loversmoon
New member
So after building the strat Ive decided to embark upon building myself a Tele partscaster. I havent decided on a finish yet. Has anyone put tru oil on maple/pine? I know they do it for necks but how about bodies? 
starting a new build: Pine body telecaster with a curly maple top
- Thread starter loversmoon
- Start date
CTN
The Drama Dude
Re: starting a new build: Pine body telecaster with a curly maple top
looks nice!
Tru oil is fine to use on bodies as well, just make sure you build up enough thickness in the layers to be a protective coating as opposed to a couple of thin light coats which will soak into the grain and act as a sealer, but won't offer much protection from regular use/playing.
looks nice!
Tru oil is fine to use on bodies as well, just make sure you build up enough thickness in the layers to be a protective coating as opposed to a couple of thin light coats which will soak into the grain and act as a sealer, but won't offer much protection from regular use/playing.
TheLivingDead
Dawn Of The Shred
Re: starting a new build: Pine body telecaster with a curly maple top
Me likey.
Me likey.
loversmoon
New member
Re: starting a new build: Pine body telecaster with a curly maple top
Thanks guys. I have never attempted to seal or finish an instrument before. Plenty of chairs and what not. I was going to drop the custom/59 I just picked up off the forum into this project but im iffy on routing out the bridge pickup cavity with a dremel. only tool I have on hand.
Thanks guys. I have never attempted to seal or finish an instrument before. Plenty of chairs and what not. I was going to drop the custom/59 I just picked up off the forum into this project but im iffy on routing out the bridge pickup cavity with a dremel. only tool I have on hand.
Re: starting a new build: Pine body telecaster with a curly maple top
Looks like flame maple top to me. Nice looking.
Pine is a soft wood and the grain is very hard...makes for some difficult sanding/finishing. Good luck on your new project. We'll be waiting to see the finished product.
Looks like flame maple top to me. Nice looking.
Pine is a soft wood and the grain is very hard...makes for some difficult sanding/finishing. Good luck on your new project. We'll be waiting to see the finished product.
Re: starting a new build: Pine body telecaster with a curly maple top
CTN speaks the truth here! I've done several instruments with Tru-Oil over the years with great results. It will continue to darken a bit with multiple coats, but the last one I did, my chambered mahogany bodied tele, (as well as the neck) turned out just wonderful. I love the color.
For pine, I've also used Howards Feed and Wax. Not as 'protective' as Tru-Oil......and Tru-Oil is not the most protective finish....but it keeps that natural, kinda rustic look that pine has. Good luck! Looks like you have a great looking body to work with.
CTN speaks the truth here! I've done several instruments with Tru-Oil over the years with great results. It will continue to darken a bit with multiple coats, but the last one I did, my chambered mahogany bodied tele, (as well as the neck) turned out just wonderful. I love the color.
For pine, I've also used Howards Feed and Wax. Not as 'protective' as Tru-Oil......and Tru-Oil is not the most protective finish....but it keeps that natural, kinda rustic look that pine has. Good luck! Looks like you have a great looking body to work with.
loversmoon
New member
Re: starting a new build: Pine body telecaster with a curly maple top
anyone out there ever drop a humbucky into a pine tele?? i realize thats goes against all things tele. LOL Guitar doc I thought it kind of looked flamed too from the pictures. I will take better ones upon its arrival so we can judge.
anyone out there ever drop a humbucky into a pine tele?? i realize thats goes against all things tele. LOL Guitar doc I thought it kind of looked flamed too from the pictures. I will take better ones upon its arrival so we can judge.
loversmoon
New member
Re: starting a new build: Pine body telecaster with a curly maple top
Thanks everyone. i cant wait til it actually gets here for me to see it in person. Im hoping the tru oil will make the grain pop up nicely. plan on getting a maple neck to go with it. I have some cts pots and vintage wiring left over from my previous build. any suggestions on a bridge? seller advised it had a 2 1/8 string spacing.
Thanks everyone. i cant wait til it actually gets here for me to see it in person. Im hoping the tru oil will make the grain pop up nicely. plan on getting a maple neck to go with it. I have some cts pots and vintage wiring left over from my previous build. any suggestions on a bridge? seller advised it had a 2 1/8 string spacing.
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: starting a new build: Pine body telecaster with a curly maple top
I'm surprised pine isn't more popular for guitar bodies. It sounds similar to basswood, and it isn't so soft that the screw holes strip out easily, which I always thought would be the case.
My Modern Player Telecaster Plus was already routed for a humbucker, but now I have a nickel C5 in there.
Eventually, I'll buy a pickguard routed for a mini or P-90. I've also contemplated turning this into a replica of the SD 35th Ann. TeleGib, installing two zebra pickups with cream rings.
I'm surprised pine isn't more popular for guitar bodies. It sounds similar to basswood, and it isn't so soft that the screw holes strip out easily, which I always thought would be the case.
My Modern Player Telecaster Plus was already routed for a humbucker, but now I have a nickel C5 in there.
Eventually, I'll buy a pickguard routed for a mini or P-90. I've also contemplated turning this into a replica of the SD 35th Ann. TeleGib, installing two zebra pickups with cream rings.
loversmoon
New member
Re: starting a new build: Pine body telecaster with a curly maple top
WOW now that is a super nice tele. I got some good tips from Colt Knight on finishing. Im gonna go with shellac and an amber tint I do believe. I am practicing now with some cheap dye and poly as you can see from the pics. I didnt sand it or anything as you can see it def would have needed it. I just wanted to get a feel for how to apply the dye and clear coats. these shots were taken when the last clear coat was still wet.
WOW now that is a super nice tele. I got some good tips from Colt Knight on finishing. Im gonna go with shellac and an amber tint I do believe. I am practicing now with some cheap dye and poly as you can see from the pics. I didnt sand it or anything as you can see it def would have needed it. I just wanted to get a feel for how to apply the dye and clear coats. these shots were taken when the last clear coat was still wet.
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ItsaBass
New member
Re: starting a new build: Pine body telecaster with a curly maple top
Tru Oil will work nicely on a body or a neck. You can also get some really easy to use spray lacquers from the hardware store. Minwax or Deft. Very easy to use stuff, and they look great in a thin layer over pine, if you like the "hugging the grain" look. My pine paint stick looks awesome after finishing my ash guitar with the Deft. makes me want to do a non-filled pine Esquire or Strato-Tele build.
Tru Oil will work nicely on a body or a neck. You can also get some really easy to use spray lacquers from the hardware store. Minwax or Deft. Very easy to use stuff, and they look great in a thin layer over pine, if you like the "hugging the grain" look. My pine paint stick looks awesome after finishing my ash guitar with the Deft. makes me want to do a non-filled pine Esquire or Strato-Tele build.
loversmoon
New member
Re: starting a new build: Pine body telecaster with a curly maple top
yeah the pics above are done with minwax express stain in indigo blue then i sprayed minwax poly in the black can over it for a clear coat. This is a shot after about an hour of drying.
yeah the pics above are done with minwax express stain in indigo blue then i sprayed minwax poly in the black can over it for a clear coat. This is a shot after about an hour of drying.
Re: starting a new build: Pine body telecaster with a curly maple top
I've always been a sucker for amber tint on flame (or curly) maple. Sounds like a terific idea. Can't wait to see the finished product.
I've always been a sucker for amber tint on flame (or curly) maple. Sounds like a terific idea. Can't wait to see the finished product.
loversmoon
New member
Re: starting a new build: Pine body telecaster with a curly maple top
hey Guitar doc ever use zinsser's amber shellac on a guitar body?
hey Guitar doc ever use zinsser's amber shellac on a guitar body?
loversmoon
New member
Re: starting a new build: Pine body telecaster with a curly maple top
Body came in yesterday shockingly enough. I didnt realize mail ran on Christmas Eve. I got some sanding done tonight. I have to say its a beautiful body now let us pray I dont muck it up.
Also got a good bit of parts in as well.
Joe Barden bridge
orange caps
cts tone pots
vintage wiring
fender "f" neck plate
now the wait begins for the rest of the parts to arrive. I went with a mighty mite neck that was fret leveled and dressed by ceg hardtails. Its the bottom one in this pic:
Body came in yesterday shockingly enough. I didnt realize mail ran on Christmas Eve. I got some sanding done tonight. I have to say its a beautiful body now let us pray I dont muck it up.
Also got a good bit of parts in as well. Joe Barden bridge
orange caps
cts tone pots
vintage wiring
fender "f" neck plate
now the wait begins for the rest of the parts to arrive. I went with a mighty mite neck that was fret leveled and dressed by ceg hardtails. Its the bottom one in this pic:
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