pmarlin Posted April 7, 2007 Report Share Posted April 7, 2007 Well after the restore project its time to do a complete build. I cut out the body (tele shaped)from a big slab of poplar. I am going to inlay flames into the top of it with padauk and yellow heart. I will also use these two woods to make the volume and tone knobs. this isnt going to be your typical tele I am using a TOM bridge, string thru ferrules, set neck(maple from sound at 11) and two humbuckers. I carved the neck tonight and I have to tell you, I was afraid to get started but just jumped into it and damn was it easy carve with the spokeshave. Every step I do just gets me more exicted about this new hobby. front side of neck Body Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pmarlin Posted April 9, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 9, 2007 I got the neck pocket and neck tenon cut out. I am literally putting my blood and sweat into this, I was loosening my router to get the bit out and when the nut broke loose I slammed my knuckle. I just kept on working and you can see my blood stains on the guitar body Blood stained body neck tenon Padauk and Yellow heart Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denis Posted April 9, 2007 Report Share Posted April 9, 2007 I got the neck pocket and neck tenon cut out. I am literally putting my blood and sweat into this, I was loosening my router to get the bit out and when the nut broke loose I slammed my knuckle. I just kept on working and you can see my blood stains on the guitar body I know just how you feel - I think this is the 5th time I have sanded the bloodstains off of my maple body. Maybe I should just have gone for bloodwood to start with?!??! Denis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geo Posted April 9, 2007 Report Share Posted April 9, 2007 Dude, just leave the bloodstains and finish it clear! Girls will be amazed ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pmarlin Posted April 12, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 12, 2007 I got the yellowheart and padauk flames inlaid on the body. There are some small gaps and glue lines but I plan on routing a small channel along all the outlines and filling it with epoxy mixed with some burnt umber powder. I will post some pictures after I sand it all down when the glue is dried tomorrow. I was going to just round over the edges but now I think I will bind it. Also I am just going to use 1 humbucker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick500 Posted April 12, 2007 Report Share Posted April 12, 2007 I know how you feel... Blood, check. Sweat, check. Tears... before it's over, yeah, very possibly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Posted April 12, 2007 Report Share Posted April 12, 2007 Hey Paul, I have those exact same spokeshaves. How did they work out for you? I still haven't learned how to set mine up to cut properly, need to find a guide on setting up those tools! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pmarlin Posted April 12, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 12, 2007 It was my first time to use them and the rounded Kunz spokeshave worked great. I shaped the neck with it in about 15 minutes. That fretboard I ordered from you will go on this to match the padauk inlay on the body. If I would have thought of it sooner I could have cut one out of the padauk I had before I cut it up into smaller pieces. Oh well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pmarlin Posted April 13, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 13, 2007 Ok here it is inlayed and the outlines routed. I just filled the lines with the dark brown epoxy mixture so tomorrow I will sand it all down and show some more pictures. and here are the rest of the pictures up to this point Yellow heart in and routed for padauk Yellow heart and padauk sanded down Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GuitarGuy Posted April 13, 2007 Report Share Posted April 13, 2007 (edited) That is very unique looking. Just an idea. YOur routes for the wood inlay are a little less than perfect. So I would consider oversizing them a bit and using a colored epoxy filler like a pinstripe. Blue maybe? Edited April 13, 2007 by GuitarGuy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Sorbera Posted April 13, 2007 Report Share Posted April 13, 2007 That is very unique looking. Just an idea. YOur routes for the wood inlay are a little less than perfect. So I would consider oversizing them a bit and using a colored epoxy filler like a pinstripe. Blue maybe? +1 Man that thing is looking cool! I really like the headstock. Personally I find it easier to carve the neck after the fingerboard is attached. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattharris75 Posted April 13, 2007 Report Share Posted April 13, 2007 Very cool! Love the idea. I have thought about doing something like that myself. Can't wait to see how yours turns out, it may inspire me to actually give it a try one of these days! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jnewman Posted April 13, 2007 Report Share Posted April 13, 2007 Guys-- that's what he already said he's doing. He inlaid the wood bits, then routed grooves along the outlines to fill with a colored (decorative) epoxy mixture. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pmarlin Posted April 13, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 13, 2007 Yep, I already filled the routes with epoxy and it is setting. I mixed it with the burnt umber powder that I use for rosewood fretboard inlays. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Posted April 13, 2007 Report Share Posted April 13, 2007 Wow. With the way you routed, the colored mixture is going to give that flame a very nice look! I'm pretty excited to see that fingerboard used on this build. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WezV Posted April 13, 2007 Report Share Posted April 13, 2007 OK - thats cool!!! I may steal this idea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pmarlin Posted April 13, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 13, 2007 I got the idea from this one ESP FireBlade Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slabbefusk Posted April 14, 2007 Report Share Posted April 14, 2007 That was just so hot! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pmarlin Posted April 18, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2007 Well I routed and epoxied 3 times. The first one I ended up sanding down to far (completely in some spots). The next one was too dark, it was black and looked like magic marker. Then I got the color right on the third, I barely put in any powder and it looked like tea it is actually transparent and you can see through it. Some of the lines got wider in spots but I think I can follow a line better with my router now( a little too late). I am thinking if I route another line with a smaller bit I can even the line out. You guys have any suggestions? There is also a couple spots where there should be a little piece of the poplar showing between the flames that I just filled with epoxy but I might inlay the poplar back in those spots. Body with lines epoxied Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tim_ado Posted April 18, 2007 Report Share Posted April 18, 2007 lol i have to admit when i opened this my first thought was "ohhh man not another tele" but then scrolled down ......i love it, so sick gives a new meaning to flamed wood ........ahhh man i should be a dad with a joke like that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Sorbera Posted April 18, 2007 Report Share Posted April 18, 2007 Now it's looking sweet. Still a little rough around the edges, but thats to be expected for a first try. It really is amazing, not another run of the mill tele. I'm curious, how did you do the routing for the epoxy? Free hand? Or with a template? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pmarlin Posted April 18, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2007 Freehand thats why its uneven, but after redoing 3 times I have pretty good control over it now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davis guitars Posted April 18, 2007 Report Share Posted April 18, 2007 wow that looks amazing cant wait to see more done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pmarlin Posted April 18, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2007 Thanks I was just in my shop looking at it and realized my pickup is going to cover that really bad spot. So maybe I will just go ahead with the way it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pmarlin Posted April 23, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 23, 2007 Heres an update ,I have got alot done and made some mistakes to learn by. I guess thats what the first build is all about. I think its because you get exited and want to move forward too fast. anyways here is where I am at right now. Fret board is inlaid, radiused, fretted and bound with maple. Notice the pickup ring made from padauk. I made some knobs with the Yellow heart and Padauk And a truss rod cover The whole neck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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