3 Wood Challenge: 52 Tele Inspired

TimboZ · #1 06-26-2012, 07:07 PM

It's about time to get something going on this project!
I have been collecting parts for this project over the last year but have not been able to find the time to get it going.

MightMite jazz neck (will cut headstock to tele shape
BassLine SCPB Single Coil Pickup
Grover Tuners
Bridge is undecided. Fender HMV or a Hipshot A (Thru Body)

The top will be a slab (Might do a binding around it), It will have a gut cut on the back.

Not sure about a pick guard yet.

Body will be 1 1/4 Mahogany with a 1/4 Maple top
I picked up a 2in X 7in X 8ft Mahogany board for just over 80 bucks. (enough for 2 bass bodies)

The top

Just got done cutting the headstock!!!

**ronaldpdbrandt** · #2 07-07-2012, 02:36 PM

Nice work on the headstock!

TimboZ · #3 07-25-2012, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ronaldpdbrandt

Nice work on the headstock!

Thanks.

I put some Golden Oak (minwax) stain on it and about 8 coats of lacquer. Still going to put a few more on it after a light sanding.

Made some progress with the body.

Milled and glued the mahogany together.

I just got done gluing the maple top to the body.

Also I just ordered a White Pearl Sting pickguard without a neck cutout (my neck is a jazz neck that is rounded at the bottom) from dazbootmanspickguards.com

TimboZ · #4 09-04-2012, 07:20 PM

Making some progress.... Time is runnning out.

Got the body thickness sanded. Now time to rout out neck and pickup.

Stew mac template for the neck. I ended up making the pickup template out of 3/8 plexiglass.

TimboZ · #5 09-04-2012, 07:56 PM

Next, I am going to route out the neck for the pick guard.

Control plate should arrive in the next day or two, then I can route out the control cavity.

TimboZ · #6 09-08-2012, 01:00 PM

Time to rout out the neck on the pickguard.

A nice tight fit! I can work on cutting out the body now that I have my pickguard in place. Not sure if I am going to round over the edges like on the sting bass or do a w/b/w binding.

I should have the control plate on monday, then I can rout that out, but I am toying with the idea of getting a 3 hole control plate and putting in a varitone control with a transformer.

Also I still am not sure if I will have the pickguard on the bass when done. It all depends how the finish looks when done.

mazareth · #7 09-09-2012, 02:42 PM

Looking good so far. Nice flame on that maple.

Stealth · #8 09-10-2012, 03:40 AM

Very cool. Subbed.

Rip Topaz · #9 09-10-2012, 05:24 AM

Loving it so far!! I'm in for the duration (subbed).

E.J. T.N.T. · #10 09-11-2012, 04:21 AM

Don't you just love those mighty mite necks??? I know I do

TimboZ · #11 09-11-2012, 08:39 PM

Not much going on the last few days other than mounting the tuners on the neck, routed out control cavity, and picked up some screws and inserts at the hardware store for the neck.

Don't hate me for the fender logo. I was messing around at work and printed it out on some overhead transparency film.

Hopkins · #12 09-12-2012, 04:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimboZ

Not much going on the last few days other than mounting the tuners on the neck, routed out control cavity, and picked up some screws and inserts at the hardware store for the neck.

Don't hate me for the fender logo. I was messing around at work and printed it out on some overhead transparency film.

I don't hat you for it, but if you are putting in the time and effort to build your bass, doesn't it deserve your own logo.

TimboZ · #13 09-13-2012, 11:36 AM

More progress the lase two days.

I drilled out for the string string ferrules and wasn't happy how they lined up on the back. errrrrrrrr

So I made a template and redrilled.

Now time to draw the body out.
Using the pickguard as a template for the upper portion. (yes i'm a lefty)

Time to go to the bandsaw.

Still got some work to do on the neck pocket and do some sanding.

TimboZ · #14 09-13-2012, 05:15 PM

Sanding................................

Done for the night. Don't think I will get back to it till late Sunday night.
Still have a lot of sanding on the edges to do. Also have to fill this mess.

I think I am going to use hide glue and sawdust. Any suggestions would be great!

Did a light sanding on the top to get rid of all my lines and tape residue.

Hopkins · #15 09-13-2012, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimboZ

Done for the night. Don't think I will get back to it till late Sunday night.
Still have a lot of sanding on the edges to do. Also have to fill this mess.

I think I am going to use hide glue and sawdust. Any suggestions would be great!

It looks to me that that tear out is minimal enough that you could just sand it out with out altering the shape enough to notice when its finished.

TimboZ · #16 09-18-2012, 06:08 PM

I didn't want to sand it out because I want the body to match the pickguard.

It came out OK.

Rounded over the top with a 3/8 bit and the bottom with a 1/2 bit.

Still got a lot of sanding on the edges.

Next going to work on the gut cut.

TimboZ · #17 09-19-2012, 04:33 PM

Gut Cut Time

Beer Break.....................

80 Grit. Almost done.

TimboZ · #18 09-23-2012, 07:11 PM

Not much going on the last few days other than drilling out the holes for the wiring and jack plate.

Did a light sanding with 220 grit and a wipe down with naphtha to get an idea of how it will look.

For the color I am going with ColorTone Orange for the top, and probably the back.

Big B. · #19 09-23-2012, 07:16 PM

Looks great man. I really like that top. The shape of the instrument is already in the figure.

Rip Topaz · #20 09-23-2012, 08:25 PM

So pretty. I wouldn't do anything to hide that figure.

Can't wait to see the next pics.