COMPLETED -- $100 Telecaster Challenge-The $124.01 CADocaster

[martyb1]

Thanks again for the comments,but if I don't get my a$$ in gear it will not get finished.I have a gig tomorrow night so
Time to wet sand this puppy.Worked my way through 4,6,8,1000 and 1500 grit

I really wanted to get more lacquer on this thing but with the weather,mother, I just didn't have the time.Seems I should have made the time

 

[martyb1]

It seems I got a tad aggressive in a couple spots

I was really worried about doing this and was trying to be careful but......
What is a guy to do now,no time to fix it.We will just have to .......
Do some more
Might as well make it look worn.Never tried a relic before

 

[martyb1]

With my tail tucked between my legs I carried on
I only used one compound on it,not wanting it to glossy and a little scared

I tell you doing that contour sucked.I chucked up a little buffing wheel in the press and that helped out

About as far as I am going to go with the buffing

Give the neck a wet sanding and a light buff since I had everything out

 

[martyb1]

Lets start putting this thing together.I have a set of ferrules that are a little dinged up so I will use them

Out with the soldering gun,heat them up until they start to slide in

Then finish it off the the correct ferrule installing screwdriver

Well one thing finished anyway

 

[martyb1]

Now get some of that lacquer gook(scientific name) out of the neck pocket

Drill the lacquer out of the neck mounting holes

Time to get to work on the neck.I was sure this was going to be the killer.I had no tuners for a reverse headstock here that fit 3/8 holes.I found some used Gotoh cheap on ebay but was really beginning to think they were not going to show up.They arrived today,thats too close

Hmmm,seems to be some of that lacquer gook in here too

 

[martyb1]

Out with a reamer to remove the gook

You may notice the plastic guard on the tip.Don't ask why I always leave it on

Thats better

 

[martyb1]

Things were going well tonight,actually getting some stuff accomplished,WERE...

Hmmm,seems to be a problem here

This is the first time I have used an Eden neck.Seems there is not enough room between the tuner holes.Over to the belt sander with the tuners.They are all drilled different too.I had to remove more from some than others but got them in there

Drill the screwholes

Put in the screws

 

[martyb1]

Set the neck in the body,run some string and hang some clamps on it

See how it lines up

NOt too bad
Bridge even looks like it is straight with the control cavity

 

[martyb1]

Actually a pretty decent fit

Yep,looks OK

Well thats it for tonight.It is after midnight here and I was up before 5am to go to work.NO work tomorrow thank god.I will mount the neck,wire it up,cut the nut and then learn 5 new songs for the gig

 

[BAW4742]

Looking good Marty. I can only imagine how big a PITA it was sanding and buffing those formed edges.

Great work man.

 

[8painting]

i wish fender would make a telecaster like this.

amazing looking guitar man

 

[martyb1]

OK
Got to decide what hardware to use.Price is about the same
Should I go with nice shiny chrome?

Or with the aged look?

 

[Tdot]

Shiny!

 

[Skrik]

Shiny.

 

[martyb1]

Hmmm,seems shiny has the lead
I need some strings for this thing.I was going to use some Allparts strings I have here but I need to change strings on my Esquire for my gig tonight
so I will try to re-use them

 

[martyb1]

While I was typing the last post,something hit he like a slap on the head with a dead fish
Those strings are not going to work,well the E-A-D anyway
Reverse headstock

 

[Mark-00255]

Well, the aged look hardware would go with your relic approach, but the shiny sure looks good with the slick finish. BTW: I think I need to come to Alberta for your "How to Properly Paint A Guitar" course. This guitar looks great!

As to strings, I think that P-90 is begging for some honkin' 11s!

 

[TDPRI]

Aged hardware or shiny hardware? It's not which do these guys like. It's which do the Judges feel is most appropriate. Right?

 

[jkingma]

That's right... and if I was a judge I would give higher marks for shiny, as the finish on the body suits it better. IMHO.

 

[getbent]

nice one paul.