Jump to content
Why become a member? ×

6 string Andy Summers telecaster guitar project


kevin_lindsay
 Share

Recommended Posts

Having to wait until I can get everything tidied up, flattened and glossed, is SO frustrating.

I think it's gonna look pretty cool when everything is assembled and set up:

[IMG]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/kevin_lindsay/052DABDF-713B-4D6B-BA1E-FB43217C6BFD-499-00000032E9276CA8.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/kevin_lindsay/56C2D42E-DAEE-418E-85DA-B36EB4356FAA-499-00000032F42D88E9.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/kevin_lindsay/7B342808-8744-4B35-8510-B2522FBDB4D7-499-00000032F8BED79B.jpg[/IMG]

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've decided to buff the body up now. That means that over the next couple of weeks, the finish will continue to thin out. It'll also mean that the finish will remain glassy, but with a very slightly aged hue. Should be cool.

Do, here's the buffing up beginning. I think it'll look cool when it's done. (All buffing is being done by hand. )

[IMG]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/kevin_lindsay/EB4054D7-6BAA-4F8C-8942-2C38BE447ECD-216-0000000DFDB8471B.jpg[/IMG]

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='kevin_lindsay' timestamp='1355670994' post='1901143']As for the bridge pickup. It won't be mounted on the bridge base plate like most Telecasters. Rather, it's going to be mounted directly into the body wood - just like Andy's guitar. In this pic you can see that there's no baseplate mounted pickup screws on the Tribute model.


[/quote]

Fantastic! Hugely enjoyable thread!
Is that an earth wire at the middle bottom edge of the bridge due to there being no screws on the pickup to connect it?
I'd spotted the lack of pickup screws on the original & was going to ask about that; loving your attention to detail!
Subscribed. :happy:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The black line you see is a replication of the crack in the brass baseplate on Andy's original guitar. The Fender Tribute models have the baseplates split at that point. I'll be keeping my plate intact.

Here's a great clip from the Fender Custom Shop describing the features of the Andy Summers guitar:

http://youtu.be/2vzStQpEXHQ

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Andy wasn't sure what the original booster circuit was. It seems to have been a simple booster circuit, but it gave up the ghost some time ago.

As the Fender Tribute uses the Clapton circuit, and sounds good, I decided to use that. Also the routing I've had done is tailored for the Clapton circuit board.

Anyhow, two and a half weeks until it gets assembled and set up - not long to wait now!!

Edited by kevin_lindsay
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Makes sense - if Andy considered the Clapton circuit a good replacement, 'nuff said. What I found odd was I always thought the Clapton strats had a strong mid eq boost, not just additional gain - but the Fender video sounds like just a gain (and preamp clarity) to me? Then again...I'm a bass player, so anything over 100HZ is going to pass me by.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

According to the guys at the Custom Shop, the way the Clapton circuit is wired in the Andy Summers Tribute guitar (as shown in the diagram I posted at the start of this thread) means its an output boost rather than a mid boost.

Edited by kevin_lindsay
Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='kevin_lindsay' timestamp='1356128710' post='1907338']an output boost rather than a mid boost.[/quote]

That's what I've got built into my bass; JayDee made it (the circuit) it's only the size of a large stamp. As you say - it's quite a simple circuit - so he told me; I wouldn't know.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I just had to screw the guard , bridge and control plate in place, and attach the neck, to see how it's going to look once everything is assembled.

2 weeks today until it's going to be fully assembled, wired up, setup and ready to play.

[IMG]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/kevin_lindsay/A8013E19-225C-4390-BA87-686A6311DE2D-374-0000004D929D6D1F.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/kevin_lindsay/EC17DBBA-D5BF-4480-B46A-1784F8200900-374-0000004D9EBC8CBF.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/kevin_lindsay/4FEA070B-E0A0-4CE2-BAE0-FB430525C27A-374-0000004DA3BEF61D.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/kevin_lindsay/E2D30B0C-8F14-40CC-A7BD-CA9FBEE73299-374-0000004DB82A9932.jpg[/IMG]

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Protective film is now off the scratchplate. I think I've got the yellow colour on the body looking pretty authentic?

[IMG]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/kevin_lindsay/4B0B6023-9FC1-4357-8911-D99B363105E1-342-000000720D833FFE.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/kevin_lindsay/37319625-68BA-4294-8A1E-F8CA3E95A585-160-000000120DC830CD.jpg[/IMG]

Also, I've put the rest string ferrules in place.

[IMG]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/kevin_lindsay/F548342E-322D-40DF-89B1-49BA868A00E1-601-0000004AF8B9AC63.jpg[/IMG]

Edited by kevin_lindsay
Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='kevin_lindsay' timestamp='1356423269' post='1910072']
Protective film is now off the scratchplate. I think I've got the yellow colour on the body looking pretty authentic?
[/quote]
Yes indeed. Really looking forward to the completed article and ensuing gallery. This thread really is getting my Tele Deluxe GAS going.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Quick before and after pics

[IMG]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/kevin_lindsay/E0762BE6-3CCD-4A3B-8D7E-994AA9FBD700-344-00000026B7336092.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/kevin_lindsay/CE49510F-F1D1-41E9-8138-25523C8F222E-344-0000002BEB590011.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/kevin_lindsay/6A660E1A-B940-49F5-AC39-D267FB97F40A-344-00000026BC4AFC2A.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/kevin_lindsay/963CE33B-4491-4E2B-869D-BF14AAA31D31-344-0000002BE506CA1A.jpg[/IMG]

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Fantastic paint job. However, I must say that I rather like the natural too. If I was looking for a deluxe Tele I think I'd give a clear coated one of those some serious thought.

You must let us know what it all cost (if you're happy to of course) as I reckon you might have a few folks giving a build some serious thought, or commissioning one maybe ;)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Cost of the bits so far

2 piece double bound body with humbucker routing (http://www.guitarbuild.co.uk/product.php?prodId=60&category=&secondary=&keywords=) - £140
(the price has now increased to £155)
Allparts unfinished neck - £100
Armadillo bridge (http://www.armadilloguitar.com/shopping/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=4) -£90
Scratchplate, control plate, knobs - all from http://www.axesrus.com/
Scratchplate - £11.67
Control plate - £5.43
Knobs - 3x £2.33 = £6.99
Total from axesrus = £24.09 plus VAT = £28.91
CTS pots (2 x 250k plus 1 x 500k) = £13.05
Rear ferrules - £5.00
Strap buttons and felt pads - already had these at home.
Black 3 ply scratchplate material for rear cover - £9.99
3 way selector switch - already had one at home.
Mini toggle switch - £5.10 for a pack of 5 ((http://bit.ly/U9lhlF)
Custom serial number neck plate -£20 (http://bit.ly/Rid9SV)
Fender nut - £6.00
Fender telecaster and custom shop decals - £12
Kluson vintage tuners - already had these at home.
Nitrocellulose lacquer (http://www.manchesterguitartech.co.uk/shop/category/nitrocellulose-lacquer/ ):
White primer - £12
Clear red - £15
Tobacco brown - £15
Clear gloss 2 x £15 = £30
Wet & dry paper £3
Postage = £5
Total = £65
Transparent cadmium yellow nitro lacquer (from another nitro supplier) = £14
Brand new Gibson '57 Classic neck pickup - given to me by a friend.
Fender Custom Shop '51 Nocaster bridge pickup including delivery from USA - £39.67
Chris McIntyre custom routing of neck pocket to accept Allparts neck, modifying of humbucker routing, routing on rear of body to accommodate new mini toggle switch, new boost pot, battery compartment and area for Clapton boost circuit, also drilling of holes for mini toggle switch and new boost pot = £25 - "mates rate" or what????
Pick guard screws - £2.50
Telecaster neck pickup mounting screws £4.70. These were bought to allow for fitting the bridge pickup directly into the body rather than mounting it on the bridge plate.
Eric Clapton boost circuit £43

Total so far = £624.92

As mentioned above, if I'd had to buy the neck pickup and tuners, the overall cost would be higher. There's also the cost of Chris Mcintyre's work in just over acweek's time - he 'll be wiring everything up, installing all the hardware, fitting and shaping the nut. Cutting, profiling and fitting the custom made back plate. He will then set up the instrument and balance the pickup outputs.

It's exciting knowing that everything is bearing completion.

Edited by kevin_lindsay
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here's a little thing I'm particularly proud of. It's something which 99.99% of people wouldn't notice, but which I feel adds a nice finishing touch.

On vintage instruments, Fender reissues, and in the Fender Custom Shop instruments, the front headstock decal is visible against the wood when you hold it up to the light. On the Custom Shop models, the decal on the rear is not visibly proud against the finish. Rather, it looks like it's been printed directly onto the wood.

I've achieved this on my own neck. It's kind of hard to picture it against artificial light, but these pics give you the general idea.

You can see the front decal is sealed under the finish, but sits slightly proud, so it's visible when you look at it closely from a sideways angle.

[IMG]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/kevin_lindsay/C0DC0C48-017E-47B5-BC05-67F5771E5610-267-00000023653E8DC4.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/kevin_lindsay/3018879B-E609-4B79-AE96-504C9549E67F-267-0000002369EEB49F.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/kevin_lindsay/A9E47302-FA44-4EDA-9D0F-CAEDC22F7934-267-000000236E5EBB38.jpg[/IMG]

The rear of the headstock has no such "lip" around the edge of the decal:

[IMG]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/kevin_lindsay/BF0F255B-367B-4D89-80F2-513775F53ECE-267-0000002372AD5BA3.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/kevin_lindsay/1AB60E32-EF48-4A27-9448-8657E625DE72-267-0000002377367CB8.jpg[/IMG]

Edited by kevin_lindsay
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...