gpcustomguitars Posted March 5, 2018 Report Share Posted March 5, 2018 Time for a new project! I've promised my friend a new body for his Tele. He likes the neck, but would like to replace everything else. We still have to determine the absolute details, but it will be a standard, one piece body, and we got a slab of ash for it about a month back, enough for 2 bodies and something crazy It's at 9% now, but I'll still go slow and see if it has any movement hidden. I bought the standard AlNiCo vintage styled pickups for it from ali, they seem OK, interested how they will sound. First, decided where to cut. I'll wait a bit and get it trough a planer, and then it's lots of routing... 02 by Goran P, on Flickr 01 by Goran P, on Flickr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gpcustomguitars Posted March 11, 2018 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2018 Did some more work on this...first the boards were cleaned and thicknessed on a planer to 42mm. I think I chose the nicer looking side for the top. Screwed the template to the body blank and routed everything at once in many shallow steps (1-2mm). Yesterday I got a new toy , so some sanding followed. We agreed on bound top/rounded back for now, so I routed those next. Also, I don't want to route the neck pocket before getting the actual neck on the table. 05 by Goran P, on Flickr 06 by Goran P, on Flickr 07 by Goran P, on Flickr 08 by Goran P, on Flickr 09 by Goran P, on Flickr 010 by Goran P, on Flickr 011 by Goran P, on Flickr 012 by Goran P, on Flickr 013 by Goran P, on Flickr 014 by Goran P, on Flickr 015 by Goran P, on Flickr 016 by Goran P, on Flickr 017 by Goran P, on Flickr 018 by Goran P, on Flickr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mistermikev Posted March 11, 2018 Report Share Posted March 11, 2018 very nice work! I learned something - write the rout direction on your template! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted March 12, 2018 Report Share Posted March 12, 2018 Nice. I've got some ash I need to do something with........ SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gpcustomguitars Posted March 13, 2018 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2018 Thanks! I still have what is left of the board, so I'll have to figure out what to build, too...perhaps a tele with a reverse headstock? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gpcustomguitars Posted May 18, 2018 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2018 Well, my friend is verrry slow with procuring the parts, but I'm filling the time with some electronics works of my own: this was redid, no preamp, straight to the PA, TDA 2030A, not too loud but nice sounding. 3-IMG_20180512_132629 by Goran P, on Flickr this is also done, but still missing the handle - it will get one later today. It's TDA8932. 5-IMG_20180515_202626 by Goran P, on Flickr and still in the works - a small head with jtm preamp, replacing 12x7's with jfet's, probably 2n5457's, followed with again, some chip amp, perhaps TDA 2050. No tone stack, just 2 vol 2 gain setup. 1-IMG_20180505_212033 by Goran P, on Flickr I've since decided what to do with remaining ash: 1-IMG_20180317_110822 by Goran P, on Flickr 2-IMG_20180317_113446 by Goran P, on Flickr I have since finished the templates, so when I clear the table I will do some routing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted May 18, 2018 Report Share Posted May 18, 2018 It is good to have side projects for the times there is nothing to do but watch clearcoat cure...or wait for parts to arrive. Yours are always way cool. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gpcustomguitars Posted May 25, 2018 Author Report Share Posted May 25, 2018 (edited) Thanks a lot Scott! My friend seems to think that his buying of a new flat should have some impact on this tele's schedule . Well, I'm having fun with little amps for now, with some help of my new associate she's a bit camera shy, but very friendly! 1-IMG-3ea77ab5302b1e1843887f94504f0a85-V by Goran P, on Flickr I've since added the ext cab jack on the smaller amp, and should test it with a real 2x12 Eminence Betas later today. Used the denim one a a cab to test it first, works fine. Also in the works, 2x4 combo somewhat looking as a Tweed Deluxe. Started covering it yesterday. It will actually have Gain and Volume knobs with on/off switch. I would like to add a 4x4 cab to this collection. 3-IMG-047f8157e7dfb6f5081120dcacaf8ff6-V by Goran P, on Flickr 2-IMG-abccaa02bb0e39ec5624c797de342ce3-V by Goran P, on Flickr 1-IMG_20180520_155718 by Goran P, on Flickr 2-IMG_20180520_155727 by Goran P, on Flickr 4-IMG-ebcfa0b62af50cfe0d654b7eae2a3f4e-V by Goran P, on Flickr Accidentally in the pics, my new, old looking additional and portable workbench I've built recently! Edited May 25, 2018 by gpcustomguitars 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gpcustomguitars Posted May 31, 2018 Author Report Share Posted May 31, 2018 (edited) Roughly cut before routing to shape, one small bit of width missing, being glued on on this pic. Need to change the jig saw bit...everything smells like roasted coffee in the yard Btw, this is just in front of the shop door, nicer under the wallnut then in the shop now, as we have a steady +-30c these days. 1-IMG_20180528_195340 by Goran P, on Flickr Found some tweed, this was a first, I only used jeans and local tolex-like brands so far. Sounds OK as a cab, will add it it's own chassis soon. 1-IMG_20180527_114203 by Goran P, on Flickr 2-IMG_20180527_114215 by Goran P, on Flickr Edited May 31, 2018 by gpcustomguitars 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gpcustomguitars Posted June 3, 2018 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2018 (edited) A small update from my summer shop. I have routed out the shape (no tearout!!!) and sanded the sides, then rounded the edges, and re-sanded mostly to remove some router burns. I've marked the area to be removed on the top. Still thinking how to remove the bulk of it, planing, sureform or rasps, but I think I'll start with a router and some angled rails from scrap. This has been a clean build so far, so I think I would prefer clean machined straightness this time. I finished a headstock template, and will probably use it combined with my tele template for the neck to trim it to size on the sides. This piece of maple has a fault I think I will avoid barely, and I'll glue a missing bit after I've used the side to route the TR channel. 2-IMG_20180601_211607 by Goran P, on Flickr 3-IMG_20180601_211620 by Goran P, on Flickr 1-IMG_20180601_211552 by Goran P, on Flickr 4-IMG_20180601_211659 by Goran P, on Flickr 5-IMG_20180601_211938 by Goran P, on Flickr Edited June 3, 2018 by gpcustomguitars 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gpcustomguitars Posted June 4, 2018 Author Report Share Posted June 4, 2018 Finished the arm rest by planing. Making a sled for the router seemed to be a lot of boring work, and this was a nice exercise. This is a pic from the very start, forgot to take an after pic. Made sure it was all flat by going over it with orbital sander first, and vibrating sander second. Cup of coffee obligatory 1-IMG_20180603_114219 by Goran P, on Flickr Now I should start on the relief cut on the back, and start on the neck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gpcustomguitars Posted June 4, 2018 Author Report Share Posted June 4, 2018 BTW, I was unable to find any info on the actual circuit for this model, it seems to have an active hum cancelling...does anyone have any experience with this, a schematic would be very appreciated! I'd like to go with 3 singles, V and T pots and a 5-way switch, and add a treble bleed and a bridge-always-on switch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curtisa Posted June 5, 2018 Report Share Posted June 5, 2018 Is there a particular circuit from a known manufacturer you're chasing for this? Hum cancelling, whether active or passive usually is nothing more than some 'thing' that picks up the induced hum (eg, one coil of a humbucker) and subtracts it from the other 'thing' that picks up the induced hum (eg, the second coil of a humbucker). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gpcustomguitars Posted June 5, 2018 Author Report Share Posted June 5, 2018 Yes, they have a Music Man circuit for hum canceling in most of their models - there is a patent online, but obviously not very detailed info. If nothing pops up, I'll just wire up a regular circuit, with treble bleed, which I've started to like recently. Adding a always-on switch for the bridge pu seems like a good idea for now. From what I figured, it works by emitting hum in phase, which then cancels itself out with existing hum. So, the singles retain their presence, but it's nice and quiet. Another small session, both reliefs are done: 1-IMG_20180604_210725 by Goran P, on Flickr 2-IMG_20180604_210733 by Goran P, on Flickr I need to route the neck pocket, vibrato hole from the top and the pup cavities next. I'll add a hole in the template for the bridge well, but no separate template for the pups, as the route is fairly straight lined, so just some strips. I think I already have the template for the back route that will fit. I think I'll go with the tele style neck end, flat, not round. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curtisa Posted June 5, 2018 Report Share Posted June 5, 2018 The Musicman 'silent circuit' sounds like nothing more than adding a dummy coil to the pickups that acts exactly the same as the two coils of a humbucker (based on this marketing blurb from Ernie Ball). The pickups detect (strings+hum) and the silent circuit picks up hum. Electrically subtracting the pickup signal from the silent circuit signal yields (signal+hum) - (hum) = (signal only), which is no different to the way a humbucker works. The patentable bit of the circuit probably relates to the construction and characteristics of the hum-detecting coil of the silent circuit. You could probably get a similar effect by installing a dummy singlecoil pickup somewhere inside the body away from the strings and wiring it up as if it formed the second coil of a humbucker in association with the other pickups in the guitar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gpcustomguitars Posted June 6, 2018 Author Report Share Posted June 6, 2018 I found some pics of the device, and it does look like a inductor coil of sorts, but the patent shows some additional active circuitry. I was hoping to use one of those sewing machine bobbins for this, but perhaps it's not really needed. I'll probably just go with good shielding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gpcustomguitars Posted June 6, 2018 Author Report Share Posted June 6, 2018 Just found a definition of their concept as "a circuit that uses a buffer for the dummy coil and the output of the buffer is used as the "ground" for the single coil ". That would explain the trimmer visible on the top of their unit, to adjust the unity gain. Sounds simple enough, but think I'll probably go with old school stuff. Also, I would have to solve how it would work with the middle pup as it is reversed. Here's the circuit I've found, reported to work, trimpots are connected to individual pup grounds: bufferedDummy.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gpcustomguitars Posted June 8, 2018 Author Report Share Posted June 8, 2018 Yesterday's session: 1-IMG_20180607_211028 by Goran P, on Flickr Managed to route the neck pocket, my neck template fits almost too snug, but it will be just right after some sanding. I took my time, but this woodworking-under-the-tree-in-the-afternoon thing is really nice in the summer. One of the shop lamps is hanging from the tree when it gets dark Vibrato top route should be next. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted June 8, 2018 Report Share Posted June 8, 2018 5 hours ago, gpcustomguitars said: but this woodworking-under-the-tree-in-the-afternoon thing is really nice in the summer. One of the shop lamps is hanging from the tree when it gets dark Being outside rocks! SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gpcustomguitars Posted June 11, 2018 Author Report Share Posted June 11, 2018 Definitely! Had a nice morning yesterday - routed the body template for the bridge well and routed the body trough, and proceeded to route the spring cavity on the back. I'm sure this is done a lot, but still would like to say that having a 90deg angle template is really handy for such rectangular routes. I left 4mm thickness under the top in the wider part of the bridge well. I hope that is enough, the body is 41mm thick now. I should route the pup cavity next, and it could be 19mm deep. 1-IMG_20180609_202135 by Goran P, on Flickr 2-IMG_20180609_202539 by Goran P, on Flickr .3-IMG_20180609_205602 by Goran P, on Flickr 4-IMG_20180610_103921 by Goran P, on Flickr 5-IMG_20180610_104921 by Goran P, on Flickr 6-IMG_20180610_105441 by Goran P, on Flickr 7-IMG_20180610_110116 by Goran P, on Flickr 8-IMG_20180610_111353 by Goran P, on Flickr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gpcustomguitars Posted June 12, 2018 Author Report Share Posted June 12, 2018 ...and another small session: 1-IMG_20180611_185545 by Goran P, on Flickr 2-IMG_20180611_190458 by Goran P, on Flickr 3-IMG_20180611_192154 by Goran P, on Flickr The first pic shows the shallow route all around, just moving the 90-degree template around. 6mm deep was enough. Then with no template, used the existing routes to get the final depth of 19mm. The electronics triangle I plan to deepen to 30mm in the next session. Mainly for the switch, but also to lighten the body some more. I'm starting to really like this shape, nice, sorta small, reasonably light, kinda like a strat but not really Not in the pics, drilled the hole for the jack. Forstner was really slow, so I switched to largest drill bit I have, that is 20mm. Still to decide is whether to shape the heel as on the originals, or to go with standard shape/hardware... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gpcustomguitars Posted June 14, 2018 Author Report Share Posted June 14, 2018 No time for shop for now, but did manage 5 mins to make a routing template "plug" to define the electronics cavity shape. I took off a little from the bridge pup cavity to widen the space for all the wires going trough. Hopefully will use it today... It will be held in place by some double-sided tape. 1-IMG_20180613_181640 by Goran P, on Flickr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gpcustomguitars Posted June 18, 2018 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2018 (edited) Again, had some snippets of shop time over the weekend...routed the electronics cavity to final depth with no problems, I developed a habit to use step depth of 2mm. Resawed the neck blank on one side, other is still needed flat for the routing of the tr channel, and routed/planed the blank flat. 01-IMG_20180615_195843 by Goran P, on Flickr 02-IMG_20180615_195852 by Goran P, on Flickr 03-IMG_20180615_202013 by Goran P, on Flickr 04-IMG_20180616_200405 by Goran P, on Flickr I don't want to nibble the pickguard for the tr access, and I don't have a spokewheel tr nut at hand, so I decided to do this. Centerline is true, btw, just the outside lines are off... 06-IMG_20180617_190612 by Goran P, on Flickr Drilled by hand to depth, will clean up with a dremel sanding drum before glueing. 08-IMG_20180617_192202 by Goran P, on Flickr The heartwood in this plank emerged here, so I had to add a piece, same plank so I hope it will be a nice match. Forgot to take a pic , it's still clamped. 09-IMG_20180617_192835 by Goran P, on Flickr And the fretboard, slightly more yellowish acero parana, with the truss rod. I think it will be easily accessible this way. 10-IMG_20180617_201923 by Goran P, on Flickr That's it so far, I could start finishing the body while working on the neck. I was looking into Poly spray cans, I can get Rust-oleum ones here, does anyone have any experience with them? Neck will probably we true oil. Edited June 18, 2018 by gpcustomguitars Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted June 18, 2018 Report Share Posted June 18, 2018 Looks great from here. I agree with you about the shape - I suspect it's going to be nice to play as well as looking refreshingly different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gpcustomguitars Posted June 18, 2018 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2018 Thanks a lot Andy! Also, I got to play with ash, which is also an refreshment after quite a few prevailingly cherry builds. And, this is officially my first full Fender-like build ever Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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