gpcustomguitars Posted July 2, 2018 Report Share Posted July 2, 2018 (edited) I might have mentioned that my friend ordered a 335 type guitar along with the telecaster, constructed like mine. We agreed that he will supply the neck, and I'll take care of the body etc. So, here goes: 01-IMG_20180627_120533 by Goran P, on Flickr 1/2 of the plan printed to size, and glued over with tape, gives it some durability and thickness for tracing. 02-IMG_20180627_133903 by Goran P, on Flickr 03-IMG_20180628_173130 by Goran P, on Flickr 04-IMG_20180628_174146 by Goran P, on Flickr We bought some pine shelving, 18mm thick and laminated, so it should be dry and stable. I transfered my paper template to it and cut 4 pieces, one a bit nicer than the rest, and then fixed that one to another with 2 screws. 05-IMG_20180629_193117 by Goran P, on Flickr 06-IMG_20180629_201547 by Goran P, on Flickr Then shaped the two together on the sander, and glued them to the two other, rough cut ones. Accidentally, one tray for kitchen use was created 07-IMG_20180629_203737 by Goran P, on Flickr 08-IMG_20180630_111239 by Goran P, on Flickr 09-IMG_20180630_210131 by Goran P, on Flickr 1-IMG_20180701_104704 by Goran P, on Flickr 2-IMG_20180701_111336 by Goran P, on Flickr 3-IMG_20180701_114143 by Goran P, on Flickr Next, I routed the halves clean using the identical upper halves as templates, worked nice, and with no chipout 10-IMG_20180630_210459 by Goran P, on Flickr Picked a piece of cherry for the center block, and cut it to length. Today I've made and printed templates for shaping the center block, so that will be the next step. I'll make some mdf jigs to make things repeatable. Cheers, Goran Edited July 2, 2018 by gpcustomguitars Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted July 2, 2018 Report Share Posted July 2, 2018 I think you've got a lucky friend, Goran. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gpcustomguitars Posted July 3, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 3, 2018 I hope he'll like both guitars, we did order premade necks for both, as that helps me to get both done in a reasonable amount of time. Last night I managed to plane both sides of the block clean, and made the mdf template. I screwed it onto the side using the centerline drawn all around, and will route the profile, probably tomorrow. I'll route it from both sides, I hope that the bit will be long enough, will plane/sand the rest of not. 3-IMG_20180702_210713 by Goran P, on Flickr 2-IMG_20180702_210700 by Goran P, on Flickr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gpcustomguitars Posted July 5, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 5, 2018 Well, yesterday's session was all about the center block. My mdf template is about 1mm oversize to account for any router-connected events, and that was a correct decision. I've started with short bit, again small steps, 3mm, as the stock to be removed is both skinny and mostly runout grain, so it chips off easily. 1-IMG_20180704_184541 by Goran P, on Flickr 2-IMG_20180704_185743 by Goran P, on Flickr I've then removed the template to gain 8mm depth. I was trying to avoid using the long bit for as long as possible. 3-IMG_20180704_190426 by Goran P, on Flickr Then from the other side, first with template, then without, and had to switch to the long bit. 4-IMG_20180704_194453 by Goran P, on Flickr 5-IMG_20180704_200256 by Goran P, on Flickr It worked fine, with some dips in few places, as the surface for the router is really narrow. Most of those will dissapear in carving and sanding to size. 6-IMG_20180704_204319 by Goran P, on Flickr 7-IMG_20180704_205329 by Goran P, on Flickr 8-IMG_20180704_205344 by Goran P, on Flickr Not cutting the shoulders was a trade-off, I needed that surface for the router bearing to ride on, but now I'll need more time to get them perpendicular. I might glue a shim to the block to level it while shaping on the oscilating sander. Next step would be to clean the surface more, cut the shoulders and the cutout in the block at the bridge pup and glue it all together. Must not forget to cut out a small space on the treble side where it would collide with the potentiometer later on. Also, I hope I'll get the telecaster into finishing booth by the end of the week! Still need to route the neck pocket and glue/trim the binding. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted July 6, 2018 Report Share Posted July 6, 2018 Ah - I see this now! I was being a bit dense and couldn't quite envisage before how the components were being placed. Looking forward to seeing how you are planning doing the other elements of the design. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gpcustomguitars Posted July 9, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 9, 2018 (edited) Glad you like it Andy It worked nicely the first time I made a 335-like guitar like this. I did laminate the sides piece by piece then, using NOS hardwood flooring I had on hand. That was a bit boring, and presented a number of problems in flattening such a irregular shape. This time, I went with clean laminated flat stock, so I expect no warping and it was much cleaner and quicker. It's been raining for a few days now, so I didn't do much of anything, but did manage to take care of a place for the pot in the side stock, basically just sanded it out, and sawed/chipped/sanded the center piece shoulders. Strategically placed mdf stick provided 0 degrees for sanding, and it worked easier than expected I plan to route the cutout portion under the bridge pup for slipping the electronics trough, and then I can start gluing up the pieces into the body. I'll probably sand out the round bottom portion of the central part using the same method as with the shoulders. 1-IMG_20180707_110456 by Goran P, on Flickr 2-IMG_20180707_113426 by Goran P, on Flickr 3-IMG_20180707_115146 by Goran P, on Flickr Edited July 9, 2018 by gpcustomguitars Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gpcustomguitars Posted October 2, 2018 Author Report Share Posted October 2, 2018 Just a quick update while waiting on the tuners and the pup springs for the Alvin Lee. No pics yet but I glued the body frame together, and should do some fine tuning, carving and sanding. Next step will be glueing some sapele veneer all around, and then it's time for top and back. I did it other way around the last time, and while it did work fine, it was a lot more work. Pics to follow! I already have the next project layed out on paper staring at me from the kitchen table, but I'm forbiding myself from starting it until the tele, ALee, 335 and another LP halfway done are done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
komodo Posted October 2, 2018 Report Share Posted October 2, 2018 1 hour ago, gpcustomguitars said: I already have the next project layed out on paper staring at me from the kitchen table, but I'm forbiding myself from starting it until the tele, ALee, 335 and another LP halfway done are done I feel your pain! It is my worst fault, starting projects on top of projects until the madness becomes too much and I just have to finish one of them or I will explode. Awesome work so far on the 335. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gpcustomguitars Posted October 3, 2018 Author Report Share Posted October 3, 2018 Thanks! Definitely, I just set the to-do list to those 4 guitars, but in reality, the list of started projects is a ...bit longer... I'm trying to finish all the things that definitely have some potential but got pushed to the back burner. Also, from time to time I have my repair duties that must override some of my crazy ideas Well, some pics - I think one side is reasonably carved, the other still to go, and then I'll pore over them again prior to the next step. The second pic shows the top/back angles in relation to the sides. I've blended the joins, so that there is no no-contact areas between the frame and the top/back. When it's all done, veneering should be a walk in the park. 1-IMG_20181002_200805 by Goran P, on Flickr 2-IMG_20181002_203536 by Goran P, on Flickr Here's what I plan to be my next project as soon as possible: 1-IMG_20180926_184927 by Goran P, on Flickr 2-IMG_20180926_184933 by Goran P, on Flickr 3-IMG_20180926_184940 by Goran P, on Flickr I'll just start picking wood for it and putting it aside, perhaps just run it trough the planer to rest. 25.5, 12' radius, necktrough, most probably acero parana neck and cherry sides. 24 frets with partial access up to 28th just for show. I'd like it to have either a rolling nut, or a zero nut/fret and locking tuners, and sides profiles fully rounded. Hope you like it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gpcustomguitars Posted October 8, 2018 Author Report Share Posted October 8, 2018 Had a busy weekend! Among other things, prepared the top and the back, some 5mm to spare all around. Veneer for the sides is ready, so, assembly is not far away. 01-IMG_20181006_125420 by Goran P, on Flickr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asgeirogm Posted October 22, 2021 Report Share Posted October 22, 2021 (edited) Sorry for resurrecting this 3 year old thread but I wanted to ask if you finished this one and have some more pics? I love me a 335/355/336/356! Edited October 22, 2021 by asgeirogm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.