My first telecaster build

About to start my first telecaster build from this Walnut. The 2" plank I cut from looks to be from dead center of the log. I'm a little concerned about How the center rings will look in the finished product. Any advice is appreciated.

Is this kiln dried, or fresh cut? Fresh cut, with the pith of the log will have some bad shrinkage soon, so make sure it's down to about 10% moisture content or less before doing any building. In wood turnings, we stay away from using the pith because of this shinkage. I turned a beautiful Bur Oak bowl (350 year old tree fall) and had the pith at the rim. 6 months later it stopped shrinking, and the formerly flat rim is now like a WWII **** helmet rim.

If the boards were wider, I'd table saw off the center 2" and save it for something like spindles. The remaining would nerly be quarter-sawn, and would be very stable.

JMHO - YMMV.

I got this from someone who had it stored in a shed for many years so it should be stable. The planks are 8" wide but still wouldn't be able to cut off center completely.

It might be OK - send a PM to OtterHound - he's done a lot with Black Walnut, and knows way more than I do.

It might be OK - send a PM to OtterHound - he's done a lot with Black Walnut, and knows way more than I do.

Nope, don't bother - it's worthless. Just send it to me and I'll get rid of it for you...:wink:

OK, it should be nice and stable and you may get some real pretty figure out of it. I would trim down your boards as much as you can on the pith side to get that pith as close as possible to the centerline. Then you will:
a) maximized the amount of pretty quartersawn figure that shows and
b) be able to cover most of the pithy part with the pickguard and bridge if it ends up being unsightly.

Good luck! Keep the pics coming.
Rex

Thanks for the great advice. I think I will also surface plane away from the pith as well. What do you think?

Hey neighbor welcome to the forum. Wood looks great!! Like has already been said keep the pictures coming.

Thanks for the great advice. I think I will also surface plane away from the pith as well. What do you think?

My gut feel is to avoid exposing the pith; keep it centered in the board. I would initially plane a little off both sides and see how it looks, then go from there.
[EDIT] looking back at the pics I see the pith will be exposed on at least one end if it's planed at all. I'll stick with the "take just enough off to smooth the two faces, see how it looks, and go from there. You can achieve four different potential looks by which side you put the neck and which face you make the front, so I feel confident you'll find a nice looking and stable orientation.

Just my two cents,
Rex

Going to do a little planing tomorrow and post the results. Thanks again for the great advice.

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I've got some workarounds but I'm pleased so far. Planed to 1 7/8"

Looking good!

Nope, don't bother - it's worthless. Just send it to me and I'll get rid of it for you...:wink:

OK, it should be nice and stable and you may get some real pretty figure out of it. I would trim down your boards as much as you can on the pith side to get that pith as close as possible to the centerline. Then you will:
a) maximized the amount of pretty quartersawn figure that shows and
b) be able to cover most of the pithy part with the pickguard and bridge if it ends up being unsightly.

Good luck! Keep the pics coming.
Rex

I've decided to do what you suggest and keep the pith near the centerline. By shifting the boards a little before glueing them up, I should be able to cut off the exposed pith on one end altogether and cover the other exposed pith with the pick guard. Or should I say pith guard;)
Then, all I will have to deal with, hopefully, will be around the edge of the body where the end grain of the pith will be exposed. On the backside of the body, it's smooth sailing.

Looking good!

Thanks Jbull!

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Future back of body

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Future front.

Looking good!!! Good idea on the clamps! I went and bought several from Harbor Freight. I'm not real impressed!!!

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Looking good!!! Good idea on the clamps! I went and bought several from Harbor Freight. I'm not real impressed!!!



Looks like they are getting the job done. Two things you can't have enough of: closet space and clamps.

Their ok but not like I really wanted. I totally agree on the closet space. I have been debating on how to make myself a bigger work area. I could tear out the storage room in the carpart, make the carport area smaller............she could park her car in the street..... Nope dont think that will fly!!!!!

Not too happy with the tear out on the top edge but I think it's minor enough to sand most of it out and fill the rest.

Looks good to me.

Waiting for an update. More pictures please!

Waiting for an update. More pictures please!



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Planed to correct width today with the help of Jbull. Many thanks!
The control cavity made me nervous. I checked the depth at least 7 times making sure I wouldn't go too deep. Turned out good.

IMHO, those center rings, especially the bullseye on the upper bout, add great interest, and will finish out beautifully. Not much finer looking wood than walnut. You've chosen well for your first Tele project, and welcome to the forum. Let me be the first to suggest a couple of products that get consistently good reviews here: Birchwood Casey's Filler/Sealer, and a companion product, Tru-Oil. Used together, they really make walnut glow like it's lit up.

IMHO, those center rings, especially the bullseye on the upper bout, add great interest, and will finish out beautifully. Not much finer looking wood than walnut. You've chosen well for your first Tele project, and welcome to the forum. Let me be the first to suggest a couple of products that get consistently good reviews here: Birchwood Casey's Filler/Sealer, and a companion product, Tru-Oil. Used together, they really make walnut glow like it's lit up.

Thank you for the input. I was already struggling with the finish choices out there. I bet the tru-oil will give the grain more dimension. I have been looking at other posts about these products and am sold.

With respect to the center rings, I am pleased with it. What I thought would be challenges to avoid may turn out to make the guitar unique in a good way.

Thanks again!

Thinking about cream binding on topside and bottom side and a black pick guard. What say ye?

I have always felt that pickguards and bindings should contrast with the body, and I feel like the black pickguard wouldn't. Cream for both is what I would do.

I have always felt that pickguards and bindings should contrast with the body, and I feel like the black pickguard wouldn't. Cream for both is what I would do.



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Definitely a good point. I would not have thought about using different colors but saw this and thought I looked good. The walnut will be darker though.

Definitely a good point. I would not have thought about using different colors but saw this and thought I looked good. The walnut will be darker though.

That does look really good!! I like it!

Got a box full of goodies today and put some of it to use. I routed channel for cream binding and glued it on. How long should I leave tape on? This guitar is for my son, but for some reason it's my wife who helped me install the binding and son is nowhere to be found :/

Quite a change in appearance.

Wait a minute--did you say your wife helped you put on binding--?? Or for that matter, did anything to help with a guitar build? Man, you'd better marry that gal, she sounds like a real keeper--oh, wait, you already did. Good Choice!

Seriously, that binding really sets off the beautiful walnut. You might not want to give it to your son when you finish. Be sure to sand everything very carefully, if you're going to use Tru-Oil. With TO, what you see is what you get. Some finishes can mask a few less-than-perfect areas, but Tru Oil enhances what's there.

PU cavities and neck pocket cut. I'm thinking about drilling for wiring between neck PU and control cavity.

Good progress, looking good too.

Walnut... pretty... How's the weight?

Walnut... pretty... How's the weight?

Looks like about 4.5 lbs

Decided to go ahead and do wiring cavity. When I drilled from bridge PU cavity to control cavity, I almost went through the back. I'd say I was less than 1/8" close. Too close for comfort!

Binding done.

Nice job on the binding. It's going to be real pretty when it's finished.

Nice job!!! Wow!!! Love the binding going to try that on one real soon...

Good progress, looking good too.

Thank you!

Nice job on the binding. It's going to be real pretty when it's finished.

Thank you. I'm anxious to see how the walnut looks finished.

Nice job!!! Wow!!! Love the binding going to try that on one real soon...

Thanks!

Scraped the bindings and did a little sanding tonight. I wiped some mineral spirits on the back to remove dust and got a color "preview"

Looks great! I like building with walnut but all I've done has been hollowed out. Let us know how it sounds when you're done. :cool:

It looks awesome. That cream binding is the bee's knees.

Looks great! I like building with walnut but all I've done has been hollowed out. Let us know how it sounds when you're done. :cool:

Thanks! Will definitely put up a sound check when complete.

It looks awesome. That cream binding is the bee's knees.

Thanks! It was between cream and white. Happy with cream.

You're rockin' it! Great job.

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Realized I forgot something here.

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Need some practice installing ferrules!

I used Jack Wells' pin method to line up the string ferrule holes and it worked beautifully. However, I did not drill big enough counter-sink holes for the flange and they bit into the wood a bit causing a look that is not quite as polished as I would have liked. A lesson learned. I am happy the holes lined up, just disappointed I didn't take enough time to make sure the ferrules would install properly.

The walnut looks great!

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Truoil coat #8

Nice work J. This is gonna be one sharp looking geetar!

Nice work J. This is gonna be one sharp looking geetar!

Thanks BAW4742. I've got my fingers crossed. Started on the neck today.

Beautiful looking walnut! Really like it; will be curious to hear how it sounds.

Good luck with the neck. Great build.

Beautiful colour of that walnut! I feel your pain with the ferrules.. drilling holes straight and alligned has always been my nemesis. Doesn't matter how many times I have drilled holes and even with meticulously planned templates, those little drill bits always want to wander around.

Looks like you have done a fine job so far, good luck with the neck!!

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Neck fits fairly snug. First look with board on. I hope I don't regret going with ebony instead of maple all the way.

Beautiful looking walnut! Really like it; will be curious to hear how it sounds.

Good luck with the neck. Great build.

Thanks Doc!

Beautiful colour of that walnut! I feel your pain with the ferrules...

Looks like you have done a fine job so far, good luck with the neck!!

Thanks!

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Neck fits fairly snug. First look with board on. I hope I don't regret going with ebony instead of maple all the way.

I doubt you'll regret that -- ebony plays wonderfully, and I like the way that the dark fingerboard plays off of the black pickguard. That is a sweet lookin geetar.

Keep it up! I'm really enjoying seeing it come along.

It's been a while since a post but I have been working on it.


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Some pictures of completed build

Beautiful!

Hey man looks good, I just popped in. Love the walnut. I've got a piece that needs to be cut up, hope it looks as good as that. Binding looks amazing and I'm always of fan of a blank fretboard.

Beautiful!

Thanks!

Hey man looks good, I just popped in. Love the walnut. I've got a piece that needs to be cut up, hope it looks as good as that. Binding looks amazing and I'm always of fan of a blank fretboard.

Thanks. I like how the walnut turned out but not the easiest to finish.

What exactly was your finish schedule? Sealer & Filler. how many coats? Sanded into the surface or just applied and wiped off? Follow up with Tru-oil?

What exactly was your finish schedule? Sealer & Filler. how many coats? Sanded into the surface or just applied and wiped off? Follow up with Tru-oil?

I used birchwood Casey sealer/filler. About 5 coats as I recall but should have used more. Surface was not as flat as I thought and I had to use more true oil coats. Spent a lot of time trying to build up tru-oil coats and discovered I was just putting on and sanding off with steel wool. Began waiting until I built up 3 to 4 coats before I rubbed with steel wool and finally got some build up after about 15-20 thin coats. I finished with 0000 steel wool; ColorTone fine polishing compound; ColorTone swirl Remover; and Dunlop 65 Cream of Carnauba.

OK, thanks for the info.

Beautiful. Nice job!

Great job! I've probably said it a hundred times already, but walnut is absolutely my favorite wood, and pairing it with cream binding really sets it off. Nicely done!

I stand by my first comment. That is one nice lookin' geetar. Great job J.

Turned out lovely! I bet you son is thrilled with it. How about a sound clip?

Rex

Thanks all. Can't wait to start on another. I will get a sound clip on here soon.

Very nice job on the guitar..........

Just got to play this beautiful guitar!! Plays and sounds great!

Finally a sound test for y'all. Thanks to Teddy Golding for giving it a try.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dec1kfZ8594&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Ah yes, sounds good!

Great job
That's one of the sharper looking guitars I've seen

Ah yes, sounds good!

Thanks Glen.

Great job
That's one of the sharper looking guitars I've seen

Thanks!

Beautiful colour of that walnut! I feel your pain with the ferrules.. drilling holes straight and alligned has always been my nemesis. Doesn't matter how many times I have drilled holes and even with meticulously planned templates, those little drill bits always want to wander around.

Looks like you have done a fine job so far, good luck with the neck!!

I know this is an old quote but, man, you need to grab yourself some brad point bits from Mitre10. Say goodbye to wandering drill bits forever.

Jweddle, your guitar is spectacular, btw. A real stunner.

Jweddle, your guitar is spectacular, btw. A real stunner.

Thanks Kwerk. I'm still admiring your 2012 build challenge submission!

It's been awhile since I inspected my first build. Coming back to it I realized the neck was just too thick. I took it off and radiused it a little thinner. After building a jazz bass style neck, everything looks thick!