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Telecaster Thinline Build Body Thickness
Greetings all!
Kind of new here and this is my first post. I am in the early stages of my first build. I have a Warmoth Tele Neck (Mahogany w/rosewood fretboard) and I am planning on building a Thinline with a Mahogany Body and English Walnut top. (I will post pictures of what I have so far later today or tomorrow when I have access to them).
I have a question.
I had the Mahogany slab planed down to 1 1/2" for the body and after I book-matched the Walnut I had it planed down to 1/4". (This obviously gives me the standard 1 3/4" for the Tele). I have discovered after letting the Mahogany sit for a month or so that it has bowed/cupped slightly. So, it is "high" in the middle where the pickups and saddle will be and drops by maybe 1/32" to either side. Supposedly it had been kiln dried properly before I bought it. I don't know if the planing down to the 1 1/2" had an affect on the wood and caused this cupping, but I really doesn't matter at this point. I have 3 different ideas as to how I can approach the body at this point.
1.) I could do absolutely nothing and put it together just as it is. I really don't believe that there will be much of an affect as the center 4"-5" of the slab has virtually no curve to it all all. The curve is more pronounced at the furthest sides (what would be the "top" and "bottom" of the guitar.
2.) I could hollow out my chambers as I am planning on building a thinline. Then moisten the concave side of the slab which would cause it to push back into position, then glue my Walnut top on. With so much of the Mahogany removed from the chambers, I theorize that the mahogany will not have anywhere near the tendency to "re-curve" as it were. Maybe this would prevent the cupping in of itself.
3.) I could make sure that the humidity / moisture level of the slab it now correct and plane it down to where it is once again square. This would put me in a position where my total thickness would be somewhere between 1 1/2" and 1 9/16" total with the Walnut top on. I have no issue with the guitar being slightly thinner. Does anyone know if having a Tele with a total thickness of only 1 1/2" has any significant effect on the structural integrity of the neck / neck pocket connection?
Thanks so much. I look forward to sharing my build will everyone on here who has inspired me to try this myself.
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May 4th, 2012, 03:41 PM
