First T-style build

[headly21]

Hi,

I'm not certain my process was the most proper method but here goes. I bolted on the neck and determined the scale lenght (so where aprox. the bridge needa to sit). Then I used rubber string. I attaced the string in the low e and high e posotions and eyeballed it from there. Moved the bridge to the left and right a bit until both "strings" seemed to align with the neck.

Thank you! That helps.

My situation is that the string-thru holes (and ferrule holes on the back) are pre-drilled, but not the bridge mounting holes. So, I don't see that I have much wiggle room with the bridge, but the body's holes for the neck pocket are not yet drilled (except for one).
So do you think I'm okay to assume that I need to install the bridge and then align the neck accordingly (as much as I can, given the limited wiggle room in the neck pocket)?

 

[Pencilman]

Thank you! That helps.

My situation is that the string-thru holes (and ferrule holes on the back) are pre-drilled, but not the bridge mounting holes. So, I don't see that I have much wiggle room with the bridge, but the body's holes for the neck pocket are not yet drilled (except for one).
So do you think I'm okay to assume that I need to install the bridge and then align the neck accordingly (as much as I can, given the limited wiggle room in the neck pocket)?

To be honest that's a bit out of my scope of knowledge. I can only assume that would be correct. This is my first build as well and I'm learning as I go. My body is currently drying until the 24th . Then I'll know if my methods even worked .

 

[headly21]

To be honest that's a bit out of my scope of knowledge. I can only assume that would be correct. This is my first build as well and I'm learning as I go. My body is currently drying until the 24th . Then I'll know if my methods even worked .

Cool! Thanks!
You'll be posting updates, I assume?

 

[Pencilman]

Cool! Thanks!
You'll be posting updates, I assume?

Sure,

at this point it looks like this

 

[Pencilman]

Ok.... I've stumbled a bit. I was in the process of putting on the pickguard. As a way to make my life easier I tried predrilling the holes. AND.... The bit broke of in the guitar body. Any ideas how to get it out?

 

[old wrench]

Ok.... I've stumbled a bit. I was in the process of putting on the pickguard. As a way to make my life easier I tried predrilling the holes. AND.... The bit broke of in the guitar body. Any ideas how to get it out?

It happens -

If you have a pair of side-cutters, you can usually grab the end of the broken bit with the tip end of the cutters and pull it out without doing too much damage.

There is usually more than enough pickguard surrounding the screw hole - so once the guard is on you'll never see the boo-boo

.

 

[guitarbuilder]

Or get a small metal tube and file a series of teeth in the bottom. Drill around the bit, break off the offending stuff and pull it out.

WoodRiver - Screw Extractor - 1/4"

The screw extractor is the easy way to remove sheared or broken screws. When used with a drill press or a power drill with a pre-bored guide block, this hollow, sawtooth edged extractor bores a clean hole around the broken screw without damaging the surrounding surface. The 1/4" extractor...

www.woodcraft.com

 

[Pencilman]

The issue is the bit broke of about a cm in to the wood. Also... It was a 2mm bit. Can't get anything in to the hole to grab it

 

[headly21]

Ok.... I've stumbled a bit. I was in the process of putting on the pickguard. As a way to make my life easier I tried predrilling the holes. AND.... The bit broke of in the guitar body. Any ideas how to get it out?

Can you try a smaller drill bit to reverse the broken bit out?

 

[Moldy Oldy]

The issue is the bit broke of about a cm in to the wood. Also... It was a 2mm bit. Can't get anything in to the hole to grab it

If it’s really a cm in there, leave it. Just cut the pickguard screw for that hole a little shorter and never think about it again.

 

[Pencilman]

Well... It's done for the most part. I'm still waiting fornthe ferules bushing plate but my bridge has the option to string the guitar from the front and I just had to try it out. Still needs some adjusting and the high E string keeps dropping out of the nut, but that's fixable . I'm stoked about the PU selector. It works like a dream .

The color is awesome as well. It changes from orange to yellow depending on the light. I'm really satiafied how it turned out. It's a bit heavy though

 

[hemingway]

It looks fantastic. I love the colour and the control plate

 

[headly21]

Well... It's done for the most part. I'm still waiting fornthe ferules bushing plate but my bridge has the option to string the guitar from the front and I just had to try it out. Still needs some adjusting and the high E string keeps dropping out of the nut, but that's fixable . I'm stoked about the PU selector. It works like a dream .

The color is awesome as well. It changes from orange to yellow depending on the light. I'm really satiafied how it turned out. It's a bit heavy though


View attachment 988372 View attachment 988373 View attachment 988374 View attachment 988375 View attachment 988376

Dayum, I'm not a huge fan of orange, but this looks great! I haven't had any luck getting a photo of the actual color of my Tele body the way it looks IRL.

I really think Fender could sell this as a new color combo, like "Orange Creamsicle" or something.

 

[headly21]

Dayum, I'm not a huge fan of orange, but this looks great! I haven't had any luck getting a photo of the actual color of my Tele body the way it looks IRL.

I really think Fender could sell this as a new color combo, like "Orange Creamsicle" or something.

I think this is the closest to the actual color of my build, although still a bit more orange than the way I see in person. I don't know why every photo seems to bring out more orange than how I see it "IRL."

 

[Pencilman]

Dayum, I'm not a huge fan of orange, but this looks great! I haven't had any luck getting a photo of the actual color of my Tele body the way it looks IRL.

I really think Fender could sell this as a new color combo, like "Orange Creamsicle" or something.

Yeah, neither am I but everyone I know either has a white, black or turquise (or some other shade of blue or green) tele. I wanted a warm, positive, solid colour that isn't the classic red. I'm a graphic designer and colors do affect me on a conscious level . After doing some mockups orange caught my attention. My wife did say it reminds her of retro Iskra telephones we had in former Yugoslavia and Slovenia in the 90s .

 

[envirodat]

A beautiful job! Well done! Do you like how it plays or are you holding judgement until you are fully done?

 

[Pencilman]

A beautiful job! Well done! Do you like how it plays or are you holding judgement until you are fully done?

From what I've tested so far, i would say that the bridge alignment is just a bit off but I would have to play it a bit more to render my final verdict. The pu selector is amazing. I wa worried it wouldn't work or that it was unnecessarily complicated. But, having all the options is fun. The sound ranges from full and bright (sounding almost like a 12 string at times) , to thin and tinny.

 

[peterg]

Looks fantastic and the slider switches are a great idea. What pickups are you using and do you know their polarity and wind directions? Thin and tinny sounds like out of phase. Nothing wrong with out of phase. Just wondering if it’s what you are after.

 

[Pencilman]

Looks fantastic and the slider switches are a great idea. What pickups are you using and do you know their polarity and wind directions? Thin and tinny sounds like out of phase. Nothing wrong with out of phase. Just wondering if it’s what you are after.

I don't know the make of the pickups. They were salvaged from a strat. The tele bridge pickup is an aliexpress buy.

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The sound flexibility was the thing I was after the most, hence the selector. I'm not a sound hound by any stretch but I like to play around with my options.

 

[Red Ryder]

Beautiful guitar. Mine is a little different than your standard tele. Eastern red cedar body, American walnut neck, bois d'arc fretboard, pickguard and volume knob. Black walnut trim ring. Will machine the bridge today.