1959 ES-335TD proto build

[preeb]

After a long wait and a lot of work involved with getting the many unique specs of the early 335's it's about time to start the build thread.
Let me begin by saying that this time I'm not doing this project alone.
I've been very fortunate having Ken McKay, a master builder with a lot of experience in making hollow bodies, building the body to my required specs and we also had the one and only Bharat Khandekar on the loop which helped us achieve the goal.
Ken already made my entire first proto body and the result is striking and super accurate down to the finest details.
I have asked him to post the first section of this build showing how the body was made and I hope he will kindly agree to post it here.
Soon after I'll continue with the rest of the build.
Please note that this is the first proto and many things can go wrong or take a little time so please be patient... lots of specs, drawings, tooling and jigs are required to get it done correctly.

 

['59_Standard]

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!!!

Or something along those lines...

 

[Nick JD]

Someone else is building the bodies?

 

[preeb]

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!!!

Or something along those lines...

LOL. I knew you'd say that (-;

 

[preeb]

Someone else is building the bodies?

I knew you'd say that too...
look here:
http://www.tdpri.com/forum/tele-home-depot/273300-1959-es-335td-proto-build.html#post3279755

 

[telemcCaster]

It is my pleasure to be working with Gil on this ES 335 TD project. In case you don't know my name is Ken McKay and I go by Telemccaster here on TDPRI. I hope to make contributions to this thread that will be half as interesting as Gil's other build threads. I am anxiously waiting to see his work and the finished product. It might even be a surprise that Gil is not building the body himself but I assure you there is plenty of work to be done yet that requires a good deal of expertise, careful planning, tooling... yea, the rabbit hole goes pretty deep. And as Gil wrote, we worked together to get this vintage correct! So stay tuned for my method of building the body, I hope you find it interesting. I have the photo's on my hard drive and will be uploading them with explanations later today as time permits.

 

[free2rock]

Here we go....

 

[Fred_Garvin]

Bravo, Gil and Ken! I've been looking forward to this.

 

[kidmo]

This will be the build of the year for me as I explore my various GAS options I am now at the point of being very much in love with 335's. Looking forward to this thread immensely!

 

[telemcCaster]

Replicating a stringed instrument requires a good original. I chose this 1959 beauty.

 

[telemcCaster]

And taking it apart screw for screw as careful as possible, it is ready for a plaster cast to be poured.

 

[telemcCaster]

Measurements are taken and tracings are rubbed for the ff holes and control points. The outline is carefully traced. A drawing is made of the body to use as a master template.

 

[telemcCaster]

Next installment...the master mold is made and materials are discussed.

 

[Bluessoldier]

Man preeb, now a 335!?

One day you'll get a Nobel prize for guitar building.

 

[MRJ.]

Thanks for this thread Gil and Ken!

 

[PapaLion]

Preeb, excellent choice. I will enjoy watching you complete it. Red with a Bigsby? would be nice.

 

[Bolide]

New Preeb build thread, with special appearance by hollow body specialist Ken McKay?
No doubt the best news of the week.

 

[SackvilleDan]

This is going to be fantastic... I can't wait!

 

[Mike Simpson]

I am interested in watching this project. For many years I played a 1962 ES-335TD and I still have it. My 335 has a factory bigsby and there were no stop tail holes ever drilled. Also 1962 is the first year of block inlays.... ya I know everyone wants a dot neck but nobody would pass up what I paid for this 1962...

 

[deaconque]

I've been anxiously awaiting this build for a while. Can't wait to see the progress.