Need help with a build - Pics!

Hollywood · September 24th, 2008, 03:46 PM

Hey guys!

I bought this Tele Deluxe body for $25. It was (supposedly) painted by David Bowie guitarist Reeves Gabrels. No idea what brand or even wood that it's made out of but I figured that it would be a nice project.

My question for now is - what kind of bridge will work on this thing? I'm going to go with humbuckers or P90's or a combination of the two.

I've never put a guitar together before so any insight would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Jake D · September 24th, 2008, 04:03 PM

That neck bolt pattern looks like a bigger problem to me. The bridge of a 72 RI or a hard tail strat bridge looks like it might work.

ajgus · September 24th, 2008, 04:12 PM

Yeah, not even the bolts so much as that neck pocket looks like a strange shape. Might be tough fitting a typical Tele neck in there...

jkingma · September 24th, 2008, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jake D

That neck bolt pattern looks like a bigger problem to me.

Why?? 4 ferrels and 4 screws and Bob's your uncle.

The pocket itself looks like it's for a Strat neck.

Jake D · September 24th, 2008, 04:17 PM

Now where is that neck plate with the trapazoid bolt pattern. . . ah there it is!

jwells393 · September 24th, 2008, 04:43 PM

Quote:

The pocket itself looks like it's for a Strat neck.

Exactly ............ Telecaster Deluxe neck has a Strat heel.

Want to double your money ............ I'll give you $50 plus shipping for it.

ajgus · September 24th, 2008, 04:49 PM

The pocket is definitely round ala Strat. But what I'm saying is that it appears to be angled ever-so-slighty where the pocket meets the cutaway. Assuming this does not affect the inside of the pocket, you should be good...as long as you go with a Strat or Tele Deluxe neck...

Oh, & I have a sneakin' feeling it might be an Ibanez...could be wrong...

Injun Joe · September 24th, 2008, 07:10 PM

Man... That thing is cool! Maybe a brushed aluminum guard held on with copper rivits...

Steam Punk all the way... Very cool indeed.

Reeves was great in Bowie's Tin Machine and this body you've scored seems to fit the bill.

chknpckn · September 24th, 2008, 07:14 PM

You need some of these for the neck bolts:
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Hardware..._Ferrules.html

Hollywood · September 24th, 2008, 07:21 PM

Lucky day! I bought a large headstock Strat neck and she just arrived. It fits the pocket nicely. I'll post pics once my camera battery charges.

Hollywood · September 24th, 2008, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Injun Joe

Man... That thing is cool! Maybe a brushed aluminum guard held on with copper rivits...

That is a fantastic idea. Hmmmmm

Thanks to everyone for the tips and links. They're VERY MUCH appreciated!

junk126 · September 24th, 2008, 08:02 PM

I agree with the Ibanez comment. That looks a lot like the neck pocket/bolt pattern of my Talman.

I also agree that it's a fantastic score. Keep us updated please!

Injun Joe · September 24th, 2008, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hollywood

That is a fantastic idea. Hmmmmm

Thanks to everyone for the tips and links. They're VERY MUCH appreciated!

I'll make you the guard if I can find a pattern... I'd like to see this thing go together. PM me if you're interested... no charge other than shipping.

martyb1 · September 24th, 2008, 08:34 PM

I'm thinkin this will work

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...MEWN:IT&ih=014

ajgus · September 24th, 2008, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by junk126

I agree with the Ibanez comment. That looks a lot like the neck pocket/bolt pattern of my Talman.

I also agree that it's a fantastic score. Keep us updated please!

Yup. They are the same as my '97 MIK Iceman (I used to be a metalhead

). Ibanez makes/made several Tele style guits. One of which is/was a Deluxe copy...the only pic I could find comes up as a "404 Error". Sorry couldn't post it...However, & I couldn't zoom in enough to confirm, the neck bolts may have had a different pattern than the one posted (?). Anyone own one?

Mr.Reed · September 24th, 2008, 09:31 PM

I think that guitar is amazing!!!! I love unique guitars, and resist to make/buy one that fits the bill of any guitar I've seen (minus shape... and pickups for obvious reasons). Very cool. What electronics are you thinking? I think something out of the norm would be cool.

Alamo · September 24th, 2008, 09:36 PM

Wow, congrats on that find!

...and 25 bucks

.....christ-on-a-bike^^

the bolts remind me of my Starfiekd KS.

freewater2000 · September 24th, 2008, 09:39 PM

Thats a great find more pics more pics.and someone offers to make you a free guard what a great community of people,friends and players

Hollywood · September 25th, 2008, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Injun Joe

I'll make you the guard if I can find a pattern... I'd like to see this thing go together. PM me if you're interested... no charge other than shipping.

PM'd & thank you!

Hollywood · September 25th, 2008, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by martyb1

I'm thinkin this will work

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...MEWN:IT&ih=014

Thank you.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr.Reed

Very cool. What electronics are you thinking? I think something out of the norm would be cool.

Yeah, me too. I've decided to go with regular sized humbuckers but maybe a P90 is in order. More on the pickups in a new post.

I'd like to put in a preamp and maybe one or more Mod Boards from the Guitar Fetish site. They've got a chorus that they claim will get into rotary territory and an analog delay, among others.

I'm also toying with the idea of electronics along the lines of a Fender Jaguar.

The sky's the limit at this point in time.

Hollywood · September 25th, 2008, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alamo

Wow, congrats on that find!

...and 25 bucks

.....christ-on-a-bike^^

the bolts remind me of my Starfiekd KS.

Yeah, that bolt pattern sure looks like it. Sweet guitar!

e-merlin · September 25th, 2008, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajgus

The pocket is definitely round ala Strat. But what I'm saying is that it appears to be angled ever-so-slighty where the pocket meets the cutaway. Assuming this does not affect the inside of the pocket, you should be good...as long as you go with a Strat or Tele Deluxe neck...

Oh, & I have a sneakin' feeling it might be an Ibanez...could be wrong...

No, it looks Fender to me. It was just reshaped for better access to the upper frets. The reshaping probably made it impossible to use a neck plate so it was drilled for individual ferrules for each neck screw. You can get 'em at WD or maybe Stewmac. Shouldn't be a tough fix.

Hollywood · September 25th, 2008, 10:23 AM

Got home yesterday and the post man delivered the neck:

Mighty Mite - Lic. by Fender - large headstock - maple w/ rosewood board - blem in the wood on the headstock so she was only $89 shipped. The 'blem' is a dark spot in the wood. Perfect for this guitar!

I wanted a neck with the large headstock that was undrilled due to the bolt pattern. I went with rosewood because I already have a Fender TD Reissue with maple.

I decided on humbuckers because I've been playing with single coils or wide range buckers for a while. I yearn for a Gibson-ish guitar and don't currently have one. I wouldn't mind trying a P90 in the neck but I'm pretty stoked about the Bare Knuckles pup....
:)

The neck pickup is a Bare Knuckles Cold Sweat w/ distressed gold cover. I stole her off of eBay for $65 a while ago. The bridge pickup is a hybrid: She's got one coil from a Duncan '59 and one coil from a Duncan Pearly Gates with an Alnico V magnet. This pickup should be on par with a similar Duncan hybrid which was my favorite bridge humbucker of all time - incredible sound.

So yeah, this guitar is turning out to be the a mongrel in every sense of the word!

GilmourD · September 25th, 2008, 11:36 AM

Maybe a TaipanTone or a GE Smith bridge? That looks like the standard vintage Tele screw pattern to me.

Hollywood · September 26th, 2008, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GilmourD

Maybe a TaipanTone or a GE Smith bridge? That looks like the standard vintage Tele screw pattern to me.

Yeah, after a little studying I agree. Should be pretty easy. I'll look into those that you mentioned.

I'm also working on a tracing of the pickguard so that Injun Joe can make a pickguard.

Thanks!

Hollywood · October 2nd, 2008, 03:15 PM

Here's an update: I made a template of the pickguard and will be mailing it today to Injun Joe. I took the guard off of my Tele Deluxe Reissue to make the template and while she was off I placed it on this 'steampunk' body to see how she looks - better than I thought:

The pickup cut outs are for full range pups and will of course be standard humbucker size on the final guard.

andromeda673 · October 2nd, 2008, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajgus

The pocket is definitely round ala Strat. But what I'm saying is that it appears to be angled ever-so-slighty where the pocket meets the cutaway. Assuming this does not affect the inside of the pocket, you should be good...as long as you go with a Strat or Tele Deluxe neck...

Oh, & I have a sneakin' feeling it might be an Ibanez...could be wrong...

I have the same creeping suspcion, that it might be a ibanez build, hard to tell

dougk · October 2nd, 2008, 10:23 PM

Just plug the original mounting holes or leave em and drill between them for a normal strat hardtail bridge.

I'd suggest a Hipshot or something with a 2 1/16" string spread to line up with the buckers a bit better.

Guitfiddler · October 2nd, 2008, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dougk

Just plug the original mounting holes or leave em and drill between them for a normal strat hardtail bridge.

I'd suggest a Hipshot or something with a 2 1/16" string spread to line up with the buckers a bit better.

I used a modern hardtail strat bridge on my thinline partscaster w/standard size humbuckers and there pretty much dead on.

dougk · October 3rd, 2008, 11:03 AM

Probably cause it was a 2 1/16" spread. Thats what most newer strats are. The vintage 2 7/32 honestly wouldn't be far off either.

e-merlin · October 3rd, 2008, 11:41 AM

The more I look at that guitar, the more I think it might be an Ibanez or something like that. But who cares? It's going to be cool.

Hollywood · October 30th, 2008, 02:18 PM

Thought an update was in order:

TDPRI's own Injun Joe has indeed made me a pickguard. He's putting the finishing touches on it. What I've seen so far looks ridiculously cool.

I've ordered a TaipanTone brass bridge, brass String Ferrule Block, and Budz saddles.

I've also got a set of RS Guitarworks volume & tone pots and caps.

She's coming together slowly but surely. 8]

jwells393 · October 30th, 2008, 03:03 PM

Does anyone know how to do a finish like the one on this guitar?

soundhound6 · October 30th, 2008, 07:05 PM

Hey Hollywood...really cool body...Love that look.

Jack..If I'm not mistaken, I think it's actually a wall finish known as "Venetian
plaster".Looks very classy on a feature wall.(or a full room for that matter.)

Interesting build...I LIKE!!

Jan

soundhound6 · October 30th, 2008, 07:14 PM

Jack...I've never done this finish myself,but it's a relatively simple procedure.
It's similar to a stucco application.
Some plaster is dashed or flung on to the surface and
the high spots are knocked down when it has stiffened up a little.
Then its burnished when its almost hard.
A finish of various earth/metalic colorants are wiped on/off til you're pleased with the look.

Jan

ZiggyZipgun · November 7th, 2008, 04:07 PM

If you're going for a regular Deluxe setup, I'd recommend Callaham's Vintage Hardtail Bridge. I have their tremolo on my Strat with the same saddles and spacing, and after having originally installed it with my crappy Fender saddles (for that crappy Fender aesthetic value), I can say I noticed a huge difference when I installed the CG saddles. The flush contact between each saddle, the larger string opening, and the higher quality metal do wonders for the tone, sustain, and intonation. I just talked a friend into ordering one for his new Deluxe reissue, and he's still creaming his pants.

ajgus · November 7th, 2008, 04:43 PM

Thanks for the bump, Ziggy. Hey Hollywood, any progress on this build in the last week?

TELE_BLUES · November 7th, 2008, 06:31 PM

Looks like the "knockdown" finish on the walls of my house.Iwas wondering what that would look like on a guitar.I like it alot ,rough and tumble junkyard dog vibe.

TELE_BLUES · November 7th, 2008, 06:59 PM

A friend does painting/plaster work he'll know for sure how it's done.I'm sure it's called 'KNOCKDOWN" probably drywall compound sprayed on then leveled off.I not sure i'd want to use drywall compound on a guitars though.Iloved painting the walls with this finish as it was easy to hide any imperfections.

Hollywood · November 8th, 2008, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajgus

Thanks for the bump, Ziggy. Hey Hollywood, any progress on this build in the last week?

Patiently waiting on the pickguard and parts from TaipanTone. Taipan's site says there's a 6 week lead time but it sounds like I might get them well before that.

That would be nice but I'm trying to be patient.

I'm going to try and replicate the body's finish on the headstock. Looks like rattle cans will get me the colors I need and I'm going to try and replicate the texture with automotive filler. I've got a design that I'm going to put on the headstock as well that's pretty damn sweet. I hope.

I'd bet that the texture on the body was attained by painting it and then stripping it in patches (maybe before the finish was truly set).

I'm loving this project. =]

September 24th, 2008, 03:46 PM	#1 (permalink)
Hollywood TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: The City of Angels Posts: 90	Need help with a build - Pics! Hey guys! I bought this Tele Deluxe body for $25. It was (supposedly) painted by David Bowie guitarist Reeves Gabrels. No idea what brand or even wood that it's made out of but I figured that it would be a nice project. My question for now is - what kind of bridge will work on this thing? I'm going to go with humbuckers or P90's or a combination of the two. I've never put a guitar together before so any insight would be appreciated. Thanks! __________________ When I strut down the street I can feel it's heart beat.

September 24th, 2008, 04:12 PM	#3 (permalink)
ajgus Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: chicago Posts: 2,935	Yeah, not even the bolts so much as that neck pocket looks like a strange shape. Might be tough fitting a typical Tele neck in there... __________________ "...it's just a wonderful sound..."- GE Smith

September 24th, 2008, 04:49 PM	#7 (permalink)
ajgus Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: chicago Posts: 2,935	The pocket is definitely round ala Strat. But what I'm saying is that it appears to be angled ever-so-slighty where the pocket meets the cutaway. Assuming this does not affect the inside of the pocket, you should be good...as long as you go with a Strat or Tele Deluxe neck... Oh, & I have a sneakin' feeling it might be an Ibanez...could be wrong... __________________ "...it's just a wonderful sound..."- GE Smith

September 24th, 2008, 07:21 PM	#10 (permalink)
Hollywood TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: The City of Angels Posts: 90	Lucky day! I bought a large headstock Strat neck and she just arrived. It fits the pocket nicely. I'll post pics once my camera battery charges. __________________ When I strut down the street I can feel it's heart beat.

September 24th, 2008, 08:02 PM	#12 (permalink)
junk126 Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Alabama, United States Age: 30 Posts: 130	I agree with the Ibanez comment. That looks a lot like the neck pocket/bolt pattern of my Talman. I also agree that it's a fantastic score. Keep us updated please! __________________ I'll be more enthusiastic about encouraging thinking outside the box when there's evidence of any thinking going on inside it. -- (Terry Pratchett)

September 24th, 2008, 04:03 PM	#2 (permalink)
Jake D Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 277	That neck bolt pattern looks like a bigger problem to me. The bridge of a 72 RI or a hard tail strat bridge looks like it might work.

September 24th, 2008, 04:17 PM	#5 (permalink)
Jake D Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 277	Now where is that neck plate with the trapazoid bolt pattern. . . ah there it is!

September 24th, 2008, 07:10 PM	#8 (permalink)
Injun Joe TDPRI Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Belews Creek, NC Age: 40 Posts: 70 1 Photos	Man... That thing is cool! Maybe a brushed aluminum guard held on with copper rivits... Steam Punk all the way... Very cool indeed. Reeves was great in Bowie's Tin Machine and this body you've scored seems to fit the bill.

September 24th, 2008, 07:14 PM	#9 (permalink)
chknpckn Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Athens, GA Age: 30 Posts: 162	You need some of these for the neck bolts: http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Hardware..._Ferrules.html

September 24th, 2008, 08:34 PM	#14 (permalink)
martyb1 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Alberta,Canada Age: 45 Posts: 1,899 13 Photos	I'm thinkin this will work http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...MEWN:IT&ih=014 __________________ Before throwing it out,make sure it's not 16x13x1.75

September 24th, 2008, 09:31 PM	#16 (permalink)
Mr.Reed Tele-Holic Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Lake Stevens, WA Age: 20 Posts: 684	I think that guitar is amazing!!!! I love unique guitars, and resist to make/buy one that fits the bill of any guitar I've seen (minus shape... and pickups for obvious reasons). Very cool. What electronics are you thinking? I think something out of the norm would be cool.

September 24th, 2008, 09:36 PM	#17 (permalink)
Alamo Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Berlin, Germany Age: 51 Posts: 1,319	Wow, congrats on that find! ...and 25 bucks .....christ-on-a-bike^^ the bolts remind me of my Starfiekd KS.

September 24th, 2008, 09:39 PM	#18 (permalink)
freewater2000 TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Hueytown Alabama Posts: 70	Thats a great find more pics more pics.and someone offers to make you a free guard what a great community of people,friends and players

September 25th, 2008, 10:23 AM	#23 (permalink)
Hollywood TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: The City of Angels Posts: 90	Got home yesterday and the post man delivered the neck: Mighty Mite - Lic. by Fender - large headstock - maple w/ rosewood board - blem in the wood on the headstock so she was only $89 shipped. The 'blem' is a dark spot in the wood. Perfect for this guitar! I wanted a neck with the large headstock that was undrilled due to the bolt pattern. I went with rosewood because I already have a Fender TD Reissue with maple. I decided on humbuckers because I've been playing with single coils or wide range buckers for a while. I yearn for a Gibson-ish guitar and don't currently have one. I wouldn't mind trying a P90 in the neck but I'm pretty stoked about the Bare Knuckles pup.... :) The neck pickup is a Bare Knuckles Cold Sweat w/ distressed gold cover. I stole her off of eBay for $65 a while ago. The bridge pickup is a hybrid: She's got one coil from a Duncan '59 and one coil from a Duncan Pearly Gates with an Alnico V magnet. This pickup should be on par with a similar Duncan hybrid which was my favorite bridge humbucker of all time - incredible sound. So yeah, this guitar is turning out to be the a mongrel in every sense of the word! __________________ When I strut down the street I can feel it's heart beat.

September 25th, 2008, 11:36 AM	#24 (permalink)
GilmourD Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Nutley, NJ Age: 29 Posts: 1,699	Maybe a TaipanTone or a GE Smith bridge? That looks like the standard vintage Tele screw pattern to me. __________________ Good deals: Joel Terry Layla Skye Sunny Wally Franky Honey Wolfy

October 2nd, 2008, 03:15 PM	#26 (permalink)
Hollywood TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: The City of Angels Posts: 90	Here's an update: I made a template of the pickguard and will be mailing it today to Injun Joe. I took the guard off of my Tele Deluxe Reissue to make the template and while she was off I placed it on this 'steampunk' body to see how she looks - better than I thought: The pickup cut outs are for full range pups and will of course be standard humbucker size on the final guard. __________________ When I strut down the street I can feel it's heart beat.

October 2nd, 2008, 10:23 PM	#28 (permalink)
dougk Tele-Holic Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Sacramento, CA Age: 26 Posts: 512	Just plug the original mounting holes or leave em and drill between them for a normal strat hardtail bridge. I'd suggest a Hipshot or something with a 2 1/16" string spread to line up with the buckers a bit better.

October 3rd, 2008, 11:03 AM	#30 (permalink)
dougk Tele-Holic Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Sacramento, CA Age: 26 Posts: 512	Probably cause it was a 2 1/16" spread. Thats what most newer strats are. The vintage 2 7/32 honestly wouldn't be far off either.

October 30th, 2008, 02:18 PM	#32 (permalink)
Hollywood TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: The City of Angels Posts: 90	Thought an update was in order: TDPRI's own Injun Joe has indeed made me a pickguard. He's putting the finishing touches on it. What I've seen so far looks ridiculously cool. I've ordered a TaipanTone brass bridge, brass String Ferrule Block, and Budz saddles. I've also got a set of RS Guitarworks volume & tone pots and caps. She's coming together slowly but surely. 8] __________________ When I strut down the street I can feel it's heart beat.

October 30th, 2008, 03:03 PM	#33 (permalink)
jwells393 Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Albuquerque, USA Age: 65 Posts: 13,962 101 Photos	Does anyone know how to do a finish like the one on this guitar? __________________ Jack's Disclaimer: When I say something.... always ask yourself ..... "What the hell does he know?" _ I'm not cool enough to be a Mac person.

October 30th, 2008, 07:05 PM	#34 (permalink)
soundhound6 Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Winnipeg, Mb. Age: 56 Posts: 124	Hey Hollywood...really cool body...Love that look. Jack..If I'm not mistaken, I think it's actually a wall finish known as "Venetian plaster".Looks very classy on a feature wall.(or a full room for that matter.) Interesting build...I LIKE!! Jan __________________ " Don't overthink it, just do it!"

October 30th, 2008, 07:14 PM	#35 (permalink)
soundhound6 Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Winnipeg, Mb. Age: 56 Posts: 124	Jack...I've never done this finish myself,but it's a relatively simple procedure. It's similar to a stucco application. Some plaster is dashed or flung on to the surface and the high spots are knocked down when it has stiffened up a little. Then its burnished when its almost hard. A finish of various earth/metalic colorants are wiped on/off til you're pleased with the look. Jan __________________ " Don't overthink it, just do it!"

November 7th, 2008, 04:07 PM	#36 (permalink)
ZiggyZipgun NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Posts: 8	If you're going for a regular Deluxe setup, I'd recommend Callaham's Vintage Hardtail Bridge. I have their tremolo on my Strat with the same saddles and spacing, and after having originally installed it with my crappy Fender saddles (for that crappy Fender aesthetic value), I can say I noticed a huge difference when I installed the CG saddles. The flush contact between each saddle, the larger string opening, and the higher quality metal do wonders for the tone, sustain, and intonation. I just talked a friend into ordering one for his new Deluxe reissue, and he's still creaming his pants.

November 7th, 2008, 04:43 PM	#37 (permalink)
ajgus Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: chicago Posts: 2,935	Thanks for the bump, Ziggy. Hey Hollywood, any progress on this build in the last week? __________________ "...it's just a wonderful sound..."- GE Smith

November 7th, 2008, 06:31 PM	#38 (permalink)
TELE_BLUES Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: ROCKCHESTER,NEW YORK Posts: 768 56 Photos	Looks like the "knockdown" finish on the walls of my house.Iwas wondering what that would look like on a guitar.I like it alot ,rough and tumble junkyard dog vibe.

November 7th, 2008, 06:59 PM	#39 (permalink)
TELE_BLUES Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: ROCKCHESTER,NEW YORK Posts: 768 56 Photos	A friend does painting/plaster work he'll know for sure how it's done.I'm sure it's called 'KNOCKDOWN" probably drywall compound sprayed on then leveled off.I not sure i'd want to use drywall compound on a guitars though.Iloved painting the walls with this finish as it was easy to hide any imperfections.