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Jack Wells · March 20th, 2006, 10:33 AM

I purchased this body on Ebay. It was a beautiful piece of wood and the seller did good work but it appears he copied some non-Fender guitar. It wasn't dimensionally correct. With a neck on, I've measured 25.5 inches from the nut to find my center point. I've drawn circles of 8 3/4 in., 9 1/2 in., and 10 in. I'll be using a biscuit type cone and coverplate. In this picture I'm pre-drilling to remove the majority of the wood.

I've drilled a small hole in the body at the center point of the circles I've drawn. Here you see the rotating template I've made. I'll be using a 1/2 in. pattern bit. The distance from the screw to the outer most part of the template slot is 4 3/8 in.

Here you see the first pass with the router.

I've made patches and have glued them into the ends of what is left of the control cavity route. I also glued a plug into the jack hole since it was drilled in the wrong place. The pillar has been left in the center because there's more pivot routing to do.

Here I've completed the routing using the 4 3/8 in. template. I've gone 1 1/2 in. deep leaving 1/4 in. for the back. I'll make another template that will rout a 9 1/2 in. circle for the biscuit cone.

The original plan was to have a resonator screen just above the neck and to drill a hole that would go from this hole to the under side of the cone to serve as a port. However after routing the 9 1/2 in. opening for the cone approximately 1 3/16 in deep, there wasn't much room to drill a hole that would end up under the cone. I decided not to attempt it and figured the string ferrule holes would act as a port for the cone. So............ the 8 3/4 in routing wasn't necessary. I could have just routed a 9 1/2 in. cavity.

I ordered a biscuit bridge from Stew-Mac. These bridges come with a flat vertical part for use on Dobro style guitars. With a neck mounted to the body and the cone and bridge sitting in the well, I stretched a string from the D tuner across the bridge and sanded the bridge with a fretboard radius block until the action was acceptable. I then put it all together for an acoustic test. Because the tailpiece sits so high on the coverplate, the strings weren't even touching the bridge. I had to add a maple strip to the bridge to build it back up. I had to shim the neck to lower the action with the higher bridge.

Here I've strung it up for acoustic testing.

Time to put it all together

Doug 54 · March 20th, 2006, 10:50 AM

!!!!!

you're right about pics!!!

Tedecaster · March 20th, 2006, 12:05 PM

Thanks for the great photos! Can't wait to see the final product!

Jack Wells · March 20th, 2006, 08:41 PM

It's all together although I do have a few bugs to work out ........... intonation for one.

WonderCouncil · March 20th, 2006, 08:58 PM

Holy cow that went fast :D looks great!

resotele · March 21st, 2006, 02:14 AM

Your Resonator Tele is much cleaner than mine; I would not show the routings under the cover ...

Hans[/img]

natsteel · March 21st, 2006, 02:41 AM

jwells393 - That is a great looking resotele you built!

I came across another short reso tailpiece - this one I believe is the shorter version as the one you have - it is also not that expensive.

Sold by Molonator Guitars on Ebay

Molonator Guitars is based Down Under and built Reso guitars - they also made this twinneck aluminium bodied ResoTele ...

Lostheart · March 21st, 2006, 07:20 AM

My, that Reso-Tele is sweet!
Excellent job!
But...no Pickguard?
I guess something in tortoise or pearloid would add to the orange/red paintjob and to its overall look...

Tedecaster · March 21st, 2006, 07:55 AM

Have you wired it and fired it up yet? You've spoiled us with all the photos so now we're going to have to press you for some mp3 samples! I was imagining mine with a P-90 and no PG but I'm thinking I might like to see it with a PG too.

Dazed and Confused · March 24th, 2006, 01:01 AM

Man that looks hella cool. Is it loud when played without an amp?

Jack Wells · March 25th, 2006, 09:43 AM

When played without an amp it's really loud compared to a regular Telecaster. Right now with the long tailpiece I'm getting very little break angle at the bridge. A shorter tailpiece with more of a break angle might increase the acoustic volume. I've seen pictures of the shorter tailpieces but have been unable to locate a source. I contacted Molonator Guitars .......... the one he's selling on Ebay is the same size as mine. He's not selling the short one shown in some of his pictures. I not yet ready to spend $90 for the Allen tailpiece.

Right now I have each pickup wired to it's own volume pot. The outputs go to a stereo jack. If I push the mono cable plug all the way into the jack, the neck pickup is grounded out and only the piezo pickup is heard. It has a very metallic sound as you would expect. If I push the plug only part way in till I feel the first detent (both jack contacts in contact with the tip of the mono plug) I can blend the two pickups .......... as long as one isn't completely off ......... If one is completly off both outputs are grounded. I haven't yet used a stereo cable and split the outputs to separate amps. I may add a switch and replace the stereo jack with a mono jack.

mojocasterman · March 27th, 2006, 10:19 PM

very cool work! Man, that's an instant GAS attack right there...

pinflash · May 13th, 2010, 11:10 AM

great job.
i'm interest the reso guitar too, so hard to get in in indonesia, even in asia :(
i make my first reso and do some modification.
just like you, but i make more room on body, and put an aluminum plate on top.
check my "chayenne" an alden modification, the acoustic sound really loud :)

also check my "iVee telecans" project, an aluminum and brass body.

jkingma · May 13th, 2010, 11:14 AM

Holy Thread Resurrection, Batman...

Stubarber · May 13th, 2010, 11:58 AM

Jack - Ivan -
I never cease to be amazed by the innovation and quality found on this forum.
Thanks very much.

Maricopa · May 13th, 2010, 12:04 PM

Since it got brought up 'Republic' makes a series of smaller-bodied metal resonators that use a shorter tailpiece. I just started a brass electric reso so I was thinking of contacting them and seeing if I could buy one.

gagidlof · May 13th, 2010, 12:45 PM

That is so cool.

Nick JD · May 13th, 2010, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jkingma

Holy Thread Resurrection, Batman...

For a while there I thought Jack was making another!

Reminds me I might make one myself...

rdvaselenak · August 21st, 2012, 12:14 PM

The cone that you used, what was the height of it?

dtermined2play · August 21st, 2012, 01:18 PM

great job

March 20th, 2006, 10:33 AM	#1 (permalink)
Jack Wells Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Albuquerque, USA Age: 69 Posts: 18,380 101 Photos	Resonator Telecaster .......... My Project I purchased this body on Ebay. It was a beautiful piece of wood and the seller did good work but it appears he copied some non-Fender guitar. It wasn't dimensionally correct. With a neck on, I've measured 25.5 inches from the nut to find my center point. I've drawn circles of 8 3/4 in., 9 1/2 in., and 10 in. I'll be using a biscuit type cone and coverplate. In this picture I'm pre-drilling to remove the majority of the wood. I've drilled a small hole in the body at the center point of the circles I've drawn. Here you see the rotating template I've made. I'll be using a 1/2 in. pattern bit. The distance from the screw to the outer most part of the template slot is 4 3/8 in. Here you see the first pass with the router. I've made patches and have glued them into the ends of what is left of the control cavity route. I also glued a plug into the jack hole since it was drilled in the wrong place. The pillar has been left in the center because there's more pivot routing to do. Here I've completed the routing using the 4 3/8 in. template. I've gone 1 1/2 in. deep leaving 1/4 in. for the back. I'll make another template that will rout a 9 1/2 in. circle for the biscuit cone. The original plan was to have a resonator screen just above the neck and to drill a hole that would go from this hole to the under side of the cone to serve as a port. However after routing the 9 1/2 in. opening for the cone approximately 1 3/16 in deep, there wasn't much room to drill a hole that would end up under the cone. I decided not to attempt it and figured the string ferrule holes would act as a port for the cone. So............ the 8 3/4 in routing wasn't necessary. I could have just routed a 9 1/2 in. cavity. I ordered a biscuit bridge from Stew-Mac. These bridges come with a flat vertical part for use on Dobro style guitars. With a neck mounted to the body and the cone and bridge sitting in the well, I stretched a string from the D tuner across the bridge and sanded the bridge with a fretboard radius block until the action was acceptable. I then put it all together for an acoustic test. Because the tailpiece sits so high on the coverplate, the strings weren't even touching the bridge. I had to add a maple strip to the bridge to build it back up. I had to shim the neck to lower the action with the higher bridge. Here I've strung it up for acoustic testing. Time to put it all together __________________ . Disclaimer: When I say something.... always ask yourself ..... "What the hell does he know?" I'm just not cool enough to be a Mac person. I'm a PC and Windows 7 was my idea.

March 20th, 2006, 10:50 AM	#2 (permalink)
Doug 54 Friend of Leo's Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ohio Posts: 3,777	!!!!! you're right about pics!!! __________________ . KENNY POWERS for Precedent !!

March 20th, 2006, 08:41 PM	#4 (permalink)
Jack Wells Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Albuquerque, USA Age: 69 Posts: 18,380 101 Photos	It's all together although I do have a few bugs to work out ........... intonation for one. __________________ . Disclaimer: When I say something.... always ask yourself ..... "What the hell does he know?" I'm just not cool enough to be a Mac person. I'm a PC and Windows 7 was my idea.

March 21st, 2006, 02:14 AM	#6 (permalink)
resotele TDPRI Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bern Switzerland Posts: 63 5 Photos	Congrats Your Resonator Tele is much cleaner than mine; I would not show the routings under the cover ... Hans[/img] __________________ I miss Timbo

March 21st, 2006, 02:41 AM	#7 (permalink)
natsteel Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: the netherlands Posts: 222	other short Reso tail piece jwells393 - That is a great looking resotele you built! I came across another short reso tailpiece - this one I believe is the shorter version as the one you have - it is also not that expensive. Sold by Molonator Guitars on Ebay Molonator Guitars is based Down Under and built Reso guitars - they also made this twinneck aluminium bodied ResoTele ... __________________ Tele Bigsby Count = 315 on my website

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March 20th, 2006, 12:05 PM	#3 (permalink)
Tedecaster Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Greensboro, Vermont Posts: 1,019 26 Photos	Thanks for the great photos! Can't wait to see the final product!

March 20th, 2006, 08:58 PM	#5 (permalink)
WonderCouncil Tele-Holic Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 697	Holy cow that went fast :D looks great!

March 21st, 2006, 07:20 AM	#8 (permalink)
Lostheart Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Germany Posts: 1,847	My, that Reso-Tele is sweet! Excellent job! But...no Pickguard? I guess something in tortoise or pearloid would add to the orange/red paintjob and to its overall look... __________________ Casper: "Mmmmm. Butterscotch, yo. That's the best!" From the movie Kids

March 21st, 2006, 07:55 AM	#9 (permalink)
Tedecaster Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Greensboro, Vermont Posts: 1,019 26 Photos	Have you wired it and fired it up yet? You've spoiled us with all the photos so now we're going to have to press you for some mp3 samples! I was imagining mine with a P-90 and no PG but I'm thinking I might like to see it with a PG too.

March 24th, 2006, 01:01 AM	#10 (permalink)
Dazed and Confused Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 113 6 Photos	Man that looks hella cool. Is it loud when played without an amp? __________________ Everyone knows Muddy Waters invented electricity!

March 25th, 2006, 09:43 AM	#11 (permalink)
Jack Wells Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Albuquerque, USA Age: 69 Posts: 18,380 101 Photos	When played without an amp it's really loud compared to a regular Telecaster. Right now with the long tailpiece I'm getting very little break angle at the bridge. A shorter tailpiece with more of a break angle might increase the acoustic volume. I've seen pictures of the shorter tailpieces but have been unable to locate a source. I contacted Molonator Guitars .......... the one he's selling on Ebay is the same size as mine. He's not selling the short one shown in some of his pictures. I not yet ready to spend $90 for the Allen tailpiece. Right now I have each pickup wired to it's own volume pot. The outputs go to a stereo jack. If I push the mono cable plug all the way into the jack, the neck pickup is grounded out and only the piezo pickup is heard. It has a very metallic sound as you would expect. If I push the plug only part way in till I feel the first detent (both jack contacts in contact with the tip of the mono plug) I can blend the two pickups .......... as long as one isn't completely off ......... If one is completly off both outputs are grounded. I haven't yet used a stereo cable and split the outputs to separate amps. I may add a switch and replace the stereo jack with a mono jack. __________________ . Disclaimer: When I say something.... always ask yourself ..... "What the hell does he know?" I'm just not cool enough to be a Mac person. I'm a PC and Windows 7 was my idea.

March 27th, 2006, 10:19 PM	#12 (permalink)
mojocasterman Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 4,671	very cool work! Man, that's an instant GAS attack right there... __________________ Scott Lentz T - Crook Custom T - Tom Anderson Crowdster - Tom Anderson Atom - Thorn Jr 90 Koa - SRV Strat - Ovation Elite T - Swart AST - Carr Mercury - Fender Tweed Blues Junior. Follow me on Twitter! @MojoCaster

May 13th, 2010, 11:10 AM	#13 (permalink)
pinflash TDPRI Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: indonesia Age: 41 Posts: 23	great job. i'm interest the reso guitar too, so hard to get in in indonesia, even in asia :( i make my first reso and do some modification. just like you, but i make more room on body, and put an aluminum plate on top. check my "chayenne" an alden modification, the acoustic sound really loud :) also check my "iVee telecans" project, an aluminum and brass body.

May 13th, 2010, 11:14 AM	#14 (permalink)
jkingma Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: N 44° 59.564 ~ W 079° 35.317 Posts: 10,094 18 Photos	Holy Thread Resurrection, Batman... __________________ -Creator of Fine Sawdust and Expensive Kindling.

August 21st, 2012, 01:18 PM	#20 (permalink)
dtermined2play Tele-Holic Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Spartanburg,S.C. Posts: 541	great job

May 13th, 2010, 11:58 AM	#15 (permalink)
Stubarber Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Houston area Age: 56 Posts: 122	Jack - Ivan - I never cease to be amazed by the innovation and quality found on this forum. Thanks very much.

May 13th, 2010, 12:04 PM	#16 (permalink)
Maricopa Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Phx, AZ Age: 47 Posts: 1,921 107 Photos	Since it got brought up 'Republic' makes a series of smaller-bodied metal resonators that use a shorter tailpiece. I just started a brass electric reso so I was thinking of contacting them and seeing if I could buy one.

May 13th, 2010, 12:45 PM	#17 (permalink)
gagidlof Tele-Holic Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Marysville, WA Age: 46 Posts: 724 26 Photos	That is so cool. __________________ - Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati

August 21st, 2012, 12:14 PM	#19 (permalink)
rdvaselenak TDPRI Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Kelowna, BC, Canada Posts: 5	The cone that you used, what was the height of it?

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