jessejames Posted January 11, 2011 Report Share Posted January 11, 2011 Got the templates in today. Of course the neck template is way off from the neck pocket template. Gonna make a template from the neck this time, that way I get a good fit. Didn't want the huge control plate on the front, so I routed it for the back. Then just gonna make a control plate cover for it. Anyway, here are some pics, I whipped this up in about an hour today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chops1983 Posted January 11, 2011 Report Share Posted January 11, 2011 Hey Jesse looks good! Can i ask, Where did u get the templates from? I don't really have time to make some and it would be easier to buy them at this stage. I got given some alder and a 6mm bookmatched flame maple top, so im thinking of building a Tele cause i cant afford to buy one Your helps appreciated! Chad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted January 11, 2011 Report Share Posted January 11, 2011 That's a nice top Jesse. It looks like a maple crotch, but the color's throwing me a bit. Is that what it is? SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jessejames Posted January 11, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2011 Thanks! I got the templates from an e-bay seller aiguitars. Be warned however, his neck templates do not fit his neck pocket templates. And yeah that is some maple crotch wood, got it for 20$ on ebay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jessejames Posted January 11, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2011 Routed the truss rod channel today. Neck is claro walnut. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jessejames Posted January 14, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2011 neck mocked up with fingerboard! getting closer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zyonsdream Posted January 14, 2011 Report Share Posted January 14, 2011 I always used http://guitarbuildingtemplates.com/ They are not the cheapest but they last forever and everyone I ever bought was spot on. I had no problem reselling them when I was done with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jessejames Posted January 15, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2011 All mocked up, haven't seen a reverse headstock tele, thought it would be cool to build. Anyone wanna rout this neck pocket for me? I hate routing them. I have tried the guitar building templates site before, I just dont like waiting for 8 weeks. Never got a set from them, got tired of waiting so I cancelled. And I'm not exaggerating on the 8 week comment. 8 weeks and I never got them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muzz Posted January 15, 2011 Report Share Posted January 15, 2011 The grain looks cool, I'm digging the reverse headstock, how come you hate routing the neck pocket? That's one of the best bits Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jessejames Posted January 16, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2011 Well, I ran into an unexpected problem. I made my own neck pocket template because the ones that this guy sells are WAY off. And I made the template around my current neck, and during my test fit, it fit dead on perfect, I could hold the neck up with the template. So I rout my neck pocket, and it's off by a little, has very small gaps on all sides. Especially the bottom. Nothing that I can't fill in with some sanding dust and glue, but it bugs me nonetheless. Also, my neck heel is proud of the body by about 1/16" as you can see, is that too proud of the body for a standard tele bridge? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guitar2005 Posted January 16, 2011 Report Share Posted January 16, 2011 The neck heel should be 1/8" proud of the body (not counting the 1/4" fretboard). I cant see the pocket gaps. Is it that its not routed straight? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jessejames Posted January 16, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2011 Okay, good on the neck heel then. I would rather have it a little low than a little high, I can adjust the action more that way. And it's straight, they're just small gaps. And I am **** about everything lol. I am setting the neck instead of a bolt on, so I just like for everything to be flush. Here it is altogether for right now, just waiting on the bridge to finalize and set it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guitar2005 Posted January 16, 2011 Report Share Posted January 16, 2011 Okay, good on the neck heel then. I would rather have it a little low than a little high, I can adjust the action more that way. And it's straight, they're just small gaps. And I am **** about everything lol. I am setting the neck instead of a bolt on, so I just like for everything to be flush. Well... the problem is that if you're too low, you may not be able to get the action at a comfortable level (low enough). do you know what the lowest saddle height is on your bridge? If its 5/16", you should be ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jessejames Posted January 16, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2011 No, I dont know, I haven't gotten it in yet. Should be just like the standard tele bridge height. Plus I have high fretwire planned for it. If it is too much, I will just shim the bottom, but it will only be off from the standard tele heel height by 1/16" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guitar2005 Posted January 16, 2011 Report Share Posted January 16, 2011 No, you can't shim the bottom of the bridge to achieve lower action... think about it or better yet, draw it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jessejames Posted January 16, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2011 I meant the neck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jessejames Posted January 29, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2011 It's been a long, tough couple of weeks, but I finally got the neck glued in, have to fill some small gaps with some dust and glue, but the neck is as they say "laser straight" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jessejames Posted January 31, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2011 Decided to route my pickup cavity today and make sure my scale length was right. Looks like I got it. 25.5" exactly. Plus this thing has extra long screws to help with intonation. Decided to use some franklin's hide glue to set my neck. I have heard not to use this stuff, but I wanted to see how well it would truly hold up, so if you're searching the forum for hide glue and see that this has failed, don't use it! If not, then use away! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jessejames Posted February 6, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2011 I did a **** ton of finish sanding today, then went out and wiped it down with naptha to clean out all the pores, got a couple of good pics of what it will look like when I get some finish on it. Will tru-oil give me a super glossy finish? I do have a couple of spots I just cant get to come out, any suggestions? Or will some pore filler cover this up? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boundsteelblues Posted February 6, 2011 Report Share Posted February 6, 2011 My experience is that every little scratch shows up with tru-oil. I'd wrap a lower grit around a dowel and go back at it. Sand up to 600 and cehck it in very good light. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jessejames Posted February 26, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 26, 2011 Finally got it fretted, beveled, leveled, crowned and polished, carved the neck, adjusted the neck, shaped and slotted the nut and got the height I wanted, checked the action height, and am now just waiting on the tru-oil before I break it all down and finish it out. Didn't tighten the tuners all the way down because I'm just going to take them right off anyway. If anyone was wondering about the franklin hide glue, it held the string tension without a hitch, but my bottle was pretty fresh, I have read after it's a year old it isn't worth using anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jessejames Posted March 3, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 3, 2011 Well, 6 coats of tru-oil and some partial final assembly later, here we are! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jessejames Posted March 15, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 15, 2011 I still have to go in and make the cavity cover plate, and spray a shielding paint in there, but for all intents and purposes, it's done! Hope you all enjoy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Our Souls inc. Posted March 16, 2011 Report Share Posted March 16, 2011 Great job man. I would pesonally cut those intonation screws back a bit, but thats a pesonal thing. Cool lookin custom tele! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ripthorn Posted March 16, 2011 Report Share Posted March 16, 2011 Maybe I missed it on the first page, but what is the fretboard material? It looks great, by the way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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