Now what do I do?

I bought this. It's a project a fella started and gave up on.
It kind of looks familiar to me. Like I've seen it before ... here maybe?
Figured Maple front and some Birds eye maple and inlay on the back.
I've never built before. And I don't know where to draw the budget line. Would like to end up with a decent player with Tele twang. (I'm no pro-player either)
I'm seeing every thing black. Bridge, tuners, pick-guard. Don't know whether to put a Squire neck on or upgrade to something better. Rosewood or maple fretboard? Pick-ups?

What do you see? Any suggestions for this novice are welcome. How much $$$$ would you put into it?

Sorry to have to tell you but you got snookered. That thing's no good. Just send it to me in Tucson and I'll get rid of it for you.

Seriously, it's really pretty. Unless there's some serious flaw not visible in your pics that body looks worth your best efforts. A Squier neck will be worth about as much after you use it as before, so if you want to start out with one, you can use that to learn fret and neck tuning, put it on your guitar, play it a while, and still get your money back out of it. Then you can...1) upgrade or 2) make your own new neck (a different flavor of upgrade - but maybe don't sell the squier neck until after your first shot at building your own is finished).

So I haven't specifically answered your question of how much $$$ I would spend. Sorry, I can't do that for you - I might have more $$$ than you, or less $$$. But I think you have a sweet body there (so to speak) and I predict you'll have a hoot modding it and own a great guitar when it's all said and done.

Good luck, keep us posted.
Rex

I think black hardware would look good. Maybe I would install a ring around the neck pickup and not use a pickguard.

Hmmm... Rosewood fingerboard for sure. You might even go with a black painted headstock. No pick guard, black control plate and bridge. I'll leave the pickup choice up to you... :mrgreen:

That thing's going to be just gorgeous.

Why did the other fella give up on it?

Why did the other fella give up on it?

I think it was a bit more of a project than he anticipated. He also said his father-in-law bought him a Martin Guitar and that's were his interest is now.

He sprayed with poly and it's full of runs and dust particles. First thing I will do is remove the poly and refinish with tung oil. Yes?

I'm a huge maple fretboard fan ..... but this thing looks like its crying for a rosewood fretboard.

No pic-guard. Great idea! I had pick guard stuck in my head and didn't even think of going without. See... that's why I come here.

I don't have the tools to make my own neck. I beginning to feel this guitar is worthy of a decent neck. Picking one is the problem.

Thank you for your suggestions/observations and keep them coming.

Regards,

patoot

I think it was a bit more of a project than he anticipated. He also said his father-in-law bought him a Martin Guitar and that's were his interest is now.

He sprayed with poly and it's full of runs and dust particles. First thing I will do is remove the poly and refinish with tung oil. Yes?


I think I'd consider sanding the poly down to a smooth surface, then putting a good coat(s) of poly over it. Without knowing how the color was applied, there's a real good chance that by the time you got all the poly sanded off, you'd be into the color and that beautiful figure. Oil is great on virgin wood, or wood that's been stained/dyed, but when a finish coat of material has been applied (nitro/poly, shellac, etc) it's hard to know how deeply it's penetrated, and if you don't get it all off you end up with a seriously botchy, and botched, finish.

+1 on the black hardware. I'm big on Bill Lawrence's (Wilde) Microcoil pickups (cover of the neck PU just happens to be black, BTW). Sky's the limit on $$. It's a pretty billet of wood, and worth as much as you think you want to put into it to make it a beautiful player.

PS--Definitely no pickguard!

Well, Live and learn. I tried ever so gently to wet sand the poly and went through the poly to the stain. No choice now except to take it all the way back down to bare wood and re-stain. In the end I think it will be worth the effort and expense to wind up with lacquer finish.

Dumb question .... is it forbidden to put a 24 3/4" neck on a Tele?

Thanks for your input.

I think I'd consider sanding the poly down to a smooth surface, then putting a good coat(s) of poly over it. Without knowing how the color was applied, there's a real good chance that by the time you got all the poly sanded off, you'd be into the color and that beautiful figure. Oil is great on virgin wood, or wood that's been stained/dyed, but when a finish coat of material has been applied (nitro/poly, shellac, etc) it's hard to know how deeply it's penetrated, and if you don't get it all off you end up with a seriously botchy, and botched, finish.

+1 on the black hardware. I'm big on Bill Lawrence's (Wilde) Microcoil pickups (cover of the neck PU just happens to be black, BTW). Sky's the limit on $$. It's a pretty billet of wood, and worth as much as you think you want to put into it to make it a beautiful player.

PS--Definitely no pickguard!
Excellent advise! I love black hardware & micro-coils. The only difference I would suggest is an Ebony fretboard. Beautiful body there.

...

Dumb question .... is it forbidden to put a 24 3/4" neck on a Tele?

No, but the string through holes in the body are probably in the right place for a 25.5" scale Tele neck. You can adjust to the neck you want by cutting the neck pocket into the body a little further.

No, but the string through holes in the body are probably in the right place for a 25.5" scale Tele neck. You can adjust to the neck you want by cutting the neck pocket into the body a little further.

I believe warmoth sells "conversion" 24 3/4" necks that fit on a standard tele without mods.

I believe warmoth sells "conversion" 24 3/4" necks that fit on a standard tele without mods.

Well there you go then :grin:

I'd like to put an American Fender tele neck on this thing but they aren't cheap.
There's a 2010 MIM Tele neck on Ebay. Whats it worth? Are they a decent neck or should I dig deep in my pockets and get an American neck?

thanks for your input.

I'd like to put an American Fender tele neck on this thing but they aren't cheap.
There's a 2010 MIM Tele neck on Ebay. Whats it worth? Are they a decent neck or should I dig deep in my pockets and get an American neck?

thanks for your input.

Every bit as good, if not better than the MIA necks, IMHO. I may be wrong, but my understanding is that at least some of the MIA necks are mostly fabricated south of the border.

I'd like to put an American Fender tele neck on this thing but they aren't cheap.
There's a 2010 MIM Tele neck on Ebay. Whats it worth? Are they a decent neck or should I dig deep in my pockets and get an American neck?

thanks for your input.

Many people say there really isn't much of a difference. I would just buy the mexican neck if it's a lot cheaper.

Many people say there really isn't much of a difference. I would just buy the mexican neck if it's a lot cheaper.

I've been told the only difference is 200 miles. An amber tinted maple neck with black tuners and all other black hardware, and a black pickgaurd would look pretty good !
P. S. I too have seen this somewhere on here, I am was pretty sure of this after I saw that three piece back.

Naked

Just curious, what tools do you think it takes to build a neck?

That aside, there are those that make it their business to buy perfectly good (new) guitars and part them out on ebay. The Squier Classic Vibe Tele neck is a very good one :wink:
If however you want a 24.75 fretscale, then get over to Warmoth and get their conversion neck for Teles :wink:. It will require no change to your current guitar body :smile:

crazydave: "Just curious, what tools do you think it takes to build a neck?"
In my younger days I had a pretty well equipped woodworking shop. Now-days, I'm pretty much down to hand power tools. I wouldnt attempt a neck build.

I did order from Warmoth 24.75 maple neck (painted gloss black) 10-16 compound radius,
rosewood fretboard, w/vintage jumbo frets.

crazydave: "Just curious, what tools do you think it takes to build a neck?"
In my younger days I had a pretty well equipped woodworking shop. Now-days, I'm pretty much down to hand power tools. I wouldnt attempt a neck build.
Was just wondering, as the only power tools I've ever used is a jigsaw,drill, and small laminate trimmer (for the trussrod). I find a lot of folks here spooked by some of the really extensive shops some of these guys have here and kind of make it my mission to show folks it doesn't take all that shiny bling :lol:

I did order from Warmoth 24.75 maple neck (painted gloss black) 10-16 compound radius,
rosewood fretboard, w/vintage jumbo frets
Don't know about the gloss black :smile:, but that is one fine neck. I'm sure you'll like it. It goes great with mini humbuckers and rail pups (which of course are real mini humbuckers :wink:. Looking forward to seeing your guitar :grin:




Dave

Stained

Very nice!

Nice Look. Mine was similar grain on top. Originally polyurethane, but I got antsy about it, and stripped it down last Thanksgiving and went with a lacquer finish. Neck is a Mity Mite vintage V-shape.

After 24 coats of lacquering. 24 more to go.

That is starting to look very nice!

24 coats of lacquer!?!?

24 coats of lacquer!?!?

Yes .. the Luthier that is doing the re-finishing, sprays very light coats. There was quite a bit of grain filling needed. Now it is being wet sanded and then more lacquer ... more wet sanding ... then polish ... then home.

I will go an opposite direction and say I think cream colored pickguard and maple neck would look good and lighten up the effect. I would not have stained it so dark either, I actually like the stripped/light look.

After 24 coats of lacquering. 24 more to go.

That seams more than excessive.

I will go an opposite direction and say I think cream colored pickguard and maple neck would look good and lighten up the effect. I would not have stained it so dark either, I actually like the stripped/light look.

I liked the original color too. The poly finish could not be saved. So the whole thing had to be taken down to bare wood again. I was unsuccessful at recreating the original color ... so that train has already left the station.
I'm just as happy with the new color and still going with Rosewood neck and all black hardware. I want something a bit out of the ordinary.
Neck came today.

sexy body. I like your choices. This is going to be killer.

That seams more than excessive.

+1

Even 24 is way more than I've ever heard of, and you plan to double it?

I re-emphasize these are really thin coats.
Now ... I am wondering what might be the drawback in too many coats of lacquer?
I've always been a "if one is good ... 2 is better" kind of guy.

I re-emphasize these are really thin coats.
Now ... I am wondering what might be the drawback in too many coats of lacquer?
I've always been a "if one is good ... 2 is better" kind of guy.

Will take forever to dry

Will chip crack and check easily

Wastes about 42 coats of lacquer

And it might dampen your guitar's resonance slightly more. Just to make sure I'm thinking correctly, a good amount is 9, or 3 coats a day for 3 days?

Shiny as it's going to get.

Looks nice and shiny from here

Polishing complete. I will start assembly tonight or tomorrow. For some reason the camera makes the close-up of the back look red/orange. It's "tobacco" color like the pics of the top.

Wow, that is really shining!

Very nice!

Dumb question .... is it forbidden to put a 24 3/4" neck on a Tele?

Thanks for your input.

No, it is not forbidden. I have a 24 3/4" Warmoth conversion neck on a partscaster, and it works great. Don't let anyone tell you it won't twang with a short neck, either.

Well crap. I didn't get too far before trouble reared it's ugly head. The neck pocket is too shallow. Must route another 1/4 inch or so deeper to accommodate the neck. What are the chances of routing without damage to the finish? Or is there another way?

I route finished guitar bodies all the time.

When I have a polished out body that need some routing, I like to cover the top with blue painters tape. This just serves to prevent dinging from the template.

Attach the template.

Route

Blow all the sawdust away before removing the template.

You might want to check your geometry first..... remember that overhang is supposed to accommodate a pickguard ..... you may end up having mile high action.... I'd get the bridge on and check first....

The pocket normally should be 5/8" deep.

Turn your flash off and go in sunlight to really show it's true colours. I personally never use my flash, it makes it look terrible. different flashes look different and the onces on little snapshot cameras suck.

Bolted on neck and put a straight edge (flat on the frets) to bridge. It ain't pretty.
Neck route is 5/8"
Neck is 1" at the screws.

Bolted on neck and put a straight edge (flat on the frets) to bridge. It ain't pretty.
Neck route is 5/8"
Neck is 1" at the screws.

Given your dimensions, It makes me think the neck pocket is routed at an angle or your neck heel is sanded at an angle.

That's unfortunate! Funny enough, that's exactly the way you'd want it with a tom and a stoptail. Too bad you aren't using one. Anywho, I think you'll just have to route or have a guitar that only plays on the 22nd fret.

Thanks for input and ideas to help me solve this problem.
3/16 route did the trick. No damage to the finish either. Just enough room under the neck overlap to install a pick-guard if the next owner so desires. Lines up nicely to the bridge.

that's great work!

Well sir .... that was a most enjoyable experience.

After the cat (Bad Andy) made the final inspection, I took her outside for a couple pics.

Oh wow, I'm in luv !!!!!

....good job.....

beautiful guitar, great job and vision to see that combination.

Dang,shes got a nice shine! Beautiful.

OMG what a beautiful guitar you are making! Congratulations

Wow. I could get behind a black peghead face, but I thought you were way off with black hardware and a black neck.

Da--amn. That thing looks great! Great vision!


-C

Great job!!!

Sorry for the belated comments but had lost track of the build. A very nice guitar you've created there, I'll bet it plays great! :wink:



Dave