ihocky2 Posted July 24, 2007 Report Share Posted July 24, 2007 I started my latest project a few weeks back and here is my current progress. I bought the neck for this one a while back, but I think this will be the last neck I buy since I am going to start making my own. So far I have the neck stripped down and the body is glued up and rough cut. Specs. Body- Ash semi-hollow with ambrosia maple top telecaster styled Neck-22 Fret 25.5" scale maple, Tru-Oil finish Maple Fretboard Tele pickups from Guitar Fetish, don't remember which ones right now. 3-way blade switch with 1 tone, and 1 volume Final color will be stained red with gold hardware and probably 2-part poly finish http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b192/ihocky2/DSC02141.jpg http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b192/ihocky2/DSC02139.jpg http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b192/ihocky2/DSC02137.jpg http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b192/ihocky2/DSC02133.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregP Posted July 24, 2007 Report Share Posted July 24, 2007 wormtastic! Lookin' good. Tele with pointy headstock isn't my favourite, though Mick Mars had a not bad one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ihocky2 Posted July 24, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 24, 2007 I am envisioning the pointy head working with it, at least I hope it does. The lower horn is going to be thinner and more pointed than a normal Tele, closer to an RG but a little thicker. And the back end of the body is more rounded and slightly more sculpted than a Tele, so I am hoping those change will reflect well on a pointy head. I think Charvel did a Tele with their pointy head that looked decent enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAK Guitars Posted July 24, 2007 Report Share Posted July 24, 2007 That's gonna be cool. What is the neck (i.e. brand)? Also it could just be the picture but it looks like something wierd is happening with the binding near the heel of the neck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ihocky2 Posted July 24, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 24, 2007 It is from a Dean Signature Z Series. I got it dirt cheap because it originally was painted white with the head stock neon pink. Very 80's looking. I wanted the full maple look so I stripped it with a heat stripper which messed up the binding. But that is okay since I was planning on removing the ivory binding and replacing it with either a red pearloid or black binding and then replacing the dots with red pearloid dots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ihocky2 Posted July 25, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 25, 2007 Update: Cut the neck pocket tonight. Here are a few pictures with the neck mocked up in place. I also found the pictures of the neck in the original condition. http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b192/ihocky2/DSC02175.jpg Original Neck http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b192/ihocky2/DSC02087.jpg Pile O' removed frets http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b192/ihocky2/DSC02090.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zyonsdream Posted July 25, 2007 Report Share Posted July 25, 2007 (edited) That’s cool. I actually glued up a blank a while ago for my own Ambrosia topped Tele. It’s got a Black Walnut back. I’m sure some day I’ll get around to building it. I'm at a loss for what I would do for a finish? I'm thinking sunburst. What's your idea? I know you're going red but will it be a burst? Edited July 25, 2007 by zyonsdream Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ihocky2 Posted July 25, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 25, 2007 I think I am going solid red, but have to wait and see what the wood really wants to do. I really want a red guitar wit hgold hardware, but this one keeps telling me to go with a light amber. I have to wait and see what the grain reveals after all of the sanding is done. It looks like the maple actually has flames in it as well, but I am not sure if it is just fine chatter from the planner. It feels smooth, but I want to sand it and be sure first. Either way I am definitely laying down an amber stain first to highlight and figuring that I may reveal. Then I'll make final decisions from their. I doubt I'll go with any kind of burst, but I am trying to decide what to do about the sides and the back. Since the ash is a little darker off the bat I need to see how the colors look after addind stain on some scrap pieces. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zyonsdream Posted July 25, 2007 Report Share Posted July 25, 2007 You never see people using Ambrosia maple. It’s always spalt, flame or quilt. Mine is actually ambrosia beech but it’s basically the same. When I do mine I’ll cut it down the center and make it a neck through. I think I haven’t done anything with mine just because I don’t know what I want to go with for color. I’m real interested to see how yours will turn out. Keep us posted! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ihocky2 Posted July 27, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 27, 2007 Minor Update: I have now cut and sanded to body to the final shape. I will probably be routing the pickups tonight or tomorrow and then routing for the binding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ihocky2 Posted October 11, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2007 Well, time for a long over due update. Over the past two months I save sanded the body fully to shape, cut my sound hole, added that control cavity and control holes, routed the binding ledge, final sanded and pretty much anything you need to do before finishing it. Last night I dyed it red. Tonight I will be attaching the binding and painting the pickup cavities. I hope to spray conversion varnish over the weekend. I will get more pictures tonight of the dyed product. I am really happy with the way this is turning out. The only big problem I have run into is that the blade swtich slot got a little chewed up and ugly, but it is usable. http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b192/ihocky2/DSC03157.jpg http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b192/ihocky2/DSC03151.jpg http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b192/ihocky2/DSC03163.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bancika Posted October 11, 2007 Report Share Posted October 11, 2007 Sorry but I'd never waste time with worm infested wood...we burn it where I come from. Can't see the point in using it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WezV Posted October 11, 2007 Report Share Posted October 11, 2007 the actual worm holes are very small and dont really do much structural damage - and afterall, its a decorative feature that caps off the top of the guitar!! I have just got some black limba that has a few worm holes its the worms that created that bright orange strip!!! Structurally the wood is more than good enough to make a guitar body from The point in using it is because its visually interesting, and if it doesnt harm the tone then whats the problem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick500 Posted October 11, 2007 Report Share Posted October 11, 2007 Whoa! Nice piece of black limba you have there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WezV Posted October 11, 2007 Report Share Posted October 11, 2007 yeah i know - nice even with the odd worm hole!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikester Posted October 11, 2007 Report Share Posted October 11, 2007 Looks good so far. Sweet sound hole. How are you planning to finish this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ihocky2 Posted October 11, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2007 I dyed the enitre body red last night. I have a wooden binding that I will glue on tonight. Then I am just going to spray it with Sherwin William conversion varnish. Hopefully I can do that this weekend. It is one of the last weekends that I have enough time to shoot all day long, but the high is only getting into the low 60's and I know that I need it to be at least 70. I have a spare room in the house that I can throw heaters in for a few days for it to finish curing but at least for the first 12 hours and during spraying I need somewhere warm to keep it. I might see how warm I can get my garage and only take it outside for a few minutes to spray the next coat and then take right back in to the warmth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drak Posted October 11, 2007 Report Share Posted October 11, 2007 Hmmm, wonder where on earth he got that soundhole idea? Nice job on the soundhole, btw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ihocky2 Posted October 11, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2007 I have absolutely no idea what you would be talking about. I didn't want to go with a standard f-hole and really like the way the longhorn looked. So I borrowed a chapter from your book, and changed it a little to suit my personal tastes a little. I have to say that the little toe holes were a pain in the but. A dremel tool would have tried to chew away too much too qucikly so I had to just cut and carve by hand on those. Where is the laser table when I really need one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAGGOTBRAIN Posted October 11, 2007 Report Share Posted October 11, 2007 Looks great!.,.,Very creative idea for the soundhole. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drak Posted October 12, 2007 Report Share Posted October 12, 2007 I use a router for the first 90%, then a scroll saw for the rest, and maybe a tiny bit of cleaning up by hand, so I give you even MORE kudos for doing such a clean job by hand, must have been a pain in the arse! Very well done. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ihocky2 Posted October 12, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2007 I used some small drill bits to remove the bulk of the material, and then several types of Exacto blades to chisel away at the remaining and then sanded the rest with bits of popsicle sticks. Actually went a lot easier than you would expect, but like always sanding the end grain is a pain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ihocky2 Posted October 16, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 16, 2007 I have dyed the body red and glued on the binding. I used a wooden binding from Woodcraft. The binding did get perfect, but it did get very well for my first try. I did learn a few things from it and know what not to do in the future with it. These pictures are after dying and gluing on the binding but before I got to clean up any glue or the binding edges. I have since cleaned everything up and sprayed two sealer coats of lacquer and am ready to start building up coats. I decided to go with nitro laquer because I have extremely limited temperatures for the conversion varnish to cure so I doubt I would be able to get it sprayed. But the lacquer is less touchy with the temperatures. I know I don't want to allow it to be too cold, but I am slightly too cold for a chemical cure right now, but the lacquer is curing nicely. Close Up of grain http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b192/iho...er/DSC03437.jpg Binding Close up http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b192/iho...er/DSC03443.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAK Guitars Posted October 17, 2007 Report Share Posted October 17, 2007 (edited) That looks really good! Definitely the right colour for it! I really like that binding, I tried searching Woodcraft but I didn't find it. Whats it called? Edited October 17, 2007 by WAK Guitars Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikester Posted October 18, 2007 Report Share Posted October 18, 2007 That looks like really cool bind. I like the finish. 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.