Allthesound's 2012 Challenge Build Thread -- COMPLETED

This is looking great Steve , can't wait to hear it , great finish work there. :smile:

Thanks Herb! :grin: Hope you had a nice relaxing vacation you certainly earned it. Welcome back!

Today was has been a rainy one so why not wet sand. Started with 600 grit to level as best i could then incremented to 1000 ,1500, 2000 and finally rubbing & and polishing compounds. Took me about 3.5 hours to do the top as my rattle can spraying was not the most level one. Its not flawless but i'm pretty happy with the results. Waiting on final bits of hardware to arrive hopefully tomorrow. Wish i was in a little more up mood but i have to keep pressing on.

Now onto the back sides and neck / headstock.

http://allthesound.com/2012/241.jpg
http://allthesound.com/2012/242.jpg
http://allthesound.com/2012/243.jpg
http://allthesound.com/2012/244.jpg

3 small low spots i could not totally remove.

http://allthesound.com/2012/245.jpg
http://allthesound.com/2012/246.jpg
http://allthesound.com/2012/247.jpg
http://allthesound.com/2012/248.jpg
http://allthesound.com/2012/249.jpg
http://allthesound.com/2012/250.jpg
http://allthesound.com/2012/251.jpg
http://allthesound.com/2012/252.jpg

More to come soon. Hardware shots tomorrow. Thanks for all of you that have stopped by to check out my build and hung in there with me, it's really helped keep me going. :smile:

Hey Steve,

I know the feeling. I was down on the project last week but pushed through. One thing that really helped me was Davecam's video. When he finished he said "Hip Hip Hooray". I could really hear the sense of relief in his voice and I said to myself, I'm going to get there. You can do it man!

Rob

Come on, Steve, how could you not be upbeat about what you've done (at least i'm assuming that your mood is due to the build)?! That thing is totally off the hook! Seriously, you've done an incredible job putting it together and should be very proud.

If you're mood is down for some other reason, then I hope whatever the cause is, it turns around soon for you

Hey Steve,

I know the feeling. I was down on the project last week but pushed through. One thing that really helped me was Davecam's video. When he finished he said "Hip Hip Hooray". I could really hear the sense of relief in his voice and I said to myself, I'm going to get there. You can do it man!


Rob

Thanks Rob! Im really impressed with how you pulled yourself up and created such a stunningly beautiful guitar as well as so many others here that over overcome setbacks and kept pushing ahead. I'm pretty confident i will finish on time.

Come on, Steve, how could you not be upbeat about what you've done (at least i'm assuming that your mood is due to the build)?! That thing is totally off the hook! Seriously, you've done an incredible job putting it together and should be very proud.

If you're mood is down for some other reason, then I hope whatever the cause is, it turns around soon for you


Thanks so much for that Roger , I really am thrilled with what i have done so far, I feel like I learned so much from my first build and improved alot on this one and that truly makes me happy. I didn't mean to sound like a bummer, maybe its the weather or some personal crap i'm dealing with or a combination. I have a couple logistical issues related to hardware and the final presentation of my build im trying to work out but i'll pull it together somehow.

The wife went to go play bingo tonight with the girls at the casino so i have the night to myself to keep sanding. Maybe she will get lucky while she is there :razz:

Steve , that is a beauty you are building there , I love the burst :grin: , sanding can be a downer but it pays off big time , your almost there brother , lets hear that axe ring out :wink:

Sweet burst - all you need now is a Hawaiian shirt.......and maybe some hardware :grin:

Steve , that is a beauty you are building there , I love the burst :grin: , sanding can be a downer but it pays off big time , your almost there brother , lets hear that axe ring out :wink:

Thanks Herb it was a experiment and one that was partly inspired by your amazing burst, I had originally thought i would do the everything thing natural but after wiping the whole thing down with naptha it just looked to plain.:neutral: I spent 13 hours yesterday wet sanding and polishing , pics coming in a sec.

Sweet burst - all you need now is a Hawaiian shirt.......and maybe some hardware :grin:

Thanks nosmo, maybe a fishing pole and a cooler of beer to go with the shirt? :mrgreen:

A slight change of plans on the pickups as the ones i had planned on using will not arrive before my window for making the final video closes. So i'm using the ones from my first build for now until the others arrive. If they do come in and i can get them swapped and another video made i will surly post it.

http://allthesound.com/2012/253.jpg
http://allthesound.com/2012/254.jpg
http://allthesound.com/2012/255.jpg
http://allthesound.com/2012/256.jpg
http://allthesound.com/2012/257.jpg
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http://allthesound.com/2012/259.jpg
http://allthesound.com/2012/260.jpg
http://allthesound.com/2012/261.jpg
http://allthesound.com/2012/262.jpg
http://allthesound.com/2012/263.jpg





Its been a long journey to get here but she is finally a guitar!

1 solid piece South American mahogany body and neck solid body construction with deep body contour.
Book matched quilted maple top.
Flamed maple fret board with rosewood dots, Glow in the dark side dots.
21 medium frets.
Just a hair slimmer than a 51 Nocaster neck. Pretty chunky.
Rosewood headstock veneer
1/2 inch thick inlaid black walnut pick guard.
Maple burl switch knob.
Faux binding.
Oversize strap buttons.
Joe Barden American standard compensated bridge with brass saddles.
Gotoh Kluson style tuners.
Fender style string tree
Fender American Standard bridge and neck pickups
CTS 250K tone and volume pots
Orange drop cap.
Ernie Ball regular Slinky's

Total weight 8.4 pounds

http://allthesound.com/2012/264.jpg
http://allthesound.com/2012/265.jpg
http://allthesound.com/2012/266.jpg
http://allthesound.com/2012/267.jpg
http://allthesound.com/2012/268.jpg
http://allthesound.com/2012/269.jpg
http://allthesound.com/2012/270.jpg
http://allthesound.com/2012/271.jpg

A few shots in front of the pond behind my house. I hope to get some better shots Saturday when the sun is out and its not cloudy , its been rainy & cloudy here for a week but sun broke for a little bit today just so i could get these shots, Thanks mother nature!

http://allthesound.com/2012/272.jpg
http://allthesound.com/2012/273.jpg
http://allthesound.com/2012/274.jpg

Video coming soon.

Oh Steve,

That is just spectacular! I'm really psyched that you got your parts delivery. Well done. So when is the video? I've never heard a "true" one piece Tele before. A rare beast for sure. :-)

Rob

Rob

Oh Steve,

That is just spectacular! I'm really psyched that you got your parts delivery. Well done. So when is the video? I've never heard a "true" one piece Tele before. A rare beast for sure. :-)

Rob

Rob

Thanks so much Rob! If ya ever make it back this way your welcome to come over and give it a wirl maybe have a couple cold ones and throw a few perch on the grill. :grin: video commin very very soon.

Hey Steve,

I don't get back to Meriden as often as I should. Next time I'm heading that way I will definitely drop you a line. Perch on the grill with some olive oil, salt and garlic sounds really good! Thanks for the offer. :-)

Rob

Hey Steve,

I don't get back to Meriden as often as I should. Next time I'm heading that way I will definitely drop you a line. Perch on the grill with some olive oil, salt and garlic sounds really good! Thanks for the offer. :-)

Rob

:cool: Cool perch is optional , I'm surrounded by cows here. :razz: :twisted:

That turned out great! I think you must have gotten the only sunny moment all week to get those shots. I saw the sun shining for maybe 3 hours today in between the much needed rain.

Good work! The front is really nice with the dyed maple
and the dark wood pickguard and headstock. But, for me,
the back of the guitar is really magnificent with the wood
color and the geometry. The neck heel carve and the
tummy cut work really well together, and you shaped the
back of the neck beautifully.

Good work! The front is really nice with the dyed maple
and the dark wood pickguard and headstock. But, for me,
the back of the guitar is really magnificent with the wood
color and the geometry. The neck heel carve and the
tummy cut work really well together, and you shaped the
back of the neck beautifully.

+1 Exactly what I was going to say.

Good work! The front is really nice with the dyed maple
and the dark wood pickguard and headstock. But, for me,
the back of the guitar is really magnificent with the wood
color and the geometry. The neck heel carve and the
tummy cut work really well together, and you shaped the
back of the neck beautifully.

Absolutely. That is a really polished, professional job. Congratulations, man, that's a truly beautiful and original build.

Beautiful guitar Steve , love it. Excellent fit and finish . Now you and I can start a club "The Burstie Boys" :lol: Congrats on a fine job .

That turned out great! I think you must have gotten the only sunny moment all week to get those shots. I saw the sun shining for maybe 3 hours today in between the much needed rain.

Thanks hockeygoon :grin: Yep as soon as i saw it poke out i was out the door to get some shots. Today looks like its gonna be nice so far.

Good work! The front is really nice with the dyed maple
and the dark wood pickguard and headstock. But, for me,
the back of the guitar is really magnificent with the wood
color and the geometry. The neck heel carve and the
tummy cut work really well together, and you shaped the
back of the neck beautifully.

Thanks so much for that Glenn. I'm glad you like it , I'm really happy with the back too. Looking back at the pics of carving the neck I remember thinking OMG what have i done! Patience and my spoke shave really paid off. I guess its a good thing too because it seems everyone that sees it in person wants to flip it over look for a neck joint. :razz:

+1 Exactly what I was going to say.

Thanks rcole :grin:

Absolutely. That is a really polished, professional job. Congratulations, man, that's a truly beautiful and original build.

Thanks so much Phil! I gave it my best shot and tried to make it different from anything else. I took a few risks here and there and am happy for it .

Beautiful guitar Steve , love it. Excellent fit and finish . Now you and I can start a club "The Burstie Boys" :lol: Congrats on a fine job .


Thanks Herb I'm especially glad you like! :lol: The Burstie Boys! I like it :razz: I hope knowing how to play isn't a requirement for membership. :oops:

Beautiful!

Here is a video i threw together with the help of some kind friends.

I'd really like to thank everyone who encouraged me and followed my build and TDPRI and its membership for being the best folks on earth!

I'd also like to thank Herb (adirondak5) for his awesome burst that inspired me to try something totally different with dyes.

I would also like to give a very special thanks to James (Muzikp) Who really blazed the trail for a one piece build in this challenge and was gracious enough to welcome me to follow his lead. He really hit the ground running with both barrels blazing and quickly created a venerable how to guide .

Watching his build helped me believe i could do it and really helped me to avoid potential problems i almost certainly would have run into. I hope one day on my future builds to achieve the level of perfection that you achieved on your amazing build. My hat is totally off to you brother!


So here goes , im pretty camera shy so this was a one take thang :razz:

kMmACzevvag

Here is a video i threw together with the help of some kind friends.

I'd really like to thank everyone who encouraged me and followed my build and TDPRI and its membership for being the best folks on earth!

I'd also like to thank Herb (adirondak5) for his awesome burst that inspired me to try something totally different with dyes.

I would also like to give a very special thanks to James (Muzikp) Who really blazed the trail for a one piece build in this challenge and was gracious enough to welcome me to follow his lead. He really hit the ground running with both barrels blazing and quickly created a venerable how to guide .

Watching his build helped me believe i could do it and really helped me to avoid potential problems i almost certainly would have run into. I hope one day on my future builds to achieve the level of perfection that you achieved on your amazing build. My hat is totally off to you brother!


So here goes , im pretty camera shy so this was a one take thang :razz:

kMmACzevvag

:oops::oops::oops: Wow Thank you Steve, I really enjoyed that we were both doing it, uh um - a 1 piece build that is. I can't tell you how relieved I was when I read yours strung up fine on the FIRST try. I didn't want you to have that same feeling I had where you just scratch your head while thinking "well that's all over with, I wonder what's on TV".

Congrats Steve and I suspect we are about to see a bunch of inlaid pickguards around here.

Oh and enough can't be said for how nice it is to play a guitar with a neck/body transition like we have. I'm pretty sure I can't go back now.

Sounds as good as it looks Steve , and it looks great ! Congrats :)

Nice vid; I'm a real fan of the way the PG and the headstock match. I've never really seen that before (for obvious reasons; not a whole lot of wooden guards out there), and it's a nice touch.

That's a sweet-sounding guitar, dude. Be proud!

Great guitar Steve! Looks and sounds awesome, nice work!

Wow Steve!

That thing is amazingly flexible. It's got all kinds of majorly sweet tone! And those are your temp pickups? Crap, can I look through your temp pickup pile?

Barncaster

Outstanding! Steve, you did it, dude! And it sounds spectacular!

Another amazing piece of work!

Fantastic job Steve!!!

Oh and enough can't be said for how nice it is to play a guitar with a neck/body transition like we have. I'm pretty sure I can't go back now.

Thanks again James I think you are right on that! It really feels great:grin:


Sounds as good as it looks Steve , and it looks great ! Congrats :)

Thanks Herb! She rocks out pretty good!

Nice vid; I'm a real fan of the way the PG and the headstock match. I've never really seen that before (for obvious reasons; not a whole lot of wooden guards out there), and it's a nice touch.

That's a sweet-sounding guitar, dude. Be proud!

Thanks Picton!

Great guitar Steve! Looks and sounds awesome, nice work!

Thanks axedaddy!
Wow Steve!

That thing is amazingly flexible. It's got all kinds of majorly sweet tone! And those are your temp pickups? Crap, can I look through your temp pickup pile?

Barncaster

Thanks Rob glad you enjoyed! My next project is going to be making some custom pickups . The pile is bound to get bigger. :mrgreen:

Outstanding! Steve, you did it, dude! And it sounds spectacular!

Thanks Roger! It actually feel kinda weird being done, like ok now what?, ohhh yeah learn to play the darn thing! :wink::razz: After i posted the video last night i ate a lill dinner and absolutely crashed on the couch. I felt like i just got through running a marathon.

Another amazing piece of work!

Thanks Glen. :grin:

Fantastic job Steve!!!

Thanks emoney! :grin:

Killer gtr Steve!! You built a very sweet tele!! Congrats!!

Killer gtr Steve!! You built a very sweet tele!! Congrats!!

Thanks Chris! :grin:

Here is a little more to check out while i get my final shots and post together . The sun is shining beautifully. Hooray! (hmm this this New England i better hurry that could change any second. :rolleyes:)

All the shots and video have been done on a lil Canon Powershot A590 camera. Not the best audio / video but you get the idea.

http://allthesound.com/2012/264.jpg

kMmACzevvag

WDgdv91cRuw

Great guitar! This is the first time I've checked in on your build (as with most) and I have to say beautiful work. I have been toying with the idea of a one piece. Now you really got me thinking about one!

You got some talented players to demo for you. Great sound and diversity.

Beautiful! Looks and sound. Very nicely done.

Great guitar! This is the first time I've checked in on your build (as with most) and I have to say beautiful work. I have been toying with the idea of a one piece. Now you really got me thinking about one!

You got some talented players to demo for you. Great sound and diversity.

Thanks for stopping by and checking it out and thanks so much for the compliment. I was really blessed those guys jammed out a bit. I'm gonna go sign up for lessons with Mr Clint asap :razz:

Beautiful! Looks and sound. Very nicely done.

Thanks glad you enjoyed.

http://allthesound.com/2012/266.jpg
http://allthesound.com/2012/267.jpg
http://allthesound.com/2012/268.jpg
http://allthesound.com/2012/269.jpg
http://allthesound.com/2012/270.jpg
http://allthesound.com/2012/271.jpg
http://allthesound.com/2012/272.jpg
http://allthesound.com/2012/perch.jpg
http://allthesound.com/2012/273.jpg
http://allthesound.com/2012/274.jpg
http://allthesound.com/2012/277.jpg
http://allthesound.com/2012/265.jpg

Stunning build Steve, Well done.

Hey Steve,

Don't forget that in your final post, Paul wants 1 pic and the vid. Then email him to let him know, and he'll close down your thread.

Hey Steve,

Don't forget that in your final post, Paul wants 1 pic and the vid. Then email him to let him know, and he'll close down your thread.

Doh :oops: thanks Roger!

Stunning build Steve, Well done.

Thanks so much junk mutt!

Final Post Completed.

1 solid piece South American mahogany body and neck solid body construction with deep body contour.
Book matched quilted maple top.
Flamed maple fret board with rosewood dots, Glow in the dark side dots.
21 medium frets.
Just a hair slimmer than a 51 Nocaster neck. Pretty chunky.
Rosewood headstock veneer
1/2 inch thick inlaid black walnut pick guard.
Maple burl switch knob.
Faux binding.
Oversize strap buttons.
Joe Barden American standard compensated bridge with brass saddles.
Gotoh Kluson style tuners.
Fender style string tree
Fender American Standard bridge and neck pickups
CTS 250K tone and volume pots
Orange drop cap.
Ernie Ball regular Slinky's

Total weight 8.4 pounds

I have named this guitar the Perch-Caster :razz:


http://allthesound.com/2012/265.jpg

kMmACzevvag

Thank you everyone! Thank you TDPRI! Good luck to everyone. It's been alot of fun. Peace. :grin:

I realized I forgot to add in the specs that this guitar has a double action truss-rod , rosewood reinforced neck and a bone nut.

Wow. I'm not usually a wood nerd, but that is one beautiful guitar. It sounds amazing, too!

Hi Steve.

Catching up on builds. Stunning guitar. Love the faux building.

Back is beautiful and love the body contour.

Would love to get that wood top. Great job.

Cheers

First time i see your build, it was so hard with so many and besides building your own. That is a beautiful guitar - congratulations.

Wow. I'm not usually a wood nerd, but that is one beautiful guitar. It sounds amazing, too!

Hi Steve.

Catching up on builds. Stunning guitar. Love the faux building.

Back is beautiful and love the body contour.

Would love to get that wood top. Great job.

Cheers

First time i see your build, it was so hard with so many and besides building your own. That is a beautiful guitar - congratulations.

Thanks so much for the kind compliments guys!
I finally got a chance to spend a couple hours practicing on it yesterday I'm really diggin it. :grin:

Hey Steve,
That thing sounds fantastic and looks wonderful.
The pic of the perch totally cracked me up.
Cheers, man!
Chris

Hey Steve,
That thing sounds fantastic and looks wonderful.
The pic of the perch totally cracked me up.
Cheers, man!
Chris

:lol: Thanks Chris glad ya caught onto the perch thing :wink: It's such an animated surface when you move it around and looks so different under different types of light as you may have noticed from some of the pics.
Perch was my first thought when i did my test piece so i went with it.

:mrgreen:

Just discovered your thread. You know I couldn't resist something called a Perchcaster. Are the pickups in your recordings single coil? They sound good. I put Bill&Beckys in my Tele because the hum from the stock pups bothered me.

Just discovered your thread. You know I couldn't resist something called a Perchcaster. Are the pickups in your recordings single coil? They sound good. I put Bill&Beckys in my Tele because the hum from the stock pups bothered me.

Thanks Mr Perch , what are the chances? :lol: :razz: Yep they are single coils , stock Fender American standard's. The series position gives it a nice lil boost and being 1 solid piece of mahogany I think it has a somewhat warmer tone.

I just started reading up on tele mini humbuckers , might be interesting to hear how one would sound in the bridge.

Hey Steve,

I LOVED the sound of the Mike Simpson's Cocosonic. Gibson mini in the neck and an O.C. Duff in the bridge. Wow what a combo! I too am researching Gibson but the mini's brother the Firebird pickup. Did some digging on the MyLesPaul website and found a guy who was minorly trimming regular humbucker blade bobbins from Mojo and getting them into firebird covers! Evidently there is a lot of extra space under the cover with the stock, small Firebird bobbins. That's for me. Got some stuff coming from eBay and Mojo and will wind an experimental set. Am reading all kinds of stuff like unbalancing the coils, that is wrap one with 42 and the other with 43. The imbalance in resistance evidently does some very good harmonic things. Experimentation to follow. If I like it there is a second set of parts coming for possibly... next year's challenge!? :twisted::cool:

Rob

Hey Steve,

I LOVED the sound of the Mike Simpson's Cocosonic. Gibson mini in the neck and an O.C. Duff in the bridge. Wow what a combo! I too am researching Gibson but the mini's brother the Firebird pickup. Did some digging on the MyLesPaul website and found a guy who was minorly trimming regular humbucker blade bobbins from Mojo and getting them into firebird covers! Evidently there is a lot of extra space under the cover with the stock, small Firebird bobbins. That's for me. Got some stuff coming from eBay and Mojo and will wind an experimental set. Am reading all kinds of stuff like unbalancing the coils, that is wrap one with 42 and the other with 43. The imbalance in resistance evidently does some very good harmonic things. Experimentation to follow. If I like it there is a second set of parts coming for possibly... next year's challenge!? :twisted::cool:

Rob

Yeah Mike's Cocosonic sounded really really good with those pups. Sweet build too.
I was looking at the Dimazio Super Distortion T or the Duncan lil 59. Ive had the full size version of both and liked them alot. I really do like these pickups too but its always fun to experiment around. I want to keep the pup cavities traditional tele so my options are a lil more limited as far as humbuckers go.

I'll be interested to see what you come up with on your winds. Hope ya do a thread on it :razz:

2013 will be here before ya know it , I gotta get my wheels turnin :cool: