James trussart style build project

nyeguitarist · September 13th, 2009, 05:55 PM

Hello all,
This is my first post here, and I thought I would start a thread documenting the build process of a Metal Telecaster Custom I'm going to be building in my metal shop class. Right now I'm in the research stage of the project (measurements, cost, materials etc.) but soon I will start the build process, and will be updating the thread on a weekly basis. If anyone has a james trussart tele and would be willing to take the neck off and measure the piece of metal the neck mounts to, I would greatly appreciate it.

blamecanada · September 13th, 2009, 07:42 PM

Sorry I don't have a Trussart to measure. I have been considering a similar build for a while and am looking forward to your build. Please do update this build thread I for one am looking forward to it. Good luck with your build.

drgonzo2 · September 14th, 2009, 01:41 AM

While I don't own a Trussart, I have played one. From memory, the neck joint was pretty much a standard tele joint. It appeared to be 1/16" sheet steel, cut & welded to form the socket, with a wood block (maple?) to reinforce the joint and act as a spacer...

... G

nyeguitarist · September 14th, 2009, 02:02 PM

I played a trussart last saturday, I can say I was pleasantly surprised by how light the guitar was, and how good the sound was. It was a deluxe white one with a red paisley pickguard. it also had the full rosewood neck, a very nice touch. but anyways, how I'm planning to do this, is to cut the top out of 16 gauge sheet metal, then weld the sides on (20 gauge sheet metal) and give it a preforated back. I'm doing this one like a 72' telecaster custom, and I think I am going to paint it white to go with the black pickguard I have.

nyeguitarist · September 14th, 2009, 02:08 PM

I'm considering buying one of these necks for it, any suggestions would also be appreciated.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

TELE_BLUES · September 14th, 2009, 06:23 PM

I've been looking for a good reason well any reason really to take mine apart for a good look inside.email sent.

Big Mike Simpson · September 14th, 2009, 11:22 PM

I am planning to build a metal Tele in a few months... not sure if it will be brass or steel. I would be interested to see the neck pocket as well. I was planning on a "neck stick" like a Natuinal guitar. I built a greman silver Tricone in 2001 or so...

es125tcd · September 15th, 2009, 03:39 AM

Now , I've got the itch to build a metal ( aluminum) Tele body ( I work in quality in an aluminum rolling mill , so access to aluminum sheet is easy , just have to get it weighed, and pay scrap price ( LME price for ubc's .. cool !!) the only question ( which has already been brought up) is neck joint detail- maybe someone could snap some pics , if possible. thinking an aluminum esquire might be sweet, could even do a " treadplate" guard on her... wouldn't want to go the " relic look " with Alum. probably go high polish ( bright sheet ??? ) with a polished treadplate pickguard, rear access for tone/vol pots. have to get some different shrouding gas and wire for the Mig ...

Mr.Reed · September 15th, 2009, 04:47 AM

I'd say for the neck pocket... just fit it with a wood block (on the inside), drill and shape as normal. I want to see what tools are used... here at WSU we have a 5million dollar shop I learned about today, and we have every metal working tool ever needed... I'm super excited to see this thread play out.

TELE_BLUES · September 15th, 2009, 05:54 PM

I have mine aprts for a look inside.The neck sopport "block" is an elongated U shape

Big Mike Simpson · September 15th, 2009, 09:18 PM

Interesting... I will probably still use a block of maple or a neck stick design.

Here is the Tricone that I built.... I was going to use the same ideas on a Tele.

nyeguitarist · September 16th, 2009, 09:38 PM

For anyone who is interested, Here Is a sheet where I have drawn up all sorts of measurements. Special thanks to TELE_BLUES , without his help, none of this would have been known.

nyeguitarist · September 16th, 2009, 09:41 PM

I hope you can all read my caveman writing, if there's anything you want me to explain or clarify just post a reply. Big Mike, I think your ideas would work, I'm considering a block of maple myself, if it ends up to where I can't get the rectangular part made.

nyeguitarist · September 16th, 2009, 09:42 PM

Also, your guitar looks great Mike. I hope mine ends up looking as good as yours looks, haha. Tommorow I plan on cutting out the top for the body, and maybe getting started on the sides. I'll get as many pictures as I can without slowing down my work.

blamecanada · September 16th, 2009, 10:49 PM

nyeguitarist. The rectangular part is just a piece of c-channel steel. Can be bought at any steel suppliers or bend up a piece in your class.

Cheers. Steve Mc

nyeguitarist · September 17th, 2009, 08:08 PM

Thanks blamecanada, I'll look into it.

nyeguitarist · September 17th, 2009, 08:09 PM

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEWAX:IT
This is the neck that I'm planning on buying tonight, has anyone had any experience with the seller, or these kind of necks before?

Mister B · September 18th, 2009, 05:03 PM

I'm surprised how thick the steel used by Trussart appears in the photo above, I thought it would be a much thinner gauge similar to old Nationals. How much does a Trussart weigh?

TELE_BLUES · September 18th, 2009, 06:35 PM

The stripped body is 5 pounds

nyeguitarist · September 18th, 2009, 07:32 PM

With the neck on, the one I played felt like a normal instrument, about 8 pounds.

Mister B · September 19th, 2009, 05:24 AM

I'm surprised that they weigh that much, I thought they would be much lighter due to being hollow (that was before I realised how thick the steel used is). How thick is it incidentally? I wonder why he doesn’t use a thinner gauge to reduce the weight a little, not that 8Lbs is excessive but just more than I expected.

TELE_BLUES · September 19th, 2009, 02:21 PM

Mine is a little heavy,though nowhere near les paul territory.I'm just guessing but it looks to be 16 guage.I'm sure different thicknesses were tried.

nyeguitarist · September 19th, 2009, 03:26 PM

I'm making mine out of 16 gauge for the top, and 20 gauge for the sides. The material is only costing me $25 for one body. A lot cheaper than I expected.

TELE_BLUES · September 19th, 2009, 03:43 PM

Did you get the perferated back?

Big Mike Simpson · September 19th, 2009, 05:18 PM

Are you going to Mig, Tig or silver solder...

nyeguitarist · September 19th, 2009, 06:11 PM

>TELE_BLUES, I didn't get the preferated back yet, I don't know exactly where I should get it from.
>Big Mike, I'm using a mig, hopefully it works because we dont have a tig.

TELE_BLUES · September 19th, 2009, 09:07 PM

Near me there is a small metals store,they have ood sizes and cutoffs as well as a full range large sizes.I took the body over there the other day and they had everything including the back.

Doug 54 · September 19th, 2009, 10:33 PM

Tele Blues:

Cool!!

anymo pics ??

bek · September 20th, 2009, 12:17 AM

I have an Industrial, which is simply made of aluminum top and back plates, separated by a phenolic rim, in which the neck pocket is integrated. Sounds great, very inert.

nyeguitarist · September 20th, 2009, 11:20 PM

I've just ordered the bridge & string ferrules for it. I got a gold wilkinson with compensated saddles. $25 shipped. I'm probably going to order the neck from musikraft. Thinking maybe a full rosewood neck, or something like zebrawood with a flame maple fretboard.

nyeguitarist · September 24th, 2009, 09:06 PM

Should be able to start cutting tommorow. It's been a slow week...

Nub · September 24th, 2009, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nyeguitarist

I'm making mine out of 16 gauge for the top, and 20 gauge for the sides. The material is only costing me $25 for one body. A lot cheaper than I expected.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nyeguitarist

>Big Mike, I'm using a mig, hopefully it works because we dont have a tig.

Even with a mig, the 20 ga is going to want to warp & shrink something fierce right behind the weld... you might want to think about using 16 ga for the sides, too, especially if you're going to butt weld the corners (or at least 18 ga). You could also get away with using 18 ga for everything if you roll or hammerform a small radius on the edges.

olaftheholy · September 25th, 2009, 03:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nub

Even with a mig, the 20 ga is going to want to warp & shrink something fierce right behind the weld... you might want to think about using 16 ga for the sides, too, especially if you're going to butt weld the corners (or at least 18 ga). You could also get away with using 18 ga for everything if you roll or hammerform a small radius on the edges.

My thoughts exactly, been a welder for twenty years....
That steel is going to warp something crazy unless : A- you use very low voltage settings on the welder, B- lightly tackweld the hole deal first C- weld small areas at a time and let it cool between sessions... do not use water to cool the welds...

nyeguitarist · September 26th, 2009, 12:17 AM

Olaf, I was planning on tacking it, and then welding small areas at a time. It will probably be a slow process, but if done right I think it will be worth the time it takes.

nyeguitarist · September 26th, 2009, 12:19 AM

Today we got the wood templates cut out, one that is normal size, and one that is offset an 1/8 of an inch for the plasma cutter. I ordered enough material for 2 bodies incase I mess one up. If both of them turn out well, I plan on giving the extra to my father.

nyeguitarist · September 30th, 2009, 06:41 PM

about to cut

nyeguitarist · October 1st, 2009, 05:45 PM

More Progress -

I only get to work on this an hour per day. I want to get this cut out so bad!

nyeguitarist · October 1st, 2009, 06:04 PM

the shop being small and crowded doesn't help much either

nyeguitarist · October 2nd, 2009, 05:17 PM

Got the cut finished today. Next weeks schedule: grinding.

Scooter91 · October 2nd, 2009, 05:48 PM

Looking forward to seeing this one take shape...

September 13th, 2009, 05:55 PM	#1 (permalink)
nyeguitarist TDPRI Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: St. Louis Age: 15 Posts: 31	James trussart style build project Hello all, This is my first post here, and I thought I would start a thread documenting the build process of a Metal Telecaster Custom I'm going to be building in my metal shop class. Right now I'm in the research stage of the project (measurements, cost, materials etc.) but soon I will start the build process, and will be updating the thread on a weekly basis. If anyone has a james trussart tele and would be willing to take the neck off and measure the piece of metal the neck mounts to, I would greatly appreciate it.

September 14th, 2009, 11:22 PM	#7 (permalink)
Big Mike Simpson Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Gilbert, AZ (PHX) Age: 53 Posts: 1,978 69 Photos	I am planning to build a metal Tele in a few months... not sure if it will be brass or steel. I would be interested to see the neck pocket as well. I was planning on a "neck stick" like a Natuinal guitar. I built a greman silver Tricone in 2001 or so... __________________ http://www.myspace.com/bigmikesimpson

September 15th, 2009, 03:39 AM	#8 (permalink)
es125tcd TDPRI Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Midvale, Ohio Posts: 18	metal tele... Now , I've got the itch to build a metal ( aluminum) Tele body ( I work in quality in an aluminum rolling mill , so access to aluminum sheet is easy , just have to get it weighed, and pay scrap price ( LME price for ubc's .. cool !!) the only question ( which has already been brought up) is neck joint detail- maybe someone could snap some pics , if possible. thinking an aluminum esquire might be sweet, could even do a " treadplate" guard on her... wouldn't want to go the " relic look " with Alum. probably go high polish ( bright sheet ??? ) with a polished treadplate pickguard, rear access for tone/vol pots. have to get some different shrouding gas and wire for the Mig ...

September 15th, 2009, 04:47 AM	#9 (permalink)
Mr.Reed Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Lake Stevens, WA Age: 20 Posts: 1,047	I'd say for the neck pocket... just fit it with a wood block (on the inside), drill and shape as normal. I want to see what tools are used... here at WSU we have a 5million dollar shop I learned about today, and we have every metal working tool ever needed... I'm super excited to see this thread play out. __________________ "There is nothing like the smell of "Twang" in the morning" - Arlo

September 15th, 2009, 09:18 PM	#11 (permalink)
Big Mike Simpson Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Gilbert, AZ (PHX) Age: 53 Posts: 1,978 69 Photos	Interesting... I will probably still use a block of maple or a neck stick design. Here is the Tricone that I built.... I was going to use the same ideas on a Tele. __________________ http://www.myspace.com/bigmikesimpson

September 13th, 2009, 07:42 PM	#2 (permalink)
blamecanada TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Kitchener,Ontario Age: 40 Posts: 11	Sorry I don't have a Trussart to measure. I have been considering a similar build for a while and am looking forward to your build. Please do update this build thread I for one am looking forward to it. Good luck with your build.

September 14th, 2009, 01:41 AM	#3 (permalink)
drgonzo2 TDPRI Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Daventry, U.K. Age: 35 Posts: 90	While I don't own a Trussart, I have played one. From memory, the neck joint was pretty much a standard tele joint. It appeared to be 1/16" sheet steel, cut & welded to form the socket, with a wood block (maple?) to reinforce the joint and act as a spacer... ... G

September 14th, 2009, 02:02 PM	#4 (permalink)
nyeguitarist TDPRI Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: St. Louis Age: 15 Posts: 31	I played a trussart last saturday, I can say I was pleasantly surprised by how light the guitar was, and how good the sound was. It was a deluxe white one with a red paisley pickguard. it also had the full rosewood neck, a very nice touch. but anyways, how I'm planning to do this, is to cut the top out of 16 gauge sheet metal, then weld the sides on (20 gauge sheet metal) and give it a preforated back. I'm doing this one like a 72' telecaster custom, and I think I am going to paint it white to go with the black pickguard I have.

September 14th, 2009, 02:08 PM	#5 (permalink)
nyeguitarist TDPRI Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: St. Louis Age: 15 Posts: 31	I'm considering buying one of these necks for it, any suggestions would also be appreciated. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEWAX:IT http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

September 14th, 2009, 06:23 PM	#6 (permalink)
TELE_BLUES Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: ROCKCHESTER,NEW YORK Posts: 872 71 Photos	I've been looking for a good reason well any reason really to take mine apart for a good look inside.email sent.

September 15th, 2009, 05:54 PM	#10 (permalink)
TELE_BLUES Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: ROCKCHESTER,NEW YORK Posts: 872 71 Photos	I have mine aprts for a look inside.The neck sopport "block" is an elongated U shape

September 16th, 2009, 09:38 PM	#12 (permalink)
nyeguitarist TDPRI Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: St. Louis Age: 15 Posts: 31	For anyone who is interested, Here Is a sheet where I have drawn up all sorts of measurements. Special thanks to TELE_BLUES , without his help, none of this would have been known.

September 16th, 2009, 09:41 PM	#13 (permalink)
nyeguitarist TDPRI Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: St. Louis Age: 15 Posts: 31	I hope you can all read my caveman writing, if there's anything you want me to explain or clarify just post a reply. Big Mike, I think your ideas would work, I'm considering a block of maple myself, if it ends up to where I can't get the rectangular part made.

September 16th, 2009, 09:42 PM	#14 (permalink)
nyeguitarist TDPRI Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: St. Louis Age: 15 Posts: 31	Also, your guitar looks great Mike. I hope mine ends up looking as good as yours looks, haha. Tommorow I plan on cutting out the top for the body, and maybe getting started on the sides. I'll get as many pictures as I can without slowing down my work. Last edited by nyeguitarist; September 16th, 2009 at 09:47 PM. Reason: hit enter too early, ooops...

September 16th, 2009, 10:49 PM	#15 (permalink)
blamecanada TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Kitchener,Ontario Age: 40 Posts: 11	nyeguitarist. The rectangular part is just a piece of c-channel steel. Can be bought at any steel suppliers or bend up a piece in your class. Cheers. Steve Mc

September 17th, 2009, 08:08 PM	#16 (permalink)
nyeguitarist TDPRI Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: St. Louis Age: 15 Posts: 31	Thanks blamecanada, I'll look into it.

September 17th, 2009, 08:09 PM	#17 (permalink)
nyeguitarist TDPRI Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: St. Louis Age: 15 Posts: 31	http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEWAX:IT This is the neck that I'm planning on buying tonight, has anyone had any experience with the seller, or these kind of necks before?

September 18th, 2009, 05:03 PM	#18 (permalink)
Mister B TDPRI Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 50	I'm surprised how thick the steel used by Trussart appears in the photo above, I thought it would be a much thinner gauge similar to old Nationals. How much does a Trussart weigh?

September 18th, 2009, 06:35 PM	#19 (permalink)
TELE_BLUES Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: ROCKCHESTER,NEW YORK Posts: 872 71 Photos	The stripped body is 5 pounds

September 18th, 2009, 07:32 PM	#20 (permalink)
nyeguitarist TDPRI Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: St. Louis Age: 15 Posts: 31	With the neck on, the one I played felt like a normal instrument, about 8 pounds.

September 19th, 2009, 05:24 AM	#21 (permalink)
Mister B TDPRI Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 50	I'm surprised that they weigh that much, I thought they would be much lighter due to being hollow (that was before I realised how thick the steel used is). How thick is it incidentally? I wonder why he doesn’t use a thinner gauge to reduce the weight a little, not that 8Lbs is excessive but just more than I expected.

September 19th, 2009, 02:21 PM	#22 (permalink)
TELE_BLUES Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: ROCKCHESTER,NEW YORK Posts: 872 71 Photos	Mine is a little heavy,though nowhere near les paul territory.I'm just guessing but it looks to be 16 guage.I'm sure different thicknesses were tried.

September 19th, 2009, 03:26 PM	#23 (permalink)
nyeguitarist TDPRI Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: St. Louis Age: 15 Posts: 31	I'm making mine out of 16 gauge for the top, and 20 gauge for the sides. The material is only costing me $25 for one body. A lot cheaper than I expected.

September 19th, 2009, 03:43 PM	#24 (permalink)
TELE_BLUES Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: ROCKCHESTER,NEW YORK Posts: 872 71 Photos	Did you get the perferated back?

September 19th, 2009, 05:18 PM	#25 (permalink)
Big Mike Simpson Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Gilbert, AZ (PHX) Age: 53 Posts: 1,978 69 Photos	Are you going to Mig, Tig or silver solder... __________________ http://www.myspace.com/bigmikesimpson

IMPORTANT:Treat everyone here with respect, no matter how difficult! No sex, drug, political, religion or hate discussion permitted here.

September 19th, 2009, 06:11 PM	#26 (permalink)
nyeguitarist TDPRI Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: St. Louis Age: 15 Posts: 31	>TELE_BLUES, I didn't get the preferated back yet, I don't know exactly where I should get it from. >Big Mike, I'm using a mig, hopefully it works because we dont have a tig.

September 19th, 2009, 09:07 PM	#27 (permalink)
TELE_BLUES Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: ROCKCHESTER,NEW YORK Posts: 872 71 Photos	Near me there is a small metals store,they have ood sizes and cutoffs as well as a full range large sizes.I took the body over there the other day and they had everything including the back.

September 19th, 2009, 10:33 PM	#28 (permalink)
Doug 54 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ohio, Dayton area Posts: 1,309	Tele Blues: Cool!! anymo pics ?? __________________ "Cowboys to Girls"

September 20th, 2009, 12:17 AM	#29 (permalink)
bek Tele-Holic Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: California Posts: 604	I have an Industrial, which is simply made of aluminum top and back plates, separated by a phenolic rim, in which the neck pocket is integrated. Sounds great, very inert.

September 20th, 2009, 11:20 PM	#30 (permalink)
nyeguitarist TDPRI Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: St. Louis Age: 15 Posts: 31	I've just ordered the bridge & string ferrules for it. I got a gold wilkinson with compensated saddles. $25 shipped. I'm probably going to order the neck from musikraft. Thinking maybe a full rosewood neck, or something like zebrawood with a flame maple fretboard.

September 24th, 2009, 09:06 PM	#31 (permalink)
nyeguitarist TDPRI Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: St. Louis Age: 15 Posts: 31	Should be able to start cutting tommorow. It's been a slow week...

September 26th, 2009, 12:17 AM	#34 (permalink)
nyeguitarist TDPRI Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: St. Louis Age: 15 Posts: 31	Olaf, I was planning on tacking it, and then welding small areas at a time. It will probably be a slow process, but if done right I think it will be worth the time it takes.

September 26th, 2009, 12:19 AM	#35 (permalink)
nyeguitarist TDPRI Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: St. Louis Age: 15 Posts: 31	Today we got the wood templates cut out, one that is normal size, and one that is offset an 1/8 of an inch for the plasma cutter. I ordered enough material for 2 bodies incase I mess one up. If both of them turn out well, I plan on giving the extra to my father.

September 30th, 2009, 06:41 PM	#36 (permalink)
nyeguitarist TDPRI Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: St. Louis Age: 15 Posts: 31	about to cut

October 1st, 2009, 05:45 PM	#37 (permalink)
nyeguitarist TDPRI Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: St. Louis Age: 15 Posts: 31	More Progress - I only get to work on this an hour per day. I want to get this cut out so bad!