zyonsdream Posted November 20, 2007 Report Share Posted November 20, 2007 Well, I posted a little about this in the solid body chat but I thought I’s start a progress thread about it so elicit some feedback. Here are the specs so far Lumber: Padauk Top White Limba back Bocote fretboard Padauk Neck Bolivian Rosewood stringers Kahler hybrid tremolo 3 ZDG humbuckers 3 stacked Vol/tone pots Jumbo frets Black hardware Don’t make fun of the Cheesy Poofs, I Like Cheesy Poofs! LOL Gluing up the blank The neck1 The neck2 Glamour shots1 Glamour shots2 The back1 The back2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WezV Posted November 20, 2007 Report Share Posted November 20, 2007 its a tele..... and i like it!!!! The bocote fretboard could easily be too much but it works well with the other woods you have chosen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zyonsdream Posted November 20, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2007 Thanks for the feedback. I have struggled with this build because Bocote and Padauk can both be visually overwhelming if used incorrectly. As I said in the other thread, my goal was to accentuate the board and make the rest of the guitar sort of blend into the background. I guess it’s a study in natural colors and esthetics more than guitar building. So far I think I’ve pulled it off. I’m using open coil black bobbin pickups with a black Kahler so I’m nervous that going with three humbuckers might make the face too dark and pull away from the board but it’s too late now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmrentis Posted November 20, 2007 Report Share Posted November 20, 2007 You know I was really wondering how you did such a wonderful job staining that maple top that nice orange color. My answers were all solved when I saw the half empty jar of cheesy poofs, they have that wonderful absolutely permanent orange stain. The best thing about using cheesy poofs as a stain is they oil the wood at the same time, so its a one step finish plus you get lunch, win, win, win situation. I truly am now holding some resentment towards you zyon because now I'll end spending the rest of this day searching for a place that sells cheesy poofs. Some carry the puffy noodle type puffs, but not the actual cheesy poofs, sooo thank you zyon for making me go shopping when I have better things to do. As for the build, I love it. Honestly, the padauk and limba alone just wouldn't do it for me, but throw in a couple rosewood stringers and that bocote fretboard and wow, turned out amazing really! Excellent work and very well executed. Have you thought about trying some rosewood pup rings to really accentuate those stringers, I think that might look really cool. May even be able to use walnut, if you couldn't find any or didn't have enough wood for them. Anyhow, once again excellent build and wood combination, its so hard to combine such vibrant woods. L Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zyonsdream Posted November 20, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2007 You know I was really wondering how you did such a wonderful job staining that maple top that nice orange color. My answers were all solved when I saw the half empty jar of cheesy poofs, they have that wonderful absolutely permanent orange stain. The best thing about using cheesy poofs as a stain is they oil the wood at the same time, so its a one step finish plus you get lunch, win, win, win situation. I truly am now holding some resentment towards you zyon because now I'll end spending the rest of this day searching for a place that sells cheesy poofs. Some carry the puffy noodle type puffs, but not the actual cheesy poofs, sooo thank you zyon for making me go shopping when I have better things to do. As for the build, I love it. Honestly, the padauk and limba alone just wouldn't do it for me, but throw in a couple rosewood stringers and that bocote fretboard and wow, turned out amazing really! Excellent work and very well executed. Have you thought about trying some rosewood pup rings to really accentuate those stringers, I think that might look really cool. May even be able to use walnut, if you couldn't find any or didn't have enough wood for them. Anyhow, once again excellent build and wood combination, its so hard to combine such vibrant woods. L Still laughing about the poofs! My kitchen has the best lighting for pictures. I think I need to find a new place to take them though before everyone knows all my bad dietary habits. I’ve thought about using rose wood for making pickup rings but I’ve never made a set before. I’m sure it’s not too hard but I’ve just never had the need. I might make a set just to see how they look. Good idea though! Might even go with rosewood cover plates for the back control cavities. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xanthus Posted November 20, 2007 Report Share Posted November 20, 2007 Definitely a Tele, and a vast improvement at that! "Tele in Shape Only" - TISO, I think they call it When will we see some hardware? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zyonsdream Posted November 20, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2007 I still have some shaping and I have to channel for all of my wires and then it goes out to paint. I don’t have the ability to do poly hard coating so I’m going to send it to a friend that can coat it for me. Once it gets back I’ll have everything ready to put it together. Some day I hope to have a place where I can do a bit more than nitro but right now I have to work with the space I’m given. A lot of Luthiers farm out their hard coating though so I don’t feel too bad about it. I make my own pickups so they will be loaded with ZDG pups which are basically off set scatter wound 5000 on the north. 5500 on the south with AlNICO magnets. Gives an overdriven PAF sound. Check out a sound sample Going with a hybrid Kahler which is pretty standard for me since I’m a big Kahler fan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mastertone007 Posted November 20, 2007 Report Share Posted November 20, 2007 I love your work mate. Its a monster tele and those pickups you make are awesome. what type of alnico magnets are you using alnico 5's? Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zyonsdream Posted November 20, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2007 I used an Alnico 5 for the pickup used in the sound sample. I also make a super distortion style with a smaller wire 5500 on north, 6000 on the south with a ceramic magnet. Scatter wound and wax potted. Puts out a screaming sound too. I don’t have any good sound samples of that one yet. I might fit one of those into the bridge and then put my PAF copies into the middle and neck. Midas well give it balls to the wall power to go with the steroid look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DougK Posted November 21, 2007 Report Share Posted November 21, 2007 That is really sweet. I agree with everyone about the wood choices potential to be overwhelming but I'd say you pulled it off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muzz Posted November 21, 2007 Report Share Posted November 21, 2007 I make my own pickups so they will be loaded with ZDG pups which are basically off set scatter wound 5000 on the north. 5500 on the south with AlNICO magnets. Gives an overdriven PAF sound. Check out a sound sample Going with a hybrid Kahler which is pretty standard for me since I’m a big Kahler fan. Great sound from that pick up, just the right amount of squawk, what sort of guitar was that in to make the sound sample? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zyonsdream Posted November 21, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 21, 2007 (edited) I used a BC. Rich platinum warlock which is not the best guitar to use to say the least. However, it seems to work for testing pickups. I've put many different ones in it and it's been a good calibration tool. Thanks for thinking they sound cool. Mike from a band called Dragonlips did the recording for me. He's been one of my long time customers. www.soundclick.com/dragonlips Edited November 21, 2007 by zyonsdream Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gibsonsg26 Posted November 21, 2007 Report Share Posted November 21, 2007 that guitar is AMAZING you should definetaly enter it in gotm when its done id vote for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zyonsdream Posted November 21, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 21, 2007 that guitar is AMAZING you should definetaly enter it in gotm when its done id vote for it. Wow thanks! I might have it done in time for January's GOTM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geo Posted November 21, 2007 Report Share Posted November 21, 2007 That's one of the coolest I've seen in a while. The woods look fantastic together. Love the fingerboard!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hydrogeoman Posted November 21, 2007 Report Share Posted November 21, 2007 Yeah, it's a tele - a really nice one. I wouldn't have thought the fingerboard and body would have looked good together, but it looks good. Nice work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregP Posted November 22, 2007 Report Share Posted November 22, 2007 I'll be the odd man out and say that it's not a tele. Without the metal bridge plate, without a 6-in-line headstock and string trees, and being loaded with 3 humbuckers and a Khaler, it's a tele in body style only. But it sure kicks @$$. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muzz Posted November 22, 2007 Report Share Posted November 22, 2007 (edited) I agree, it has evolved out of the species. Edited November 22, 2007 by Muzz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElysianGuitars Posted November 22, 2007 Report Share Posted November 22, 2007 i really dig the headstock, its a great, original looking design. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zyonsdream Posted November 26, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 26, 2007 Sorry it took so long to reply. I was away for the holiday in a land of no internet! I really appreciate all of the support! I think we’ll just consider it a tele mutation and call it a day. I should have it ready for paint in the next few days. When it gets back I’ll post some finished pictures for everyone to see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheIRS Posted November 26, 2007 Report Share Posted November 26, 2007 Sorry it took so long to reply. I was away for the holiday in a land of no internet! I really appreciate all of the support! I think we’ll just consider it a tele mutation and call it a day. I should have it ready for paint in the next few days. When it gets back I’ll post some finished pictures for everyone to see. That's exactly what I was going to say! A Mutated Tele! Pretty darn sweet guitar you got there if I can say so myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zyonsdream Posted June 24, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 24, 2008 well after looking at this one sitting on the shelf for quite some time I decided it was time to finish it up. I still have to wire it, make the nut and set it up but basically it's ready to rock and roll. I applied an oil finish, let it dry for a week and then rubbed on two coats of rub on poly. I then sanded it flat and buffed it with 0000 steel wool and wax. It has a great shine and the poly adds extra protection to the body. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geo Posted June 24, 2008 Report Share Posted June 24, 2008 Oh... my gosh. The Tele shape is so adaptable! Love this guitar!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WezV Posted June 24, 2008 Report Share Posted June 24, 2008 i am not sure about the headstock shape but i love everything else - those red pickups look great on that body Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travismoore Posted June 24, 2008 Report Share Posted June 24, 2008 Wow thats nice =D 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.