DIY Guitar build

[MrDinsdale]

While I'm happy with the look of my previous kit-built telecaster, I'm not happy with how it plays and sounds. The neck is really chunky, and body wood is really soft and dark sounding.

 

Decided I'd make one from scratch. I'm thinking of another telecaster style shape, but with some more modern design elements thrown in. 
 

Just got the body wood delivered.
 

 

It's a really nice slab of Black Limba with some nice orange streaks.

 

Will document progress. It may not be a fast build 😂

[MichaelDean]

Builds don't need to be fast. I've had one going for over 10 years. I look forward to seeing the results (eventually). 

[MrDinsdale]

Haha good things aren't worth rushing!

I do want to make another bass at some point, which will be the one I spend more time on. It'd probably have a similar body but with an American Walnut top, a laminate set or bolt-on neck, and a lot of finer detail. Maybe even go overkill and use threaded inserts and bolts for everything instead of screws etc.

 

One at a time though!

[sprocketflup]

Where's the wood from if you don't mind my asking?

[MrDinsdale]

1 minute ago, sprocketflup said:

Where's the wood from if you don't mind my asking?

I got this off Feel Good Wood on eBay. They have a few nice bits in but couldn't turn this down. I really love the orange streaks and figuring with Black Limba, and it's rare to get it all in one piece for a reasonable price from my research!

[MrDinsdale]

There's the body wood alongside the wenge neck. The neck was bought online as I don't hav e to make one from scratch.

I also got an extra spare bit of wood for making a control plate, will use magnets to attach. 
 

So far I’m thinking something like:

 

or with a matte black scratch plate:

 

Kind of going for a Tele/Peavey T-60 inspired look. A Tele-60 perhaps. Going to rip off the T-60 single/humbucker tone blend electronics too.

 

 

[MichaelDean]

Oooooh, is it one of the AliExpress/eBay wenge necks? I've wondered what they're like. 

[rwillett]

1 hour ago, MrDinsdale said:

There's the body wood alongside the wenge neck. The neck was bought online as I don't hav e to make one from scratch.

 

I also got an extra spare bit of wood for making a control plate, will use magnets to attach. 
 

So far I’m thinking something like:

 

or with a matte black scratch plate:

 

Kind of going for a Tele/Peavey T-60 inspired look. A Tele-60 perhaps. Going to rip off the T-60 single/humbucker tone blend electronics too.

 

 

I have just done the outline of a Telecaster Deluxe 72 in Fusion 360. If you want it, I can export it in PDF and send that up, do with it what you will then The curves are pretty well spot on,

 

I'm going to use it to replace my very first 3d printed guitar which was kinda Telecaster Deluxe shaped.

 

Rob

[MrDinsdale]

1 hour ago, MichaelDean said:

Oooooh, is it one of the AliExpress/eBay wenge necks? I've wondered what they're like. 

It’s surprisingly good, it’s pretty slim, not crazy slim though. Finishing is good, fret work looks good too although I’m expecting a little fret work once it’s all together.

 

For the amount of time it’s gonna save me it’s well worth it though. I’d say it’s every bit as good as any budget to mid level guitar I’ve ever played.

 

I just wish you could find them without inlays, I’d prefer to use luminlay on the side and keep the top dot free ideally. 

[MrDinsdale]

47 minutes ago, rwillett said:

I have just done the outline of a Telecaster Deluxe 72 in Fusion 360. If you want it, I can export it in PDF and send that up, do with it what you will then The curves are pretty well spot on,

 

I'm going to use it to replace my very first 3d printed guitar which was kinda Telecaster Deluxe shaped.

 

Rob

Aye if you don’t mind sharing it that’d be handy. Kind of going for a very stylised version of the tele, all the bezels will be 45 degrees with no rounded edges.

[rwillett]

Sure, I'll export it and pop it up later. Any particular file format preferred?

[MrDinsdale]

I’m just using sketch mostly and doodling on my iPad so don’t have access to any real software. Just an SVG or even just a JPG would do!

[MrDinsdale]

Well, a small update, I made some tweaks and thinking of going down a more T-60 route:

 

Didn't take any pictures but did some planing, and the body blanks are now prepped to glue.

 

Started to get some of the components through the mail, next I'll start to get the electronics soldered 🙌

 

 

[rwillett]

Looks good. Keep us informed 

[MrDinsdale]

I did a lot of reading up, and it seems that Wilde pickups get a lot of love as replacements for the T-60s. Took a bit of a punt and grabbed them, and they arrived this morning:

 

 

The pickup surrounds they came with are really chunky. They seem like LP ones will get them swapped out for more low-profile metal ones, I think. 

[MrDinsdale]

Well I decided the tele headstock just wasn't going to work for the bulkier t-60  style body. I decided to get a roasted maple one instead with a paddle headstock that I can peavify. Gotta say, it feels and looks great, the fret work is particularly nice. 







Sadly Guitar Anatomy don't do bass necks yet but apparently have plans to offer in future. 

[MrDinsdale]

I'll possibly see if I can make use of the wenge neck, otherwise Ill pop it on here cheap. It'd be a shame for it not to be used as its a beauty!

[rwillett]

I'm sure I can scrape together a few pennies for the old, battered, unwanted and clearly much abused Wenge neck

[MrDinsdale]

38 minutes ago, rwillett said:

I'm sure I can scrape together a few pennies for the old, battered, unwanted and clearly much abused Wenge neck

Haha well ill keep you posted!👌

[MrDinsdale]

Did a slight update with the new neck and adjusted the body size to be more accurate.

It's still a first pass, and I need to tidy it up. I think the horns aren't quite right, and I want to tweak the scratch plate shape a little.

[MrDinsdale]

Managed to get a little time to plane the top and start getting it to thickness. Looking delicious and really pleased with how the joint worked out 👌