First Build Starting Soon

[conedawg76]

I haven't used a forum in a very long time. I am new to luthiery, but really hope to just gain a sense of happines again. Long story short...seven spine surgeries, cannot work. I need an outlet that will give me something to enjoy again. Luthiery is the only thing I can think of that my very specific health constraints could possibly allow. I have invested a lot of money into tools already, so this needs to work.

I want to build a 27" or 28" scale Baritone Telecaster with 24 frets and a Floyd Rose trem. I have zero luthiery experience, but am handy with tools of all kinds. The hard part will be putting my idea into a successful outcome.

I will dedinitely need help to make this happen. I hope you all would be willing to see me along. This guitar will go to my eldest son. He is really quite exceptional on guitar. I hope to be done in time to send it for Christmas.

Thank you in advance!

 

[Toadtele]

Welcome! I’m glad you’ve decided to share this process with us!

 

[Wooly Fox]

Welcome! A baritone Tele with a Floyd Trem is a brave first attempt!

I have nothing to add other than make it a solid colour body and poly coat for ease. If it's destined for metal, make is metallic and a darker shades (purples, reds, greens, copper, bronze)

 

[conedawg76]

I hope I can get some heavy motivation from being here. If I can get through my first build, I know it would be a huge improvement to my quality of life. I need a win.

 

[Fendereedo]

Welcome!

 

[Phrygian77]

Welcome from Florida!

 

[Stringbanger]

Welcome to the fold!

Sb

 

[unixfish]

Sounds cool! Post pictures along the way.

 

[BluesMann]

I haven't used a forum in a very long time. I am new to luthiery, but really hope to just gain a sense of happines again. Long story short...seven spine surgeries, cannot work. I need an outlet that will give me something to enjoy again. Luthiery is the only thing I can think of that my very specific health constraints could possibly allow. I have invested a lot of money into tools already, so this needs to work.

I want to build a 27" or 28" scale Baritone Telecaster with 24 frets and a Floyd Rose trem. I have zero luthiery experience, but am handy with tools of all kinds. The hard part will be putting my idea into a successful outcome.

I will dedinitely need help to make this happen. I hope you all would be willing to see me along. This guitar will go to my eldest son. He is really quite exceptional on guitar. I hope to be done in time to send it for Christmas.

Thank you in advance!

Best of luck with your build.welcome. Looking forward to seeing pictures of your progress.

 

[Steve Holt]

Good luck! I hope you find joy and peace in building. I know I do. If you encounter any obstacles don't hesitate to post in the Tele Home Depot sub forum and ask for advice on how to proceed. We're all here to help!

 

[FrankJames]

Welcome to the forum !!

 

[d barham]

Welcome. Best of luck on your project.

 

[GGardner]

We'll all be pulling for you. Good luck.

 

[Boreas]

Welcome!! Hope it all works out for you.

But I have to be "that guy"... why a 24 fret neck? I suspect it will complicate things unnecessarily for very little real-world use.

 

[Freeman Keller]

Another welcome. I always recommend to a new builder to get Melvyn Hiscock's book on building your own electric guitar. He literally covers everything you need to know to scratch build a guitar, his section on geometry is particularly good. I also recommend reading a few of the build threads, most which will be posted or ongoing at the Home Depot subforum.

There are basically two ways to build a baritone tele. You can either design it as a bari from the start, choose your scale length and make the neck to body joint at the 16 or you can make what is know as a "conversion neck" which basically fits on a standard body and makes the scale work out correctly.

One of the big issues with a "baritone" is exactly how long do you want to make the scale, how do you want to tune it and what strings will you use. There are plans available for conversion necks with 28-5/8 scale and Warmoth (and maybe others) sell conversion necks with that scale. The Warmoth necks are 24 frets, the Faction neck is 23. A Floyd will force you to use a locking nut, that may complicate the neck build slightly, and make sure your trem is compatible with the phat strings.

Good luck with the build and with you recovery. Don't do anything in the shop that endangers your back. Let us know how we can help.

 

[Freeman Keller]

I'll add one more thing to the above - if possible find a good set of plans for what you want to build. I don't know of any bari tele plans but they may be out there. If you can't find them build a conversion using the Tdowns plans on the Home Depot and stretch a standard 25.5 neck to what ever scale you want (ie make a conversion neck). You'll have to move the heel to make the neck be in the correct location with respect to the bridge. This looks like it will work for 28-5/8

Telecaster Baritone Neck Template

This baritone conversion neck template is made to work with any of our Telecaster guitar routing template sets with a squared Tele heel. It features a 28.625" scale length and a 1.6875" nut width, with 23 frets.

store.factionguitars.com

You can also use an on line fret calculator (StewMac has a good one) to lay out any scale neck you want, work backwards on the TDowns plans to design the heel. It will certainly be harder than just routine out a standare tele body and making a normal scale but it is very doable.

 

[ahiddentableau]

Good luck with the build.

 

[Boreas]

I hope I can get some heavy motivation from being here. If I can get through my first build, I know it would be a huge improvement to my quality of life. I need a win.

Again, being "that guy", there is an inverse relationship between probability of success and complexity of build. Just sayin'... Will guitar weight be a factor with your back?? Trems and long necks tend to add weight. Good luck with the project regardless - you know what you want - I'll shut up now...

 

[Chester P Squier]

Welcome to the TDPRI!

Make yourself at home!

 

[Muckman]

I haven't used a forum in a very long time. I am new to luthiery, but really hope to just gain a sense of happines again. Long story short...seven spine surgeries, cannot work. I need an outlet that will give me something to enjoy again. Luthiery is the only thing I can think of that my very specific health constraints could possibly allow. I have invested a lot of money into tools already, so this needs to work.

I want to build a 27" or 28" scale Baritone Telecaster with 24 frets and a Floyd Rose trem. I have zero luthiery experience, but am handy with tools of all kinds. The hard part will be putting my idea into a successful outcome.

I will dedinitely need help to make this happen. I hope you all would be willing to see me along. This guitar will go to my eldest son. He is really quite exceptional on guitar. I hope to be done in time to send it for Christmas.

Thank you in advance!

All of your motivations and challenges will make for such a rewarding experience, with this first build. Welcome and good luck!!!