Guitar build -- one old and one in progress...

[pzaxtl]

You may remember earlier this year a build I was doing. The bearing on my router bit seized and melted into my plexiglass template and screwed up the neck pocket (just a little). Initially, I was going to scrap it, so I glued up another body blank using the same woods. Mahogany body with a QS white oak cap. I managed to repair the neck pocket so that it came out almost perfect.

Since I had this body blank all glued up, I decided to build a double-cut Tele. I finished it exactly as I finished the other build in that I fumed them both with ammonia. The only difference is that I used red aniline dye on the other build and none on this one – just ammonia fumed, tung oiled and top coated with poly. The neck is Warmoth, wenge with an ebony board. Pickups are Phat Cats. This baby ROCKS!! Pics are probably not so hot since I don’t have a decent camera.

That was the old one…

The new one is a Les Paul I’m building for my son. This will be learning experience for me since it’s gonna be my first set-neck guitar I’ve built. All of you pros out there, feel free to chime in with tips and suggestions – I’ll need them. The body is mahogany with a curly/blister maple cap. Pics will follow in the next post.

 

[pzaxtl]

Re: Guitar build -- one old and one in progress...

Here's the build in progess. Just glue up so far. I'll post updates to this thread as I progress..

Man, I gotta get a better camera!

 

[Tor]

Re: Guitar build -- one old and one in progress...

Wow.. Wish I had the skills to build something like that. Very nice -- that Tele is just killer!

Your son is going to get a really cool guitar too!

 

[DazH]

Re: Guitar build -- one old and one in progress...

That's wonderful mate - good job.

 

[super rad stuff]

Re: Guitar build -- one old and one in progress...

that double cut tele looks amazing! wish i had the cash to do something like that...

 

[pzaxtl]

Re: Guitar build -- one old and one in progress...

Wow.. Wish I had the skills to build something like that. Very nice -- that Tele is just killer!

Your son is going to get a really cool guitar too!

Thanks! The skills necessary to build a bolt-on aren't terribly great. Patience and a little planning go a long way. Having a dedicated wood shop is a big plus, though. Unfortunately, the pics are pretty crappy -- the guitar looks much better than the pictures reveal. But most of all, it sounds and plays like a dream.

I think the Les Paul is gonna kick my butt, though. Time will tell. Originally, he wanted a bound body, neck and headstock -- I talked him out of it. Next one, I'll do the binding. This one, well, building the neck is going to be enough to challenging enough for a first that I don't want to mess with binding it.

 

[pzaxtl]

Re: Guitar build -- one old and one in progress...

That's wonderful mate - good job.

Thanks! As I posted earlier, it looks much better than the pics reveal.

 

[pzaxtl]

Re: Guitar build -- one old and one in progress...

that double cut tele looks amazing! wish i had the cash to do something like that...

Thanks, man.

Well, it doesn't take a lot of money to build the body. The expensive part is the neck. All told, I've probably got $35.00 worth of lumber in the body. These people that sell body blanks for $150 or better are way over-pricing. If you have the ability to flatten your lumber and produce 4 square stock you can do it yourself for much cheaper.

 

[scottish]

Re: Guitar build -- one old and one in progress...

good job mate. looking good and i love the tele

 

[theodie]

Re: Guitar build -- one old and one in progress...

Thanks, man.

Well, it doesn't take a lot of money to build the body. The expensive part is the neck. All told, I've probably got $35.00 worth of lumber in the body. These people that sell body blanks for $150 or better are way over-pricing. If you have the ability to flatten your lumber and produce 4 square stock you can do it yourself for much cheaper.

A HUGE +1! on that


Raw lumber is the way to go IMO.

IMO, building the neck aint much more. ITs a bit more no doubt but, still aint bad.

 

[pzaxtl]

Re: Guitar build -- one old and one in progress...

good job mate. looking good and i love the tele

Thanks! That's a great compliment considering that I've seen the quality of your builds -- top notch!

I already had a tele, but really wanted to a double cut. Making the template was actually more difficult than building the body.

 

[pzaxtl]

Re: Guitar build -- one old and one in progress...

A HUGE +1! on that


Raw lumber is the way to go IMO.

I figure if someone was gluing up body blanks and selling them for $50-$75 they could create a nice little business. Shoot, with as many clamps as I've got, I could crank out 6 or 7 a day.

IMO, building the neck aint much more. ITs a bit more no doubt but, still aint bad.

That's true if you're building the neck yourself, but definitely not, if you're buying a Warmoth or USACG, which is what I did on this guitar.