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Post by Happy Jack on Apr 28, 2010 1:58:38 GMT -5
That's looking the mutts mate. Love the back plate really cool.
I love teles with sunburst bodies, maple fingerboards and either white or tortie pickguards look just so nice
The figuring on the neck is awesome and in my opinion makes all the difference.
Did you finish the body or was it already finished - not clear from your post. Is the neck a Warmoth?
For $700 / £450 you couldn't get a guitar like that new
Sorry for all you non UK the "Mutts" is short for the "Mutts Nuts" which is a more polite way of saying the the "Dogs Bollocks"
The "Dogs Bollocks" is English slang meaning the the very best, of exceptional quality, top of the tree.
Example "have you seen Phil's self build tele - I tell you it is the dogs bollocks"
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Post by pwfirst on Apr 28, 2010 8:39:28 GMT -5
Thanks Happy Jack. The neck is a custom made by a guy in New Jersey. Bought it off Ebay. When you pick the neck it has a rough shaped head and no frets. So you tell them what shape you want for the head and what kind of frets you want, standard or jumbo and they make the modifications and send it out in about 10 days. The Warmuth neck I was looking at was over $400 so I chose this one knowing I would have to do some finial finishing. The real kicker was the deep marbling of the wood for me. He told me he bought the wood from an old farmer who had it for over 50 yrs in his barn. The wood grain is just like the picture was, it is stunning. As far as the pick guard goes, I took the boss (wife) with me and I put several colors on the body an this was her favorite, so there you go. The body was made by Mighty Mite and was fully finished and it was perfect, and for $165 it was a steal. I am surprised at how light this guitar is compared to my other ones. I think you may have givien me the name for my guitar "Mutts" ;D Thanks Phil
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Post by lesblues on May 3, 2010 2:23:28 GMT -5
Really great to see your build in progress. Definitely something I would like to try too but I don't have the confidence. Also the last time I priced the parts it didn't seem that much less than buying a new guitar. Without the worry!
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Post by lesblues on May 3, 2010 2:25:34 GMT -5
Sorry for all you non UK the "Mutts" is short for the "Mutts Nuts" which is a more polite way of saying the the "Dogs Bollocks" The "Dogs Bollocks" is English slang meaning the the very best, of exceptional quality, top of the tree. Example "have you seen Phil's self build tele - I tell you it is the dogs bollocks" And free "English" lessons too.
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Post by pwfirst on May 3, 2010 14:38:29 GMT -5
Being from Iowa I have been accused of not being able to talk correctly so I am working my new vocabulatory into conversations. Been getting some real strange looks so far. My pickups just came in today so I will put them in tonight and see what they sound like. I will then start the neck finishing process. Over all the build has been very easy and the parts I have gotten in are very high end. After looking at this neck, you just don't find that type of look from the factory. The sound will be next, if that is like I expect it to be, building a custom is a real option.
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Post by 469roadking on May 3, 2010 17:04:16 GMT -5
Dude!!!! You're so making me jones to do one. I want a Road King Frankentele in the worst way. Keep up the good work and don't forget the pics. PS. I would love a report on the earvana nut.
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Post by pwfirst on May 4, 2010 13:56:58 GMT -5
I finished wiring the pickups. excellent instructions came with them. I'll Post some photos later. I just strung it for the first time. The neck very straight with just a hint of bow. I will adjust everything tonight, may have to lower the neck just a litlle by sanding the pocket. I show pictures of this process too. For me this is the most challanging part to get that feel I like. After I get it all set up and playing for a month I will take the neck off and do the final prep after the wood is use to the Iowa's climate. Once it is playing I will record the sound as well.
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Post by 469roadking on May 8, 2010 13:36:29 GMT -5
OK Phil, it's been four days, let's get up off of it and get back to work. I'm living vicariously through your build so don't let me down.
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Post by pwfirst on May 8, 2010 21:44:26 GMT -5
OK OK Roadking. I will try and keep up to your schedule. But give me a break I do have a life. Over the week end I had to meet the son's girlfriend parents. She just graduated from nursing school. I then recorded a demo CD for an old friend that is moving to Floridia and will be doing a single thing down there. So back to the guitar. This is a picture of the wiring procedure. The whole thing is was really easy. I did line everything with metal tape. I strung the new boy with a set of cheep strings and adjusted the heights and the intonation. I did notice that a Nirvana Nut require very little adjustments. After the buzz was gone I tried it out. The neck is still not right but that can be done later. The neck is straight with just a subtle bow after a few turns of the truss rod. I plugged it into my big Line six Flex-tone 111 XL Put it on the Black Face Amp with re-verb and it was sounding great. The pickups were really a surprise, everything they were advertised to be. #1 All the way back was both pickups in a series, big fat tone like a humbucker but bigger. #2 Bridge pick up with warm mid-tones #3 Bridge pickup stock tone #4 Bridge and neck in Parallel stock tone #5 Neck pick up stock tone Then you pull up tone nob and it adjust the mid tones independently of the highs and the lows. These pickups are really great, the twang is definitely there but It also has a Humbucker sound that you can dial in on #1. Once I get the neck to my liking and I am very picky this will be one of my favorite guitars. Still working on the the head art. Now I have to spend some time doing the mixing and mastering of the CD.
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Post by 469roadking on May 8, 2010 23:08:29 GMT -5
Thank you Phil. I feel so relaxed and fulfilled now. You may return to your life for a short period but hurry back as fast as possible. PS. can you post a contact on the neck you bought. I'm about to buy a replacement for my Tele. I need a flatter radius and a 22nd fret. I want to check out those pups too. And the Earvana. So far all I've gotten is a new bridge. A 6 saddle Gotah. My 62 reissue is destined to be Bradocaster.
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Post by pwfirst on May 9, 2010 18:16:11 GMT -5
Hi Roadking, here are the guys I bought my neck from. 4monkeyz. They can be reached through Ebay. I am sure you can order a tele neck though them for around $200 I would guess. The neck was very good but it needs some final finishing. I need to lower mine just a little to get it where I want it. The wood was just amazing.
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Post by pwfirst on May 11, 2010 10:45:51 GMT -5
Well I got the last of the parts , knobs and such, and put it all together and I am very happy. I think I am going to have to start the neck sooner than I planned because of Roadking. Ha Ha ;D These are the steps that I am planning on 1. take the strings and neck off the guitar 2.adjust the truss rod until it is as straight as it can be using a metal straight edge. The bar rocks if the neck is not straight or you can see openings under the bar. 3. level the the hight of the frets with an 8 in sanding block. I may buy a 9.5 radius block for this. in the old days I used an 7.5 to 8 inch grinding stone. You just bock sand the top of the frets until they are all the same height and somewhat flattened, they go from shinny to dull. 4. you then use a fret file and round top edge up to the center and then round the bottom edge leaving a very fine dull line in the center of the fret. When all the frets are done recheck the level of the frets again. They should all be the same heights and have a nice round shape with that very fine line in the center of the fret. 5. Then file the ends of the fret off and round the ends off until they are smooth and don't catch on your fingers. 6. Now you polish the frets with 600 then 800 the 1200 sand paper and finally I use my dremil with a polishing wheel to make them smooth and shiny.Slow and easy is the way you approach it.
Next is sanding the neck and spraying the finish. When I start the fret work I will post some picture to show you how I have done it.
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Post by lesblues on May 13, 2010 1:31:56 GMT -5
I have to say it all sounds a bit too easy to make a complete mess of it for me. I'll stick to shovelling cement and leave the technical stuff to folk like you Phil. I'm very impressed with what you have done so far and looking forward to seeing the completed guitar.
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Post by pwfirst on May 13, 2010 12:49:14 GMT -5
I have to say that this build has been very easy up to now. If I had bought a finished neck the project would be done but I really liked the wood in the neck. Finishing a neck is a little scary but we will all see how it turns out. I will be starting the neck next week because Roadking is putting the pressure on me. Really I just want to start using it.
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Post by pwfirst on May 17, 2010 17:17:53 GMT -5
Hi guys, I have now ordered my fret rounding file and my radius sanding block for the frets. My neck has a radius of 9.5 in. When I get them I will start work on the neck. I will supply pictures and explanations of the process. I have done this a few times in the past so we will see how it goes. I am still looking for good suggestions for the head art. My wife suggested The Fat Boy Tele. ouch!!!!!!!!
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