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TJNY · September 11th, 2007, 02:39 PM

Amazing job Andre!! Looking forward to the finished product. Now you may have a way to help pay for some of those college courses too!!!!

BadHorsie · September 11th, 2007, 02:52 PM

Awesome job. Is it just my eyes os dose those frets look like they are not seated all the way.

japasul · September 11th, 2007, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TJNY

Amazing job Andre!! Looking forward to the finished product. Now you may have a way to help pay for some of those college courses too!!!!

Thanks a lot! But I actually study at the Federal University, so I dont have to pay for the courses...

Quote:

Originally Posted by BadHorsie

Awesome job. Is it just my eyes os dose those frets look like they are not seated all the way.

Some of them are a little high, but very little indeed, less than a hair! I should have come up with a way to press them down while the glue dried...

But this is a minor problem, since it was solved with 2 minutes of carefull levelling using my radiused sanding block and 220 then 400 grit paper!

So in the end, the playability is not affected, but the aesthetical result could and should have been a little better...

Anyways, I'm happy with it, considering this is my second guitar, I was doing it from my apartment and considering there were a lot of "first" in this project, like using a router and stuff like that.

Cheers!
André Ripoll

BadHorsie · September 11th, 2007, 05:02 PM

I glad you were able to take care of it by leveling the frets. Its a ten in my book. Keep it coming.

TelecasterBlooz · September 11th, 2007, 06:51 PM

Man I'm convinced the only things left in the world after the Apocolypse are gonna be three things...
1.) Cockroaches

2.) Keef

3.) Telecasters

Man I'm totally in awe! I could NEVER do what you have done! Keep it up dude!

Dep · September 11th, 2007, 07:03 PM

Inspiring. I mean...it's amazing what you have done using minimal tools.

This had been a great thread to follow. Between this one and Ed's...it's like guitar builders crack cocaine. I can't get enough!

Keep up the great work. Lookin forward to seeing and hearing this one when it's finished.

Dep

jwells393 · September 11th, 2007, 08:35 PM

Very impressive André ........... very impressive.

blacklinefish · September 11th, 2007, 08:55 PM

One of my heroes in this world is half my own age. Keep up the good work, André. (Oh, and don't forget your studies!)

--gh

Buckocaster51 · September 11th, 2007, 09:54 PM

Very good job.

Frets are fun...and frustrating.

There is a way of clamping down epoxied frets while the epoxy dries. I don't think I have a picture (at least not a digital one) so I'll just try to explain it.

You need a clamping block as wide as the fingerboard and as long. 3/4" plywood works good. Some cauls shaped to fit the back of the neck...probably covered with leather on the side that will fit the neck.

Some honking big C-clamps...one for each caul...

and two lengths of 1/4 or 3/8" wooden dowel as long as the neck.

Cut the slots wide so only the glue/epoxy will hold the frest in - this step will cause some people to go catatonic ! Precurve your frets so that they are a slightly greater radius than your fingerboard. When set in a slot the ends of the frets will "fly" in the air.

Put the glue in...set the frets in...put the dowels on the frets along the outside edge...put board on dowels...clamp the board to the neck using the cauls...and those dowels will push done the fret ends...giving you an almost perfect fret job...if you don't mind having your frets epoxied in place.

André, I'm really pulling for you on this project. I think you are on your way to building a great guitar that you will enjoy for years and years.

Keep up the good work!

Steve Dikkers
aka Buckocaster51

ehawley · September 11th, 2007, 11:03 PM

Looking good Andre! You have the hardest part done! Everything from here is sort of standard!!

Don't we wish!!

If you ever get to New Jersey, or I ever get to Porto Alegre, Brasil, we have to hit the local brewpub! DEAL?
Cheers
ED

Nick JD · September 11th, 2007, 11:54 PM

Why are there no stars next to Andre's post? How does one make the stars come up? I go find out.

...Five Star Job.

resotele · September 12th, 2007, 03:01 AM

just added the five stars.

André, I'm sorry that I could not add a sixth star, your work and this thread are just absolutely fabulous.

When your Tele is finished you can go out and jam with your minister for culture ....

japasul · September 18th, 2007, 04:37 PM

Hey guys!

Thanks for all the kind comments, they really mean a lot to me!

Sorry for the delayed pictures, but school is taking up much time again...

But here they go

I was almost ready for finishing, but i tought my headstock was too thick, not that lower from the fretboard as i wished, so i used by dremel on a "router" jig I made from MDF to get the headstock to the thickness I wanted.

and, after sanding both the neck and the body down to 400 grit (80-150-220-300-400), ssing a block for most of it, I taped the fretboard so as to not get any lacquer on it.

Then mounted both the neck and the body to "finishing sticks", so I could hang or hold them while applying the finish

japasul · September 18th, 2007, 05:00 PM

Here is my painting-studio-at-home! Very professional!

I began by brushing some nitro-based sealer on the wood. This was messy and uneven, and required a lot of sanding every three layers. At some point, it looked like this...

The neck had very open grained wood, so I didnt want to apply a simple layer of nitro lacquer to it - but at this point things wre looking good!

Some layers later, I planned on applying my decal using an inkjet-print on transparency transfered to the neck. Sadly, it didnt work! I had done some experiments on detaching the printing layer of the transparency using some white glue, but I should have known the white glue would not glue itself to the shiny sealer!!! I wont post the pics here because they were too messy and made me too unhappy... I just needed to sand away the white glue... Oh well!

This may be a sin, but I decided to complete the build whithout the decals - for now! I decided it had been to long a time that i took part in a Telecaster Forum whithout ever having properly played a Tele!

I decided it was time to spray te lacquer itself. I bought it in a spray-can (I think you americans call it a rattle-can), and it seems to me it had the same composition as the sealer! At least I did some tests to scrap wood, and I got both of them to VERY similar finishes! anyways....

I let it dry overnight, and in the morning, I sanded the finish up to 1500 grit (very lightly 400, then 600-1000-1500) and then buffed using a handheld drill.

Good enough for me!

the decal thing bummed me out but I decided to buy some proper decal sheets from www.walthers.com and do that properly! It just takes 4 weeks to get here ¬¬

Cheers
André Ripoll

Jellecaster · September 18th, 2007, 05:09 PM

It looks awesome, but I'm a little confused.... When I finish a guitar using nitro, it takes a solid month (at least) from the first application of the clear coat to final buffing and polishing - how long did this take you?

jwells393 · September 18th, 2007, 05:12 PM

Everything looks great. My only suggestion is to round the edges on those finishing sticks so they're more confortable in the hand.

ehawley · September 18th, 2007, 05:13 PM

Beautiful!! I was wondering what happend to you! School always comes first! What you have in your hand must make you very proud! Next thing you'll be making a sailboat out of a rusty spoon and a rock!!

Keep the pictures coming!
cheers
ED

P.S. Have a beer on me!

japasul · September 18th, 2007, 05:16 PM

huh....

24h, in accord to the can instructions!

I wasnt able to get any better products over here - these were the best i got from a Car-Painting shop.

I heard it took a long time, but since I didnt know if what I had was exactly Nitro, I decided to go with the instructions on the can. I will reapply some nitro once I get the decal sheet, so maybe I should wait then...

Cheers
André Ripoll

japasul · September 18th, 2007, 05:19 PM

Oh sorry I had only seen Jellecaster's response!

Thanks, Jack! Ill remember this for the next time!

Hey Ed, dont even rule out that sailboat! I love sailing!

Do you guys have any suggestions as to the finish issue?

Cheers
André Ripoll

hekawi · September 18th, 2007, 05:29 PM

it's looking great!
don't let the decal thing get you down. i'm sure once the proper decal paper arrives, everything will work out fine.

i am continually impressed by what you are doing in building this from scratch. amazing!

i can barely make something out of these:

ehawley · September 18th, 2007, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by japasul

Hey guys!

I was almost ready for finishing, but i tought my headstock was too thick, not that lower from the fretboard as i wished, so i used by dremel on a "router" jig I made from MDF to get the headstock to the thickness I wanted.

Be careful on the height of the fretboard from the top of the headstock. If it's not deep enough the strings won't have the proper tension across the nut which will lead to all kinds of "strange sounds". You may have to use extra string trees. No big deal! Fender ended up putting two on at one point! If the finish is from a car paint shop it is most likely poly or acrylic lacquer. Should be fine.
Cheers
ED

Buckocaster51 · September 18th, 2007, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by japasul

...lacquer itself. I bought it in a spray-can (I think you americans call it a rattle-can)Cheers
André Ripoll

RATTLE CAN! André said RATTLE CAN! The kid is learning the lingo!

André, you are doing a great job. The guitars I built at your age were just plain scary.

You should be very proud of your work.

Thanks for sharing.

japasul · September 19th, 2007, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ehawley

Be careful on the height of the fretboard from the top of the headstock. If it's not deep enough the strings won't have the proper tension across the nut which will lead to all kinds of "strange sounds". You may have to use extra string trees. No big deal! Fender ended up putting two on at one point! If the finish is from a car paint shop it is most likely poly or acrylic lacquer. Should be fine.
Cheers
ED

This is actually why I shaved more wood off the headstock! I may have to add some spacers on the back, between the tuners and the headstock, but thats only if the sustain is crappy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buckocaster51

RATTLE CAN! André said RATTLE CAN! The kid is learning the lingo!

André, you are doing a great job. The guitars I built at your age were just plain scary.

You should be very proud of your work.

Thanks for sharing.

Hee hee

Thanks a lot, Bucko! I learn most of my english on these forums... Lately just this one!

japasul · September 19th, 2007, 07:52 PM

Like I said before, I decided to go on with the build...

The body went through the same process as the neck, but with a couple more coats of sealer.

This is after some coats of sealer

And after some fine sanding and polishing...

This was looking gooood!

japasul · September 19th, 2007, 08:08 PM

First thing after, ferrules! I know, the holes looked crappy, but the ferrules will cover it!

They were installed using a hot soldering iron. After just a bit of heating, they slide right in!

They looked straight to me, but the spacing had some problems on the second one from the left... But, to me, for someone who didnt have a drill press, they looked great!

japasul · September 19th, 2007, 08:17 PM

Ferrules inserted, on to the neck!
I used a printed paper template just to locate the string tree..

and installed...

I'm using some Wilkinson modern tuners, aligned them...

and after tightening the nuts on the other side, installed the screws... I didnt find my chromed screws, so im using these black ones for now..

Thanks for reading!
Cheers
André Ripoll

ehawley · September 19th, 2007, 09:05 PM

MAN O' MAN That is sweet looking!!! That finish came out beautiful!!

Looks like you will be up and playin' in less then a week! Really great job...You should be VERY proud of you self...I bow to you sir!
Cheers
ED

japasul · September 19th, 2007, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ehawley

MAN O' MAN That is sweet looking!!! That finish came out beautiful!!
Looks like you will be up and playin' in less then a week! Really great job...You should be VERY proud of you self...I bow to you sir!
Cheers
ED

I have to confess something... I'm playing it already...

Its just these pictures take a lot of time to get too proper size and upload to Photobucket! But I will post it all tonight! Promise!

geddins · September 19th, 2007, 09:31 PM

Outstanding Andre.....I'm absolutely floored by your build. Wonderful and congrats!!

CJohnson · September 19th, 2007, 09:57 PM

Those of you that can build these partscasters amaze me. The thought of even trying scares me. Guess I was scarred by junior high wood shop. Great thread. Really amazing work.

japasul · September 19th, 2007, 10:57 PM

Time to screw both of them... together... to each other.... The neck and the body... OF THE GUITAR....

All these words sound so funny to me... Is it just cause im not a native speaker or do they sound funny to all you too???

I simply screwed the neck reasonably tight to the body for now... It seemed aligned with the bridge... some finer aligning will be done with both E strings in...

This is great, I can check my hair during a gig....

japasul · September 19th, 2007, 11:02 PM

on to the bridge....

Im mounting the bridge pickup using tube-spacers... I got some clear tubing from the hardware store and cut it to length...

and with the pickup in, i Installed the bridge, tightening each screw a bit a time

and here it is!

japasul · September 19th, 2007, 11:09 PM

For the neck pickup, Im using springs i got from some ballpoint pens...

Now I had a problem, because the pickup was meant for Pickguard mounting, and I wanted it to be mounted to the wood. I had to open up the holes on the pickup a bit for the screws to go through with ease...

As you can see, the screws are not pointy... but I thin they will work fine on the wood Im using, which is very soft...

With this done, I installed the pickup... This was hell! You have to hold the pickup in place in a small cavity and keep the springs from falling off the screws and if they do a bit you cant get the screw to go into the wood... Oh well, but I managed in the end!

japasul · September 19th, 2007, 11:12 PM

Next, I installed the strap buttons.

Using a method similar to the buttercaster project (thanks Bucko!), taped the body to prefent scratches and tear outs and marked the center line...

Then drilled the holes (both of them using this tape)

and installed the strap buttons - quick and easy!

japasul · September 19th, 2007, 11:17 PM

With the neck and bridge in place, I started to play with the Pickguard to get it aligned to the bridge, and taped it to place. Then figured out the place for the control plate.

I wanted to get it parallel to the bridge!

Looked good, so I drilled and installed it

It all looked good, so I went on and drilled and installed the Pickguard

And, with pots and knobs in place... Its solder-time!

BadHorsie · September 19th, 2007, 11:33 PM

Opps double post

BadHorsie · September 19th, 2007, 11:34 PM

SIMPLY AMAZING. This came out awesome. I am ready to here the report on how it sounds.

Buckocaster51 · September 19th, 2007, 11:36 PM

Don't look now...but you've got yourself a guitar!

Good on you!

Jellecaster · September 19th, 2007, 11:59 PM

I'm in awe! Outstanding job. I'm still totally befuddled on the "overnight nitro finish" when it takes me a month, but good for you!

japasul · September 20th, 2007, 12:17 AM

Jelle, thanks a lot!

The spray can WAS acrylic... =/// should have double checked...

The sealer was nitro, though...

I think I understand the problem now. Nitro shriks over a period of time after application... I should have allowed a day or two between each coat, so as to properly fill the wood...

The finish was done a couple of days ago, when it was really a totally flat surface. Now I checked it and the grain is beginning to show on the surface of the finish...

I still haven't decided what I'm gonna do about it....

September 11th, 2007, 06:51 PM	#125 (permalink)
TelecasterBlooz Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: New Lisbon, WI Age: 50 Posts: 1,065	Man I'm convinced the only things left in the world after the Apocolypse are gonna be three things... 1.) Cockroaches 2.) Keef 3.) Telecasters Man I'm totally in awe! I could NEVER do what you have done! Keep it up dude! __________________ Leo Fender got it right the first time...(Telecaster)

September 11th, 2007, 08:35 PM	#127 (permalink)
jwells393 Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Albuquerque, USA Age: 65 Posts: 14,280 101 Photos	Very impressive André ........... very impressive. __________________ Jack's 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.

September 11th, 2007, 09:54 PM	#129 (permalink)
Buckocaster51 Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Iowa USA Age: 57 Posts: 8,396 1 Photos	Very good job. Frets are fun...and frustrating. There is a way of clamping down epoxied frets while the epoxy dries. I don't think I have a picture (at least not a digital one) so I'll just try to explain it. You need a clamping block as wide as the fingerboard and as long. 3/4" plywood works good. Some cauls shaped to fit the back of the neck...probably covered with leather on the side that will fit the neck. Some honking big C-clamps...one for each caul... and two lengths of 1/4 or 3/8" wooden dowel as long as the neck. Cut the slots wide so only the glue/epoxy will hold the frest in - this step will cause some people to go catatonic ! Precurve your frets so that they are a slightly greater radius than your fingerboard. When set in a slot the ends of the frets will "fly" in the air. Put the glue in...set the frets in...put the dowels on the frets along the outside edge...put board on dowels...clamp the board to the neck using the cauls...and those dowels will push done the fret ends...giving you an almost perfect fret job...if you don't mind having your frets epoxied in place. André, I'm really pulling for you on this project. I think you are on your way to building a great guitar that you will enjoy for years and years. Keep up the good work! Steve Dikkers aka Buckocaster51 __________________ "If you can't say something nice... don't say nothing at all." - Thumper the Rabbit "An awfully lot of time can be wasted waiting for the right time." - Gunsmoke's Doc Adams

September 12th, 2007, 03:01 AM	#132 (permalink)
resotele TDPRI Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bern Switzerland Posts: 60 5 Photos	just added the five stars. André, I'm sorry that I could not add a sixth star, your work and this thread are just absolutely fabulous. When your Tele is finished you can go out and jam with your minister for culture .... __________________ I miss Timbo

September 18th, 2007, 05:09 PM	#135 (permalink)
Jellecaster Friend of Leo's Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: New Hampshire, USA Age: 41 Posts: 2,422	It looks awesome, but I'm a little confused.... When I finish a guitar using nitro, it takes a solid month (at least) from the first application of the clear coat to final buffing and polishing - how long did this take you? __________________ It was born at the junction of form and function...

September 11th, 2007, 02:39 PM	#121 (permalink)
TJNY Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Orange County, NY Posts: 1,467	Amazing job Andre!! Looking forward to the finished product. Now you may have a way to help pay for some of those college courses too!!!!

September 11th, 2007, 02:52 PM	#122 (permalink)
BadHorsie Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Texas, USA Age: 38 Posts: 223 2 Photos	Awesome job. Is it just my eyes os dose those frets look like they are not seated all the way.

September 11th, 2007, 05:02 PM	#124 (permalink)
BadHorsie Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Texas, USA Age: 38 Posts: 223 2 Photos	I glad you were able to take care of it by leveling the frets. Its a ten in my book. Keep it coming.

September 11th, 2007, 07:03 PM	#126 (permalink)
Dep Tele-Meister Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: St Johns, Florida Posts: 320	Inspiring. I mean...it's amazing what you have done using minimal tools. This had been a great thread to follow. Between this one and Ed's...it's like guitar builders crack cocaine. I can't get enough! Keep up the great work. Lookin forward to seeing and hearing this one when it's finished. Dep

September 11th, 2007, 08:55 PM	#128 (permalink)
blacklinefish Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Northwest Missouri Age: 41 Posts: 1,554	One of my heroes in this world is half my own age. Keep up the good work, André. (Oh, and don't forget your studies!) --gh

September 11th, 2007, 11:03 PM	#130 (permalink)
ehawley Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Keyport, New Jersey Age: 56 Posts: 1,215 48 Photos	Looking good Andre! You have the hardest part done! Everything from here is sort of standard!! Don't we wish!! If you ever get to New Jersey, or I ever get to Porto Alegre, Brasil, we have to hit the local brewpub! DEAL? Cheers ED

September 11th, 2007, 11:54 PM	#131 (permalink)
Nick JD Friend of Leo's Join Date: May 2007 Location: North NSW, Australia Age: 37 Posts: 4,850	Why are there no stars next to Andre's post? How does one make the stars come up? I go find out. ...Five Star Job.

September 18th, 2007, 04:37 PM	#133 (permalink)
japasul Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2007 Location: Porto Alegre - Brazil Age: 23 Posts: 377	Hey guys! Thanks for all the kind comments, they really mean a lot to me! Sorry for the delayed pictures, but school is taking up much time again... But here they go I was almost ready for finishing, but i tought my headstock was too thick, not that lower from the fretboard as i wished, so i used by dremel on a "router" jig I made from MDF to get the headstock to the thickness I wanted. and, after sanding both the neck and the body down to 400 grit (80-150-220-300-400), ssing a block for most of it, I taped the fretboard so as to not get any lacquer on it. Then mounted both the neck and the body to "finishing sticks", so I could hang or hold them while applying the finish

September 18th, 2007, 05:00 PM	#134 (permalink)
japasul Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2007 Location: Porto Alegre - Brazil Age: 23 Posts: 377	Here is my painting-studio-at-home! Very professional! I began by brushing some nitro-based sealer on the wood. This was messy and uneven, and required a lot of sanding every three layers. At some point, it looked like this... The neck had very open grained wood, so I didnt want to apply a simple layer of nitro lacquer to it - but at this point things wre looking good! Some layers later, I planned on applying my decal using an inkjet-print on transparency transfered to the neck. Sadly, it didnt work! I had done some experiments on detaching the printing layer of the transparency using some white glue, but I should have known the white glue would not glue itself to the shiny sealer!!! I wont post the pics here because they were too messy and made me too unhappy... I just needed to sand away the white glue... Oh well! This may be a sin, but I decided to complete the build whithout the decals - for now! I decided it had been to long a time that i took part in a Telecaster Forum whithout ever having properly played a Tele! I decided it was time to spray te lacquer itself. I bought it in a spray-can (I think you americans call it a rattle-can), and it seems to me it had the same composition as the sealer! At least I did some tests to scrap wood, and I got both of them to VERY similar finishes! anyways.... I let it dry overnight, and in the morning, I sanded the finish up to 1500 grit (very lightly 400, then 600-1000-1500) and then buffed using a handheld drill. Good enough for me! the decal thing bummed me out but I decided to buy some proper decal sheets from www.walthers.com and do that properly! It just takes 4 weeks to get here ¬¬ Cheers André Ripoll

September 18th, 2007, 05:12 PM	#136 (permalink)
jwells393 Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Albuquerque, USA Age: 65 Posts: 14,280 101 Photos	Everything looks great. My only suggestion is to round the edges on those finishing sticks so they're more confortable in the hand. __________________ Jack's 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.

September 18th, 2007, 05:13 PM	#137 (permalink)
ehawley Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Keyport, New Jersey Age: 56 Posts: 1,215 48 Photos	Beautiful!! I was wondering what happend to you! School always comes first! What you have in your hand must make you very proud! Next thing you'll be making a sailboat out of a rusty spoon and a rock!! Keep the pictures coming! cheers ED P.S. Have a beer on me!

September 18th, 2007, 05:16 PM	#138 (permalink)
japasul Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2007 Location: Porto Alegre - Brazil Age: 23 Posts: 377	huh.... 24h, in accord to the can instructions! I wasnt able to get any better products over here - these were the best i got from a Car-Painting shop. I heard it took a long time, but since I didnt know if what I had was exactly Nitro, I decided to go with the instructions on the can. I will reapply some nitro once I get the decal sheet, so maybe I should wait then... Cheers André Ripoll

September 18th, 2007, 05:19 PM	#139 (permalink)
japasul Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2007 Location: Porto Alegre - Brazil Age: 23 Posts: 377	Oh sorry I had only seen Jellecaster's response! Thanks, Jack! Ill remember this for the next time! Hey Ed, dont even rule out that sailboat! I love sailing! Do you guys have any suggestions as to the finish issue? Cheers André Ripoll

September 18th, 2007, 05:29 PM	#140 (permalink)
hekawi Friend of Leo's Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: greenville, sc Posts: 2,610	it's looking great! don't let the decal thing get you down. i'm sure once the proper decal paper arrives, everything will work out fine. i am continually impressed by what you are doing in building this from scratch. amazing! i can barely make something out of these: __________________ ____________________________________________ "Rule Number One: Obey All Rules" - Barney Fife

September 19th, 2007, 07:52 PM	#144 (permalink)
japasul Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2007 Location: Porto Alegre - Brazil Age: 23 Posts: 377	Like I said before, I decided to go on with the build... The body went through the same process as the neck, but with a couple more coats of sealer. This is after some coats of sealer And after some fine sanding and polishing... This was looking gooood!

September 19th, 2007, 08:08 PM	#145 (permalink)
japasul Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2007 Location: Porto Alegre - Brazil Age: 23 Posts: 377	First thing after, ferrules! I know, the holes looked crappy, but the ferrules will cover it! They were installed using a hot soldering iron. After just a bit of heating, they slide right in! They looked straight to me, but the spacing had some problems on the second one from the left... But, to me, for someone who didnt have a drill press, they looked great!

September 19th, 2007, 08:17 PM	#146 (permalink)
japasul Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2007 Location: Porto Alegre - Brazil Age: 23 Posts: 377	Ferrules inserted, on to the neck! I used a printed paper template just to locate the string tree.. and installed... I'm using some Wilkinson modern tuners, aligned them... and after tightening the nuts on the other side, installed the screws... I didnt find my chromed screws, so im using these black ones for now.. Thanks for reading! Cheers André Ripoll

September 19th, 2007, 09:05 PM	#147 (permalink)
ehawley Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Keyport, New Jersey Age: 56 Posts: 1,215 48 Photos	MAN O' MAN That is sweet looking!!! That finish came out beautiful!! Looks like you will be up and playin' in less then a week! Really great job...You should be VERY proud of you self...I bow to you sir! Cheers ED

September 19th, 2007, 09:31 PM	#149 (permalink)
geddins Friend of Leo's Join Date: May 2005 Location: Texas Age: 47 Posts: 2,524	Outstanding Andre.....I'm absolutely floored by your build. Wonderful and congrats!! __________________ www.myspace.com/gregeddins

September 19th, 2007, 09:57 PM	#150 (permalink)
CJohnson Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Owasso, Oklahoma Age: 40 Posts: 164	Those of you that can build these partscasters amaze me. The thought of even trying scares me. Guess I was scarred by junior high wood shop. Great thread. Really amazing work.

2009 TDPRI Giveaway Winners List is available HERE

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

September 19th, 2007, 10:57 PM	#151 (permalink)
japasul Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2007 Location: Porto Alegre - Brazil Age: 23 Posts: 377	Time to screw both of them... together... to each other.... The neck and the body... OF THE GUITAR.... All these words sound so funny to me... Is it just cause im not a native speaker or do they sound funny to all you too??? I simply screwed the neck reasonably tight to the body for now... It seemed aligned with the bridge... some finer aligning will be done with both E strings in... This is great, I can check my hair during a gig....

September 19th, 2007, 11:02 PM	#152 (permalink)
japasul Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2007 Location: Porto Alegre - Brazil Age: 23 Posts: 377	on to the bridge.... Im mounting the bridge pickup using tube-spacers... I got some clear tubing from the hardware store and cut it to length... and with the pickup in, i Installed the bridge, tightening each screw a bit a time and here it is!

September 19th, 2007, 11:09 PM	#153 (permalink)
japasul Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2007 Location: Porto Alegre - Brazil Age: 23 Posts: 377	For the neck pickup, Im using springs i got from some ballpoint pens... Now I had a problem, because the pickup was meant for Pickguard mounting, and I wanted it to be mounted to the wood. I had to open up the holes on the pickup a bit for the screws to go through with ease... As you can see, the screws are not pointy... but I thin they will work fine on the wood Im using, which is very soft... With this done, I installed the pickup... This was hell! You have to hold the pickup in place in a small cavity and keep the springs from falling off the screws and if they do a bit you cant get the screw to go into the wood... Oh well, but I managed in the end!

September 19th, 2007, 11:12 PM	#154 (permalink)
japasul Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2007 Location: Porto Alegre - Brazil Age: 23 Posts: 377	Next, I installed the strap buttons. Using a method similar to the buttercaster project (thanks Bucko!), taped the body to prefent scratches and tear outs and marked the center line... Then drilled the holes (both of them using this tape) and installed the strap buttons - quick and easy!

September 19th, 2007, 11:17 PM	#155 (permalink)
japasul Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2007 Location: Porto Alegre - Brazil Age: 23 Posts: 377	With the neck and bridge in place, I started to play with the Pickguard to get it aligned to the bridge, and taped it to place. Then figured out the place for the control plate. I wanted to get it parallel to the bridge! Looked good, so I drilled and installed it It all looked good, so I went on and drilled and installed the Pickguard And, with pots and knobs in place... Its solder-time!

September 19th, 2007, 11:33 PM	#156 (permalink)
BadHorsie Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Texas, USA Age: 38 Posts: 223 2 Photos	Opps double post

September 19th, 2007, 11:34 PM	#157 (permalink)
BadHorsie Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Texas, USA Age: 38 Posts: 223 2 Photos	SIMPLY AMAZING. This came out awesome. I am ready to here the report on how it sounds.

September 19th, 2007, 11:36 PM	#158 (permalink)
Buckocaster51 Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Iowa USA Age: 57 Posts: 8,396 1 Photos	Don't look now...but you've got yourself a guitar! Good on you! __________________ "If you can't say something nice... don't say nothing at all." - Thumper the Rabbit "An awfully lot of time can be wasted waiting for the right time." - Gunsmoke's Doc Adams

September 19th, 2007, 11:59 PM	#159 (permalink)
Jellecaster Friend of Leo's Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: New Hampshire, USA Age: 41 Posts: 2,422	I'm in awe! Outstanding job. I'm still totally befuddled on the "overnight nitro finish" when it takes me a month, but good for you! __________________ It was born at the junction of form and function...

September 20th, 2007, 12:17 AM	#160 (permalink)
japasul Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2007 Location: Porto Alegre - Brazil Age: 23 Posts: 377	Jelle, thanks a lot! The spray can WAS acrylic... =/// should have double checked... The sealer was nitro, though... I think I understand the problem now. Nitro shriks over a period of time after application... I should have allowed a day or two between each coat, so as to properly fill the wood... The finish was done a couple of days ago, when it was really a totally flat surface. Now I checked it and the grain is beginning to show on the surface of the finish... I still haven't decided what I'm gonna do about it....