dickjonesify
TDPRI Member
This is awesomely original stuff man. I think you'll be up there with the top few when this is all said and done!
Thumposaurus's 2011 TDPRI Tele Build Challenge
- Thread starter Thumposaurus
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links like Ebay, Amazon, and others.
- Status
Amadhunter
Tele-Meister
Really cool build. I was thinking, couldn't you use some nails to do the side dots? They would turn out "silver" when filed flush with the wood right? 
CJFearn
Tele-Holic
Really cool build. I was thinking, couldn't you use some nails to do the side dots? They would turn out "silver" when filed flush with the wood right?
Aluminum works really well. Polishes up brighter than silver too. I get it in rod form at the model shop.
Zarkon
Tele-Afflicted
This is going to be a b-e-a-utiful guitar and I'm sure you'll get a lot of consideration in this contest! Very well done!
Thumposaurus
TDPRI Member
Thanks again!
Small update today
image removed
Got the saddles out of the fumigation jar.
They aren't jet black but look good enough I just wanted the take the edge off of the bright brass saddles.
Left them hanging most of yesterday and overnight in the jar with ammonia on the bottom.
Gave them a good soak in acetone before hand to de-grease.
When I first closed the jar up some spots started darkening immediately it was pretty interesting to watch.
Been whiskering and sanding the back of the neck getting it ready to tru-oil.
Small update today
image removed
Got the saddles out of the fumigation jar.
They aren't jet black but look good enough I just wanted the take the edge off of the bright brass saddles.
Left them hanging most of yesterday and overnight in the jar with ammonia on the bottom.
Gave them a good soak in acetone before hand to de-grease.
When I first closed the jar up some spots started darkening immediately it was pretty interesting to watch.
Been whiskering and sanding the back of the neck getting it ready to tru-oil.
telepunch
Tele-Meister
wow... really like this one!
btw, I've always kinda liked the look of a multi-piece neck where the lines end at the headstock... if that makes sense...
basically, if it were me, I'd do your mishap on purpose
btw, I've always kinda liked the look of a multi-piece neck where the lines end at the headstock... if that makes sense...
basically, if it were me, I'd do your mishap on purpose
JBennett
Tele-Afflicted
image removed
You forgot to mention where you got your logo from!?!
Bitten by my own snake!
Looking good otherwise.
You forgot to mention where you got your logo from!?!
Bitten by my own snake!
Looking good otherwise.
Thumposaurus
TDPRI Member
Sorry didn't intentionally mean to rip anybody off, I did copy and paste and tweek the logo in photoshop based off of some I found on here.
Been just slowly working on things while the body cures, it should be ready to wetsand by the end of the week.
image removed
Got the rear control cover fitted and installed the magnets for it
image removed
image removed
Installed the brass inserts for the neck bolts.
I am using a "neck plate" but it will be a surprise.
Coming into the home stretch, just need to wet sand and polish the body, give all the metal parts a final polish, and cut a nut/set it up.
Been just slowly working on things while the body cures, it should be ready to wetsand by the end of the week.
image removed
Got the rear control cover fitted and installed the magnets for it
image removed
image removed
Installed the brass inserts for the neck bolts.
I am using a "neck plate" but it will be a surprise.
Coming into the home stretch, just need to wet sand and polish the body, give all the metal parts a final polish, and cut a nut/set it up.
JBennett
Tele-Afflicted
Nah, don't worry about it. My whole business model is built on ripping off unnamed commercial artists from a half century ago!
Nice work on the engraved plates.
Nice work on the engraved plates.
Thumposaurus
TDPRI Member
image removed
Wet sanded and polished the headstock late last night.
Installed the tuners and a rough(very rough) cut bone nut today. The nut is just wedged in the slot for now no glue yet. After I get the bridge on I will slot, polish it and I am going to drop it back in the black dye before installing it for the last time.
image removed
Finished fitting all the metal parts, and gave them all a good polish, I'll probably throw a coat of wax on them all before installing them to help keep the fingerprints at bay.
I have to run to woodcraft and pick up a new set of micromesh pads before wet sanding. Should have that all done by Thursday or Friday the body is passing the sniff and thumbnail test.
Wet sanded and polished the headstock late last night.
Installed the tuners and a rough(very rough) cut bone nut today. The nut is just wedged in the slot for now no glue yet. After I get the bridge on I will slot, polish it and I am going to drop it back in the black dye before installing it for the last time.
image removed
Finished fitting all the metal parts, and gave them all a good polish, I'll probably throw a coat of wax on them all before installing them to help keep the fingerprints at bay.
I have to run to woodcraft and pick up a new set of micromesh pads before wet sanding. Should have that all done by Thursday or Friday the body is passing the sniff and thumbnail test.
Thumposaurus
TDPRI Member
Since I am hiding the adjustment screws for the pick ups I'm not using the mounting rings/springs. I am going to use foam underneath like Jazz bass pick ups.
I'm not confident in the machine screw holding in the wood, and I looked all over town and couldn't find threaded inserts small enough.
So I got some nuts and screwed them on some threaded rod, chucked it in the drill press and ran a file against it until they were rounded off.
Like so:
image removed
image removed
Drilled the hole for the threaded portion first just deep enough to flush mount to the bottom of the route.
image removed
Then drilled the hole for the screw to go through to deeper, and glued the inserts in place.
Last little bit of fiddling figuring out the bridge mounting.
image removed
I considered using the magnets to hold the bridge plate in place too, but figured I better use some screws.
image removed
If I am using screws I wanted to hide them.
I drilled the mounting holes so they will be hidden by the saddle adjustment screw/spring when the bridge is assembled
Picked a new set of micro-mesh pads up today, so tomorrow is adventures in wet sanding.
It shouldn't be too bad, gonna start with 800 grit to knock the high spots down then switch to the micro-mesh.
I'm not confident in the machine screw holding in the wood, and I looked all over town and couldn't find threaded inserts small enough.
So I got some nuts and screwed them on some threaded rod, chucked it in the drill press and ran a file against it until they were rounded off.
Like so:
image removed
image removed
Drilled the hole for the threaded portion first just deep enough to flush mount to the bottom of the route.
image removed
Then drilled the hole for the screw to go through to deeper, and glued the inserts in place.
Last little bit of fiddling figuring out the bridge mounting.
image removed
I considered using the magnets to hold the bridge plate in place too, but figured I better use some screws.
image removed
If I am using screws I wanted to hide them.
I drilled the mounting holes so they will be hidden by the saddle adjustment screw/spring when the bridge is assembled
Picked a new set of micro-mesh pads up today, so tomorrow is adventures in wet sanding.
It shouldn't be too bad, gonna start with 800 grit to knock the high spots down then switch to the micro-mesh.
Thumposaurus
TDPRI Member
I had taken a file and rounded the edges of the bridge and buffed them with sandpaper.
The edges feel completely smooth now.
Just looks dangerous.
A little bit of metal polish on the edges helps to smooth them out too.
The edges feel completely smooth now.
Just looks dangerous.
A little bit of metal polish on the edges helps to smooth them out too.
Thumposaurus
TDPRI Member
image removed
Wet sanded it with some 800 grit paper till it was nice and flat no shiny spots
Then worked my way up through the micro-mesh grits.
I cannot recommend micro-mesh enough it is the simplest way to get a super mirror finish by hand.
image removed
This picture here is just the micro-mesh pads no polishing compounds yet.
image removed
Compunds, and polishes oh my.
I have a very big chunk of that green foam I have been using for polishing pads. I just slice off chunks as needed and dispose of them when they get too gunked up.
Use a different pad per polish, and some elbow grease.
The micro mesh still leaves some little fine scratches the polishes remove them.
image removed
Installed the pick ups and glued in the magnets for the "pick guard"
image removed
Installed the bridge and the "pick guard" (keep putting it in quotes cause it is not much of a pick guard)
image removed
Wired everything up, just simple 3 way switch 1 vol 1 tone, electrosocket cup.
It was a tight fit but I managed to cram all the wires in with out cutting the pick up leads. They are wired for coil splitting so I might add a push pull pot to split them some time in the future.
Wet sanded it with some 800 grit paper till it was nice and flat no shiny spots
Then worked my way up through the micro-mesh grits.
I cannot recommend micro-mesh enough it is the simplest way to get a super mirror finish by hand.
image removed
This picture here is just the micro-mesh pads no polishing compounds yet.
image removed
Compunds, and polishes oh my.
I have a very big chunk of that green foam I have been using for polishing pads. I just slice off chunks as needed and dispose of them when they get too gunked up.
Use a different pad per polish, and some elbow grease.
The micro mesh still leaves some little fine scratches the polishes remove them.
image removed
Installed the pick ups and glued in the magnets for the "pick guard"
image removed
Installed the bridge and the "pick guard" (keep putting it in quotes cause it is not much of a pick guard)
image removed
Wired everything up, just simple 3 way switch 1 vol 1 tone, electrosocket cup.
It was a tight fit but I managed to cram all the wires in with out cutting the pick up leads. They are wired for coil splitting so I might add a push pull pot to split them some time in the future.
Last edited:
Thumposaurus
TDPRI Member
I wanted to put this in its own post.
It is done!
Well 99% done, I have to shave the nut down some and polish it.
Then do the final set up and intonation, but I did rock it out tonight for about an hour.
image removed
image removed
Better pictures coming tomorrow, and I'll do my video over the weekend.
I'm pretty pleased with how it came together.
It is done!
Well 99% done, I have to shave the nut down some and polish it.
Then do the final set up and intonation, but I did rock it out tonight for about an hour.
image removed
image removed
Better pictures coming tomorrow, and I'll do my video over the weekend.
I'm pretty pleased with how it came together.
DesmoDog
Tele-Afflicted
That's pretty cool. The first kit I made was supposed to end up with a similar finish, but it turned out the opposite of what I wanted, the grain lines got dark and the rest stayed light! Now I tell people I meant to do that.
Nice job.
Nice job.
Thumposaurus
TDPRI Member
image removed
image removed
Some outside fence shots, I even put it on a proper stand instead of just hanging it off the fence
You can see on the back of the neck the scarf joint where I cut the neck wrong at first and had to scarf on a plain piece of maple. Oh well made it work.
image removed
Back view with the covers removed, I wanted to hide the neck bolts so I put a fake neck plate on with some more magnets.
image removed
Some outside fence shots, I even put it on a proper stand instead of just hanging it off the fence
You can see on the back of the neck the scarf joint where I cut the neck wrong at first and had to scarf on a plain piece of maple. Oh well made it work.
image removed
Back view with the covers removed, I wanted to hide the neck bolts so I put a fake neck plate on with some more magnets.
Thumposaurus
TDPRI Member
Well here it is,
I know I am doing it no justice with my playing.
Please be gentle
My desktop computer took a big crap so I had to record it to my laptop using the mic on the camera, so I hope the quaility is ok...
Played it through a homebrew EH LPB-1 clone into my Valve Jr. modded with an L-pad to act as a power break of sorts.
Volume on the Valve Jr was about 3/4 up.
If anybody wants to see anything else from it let me know and I'll try to record some other vids.
Them lights iz kewl!
Serious, however, great job on the guitar, pics, and the video.
Serious, however, great job on the guitar, pics, and the video.
Travst
Tele-Holic
Second that, great work. It's nice to put a face with the name. Killer guitar.
- Status
