SSSSSSSnakehead

[adirondak5]

I have been thinking about how to paint the fret markers on the fingerboard , the original had painted on dots 1/8", I was going to get a paper hole puncher and punch holes in masking tape and tape that on the board but that would take forever to get them all lined up and keep them from stretching , so i think I am going to do it this way , I have some peel stick label sheets for printing ups , usps labels , I can print out Mister B's Snakehead neck pdf in pieces actual size on the label paper , the correct size dots are on it , punch out the holes and paint the dots , I did a few test pieces to see if it would work , just gotta punch the holes and get some black paint , this should work.

[Mister B]

When I get a few spare minutes I'll put together a list of the differences between my Snakehead drawing and Terry's Tele drawing. There are several but they're all subtle, you could certainly use Terry's body outline and few would notice.

[Jack Wells]

This brings up a question ......... were the fret marker dots painted on before or after the finish was applied ............. Hmmmmm.

[crazydave911]

Originally Posted by Jack Wells

This brings up a question ......... were the fret marker dots painted on before or after the finish was applied ............. Hmmmmm.

I'd bet (if I were a betting man) they were painted on before the finish. I'd also bet that isn't the only neck (or body for that matter) that was made for the prototype. That may be the only finished prototype ever made, but I've never bought they only made one neck, one body, and got it right the first time. The guitar didn't yet exist, and as right as the drawing may look, sometimes it looks like crap when committed to wood . With an original design there are usually/always stages along the way. Example, somewhere along the way, someone decided the bridge needed to be longer as the pup was too close to the saddles. Another someone decided to change the shape and location of the control plate, radically . And if that wasn't enough, someone decided it needed a six-on-a-side peghead and tuners (very sudden, and VERY Bigsby like ). I'll never believe it went from snakehead directly to Esquire in one step. Even the change to a trussrod happened during Esquire production, not before (according to legend, that change was made with reluctance on Leo's part, indicating in his mind at least, the design stage had passed). There was a lot of really major changes made in a very short time, yet no in between prototypes? . We'll probably never know what went down, but if the Egyptians didn't get the pyramids right the first time, I've no reason to believe Fender did either . I'd just like to see the in-betweeners, now there would be a build!

[Jack Wells]

Originally Posted by crazydave911

I'd just like to see the in-betweeners, now there would be a build!

Hey crazydave .......... here's an in-betweener ....... Prototype #2. Maybe you should build one of these. I could give you a control plate.

......

Here's another picture.

......

[adirondak5]

Originally Posted by Mister B

When I get a few spare minutes I'll put together a list of the differences between my Snakehead drawing and Terry's Tele drawing. There are several but they're all subtle, you could certainly use Terry's body outline and few would notice.

I know of course the flat spot for the jack cup , and is the radius at the top corners of the neck pocket slightly larger ?
I gotta stop at Staples tomorrow and get a few full size print outs.

[adirondak5]

Originally Posted by Jack Wells

Let's not forget Prototype #2. Who wants to make one of these?

......

Now I just can not understand that control plate shape or location . Unfortunately what has been seen cannot be unseen. :)

[adirondak5]

Originally Posted by Jack Wells

This brings up a question ......... were the fret marker dots painted on before or after the finish was applied ............. Hmmmmm.

I would think they would be under the finish , at least that's how I plan on doing them. Hard to say what they did with the prototype , did they forget to install them and paint them on after it was built , did they go fast and low cost ? Maybe a combination of both.

[adirondak5]

Originally Posted by crazydave911

I'd bet (if I were a betting man) they were painted on before the finish. I'd also bet that isn't the only neck (or body for that matter) that was made for the prototype. That may be the only finished prototype ever made, but I've never bought they only made one neck, one body, and got it right the first time. The guitar didn't yet exist, and as right as the drawing may look, sometimes it looks like crap when committed to wood . With an original design there are usually/always stages along the way. Example, somewhere along the way, someone decided the bridge needed to be longer as the pup was too close to the saddles. Another someone decided to change the shape and location of the control plate, radically . And if that wasn't enough, someone decided it needed a six-on-a-side peghead and tuners (very sudden, and VERY Bigsby like ). I'll never believe it went from snakehead directly to Esquire in one step. Even the change to a trussrod happened during Esquire production, not before (according to legend, that change was made with reluctance on Leo's part, indicating in his mind at least, the design stage had passed). There was a lot of really major changes made in a very short time, yet no in between prototypes? . We'll probably never know what went down, but if the Egyptians didn't get the pyramids right the first time, I've no reason to believe Fender did either . I'd just like to see the in-betweeners, now there would be a build!

I would have loved to see what went in the fireplace back in those times , on second thought maybe I wouldn't .

[crazydave911]

Originally Posted by Jack Wells

Hey crazydave .......... here's an in-betweener ....... Prototype #2. Maybe you should build one of these. I could give you a control plate......

OMG , man, they must have had some GOOD weed in those days . Now that you mention it, I have seen that once upon a time (I'd no doubt blocked it from memory, like most of my ex wives). If I don't have to mount it that way, I'd gladly accept the control plate and build it .
Seriously, let's take inventory. The bridge has gotten longer, check, appears to be a different wood species (strange, since the Esquires were still pine). The neck is so different as to appear to have been made by a completely different person. The apparent lack of a truss rod seems to be the only common element. That leaves the bass control plate put on cross-wise. Since they didn't seem to have any problem mounting these correctly on lapsteels or basses (at least later on) I'm almost tempted to think this was someone's idea of a joke. If so, I'm betting (again) it didn't go over well . Well, I've been wanting an Esquire, and this one has mostly good ideas . It'll teach me to be careful what I wish for

Dave

[Mister B]

Hey crazydave .......... here's an in-betweener ....... Prototype #2. Maybe you should build one of these. I could give you a control plate.

I thought about making this my next drawing project. You could always relocate the control plate, I think I've seen some Rebel Relic guitars with this plate in the conventional Tele position.

I know of course the flat spot for the jack cup , and is the radius at the top corners of the neck pocket slightly larger ?
I gotta stop at Staples tomorrow and get a few full size print outs.

Yes, those are the two main differences. The other differences are very subtle: the tip of the horn is slightly rounder (to my eye at least), the shape of the lip above the neck pocket is a little different and there are a few minor differences in the body shape. All very subtle and as I'm working just from photos, I could be entirely wrong!

The routes are a little different. Obviously I don't need to mention the control cavity being different but perhaps I should mention the pickup route. It's drawn at a 20 degree angle (standard Tele 17 degrees, Terry's drawing shows it as 14 degrees) and is closer to the string through holes, 3/8 inch from memory (9.525mm). Again, I have to emphasise that this is all derived from photos so I can't guarantee accuracy but it looks about right.

[adirondak5]

Originally Posted by Mister B

I thought about making this my next drawing project. You could always relocate the control plate, I think I've seen some Rebel Relic guitars with this plate in the conventional Tele position.

Yes, those are the two main differences. The other differences are very subtle: the tip of the horn is slightly rounder (to my eye at least), the shape of the lip above the neck pocket is a little different and there are a few minor differences in the body shape. All very subtle and as I'm working just from photos, I could be entirely wrong!

The routes are a little different. Obviously I don't need to mention the control cavity being different but perhaps I should mention the pickup route. It's drawn at a 20 degree angle (standard Tele 17 degrees, Terry's drawing shows it as 14 degrees) and is closer to the string through holes, 3/8 inch from memory (9.525mm). Again, I have to emphasise that this is all derived from photos so I can't guarantee accuracy but it looks about right.

Yes , I am seeing the same subtle differences Iain , the pickup route I didn't mention , figured I'd wait for the bridge but yea , its definately one of the bigger differences . I'll get some prints today , maybe I will do a 1/4" master template.

[Mister B]

Yes , I am seeing the same subtle differences Iain , the pickup route I didn't mention , figured I'd wait for the bridge but yea , its definately one of the bigger differences . I'll get some prints today , maybe I will do a 1/4" master template.

I would definitely wait for Marc's hardware. I found some pictures of his prototype Snakehead bridge and it looked more like a conventional Tele bridge, just with the open corners and three mounting screws. It looked to be the same length as a standard bridge and it didn't look as if the pickup was moved back (I emphasis that it appeared that way, I could be wrong). Of course, it could've just been a prototype or he may have access to a better source than the photos I used.

Once we know more about the Rutter's bridge, I can amend the drawing accordingly. Even if it isn't historically accurate, the chances are most people would use it on a Snakehead build so it makes sense to update the drawing to match.

[Jack Wells]

Originally Posted by Mister B

I thought about making this my next drawing project. You could always relocate the control plate, I think I've seen some Rebel Relic guitars with this plate in the conventional Tele position.

A few years ago I took the photo of Prototype #2 above and did a little PhotoShop work on it. I posted something like "The long lost Fender Prototype #3 was recently found in an attic in Garden Grove California."

......

Originally Posted by crazydave911

I'm almost tempted to think this was someone's idea of a joke.

It wasn't a joke. The second picture in Post #105 shows the guitar in some sort of museum setting. Possibly the Fender exhibit at the Fullerton Museum a few years ago.

I wonder how they happened to have that control plate. Prototype #2 had to be built sometime in the 1949-1950 time period. This was before the first Fender Precision Bass which was introduced in November 1951. I wonder if the bass was already in the planning stages and parts were already being made.

[Mister B]

A few years ago I took the photo of Prototype #2 above and did a little PhotoShop work on it. I posted something like "The long lost Fender Prototype #3 was recently found in an attic in Garden Grove California."

That looks so much better. What were they thinking?

Incidentally, is that control plate unique to the second prototype? It looks familiar, was it used on a bass?

[Jack Wells]

I've added to my post above. Yes, that control plate was used on the first Fender Precision Bass. Looked something like this.

[adirondak5]

Originally Posted by Mister B

I would definitely wait for Marc's hardware. I found some pictures of his prototype Snakehead bridge and it looked more like a conventional Tele bridge, just with the open corners and three mounting screws. It looked to be the same length as a standard bridge and it didn't look as if the pickup was moved back (I emphasis that it appeared that way, I could be wrong). Of course, it could've just been a prototype or he may have access to a better source than the photos I used.

Once we know more about the Rutter's bridge, I can amend the drawing accordingly. Even if it isn't historically accurate, the chances are most people would use it on a Snakehead build so it makes sense to update the drawing to match.

Yea , you 're right Iain , don't want to get ahead of myself at this point , FedEx says Friday delivery .

[crazydave911]

Originally Posted by Mister B

I thought about making this my next drawing project. You could always relocate the control plate, I think I've seen some Rebel Relic guitars with this plate in the conventional Tele position

Yeppers, my thoughts exactly. If you ever get around to making the drawing let me know. Jack's old Photoshop hits the spot
The only difference I'd do is using pine and painting it. Vintage Cream somes to mind

Originally Posted by Jack Wells

It wasn't a joke. The second picture in Post #105 shows the guitar in some sort of museum setting. Possibly the Fender exhibit at the Fullerton Museum a few years ago

I found that online a few minutes ago. Seems to be in a museum in Seattle

I wonder how they happened to have that control plate. Prototype #2 had to be built sometime in the 1949-1950 time period. This was before the first Fender Precision Bass which was introduced in November 1951. I wonder if the bass was already in the planning stages and parts were already being made.

As I said originally. There's no telling what all was going down around the time the Snakehead was made (and shortly after). I'll bet (there I go again ) there were all kinds of priceless protoypes/relics that simply were burned or recycled into other things. Ahhh, to have been a fly on the wall

[adirondak5]

Originally Posted by crazydave911

Yeppers, my thoughts exactly. If you ever get around to making the drawing let me know. I found one of Jack's old Photoshop's that hits the spot

The only difference I'd do is using pine and painting it. Vintage Cream somes to mind

Oh oh , that's how it starts , you might better just build it Dave , its gonna stay in your head until you do :D

[Mister B]

Yeppers, my thoughts exactly. If you ever get around to making the drawing let me know. Jack's old Photoshop hits the spot
The only difference I'd do is using pine and painting it. Vintage Cream somes to mind

I think it was originally the same colour as the Snakehead. There's a photo of it being played on stage and it looks white, I'm sure there's a reference in the text to it being stripped at some point. If you want more inspiration search for Rebel Relic, they make a version exactly like Jack's Photoshop creation. Might even be a vintage cream sample on their website.

As I said originally. There's no telling what all was going down around the time the Snakehead was made (and shortly after). I'll bet (there I go again ) there were all kinds of priceless protoypes/relics that simply were burned or recycled into other things. Ahhh, to have been a fly on the wall

I agree. It's very unlikely that only two prototypes were made, it makes you wonder what else is lurking under the beds of early Fender employees. I don't know when the two known prototypes surfaced but I suppose it's possible that another could be discovered, all be it very unlikely now. Perhaps we could dream up "the missing link" ourselves, might be a good theme for this year's build challenge.