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My Tele...or...Strat


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On 10/30/2022 at 1:41 AM, woodfab said:

Looks great, nice work.

Thanks man!

Sadly all my projects have stagnated lately but sometimes its good to let things cool for a while. For instance I just had a look at the last photo and decided I will do the usual Strat round-over edges and belly cut etc. but maybe not as much

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  • 3 months later...

I haven't been to the beach this summer but I got progress on My Strat recently. Its funny how I want this to look identical to the real deal but also be unique. I couldn't decide where I wanted the Volume knob, in the position of the middle tone knob or where they have it on a 2-control Strat, I went with the latter to conform with a genuine Strat. I went to great lengths to figure out its position and in the end realise it's just half-way between a regular Strats controls! I also went with a regular belly cut etc. I thought it would just look funny without it

I spent considerable time on the computer getting images then print them out using a trial and error approach till they come out the right size

And without further ado, the pictures

 

IMG_1730.jpg.58a3791feaa845b26b7cc46efdf2e78f.jpg IMG_1752.jpg.e337a9f5d3d63f54cedbfecaeea3985b.jpg

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IMG_1815.jpg.63d9bff6f4074036d2af4319b416ed03.jpg IMG_1816.jpg.a0a22aed411d6904291ef7c6a3045a51.jpg

 

 

 

After doing the body I got around to the fret slots on the neck. For what its worth I think the Measuring Tape is accurate enough. I have four steel rules and none of them match and the tape is easier to read. And besides my fret cutting abilities aren't that crash-hot anyway!

 

IMG_1833.jpg.f9844ca15639c2b5dc071044dce2716e.jpg IMG_1849.jpg.16b636f67dd21c6e03b0999086b28901.jpg

IMG_1863.thumb.jpg.acf644af4309a35581617abd305ef9d0.jpg

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  • 3 weeks later...
On 3/10/2023 at 3:23 PM, Professor Woozle said:

I guess that'll be hard to see once the fret's in place, if it's visible at all?

My thought as well. Without close inspection, you're not going to see it if you don't already know it's there.

There's nothing like one of the "standards". We monkey around with all the other shape, pickup, and hardware variations till doomsday. It's fun and interesting. I prolly only have 2 that aren't an offshoot somehow. But at the end of the day, there's nothing else like a Strat, Tele, and LP to really cut through all of our nonsense. Back to basics, as it were.

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  • 1 month later...

Finally some progress on my Fender replicas, I got the skunk-stripes in. Fender use Walnut apparently but I've used Mahogany, so there's another tell-tale that these are not real Fenders. There's a lot more to the process but these photos tell a story

1890959834_IMG_2058TeleStratskunkstripe.thumb.jpg.1a86dd605ad7b8c6ef9acf5e4303358e.jpg

1581524844_IMG_2061TeleStratskunkstripe.thumb.jpg.c5aac56956b379c6442504b0de8194aa.jpg

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2026808534_IMG_2071TeleStratskunkstripe.thumb.jpg.de7d112ce2e319a5fc61ca257cab3ae6.jpg

795908372_IMG_2076TeleStratskunkstripe.thumb.jpg.f5850d9e67a2690311353f60fe7a7d23.jpg

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359263129_IMG_2080TeleStratskunkstripe.thumb.jpg.25063e67019e20a01d4cdc66198f8b7d.jpg

 

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21 hours ago, mistermikev said:

that is a lovely piece of swamp ash.  where did you get that wood (if you don't mind me asking).  

also, some jedi level jig saw skills above - nice work.

That would be .... Stewmac! and at $197.99 USD it doesn't sound much but with shipping, taxes and exchange rate it translated to $505.10 AUD

So I'm glad to hear people say its a nice looking piece or wood!

image.thumb.jpeg.cbeabb65f87681447460ef89be20dcbf.jpeg

776179411_IMG_0927StewmacAsh.thumb.jpg.fe425ffc5fb062a926e36702c8454a80.jpg

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1 hour ago, Crusader said:

That would be .... Stewmac! and at $197.99 USD it doesn't sound much but with shipping, taxes and exchange rate it translated to $505.10 AUD

So I'm glad to hear people say its a nice looking piece or wood!

image.thumb.jpeg.cbeabb65f87681447460ef89be20dcbf.jpeg

776179411_IMG_0927StewmacAsh.thumb.jpg.fe425ffc5fb062a926e36702c8454a80.jpg

right on.  pretty spendy but ash like that is hard to find!

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On 5/5/2023 at 10:01 PM, mistermikev said:

right on.  pretty spendy but ash like that is hard to find!

Yeah I feel like I have an obligation to do a good job, but it also shows my confidence that I can!

Here is the little progress I did today. I routered the heel end of the neck with the 1 inch bit. The task now is to rasp/sand/scrape the neck and keep the shape at heel and nut ends intact. I don't know why its still flat in the centre LOL

850426551_IMG_2100Stratheelprofile.thumb.jpg.5f7a735ca1eef9c7e355d2d150b427ce.jpg

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A little more done today on the Telecaster neck profile. On previous guitars I was keen to get the profile same as the 59 Reissue Les Paul but with these I am happy just to get them done. Turns out to be same as 59 Reissue at nut end (no surprises) but at the 12th fret its the same as the Les Paul Axcess. Very happy with that result

2086643275_IMG_2102Teleneckprofile.thumb.jpg.1e9c521b04cac19aac1e0d77365c1293.jpg

931073665_IMG_2106Teleneckprofilefret5.thumb.jpg.1bb47de2a00b8359147537b3a7c51aaf.jpg

754754523_IMG_2105TeleneckprofileAxcessfret12.thumb.jpg.543239664e8b048dca95682bab05bc82.jpg

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

Just about got the necks finished, sanded out the burn marks and shaped the heels etc. All I need is a few days without people calling for emergency door replacements

Did some doors today for this American bloke he's about 70 yo. He's got intruders getting into a house he's renovating, thinks they're coming through the roof and out the front door. At the door shop I asked him what state he's from and I got the usual reply "I've been all over" Then he started going on about where he's been and what the crime level is like for each place. Said he used to get around with a gun in his back pocket, another in his jacket pocket one in his socks LOL all this sort of stuff. He came out with the F word quite a number of times, reckons if he catches the intruders "I'll fix the F###ers up, they don't want to mess with me"

The only reason I asked is because I have a cousin in Ohio and a niece in New York LOL

Anyway next up is the frets but I have a little issue. I've done the rounding-over first, not very extreme but still I wish I had left it till after the frets are in

2025111214_IMG_2142Teleheadstock.jpg.a5e22581e8206649522f8b9a5ec6fb55.jpg 798620130_IMG_2144Teleheadstock.jpg.631ac88de047cb9c94f6e3435504ddf4.jpg

97527271_IMG_2145Teleheadstock.jpg.ad4cc52abe4b7fdbb96ef0cd63e310a9.jpg 832026492_IMG_2154StratTeleheel.jpg.d02647308a8123764622dce8fab19f07.jpg

977112076_IMG_2156Stratheel.jpg.59cbb5747bcc640d92e15b3c0c0a0445.jpg 1430644534_IMG_2167StratTelerollededges.jpg.41b89df0454b6d5e693040d69cd04377.jpg

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  • 3 weeks later...

Frets are in and ready to spray...

1076117620_IMG_2238fretsMyStrat.thumb.jpg.005096f2f40bd0888c118ab9ed7b05fa.jpg

 

 

I made this fret bevel with 26 degrees to give the E strings a bit more real estate to live on. I believe they're usually 35 degrees

357482744_IMG_2241filefretsMyStrat.thumb.jpg.5a1a32920d1c993eed7a357362ee9826.jpg

1157599699_IMG_2244filedfretsMyStrat.thumb.jpg.78e18c6accb09d9cca13946fb714eded.jpg

 

 

I rolled the fb edges with a regular sanding block at first but later used a small piece of wood. Finished sanding with 240 grit and now waiting for a suitable day for spraying

1759837382_IMG_2312Stratrollededges.thumb.jpg.934c154c39452f7f58986d25448de1ae.jpg

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That's about the easiest luthier tool to make...

image.png.5ff21365628005c2bff88a34af3bb280.png

...yet I've never made one. Instead I use a small self made version of the fret leveling file and just eyeball the angle. Or worse, I may even do a roundover with it!

kuva.png.dcf68449aeffb9d16b7e6a23cbc8f402.png

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  • 4 weeks later...

More progress on My Strat, a few photos

 

I was aiming at 23 but just under 22 is good, and 24mm at the 12th fret is also good

1373999468_IMG_2215MyStratneckthickness.thumb.jpg.968c57916dc4fc5b80de61f14910aecc.jpg

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In past projects I have messed up and gone under 43mm at the Nut, I am very happy about this one. Nice and wide all the way

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The finished Neck

1189064586_IMG_2245fretsMyStrat.thumb.jpg.128cfb8373cf1abb034cb8227ce9bb3c.jpg

 

 

My so-professional spray booth. Sunny day in the winter, no bugs flying around, just perfect

751860938_IMG_2319Spraysetup.thumb.jpg.49f83ad51be9bd7d685f6b6fa98081e2.jpg

 

 

Was going to use cream covers but went with all black, I only have one cream Vol control

342140664_IMG_2360MyStratpickupsin.thumb.jpg.2998e6fd07c7b79f2308449791905777.jpg

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Couldn't find any suitable springs so I used foam from some packaging. Not sure its the best idea but its okay for now

1870226506_IMG_2379MyStratfoampickupmount.thumb.jpg.838f77e85ad3e0e5de4019f73e1b2285.jpg

 

 

And finally the back cover

236173634_IMG_2372MyStratbackplate.thumb.jpg.5120158d47b4ef73139b56592bfda2d1.jpg

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831281854_IMG_2392MyStratbackplate.thumb.jpg.a4964dbb784046e0050c604bf7e52ba4.jpg

 

 

All done except the finish is a bit rough. Used Tele knobs and it keeps the Tele theme going very nicely. I think I will call it "Stoutocaster"

51716945_IMG_2393MyStratcomplete.thumb.jpg.0107029372dd140f6f5ce66c4e2ce550.jpg

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In the car resto/custom world, there are two types of cars: drivers and trailer queens. The drivers are meant to be driven daily. The queens are for show. It seems that in our little world, the same thing exists. We often make a piece with the (nearly) sole intent of functional wall art. I'm not criticizing as I'm doing it right now. You've made a player, It's a utilitarian workhorse of a guitar. Sometimes I'd rather see one that's meant to be used and abused. Well done.

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • 3 months later...

Got around to buying a Tele bridge for My Strat but I completely forgot that the strings come through at a different spot. I intended to get a Top-Loading bridge to skirt around this problem but never mind I did it my way

First thing I did was record with the Gotoh bridge. Then I marked where the strings go through the body and drilled on an angle to where they come through at the back of the guitar. I didn't trust myself to get the angle correct so I did some science and it worked out very well

IMG_3131RecordMyStratGotohbridge.jpg.9737cffb422c2f039ac20adae8b0642f.jpgIMG_3134Gotohbridgeoff.jpg.930b9464106cbe30910cb8f2805aa483.jpg

IMG_3136SettingupTelebridge.jpg.34ad81d10422ac8da5beb0ee1110a4ee.jpgIMG_3137SettingupTelebridge.jpg.bd37ef0c7e442f90f34fbc30485c1890.jpg

IMG_3138SettingupTelebridge.jpg.f11c1f4ac8df18c095af63b5cbb99251.jpgIMG_3139SettingupTelebridge.jpg.c6885e5b2e04aa8cf191f7df11d285e8.jpg

 

 

I don't like the look of it that much, a sexy curvy body with a square boxy thing in the middle. But it does sound more like a Telecaster, has more bite, like picking close to the bridge. The only difference now to a Telecaster is the body shape, so yeah should sound just like a Tele. I don't know if this setup will be permanent but I will leave it there for the life of the strings at least

IMG_3144MyStratTeleBridge.thumb.jpg.ed82c5c12637d1a8eb6ed7d1a592215a.jpg

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