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Building a Tele!!
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10-08-2010 1:37pm#1So I said here ages ago that I would post my builds but I never got around to even starting a build until now! Im making a tele body out of Mahogony! I forgot to take pictures while I was making the templates but I will be making more later in the week so I will post it then!
Anyway here is the body blank before any work starts! It comes in at just over 1.75 inches, which is the Fender body thickness! The plans I used for the templates came directly off a 1966 original tele. Im just doing the standard two pickup with string through bridge on this one but will be doing a few custom jobs in the future, hopefully!
And here is the blank with the outline marked on it before it goes to the bandsaw!
When cutting out bodys I always do relief cuts to cut down stress on the blade. I normally use a jigsaw but it it tough to cut through thick dense wood and leaves a lot more work for the router. But it can be done so dont let that stop you! I have done a few guitars with a jigsaw but I got this bandsaw to make less work for the router and I want one for a few other little things, I hope to make an amp head but thats a whole other thread!
Here is th body with the relief cuts done.
And here it is with most of the waste taken away! I finished the outline yesterday but forgot to take pictures but Il take some today and post them!
Any questions ask away and I will be happy to answer!!8
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Theres not actually that many tools needed to build a guitar! There are people around who have built guitars using no powertools just handtools!
Heres the body cut out! I cut to within about 1mm of the line so when Im routing I just have to barely remove any wood and it will give a smooth finish!
And I started making more templates today. I have a tele body template done already and today I started a Strat body and neck, a Les Paul body and neck and a Tele neck. Here are the neck plans ready to be glued to the mdf. Im using 3/4'' mdf for the templates. A lot of people first make their templates with 1/4'' mdf and then transfer to 3/4'' because the 1/4'' is easier to sand but I dont mind the bit of work.
I use this stuff to attach the paper to the mdf. Works great!
Here they are in the sun waiting for the glue to dry!
And here they are all rough cut. I now have to sand them down to the line and make sure all surfaces are perpendicular so the router copies them exactly!
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I can only imagine how long it would take to make the neck without them.
Not to mention doing the routing for the electrical bits.
Will do a bit of googling on it though. Really would love to build a gibson v style one
EDIT: Found this blog about a build doing the work without much tools if anyone is interested
http://markweinguitarlessons.com/forums/showthread.php?13975-DIY-Stratocaster-Build-hand-tools-only
Very tempted to try it after reading through that
Actually a lot of the neck work is done by hand anyway! Like shaping the back, putting the radius on the fret board, etc. You should give it a go! For your first one you could always assemble the premade pieces or make the body and buy a neck if you didnt think you were ready for neck building! For my first I bought a neck as I didnt have the skill to do a neck but after reading through the internet I said I would give it a shot and it worked well! Just do a practise one so you can make all your mistakes on that! 0 -
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Cheers PaulieBoy, Il keep posting as long as people are reading!
So after rough cutting the templates yesterday I sanded them down to the line, while making sure I keep the edges perpendicular.
Here what I used to do it. I didnt use the rasps and files for this but I put them in the pic anyway!
And after a lot of sanding I was left with an edge like this on all the body and neck templates!
These are my master templates. They wont actually be used to route the bodies in case they get damaged it will save me doing this all over again. I will make copies of the master and these will be my working templates. So if Im routing and the router slips and damages the template I can just cut a new one off the master! Oh and I forgot to add that if you are working with mdf make sure to wear a mask because mdf dust is lethal!
Here Im copying the master onto what will become the working templates! Im using old doors off a cabinet I had in my shed for the working templates. They are mdf too but they have a mahogony veneer so the router will glide smoothly across the template!
And here are the working templates rough cut on top of the masters!
Tomorrow I have a lot of routing to do! I will show you my routing setup then! If im confusing anyone let me know, Im nearly confusing myself with all this talk of templates!! ha ha0 -
Unfortunately I didnt get out to the workshop at all today! I did something to my neck so hopefully after a few painkillers I will be all set for tomorrow!
But I did get a chance to start drawing up plans for my amp build!
Im converting my Class 5 Combo into a head and cab to get rid of the rattle once and for all! 0 -
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KevArno post a couple of pics of the guitar you started! I would love to see it. I know what you mean about fretting. The first time I levelled a fingerboard I thought you were meant to keep filing until all frets are the exact same level, when in fact you are meant to file the smallest amount possible, barely touching each of the frets. But now that guitar has nice low frets like a 60s/70s LP and no matter how hard to try you wont get a buzz or any fretting out on it! :cool:
electrogrimey it really depends on how much YOU want to spend on the guitar! Buy all the 'best' hardware like Callaham and get BareKnuckle pickups and you will have quite a pricey build but go for GFS parts and you can get it done for a lot cheaper. And dont believe all the hype over certian bridges, etc. Get what you can afford. I dont think its going to make all that much of a difference! I try and get the best and most suitable hardware for a build. I get it over time buying bits here and bits there! I try to get most of it in Europe to avoid customs but I get a good bit of stuff from stewmac so I get their stuff too! My last two builds came in at about €600 each give or take! Maybe €550 but I got some pretty expensive hardware for them, I really wanted to get a particular sound! On tspri.com the was a contest last year to see who could build the best guitar for under $100 and then this year the did a $210 challenge! There were some really nice guitars there!
So today I got some more work done on the templates. I cant seem to get a full day in the workshop but Im doing it bit by bit!
I drilled the holes in the master templates to attach them to the working ones. I want to have the holes in the exact same place so that if I have to attach the template to the body again after the initial routing it will go back in the very same place!
I drilled on the centre line of the master template 2 holes for screws. I then placed it on the rough cut working templates making sure there was a bit of waste wood that has to be removed from the working templates so I can get an exact copy!
There was this much left at the edges!
I then used a bradall to mark the holes on the working template before I drilled them!
And drilled them!
And then screwed them together with th master template on the top!
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Here my router! Is the DeWalt DW624 Its a really great router.
And heres my router table. I rather using a router table as it gives me more control for doing some work but I also use it handheld and it other jigs and things, but more of that later!
I mount the router using machine bolts, shown in this picture
And here is what it looks like mounted!
Heres the bit Im using for these templates! Its a Freud bit, they are expensive but worth it in my opinion. It has a half inch collet so it is really sturdy in the router but you still half to be careful when using it! Routers can be quite dangerous seeing as they are just sharpened lumps of metal spinning 20,000 times a minute. So make sure you take all the precautions and keep your fingers out of the way!
Heres a pic during routing
And what is looks like after
Now on to transfering the pickup cavities and control cavities to the working template! I drilled using a forstner bit to remove some of the wood to leave less for the router to take away!
And ended up with this!
Set it up so the bit was in the centre of the route and turned on the router carefully making sure that the mdf was not making contact with the router bit as it would make the router jump and fling the templates across the room!! :eek:
And got this!
And this
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I marked out the neck master templates on mdf and rough cut them on the bandsaw! These will be my working templates!
And heres some templates before being routed!
And then I started making the neck pocket template! Here is the set up I used!
And heres the template done!
Tested it on a scrap piece of 2x4 and its a snug fit!
Im doing a swimming pool route on this guitar so any combination of pickups can be used so I printed out a pickguard outline and cut it to size! Here it is on the template!
And heres the template for the swimming pool route done!
Heres a pick of routing the outline of the body!
And heres the outline finished! The colour difference is because of the different passes taken with the router. A bit of sanding and it will all blend into one!
Here a pic before routing the cavities! I drilled out a bit with a forstner bit to ease the work the router has to do but the bit was a bit blunt so I left the rest for the router to take care of!
Heres the cavity routing done!
Now on to the neck pocket!
Template attached!
All routing done and to final depth!
And here it is with the pickguard outline so you can get an idea what it looks like!
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Thanks for all the comments guys! Sorry about the delay in getting the pics up but here they are! Let me know what you think!
I didnt get a chance to take any photos of drilling for the string through holes as the camera was out of battery. Il post them next time! They are probably one of the hardest things to get right on a body when you dont have expensive milling machines but once you take your time you can get good results!Hey FruscianteFan,
Your project looks fantastic, have you an idea of what pickups, switches and wiring you'll be going for?
Cheers
damo
This body is actually going to picksoir so its up to him what he does with it! Im hoping he posts it here! 0 -
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