Putting together a thinline

[erlendaasland]

[Trying again, using the correct forum this time…]

I've got a pair of Charlie Christian Lollar pickups lying around. Looking for the perfect jazz-telecaster-kind-of-guitar, I'm thinking that these pickups combined with a tele thinline would be a good combination :-)

So, I'm thinking about ordering a set-neck maple/mahogany (1 pc body) from Musikraft. Any thoughts about using set-neck versus bolt on neck? Maple/mahogany vs. maple/ash vs. maple/alder? one-piece body vs. 2- or 3-piece?

[Dr.Ow!]

[quote=erlendaasland;2115177][Trying again, using the correct forum this time…]

I've got a pair of Charlie Christian Lollar pickups lying around. Looking for the perfect jazz-telecaster-kind-of-guitar, I'm thinking that these pickups combined with a tele thinline would be a good combination :-)

So, I'm thinking about ordering a set-neck maple/mahogany (1 pc body) from Musikraft. Any thoughts about using set-neck versus bolt on neck? Maple/mahogany vs. maple/ash vs. maple/alder? one-piece body vs. 2- or 3-piece?[/QUOTE

Confusing subject- your talking about 2 projects here it seems(?). Your first paragraph seems sense able and has merit. Next is a Gibson type wood combo and diverges quite alot from standard Tele/Fender sound in general terms, but of course all is good, kind of.
Technically there seems to be consensus opinion that little difference found between set neck and bolt assuming they are both well done. Coincidentally I believe it was at Lollars site he encourages/believes in a tight hand press-in fit up of the neck-pocket join irregardless of the method. Personally I agree as it seems logical there should be a more effective vibration transfer between the parts. Also the woodwork demand is satisfying if your building your own. I like set necks.

2 or 3 piece bodys don't even matter IMO. More a price thing as trees are getting smaller. Glues and manufacturing are so good now it can't be technically an issue. I've often wondered what's really under those Clapton strat paint jobs? Blacky is likely a 1 piece or 2, but more because that was the stock that arrived at Fullerton by the train load in the time, Now a 1 piece comes out of the vault stock.

Nice to have those pick ups to ponder around, not sure it an easy choice where to head. Tele of course is the BEST...well there are others too...

[jimdkc]

Hey, Doc! Check out Musikraft's website... they ARE selling set neck Tele bodies now!

Jim

[erlendaasland]

Originally Posted by Dr.Ow!

Confusing subject- your talking about 2 projects here it seems(?). Your first paragraph seems sense able and has merit. Next is a Gibson type wood combo and diverges quite alot from standard Tele/Fender sound in general terms, but of course all is good, kind of.

No, I'm talking about one tele project Actually, Fender made a couple of tele set-necks a long time ago, but the project was quickly abandoned

Anyway: I've decided that I want to go for a standard bolt on neck - it's more teleish and if the neck was damaged, it's easier to replace it.

But I've not decided about the wood yet. ATM I think I'm going for an all maple neck and a one-piece mahogany body.

I see that a lot of people recommend rosewood fingerboards for jazz-type-guitars. Perhaps I should consider that option as well.

[spannerman]

Originally Posted by erlendaasland

No, I'm talking about one tele project
Anyway: I've decided that I want to go for a standard bolt on neck - it's more teleish and if the neck was damaged, it's easier to replace it.

But I've not decided about the wood yet. ATM I think I'm going for an all maple neck and a one-piece mahogany body.

I see that a lot of people recommend rosewood fingerboards for jazz-type-guitars. Perhaps I should consider that option as well.

bolt on is my personal favourite, like you said, replacing the neck can be handy lol. I've never thought of making a neck from anything other than maple, but those people are right about rosewood, it has a much softer, warmer feel to it which is great for jazz.

Someone mentioned 1, 2, 3 piece wood and they're spot on, these days it makes no difference whatsoever, and probably 99% of factory built guitars have multipiece bodies.

Gud luck with ur build, jazz guitars always feel so satisfying when you make them urself :)

[hackworth1]

What a difference there is in mahogany. I have been wearing out bandsaw blades and fighting a piece of rock hard heavy mahogany. What a lot of work to make this heavy slab into a guitar body. It HAS to be a thinline. Its so doggone heavy.

On the other hand, I found another piece of mahogany in my dad's garage. 25 years ago Dad salvaged it from the beach. It is light and easy to cut. I guess its kind of like swamp ash. God knows how long it had been awash in the Atlantic - likely grown and cut in Cuba.

Once I took the nails out and sliced it on the tablesaw, a beautiful plank of light and manageable wood was revealed. What a gift.

[erlendaasland]

I've decided to order something like this from Warmoth (bolt on neck):

- Thinline mahogany body w/spruce top. Black gloss finish.
- Birds eye maple neck/fingerboard (one piece). Clear gloss finish

I'll get a red pearl pickguard custom made for the Lollar Charlie Christian neck pickup from http://www.pickguardian.com

I've seen that the user caliban335 has made a similar looking thinline which looks very very very nice

I think this will be an ok jazz-kind-of-guitar that still sounds a bit teleish