28Small%29.jpg

Created a template to fit the control plate and used it to route the outer plate's perimeter

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-lJFT287aVSs/T5MEOg3gF5I/AAAAAAAABhw/u0C2GTx_hFE/s1359/IMAG0066.jpg

it required a lot of fine sanding to fit it

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/--hvW-oVUfac/T5ME4wRSNPI/AAAAAAAABh4/XJasvOQjYwE/s1359/IMAG0067.jpg


finished the inner routing for all the controls

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NL_QLpwVOBg/T5MUCQD-bAI/AAAAAAAABiQ/ZwrZikikTz0/s1359/IMAG0069.jpg

finished


https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-doFSNq7J95Y/T5MIqWgPE3I/AAAAAAAABiE/hyl-WfQOIAQ/s1359/IMAG0068.jpg


I am thinking of changing the carve's curvature so it blends a little better, or maybe fit it so the plate is in an angle

hmmm - string ferrule holes, followed the suggestions from several people in this forum, but still came out crooked

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-KAyGbImfIpE/T5S0l5DGWzI/AAAAAAAABik/aoO3NlKZMIU/s640/ferrule+holes+1.jpg

I decided to make an experiment and bought a flat aluminum bar to make a string ferrule bar

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-oQi0GfrM7r4/T5S0mNwQCsI/AAAAAAAABio/nI7jvb3G1qU/s640/ferrule+holes+2.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-NNLDQZdkaXM/T5S0l3qV3tI/AAAAAAAABiw/w5l4-WMIkBY/s640/ferrule+holes+3.jpg

fitted it in the guitar, still not perfect

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-zpW-RRin3Ls/T5S0mFwZKcI/AAAAAAAABi0/Kgt8g1UYg4Y/s640/ferrule+holes+4.jpg

installed the frets

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Y3F84BoAws4/T5YmnJbLwoI/AAAAAAAABkE/QMPBN0WOrwo/s1359/12+-+3

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-1oQdb27i4_Q/T5YmnPlIXBI/AAAAAAAABjs/1s75xaSK7gM/s813/12+-+1


prepared the nut

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-khAAHP43WAQ/T5YmnJmpE8I/AAAAAAAABj4/NcFDV5gXRq0/s1359/12+-+2

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_Taqs2h1hsA/T5YmnHtc0uI/AAAAAAAABkU/CER2Mt6YVbs/s1359/12+-+4

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-TPMZJZJ7i90/T5YkOjTox3I/AAAAAAAABjE/wAZMzFluZlM/s1359/IMAG0076.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-9KmulWChfMg/T5YkQt5v1OI/AAAAAAAABjM/x1qisD60QBg/s813/IMAG0077.jpg

Great work, but I'm afraid that nut might be a little bit too big for your neck!

Just kidding. I love the recessed control plate. Nice job.

thanks emoney - it's getting there

added a belly cut

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-xBphzOknCuk/T5ioqpRvO4I/AAAAAAAABlM/pvU8p6XkfjA/s1359/IMAG0078.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-mNaoAcdclsU/T5ioqjyfFsI/AAAAAAAABlM/XVifuBqU7oA/s1359/IMAG0079.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Qe2gazeTaOw/T5ioqul3kKI/AAAAAAAABlM/oqc-5LtgkUs/s1359/IMAG0081.jpg

hmmmm - went a little bit too far, I shouldn't have chambered that area

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-VyWoUw0icXU/T5ioqiAPd5I/AAAAAAAABlM/hd-In3-GAh4/s1359/IMAG0080.jpg

I am trying to fix it with epoxy, maybe I need to try something different

the repair - need to sand it further

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-x9emDEfaZSk/T5i408Guu2I/AAAAAAAABls/YRcObWappeA/s640/body+25.jpg

started sanding the body in preparation for the finish

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JEYL5zz2XsA/T5i40wvDaYI/AAAAAAAABlw/v_R9m1-76Fk/s640/body+26.jpg

Great info, and I am learning a lot from your thread.

Very nice work.

thanks czook

Looking Good Pul!

Barncaster

The fix will be fine when you're done. I worried about mine when sanding as well. It's a
risk of chambering, but the rewards still outweigh it.

Looking Good Pul!

Barncaster

thanks Barncaster

The fix will be fine when you're done. I worried about mine when sanding as well. It's a
risk of chambering, but the rewards still outweigh it.

agreed emoney - the back is going to be a "mistake covering" dark color anyway, I am a little more worried about being structurally OK since the wood is probably too thin

I wouldn't worry too hard. That grinder is a lot more agressive than any "player's abuse"
you can put on it. Plus, it's the back which takes less abuse in my opinion. Remember,
some of those acoustic tops get really, really thin in those builds.

I can't wait to hear this one play because I think the thinness is going to be a huge plus
in the tone department. Then again, I'm a "woody sound" fan.

I wouldn't worry too hard. That grinder is a lot more agressive than any "player's abuse"
you can put on it. Plus, it's the back which takes less abuse in my opinion. Remember,
some of those acoustic tops get really, really thin in those builds.

I can't wait to hear this one play because I think the thinness is going to be a huge plus
in the tone department. Then again, I'm a "woody sound" fan.

but I have seen Keith Richards use his tele as a weapon :twisted:

Well, on the bright side, if you decide to go on a KISS Tribute Tour, your impression of
Ace Freehley should be spot-on as thinner burns better!

finishing the neck

I sanded the neck using 150, 220, 320 and 400 grit papers then cleaned it with naphta

I sprayed a sanding sealer, an amber toner, and 4 clear gloss lacquer passes - all Mohawk rattle can products

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-abw9zBmWFA0/T5oO-PeYAZI/AAAAAAAABnQ/HF9B6zTwvwY/s640/neck+35.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-C5Ti4kuVWwA/T5oO-A7-FDI/AAAAAAAABnM/mNSsMIQc7qo/s640/neck+34.jpg

I may have gone overboard with the amber toner and it may be a little bit too dark, let's see tomorrow with better light

I will start finishing the body tomorrow

next I fine sanded the body

since the neck came out as antique amber, I decided against using amber for the body and went with the merlot water based dye

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-tohpX2Az5cU/T52WM6whZNI/AAAAAAAABno/IOBTgfI2wLs/s640/body+28.jpg

I let it dry, and here was the result

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1Gl3XK42O-A/T52WM9XkY1I/AAAAAAAABng/SEqcfbCWng0/s640/body+27.jpg

I really didn't like it, so this morning I sanded the top almost fully, which was also a good thing since the fibers were raised by the original dye application. I also read from a finishing book that if you use this technique it is recommended that you first apply distilled water and sand again with the same grit to level the fibers.

Anyway, I went for something warmer to attempt to match better the neck, and applied amber dye and a little bit of the merlot dye on top

I like this much better

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sBYG0SyPUAc/T52WNSz6siI/AAAAAAAABnw/oAo0ln8NuAk/s640/body+30.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jZYtO2uWPck/T52WNTcYmJI/AAAAAAAABn0/D1YTdZEYtk8/s640/body+31.jpg

I am waiting for this to dry to start with the lacquer routine

Making good progress, pulaifaz! I like the color you
choose in the end. The guitar is going to look sexy
with the carved top and that color. It will be great to
see it with the clear coat.

Nice work, I am loving a carved top Tele myself!

I may have said this before, but nothing beats a red tele! Any red, really. Yours looks gooood!

I like that color a lot!

thanks a bunch guys

started applying the lacquer

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-axR_99B6BPA/T53X4Qj8_1I/AAAAAAAABoM/nYkPxmIEOQs/s640/body+32.jpg

left the sides and the back with a lighter merlot


https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-LTTwA3ybYZg/T53ZFNMm2PI/AAAAAAAABoY/ye-u7Uiy5sk/s640/body+33.jpg

now the waiting starts, i am going to start on setting up the electronics

this is a good news / bad news update

I started fitting the tuners and the vintage bridge

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-c_eSoxy4swk/T6Ve5FQGgDI/AAAAAAAABpU/BSlFyPJAdsM/s640/tuners+1.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ptS86JqR2IE/T6Ve5Z54g7I/AAAAAAAABpg/xWK0p5so5B4/s640/tuners+2.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-4gNfGtikVoA/T6Ve4noiwMI/AAAAAAAABpA/K_lspULNb9s/s640/body+36.jpg

started fitting the nut and here's the first piece of bad news, the neck is too thin and on the treble side the first string frets out and sounds chocked

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-kLff9N4xHHg/T6Ve41ReaMI/AAAAAAAABpM/UD6ZIPBJYLU/s640/nut+1.jpg

the second piece of bad news is that the oak skunk stripe started to move

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kRzbt9cmTq4/T6Ve4qVt9nI/AAAAAAAABo4/TL8iJvPpD10/s640/neck+36.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-SUkbtYdRq_4/T6Ve5ZnZhaI/AAAAAAAABpk/RDF3kvH545I/s640/neck+37.jpg

besides that, I don't love the neck finishing job - so I will start neck #3 for this build. I will continue fitting everything and do the electronics while I make the new neck :mad:



here's the good news, acoustically the guitar sounds great, and I really like how the body is coming after the clear coats

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-tKaJHXGmM3U/T6Ve4ilGncI/AAAAAAAABo8/yrkGvD2UI7o/s640/guitar+1.jpg

Love the color. Good choice on the redo.

Beautiful work.

Dep

Bummer about the neck, but nice work on the body.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-4gNfGtikVoA/T6Ve4noiwMI/AAAAAAAABpA/K_lspULNb9s/s640/body+36.jpg
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-tKaJHXGmM3U/T6Ve4ilGncI/AAAAAAAABo8/yrkGvD2UI7o/s640/guitar+1.jpg

Love the carved top.

new neck - didn't take a lot of photos

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-9IsJ3zrprBM/T6XsuQtI94I/AAAAAAAABqA/40M9UAOaM_Y/s640/neck+38.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-E6J9d3TcPqk/T6XsuY01POI/AAAAAAAABqU/LM1HM4JB1t8/s640/neck+39.jpg

I did the truss rod channel a little differently, hopefully this will prevent the stripe to move

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vF3LfFyObig/T6XsuS6Ew8I/AAAAAAAABp8/PzVOtuJDE60/s640/neck+40.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rrec9JAvWrA/T6XsupyFmoI/AAAAAAAABqI/RLq3sR6jRjs/s640/neck+41.jpg

Love the color. Good choice on the redo.

Beautiful work
Dep

thanks Dep - - I couldn't continue with that neck, should have caught at least the thinness issue way before


Bummer about the neck, but nice work on the body.

thanks Roger

Love the carved top.

thanks bcarter

contoured the back

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-i_4IOKnFPiw/T6bS4mIKoTI/AAAAAAAABqg/QACHyoZEkxI/s640/neck+42.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aEthUnC_5cc/T6bS4o6Or_I/AAAAAAAABqk/MP7YICigeB8/s640/neck+43.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-drPe5YxBNnY/T6bS4lLIXuI/AAAAAAAABqo/6kQEXaHid10/s640/neck+44.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-J59PuGDk9Do/T6bS49tOAWI/AAAAAAAABq0/ZhXaKdMxevw/s640/neck+45.jpg

drilled the tuner holes

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dzmAcTA_6MY/T6bS4zL1WDI/AAAAAAAABq4/-PvTw9_C2Vo/s640/neck+46.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-es7NNfOGnKo/T6bS44yLJzI/AAAAAAAABrA/K0_o4dh1Tow/s640/neck+47.jpg

thinned the headstock

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-0dFQQzxqGwA/T6bS5bwHIjI/AAAAAAAABrQ/aKqR_f-eY_k/s640/neck+48.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/--opIupjhH3M/T6bS5Uf4gjI/AAAAAAAABrI/yN5NAFuXHVY/s640/neck+49.jpg

making good progress with the neck


transitions

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-YxRdR7EbcWU/T6msevpaKxI/AAAAAAAABr0/cL9qAwkslDE/s640/neck+50.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vB75aBIJ-q4/T6msehH9glI/AAAAAAAABrs/M3YcACjRv7I/s640/neck+51.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-BZZ6SRslUEk/T6msextRX3I/AAAAAAAABr4/5nl4c3nlKWM/s640/neck+53.jpg


drilled the fret marker holes and frets

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-zB_-PPAN188/T6mselIeyEI/AAAAAAAABrw/LP0pMArfP5Y/s640/neck+52.jpg

it is nice and chunky, I prefer chunky necks, it still needs some refining


https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-6mFREBlZ6XM/T6msfLkNrmI/AAAAAAAABsE/-so_PF2WWYk/s640/neck+54.jpg

You are just turning into a neck-making-machine! Great work on the do-over and I'm
sure you'll be happy with this one.

You are just turning into a neck-making-machine! Great work on the do-over and I'm
sure you'll be happy with this one.

:lol: thanks - emoney
this one is going faster, I am trying not to make the same fatal mistakes

I am running out of time, but I will finish

glued the fret markers

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Rxn8R5pBl50/T6s-V8cCTgI/AAAAAAAABsc/iiMZCGLwbEM/s640/neck+55.jpg

sanded and radiused for 9-1/2"

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NAEAAlIrE4c/T6s-V002nSI/AAAAAAAABsg/_4x99q02Imw/s640/neck+56.jpg


installed the frets

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Z8TYY9QrUF4/T6s-V3SRohI/AAAAAAAABsk/To3QPb8Qdns/s640/neck+57.jpg

The new neck is almost ready and fitted to the guitar, I still need to make the nut and apply some finish to the neck

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LQgidYaU0jk/T62RLaxCAyI/AAAAAAAABtA/VLqsdvU_gew/s640/guitar+37.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-RqgI-KYHi8M/T62RLfEhKGI/AAAAAAAABs8/2qk9q8jdL2A/s640/guitsr+38.jpg

Nice job on the redo, you are very close now. Carved top really looks nice.

Nice job on the redo, you are very close now. Carved top really looks nice.

thanks Muzikp

did a little bit of finish touch up and eneded up a little darker - no time to fix that, the neck is done, I did a basic setup and acoustically sounds very good

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AOpDiz6D_iI/T67qtibYHGI/AAAAAAAABtU/sd35-rjUfz8/s640/guitar+39.jpg


on with the electronics

finished the electronics - they seem OK, all the tweaking begins tomorrow

Tweaking??? No time for tweaking!! Just kidding, its a gorgeous guitar, I'm sure you'll make it.

You're almost there! Keep going, You can do it!!!

You've got tons of time, just don't forget the 12noon "video deadline". This is turning
out awesome, btw!

Very nice. You guys and your last minute assemblies scare me though, sure hope it all comes out great, it sure looks good so far.

Tweaking??? No time for tweaking!! Just kidding, its a gorgeous guitar, I'm sure you'll make it.

You're almost there! Keep going, You can do it!!!

You've got tons of time, just don't forget the 12noon "video deadline". This is turning
out awesome, btw!

Very nice. You guys and your last minute assemblies scare me though, sure hope it all comes out great, it sure looks good so far.

thank you all for your encouragement

it's done - I am attempting to record the video now

OK - here is the final photo and video

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9qBhH9hjbOU/T7A8gtbiK3I/AAAAAAAABtg/gFfkWlFxTl4/s640/guitar+40.jpg


W0bzRJ5tcbc

Hooray! Came together well, great job on the neck, it's very clean and nice.

Hooray! Came together well, great job on the neck, it's very clean and nice.

thanks Muzikp, appreciate the comments, yours is beautiful

Excellent! Well done Puliafaz!

Rob

Excellent! Well done Puliafaz!

Rob

thanks Barncaster - love your ebsquire, sounds great

Congrats puliafaz , well done :)

Brilliant! How can you vote for just one?

Congrats puliafaz , well done :)

Brilliant! How can you vote for just one?

thanks guys

Great-looking guitar Pulaifaz - congratulations!
Is your video still up on youtube? The link here doesn't seem to be working on my computer.

it's back

JNQsyOjPd1s