USACG delivers the goods

blackbook · April 14th, 2008, 06:31 PM

Hi. I've been lurking around here for a while, but this is my first post.

I'm putting together a somewhat unusual tele from USACG parts. The inspiration came when I played a guitar recently with a new bridge designed by Roland Hannes.

http://schaller-guitarparts.de/hp313...nes-Bridge.htm

The bridge is brand new. The guitar I played was being prepped for NAMM where the bridge was about to make its debut. The pickups were not wired yet , but when I played it unplugged, my head exploded. It was unbelievably punchy, ringing and clear. The thing that sets this apart from other bridges is that the saddles sit right on the wood top of the guitar--not on a metal plate that's screwed to the guitar. It sounds amazing.

I had been GASing for a tele for a while, and this just put me over the edge. I decided to build a tele using the hannes bridge.

The guitar I'm putting together is sort of a lead-sled version of a '59 tele custom. It has a rosewood fingerboard and I am going to have the body finished with a '59-burst, but it has no binding, no headstock decals, no face dots on the fingerboard--and no bridge plate. Its sort of a chopped mercury--dechormed and smoothed out. I am putting a vintage spec Fralin tele pickup in the bridge (screwed to the body and exposed, like the GE Smith Tele), and a slightly underwound Fralin P-90 in the neck (with a white P-90 cover, to match the WBW pickguard).

When I called Tommy to order the body and neck, I was REAL particular.

I asked for a one piece ash body, 4lbs plus or minus a quarter pound, flatsawn with the ovals centered on the neck pocket. Man, did he deliver! Check out the attached pix! The weight is 4lbs 5oz.

The neck is quartersawn with super straight grained dark indian rosewood on the fingerboard, .880" at the 1st fret with a super soft V. Man, it is one sweet feeling neck.

I am really, really impressed by the work they do at USACG. And I'm picky.

Anyway, the neck is out getting reshaped to a proper tele headstock shape prior to finishing. The body is getting drilled and routed for the bridge. Then its going down to Wilkins for finish, and I'll have more to show then.

Oh, one more thing. I didn't like the aesthetics of the tailpiece that comes with the bridge so I designed a new one in Solidworks, and had a few made up at a friend's machine shop. The new tailpiece is more compact and lighter, since its is machined from 7071 billet.

Twang on,
chris

PeterUK · April 14th, 2008, 06:43 PM

Tommy & the guys at USACG do great stuff.

How is this bridge secured to the body?

Peter

blackbook · April 14th, 2008, 06:52 PM

The tailpiece--the chrome thing in your picture, is secured to the body with two M5 flat head screws that come through the guitar from the back, and fasten to threaded holes in the bottom of the tailpiece. The saddles are held in place by the strings. In fact, the strings go over the saddles and don't touch anything else until they anchor in a plate on the back. The holes for the strings are compensated!

Tom S · April 14th, 2008, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackbook

The holes for the strings are compensated!

Wanna run that by me again? I don't get it.

Mark Davis · April 14th, 2008, 07:14 PM

Tommy is one of the good guys does what he says he will do and knows his stuff about woods.

blackbook · April 14th, 2008, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom S

Wanna run that by me again? I don't get it.

What I mean is that the drill pattern for the body does not have 6 string holes in a neat linear row. The holes for the strings are drilled under where the properly intonated saddles will sit--slightly staggered.

Did that make sense?

aunchaki · April 14th, 2008, 07:30 PM

I think I'm going to really like this when you're done. Keep the pics coming. That's a great body!

jwc5 · April 17th, 2008, 12:18 AM

Tommy and the gang does fantastic work. He did my pine body and neck. I just bought a second neck from him. Craftsmanship is spot on.... Be sure to post some more pics Chris.

Trimmed&Burnin · April 17th, 2008, 12:53 AM

Glad you quit lurkin,,,

That is an interesting bridge,,, I'll be keeping my eye on this thread,, Welcome!

reddogbass · April 17th, 2008, 01:21 AM

Great start. I'd like to see some better pics of the bridge if you have it, or when you get it. Where did you purchase it?

ThreePlyGuy · April 17th, 2008, 01:46 AM

Welcome, you have our attention indeed.
Good looking project.

blackbook · November 15th, 2008, 10:11 PM

Hey everyone--I started up a new thread with finished pix of my project.

http://www.tdpri.com/forum/telecaste...e-project.html

check it out!

jumpnblues · November 16th, 2008, 01:09 PM

I absolutely LOVE all 4 of my USACG guitars (2 Strats and 2 Teles with identical necks). I just can't imagine anyone doing it any better than Tommy Rosmond and company when it comes to their products and service. Very highly recommend USA Custom Guitars products.
You can hear one of my USACG Teles (my #1 guitar) in the clip below. It's a Mary Kaye finish, swamp ash body, black bakelite guard, AAA flame maple neck and fretboard (vintage satin), 6102 frets, offset hard/medium "V" tapering to a medium/soft "V" at the 9th fret, Callaham hardware, Glendale saddles, Don Mare/Rick Holmstrom bridge pu, Don Mare S-Telly (Super Sport) neck pu, concentric tone/blender pot. On the clip I'm running straight to a Louis Electric Tremblelux amp with a Scumback H75 speaker (amp now has a Scumback M75 speaker).

Tom (not Rosmond)

boris bubbanov · November 16th, 2008, 07:11 PM

I was marveling this nice Redwood capped 2 piece mahogany thinline the other day, which I had written about already, while the grainfill dried and realized to my dismay I had no wiring chases. Wuh? (I've never done them on a serious guitar, one I cared about.)

Well, I went out a got a fancy Irwin 1/4 inch by 18 inch long twist bit at the store, spent $ 11.00 (I can use it elsewhere, I promise) while also getting some other stuff. I figured the chase was gonna be pretty long, down to the controls.
Talked to my Dad at length about what type of bit through mahogany and he even offered to drill it on his press.

First, I took another USACG thinline build apart to see if it differed from the solid ones.
Oh, my it does.

The hollow area is so extensive, the chases I drilled (perfect!) were about an inch long apiece. Bubbanov was being such a baby!

*****

The "other stuff" included a #4 Irwin stepped bit or (brand name) Unibit.
This is superb for making your own ferrule holes, I'll bet. It certainly cleaned all the grain filler, lacquer and assorted whatever out of these existing ferrule holes. And the splined flanged ferrules fit so sweet. No heat, no drama, at least thus far on mahogany. Nice, recommended.

http://www.irwin.com/irwin/consumer/...rwinProd100146

I think I can use this stepped bit on pickguards, to get a perfect shape for the pickup opening! I love a sharp premium bit.

April 14th, 2008, 07:14 PM	#5 (permalink)
Mark Davis Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bakersfield Ca. Age: 58 Posts: 12,858	Tommy is one of the good guys does what he says he will do and knows his stuff about woods. __________________ I'm so blind my seeing eye dog needs glasses.

April 14th, 2008, 07:30 PM	#7 (permalink)
aunchaki Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Western New York Posts: 1,250 16 Photos	I think I'm going to really like this when you're done. Keep the pics coming. That's a great body! __________________ Two Teles, One Strat, Two Acoustics (6 & 12 strings), One Solidbody Acoustic, Two Mandolins (4 & 8 strings), One Bass (5 strings)

April 17th, 2008, 12:53 AM	#9 (permalink)
Trimmed&Burnin Tele-Holic Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bellingham Wa Age: 54 Posts: 812	Glad you quit lurkin,,, That is an interesting bridge,,, I'll be keeping my eye on this thread,, Welcome! __________________ Keep your lamp Trimmed And Burnin Shannon,

April 17th, 2008, 01:46 AM	#11 (permalink)
ThreePlyGuy Tele-Meister Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Southern California/Arizona Age: 60 Posts: 391	Welcome, you have our attention indeed. Good looking project. __________________ Good luck with your projects!

November 15th, 2008, 10:11 PM	#12 (permalink)
blackbook TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: San Francisco Posts: 19	new thread with pix of the finished guitar Hey everyone--I started up a new thread with finished pix of my project. http://www.tdpri.com/forum/telecaste...e-project.html check it out!

April 14th, 2008, 06:43 PM	#2 (permalink)
PeterUK Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: . Posts: 2,830	Tommy & the guys at USACG do great stuff. How is this bridge secured to the body? Peter

April 14th, 2008, 06:52 PM	#3 (permalink)
blackbook TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: San Francisco Posts: 19	The tailpiece--the chrome thing in your picture, is secured to the body with two M5 flat head screws that come through the guitar from the back, and fasten to threaded holes in the bottom of the tailpiece. The saddles are held in place by the strings. In fact, the strings go over the saddles and don't touch anything else until they anchor in a plate on the back. The holes for the strings are compensated!

April 17th, 2008, 12:18 AM	#8 (permalink)
jwc5 Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ft. Worth Posts: 250	Tommy and the gang does fantastic work. He did my pine body and neck. I just bought a second neck from him. Craftsmanship is spot on.... Be sure to post some more pics Chris.

April 17th, 2008, 01:21 AM	#10 (permalink)
reddogbass Tele-Holic Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Portland, Oregon Age: 62 Posts: 603 5 Photos	Great start. I'd like to see some better pics of the bridge if you have it, or when you get it. Where did you purchase it?

November 16th, 2008, 01:09 PM	#13 (permalink)
jumpnblues Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Midwest Age: 58 Posts: 1,662	I absolutely LOVE all 4 of my USACG guitars (2 Strats and 2 Teles with identical necks). I just can't imagine anyone doing it any better than Tommy Rosmond and company when it comes to their products and service. Very highly recommend USA Custom Guitars products. You can hear one of my USACG Teles (my #1 guitar) in the clip below. It's a Mary Kaye finish, swamp ash body, black bakelite guard, AAA flame maple neck and fretboard (vintage satin), 6102 frets, offset hard/medium "V" tapering to a medium/soft "V" at the 9th fret, Callaham hardware, Glendale saddles, Don Mare/Rick Holmstrom bridge pu, Don Mare S-Telly (Super Sport) neck pu, concentric tone/blender pot. On the clip I'm running straight to a Louis Electric Tremblelux amp with a Scumback H75 speaker (amp now has a Scumback M75 speaker). Tom (not Rosmond) __________________ jumpnblues "Heaven St." (Original Blues Instrumental): http://www.box.net/shared/static/z96atf0zn2.mp3 http://www.myspace.com/drbluezz

November 16th, 2008, 07:11 PM	#14 (permalink)
boris bubbanov Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: New Orleans, LA + in the past Posts: 8,540	Wiring Chases I was marveling this nice Redwood capped 2 piece mahogany thinline the other day, which I had written about already, while the grainfill dried and realized to my dismay I had no wiring chases. Wuh? (I've never done them on a serious guitar, one I cared about.) Well, I went out a got a fancy Irwin 1/4 inch by 18 inch long twist bit at the store, spent $ 11.00 (I can use it elsewhere, I promise) while also getting some other stuff. I figured the chase was gonna be pretty long, down to the controls. Talked to my Dad at length about what type of bit through mahogany and he even offered to drill it on his press. First, I took another USACG thinline build apart to see if it differed from the solid ones. Oh, my it does. The hollow area is so extensive, the chases I drilled (perfect!) were about an inch long apiece. Bubbanov was being such a baby! ***** The "other stuff" included a #4 Irwin stepped bit or (brand name) Unibit. This is superb for making your own ferrule holes, I'll bet. It certainly cleaned all the grain filler, lacquer and assorted whatever out of these existing ferrule holes. And the splined flanged ferrules fit so sweet. No heat, no drama, at least thus far on mahogany. Nice, recommended. http://www.irwin.com/irwin/consumer/...rwinProd100146 I think I can use this stepped bit on pickguards, to get a perfect shape for the pickup opening! I love a sharp premium bit. __________________ Bubban0v