Esquire Build

[fookgub]

So, this was originally going to be my attempt at a speed build. As usual, life interfered with my guitar building, and I won't be setting any speed records. Still, it's coming together much more quickly than my builds usually do.

Here was the status as of Saturday May 3rd, 7pm:

A couple "in progress" shots:

http://www.ece.utexas.edu/~wrobert/esquire2.jpg

http://www.ece.utexas.edu/~wrobert/esquire3.jpg

http://www.ece.utexas.edu/~wrobert/esquire4.jpg

And the status as of Sunday May 4th, 6:30pm:

Specs:

Maple body

Fender vintage RI pickup

Wilkenson vintage-style 3 saddle "ashtray" bridge

1 volume knob with push/pull tone cut

bone nut, roller string trees, electrosocket

parts bin hardware for everything else

Warmoth rosewood on maple Tele neck with medium stainless fretwire

Goals and why:

I've been wanting to do an Esquire for lot of reasons. First, simplicity appeals to me on romantic grounds. Most things I build (not just guitars!) are designed for maximum flexibility and are covered in knobs and switches, or otherwise burdened with features. For once, I'd like to build something that does one thing and that's it. Second, I wanted to build this as fast as I could... mostly to see how fast I could build something. And third (and best of all!) I'm not painting this guitar (yay... I hate finishing)! It's being painted by a friend of mine in Galveston. She's an excellent artist, and I wanted to leave the body wide open so she has as much space as possible to work with.

What's left:

Not much, really. I'm going to test fit it this weekend. Install the nut and string tree, wire it up (I've been using modular connectors lately, so the test fit is as good a time as any to wire it), check everything out and make sure it's all right, then disassemble it and sand it out. I'll probably end up doing at least a forearm contour, too. The simplicity of a slab body with a tight radius really appeals to me, but I was missing the contours during my initial tests with it strapped on. Anyway, I think I can get all that stuff done this weekend. After that it will have to sit for a while until I get a chance to drive it down to Galveston.

[supplebanana]

May 4th!!????!! f*ck I've missed the KISS gig i was going to on MAY 2nd...... I thought it was only April!!!!

[fookgub]

May 4th!!????!! f*ck I've missed the KISS gig i was going to on MAY 2nd...... I thought it was only April!!!!

doh! the edit button seems to be missing, too....

[supplebanana]

don't worry...jus'me being pedantic.... thru' me fer a sec tho'

[fookgub]

Test fit completed. Dialed in a nice setup with low action and minimal buzzing. I like to set things so that nothing buzzes when I play light, but a little buzzing is okay when I dig in hard. The test is whether or not it buzzes while strumming normally in drop-D (it can't). I also set the intonation to make sure I could.

With that all done, I pronounced the guitar a-okay and took it apart. Did a some slight forearm and belly contours yesterday and started sanding it out. I really like the idea of a straight up slab body, but I think I'll be happier in the end with the contours. I kept them pretty small, anyway. It really doesn't take a big contour to make a guitar comfortable. Still in the process of sanding it out, so I won't be done this weekend like I wanted. Next time I'll be able to work on it will be Tuesday, and I'm hoping to finish it then.

Front:

Back: http://www.ece.utexas.edu/~wrobert/esquire...t_body_back.jpg

Overall: Back: http://www.ece.utexas.edu/~wrobert/esquire_testfit_all.jpg

Modular connectors: Overall: Back: http://www.ece.utexas.edu/~wrobert/esquire..._connectors.jpg

[fookgub]

Okay... my part of this is done now. Body is sanded out and has two light coats of polyurethane just to seal it up.

I'm heading to Houston unexpectedly tonight, and the guitar is coming with me... so it looks like this will be done sooner than I thought.

Edited April 22, 2010 by fookgub