It's always nice to find out it wasn't working because something was actually kaput, rather than there was something wrong with your wiring!
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
First Commission Build - Is A Super-Tele A Thing?
- Thread starter TerribleTim68
- Start date
Okay, so that's been a frustrating few months. 
You guys probably thought I died or something, but alas, I'm still here!
I did have a business trip to go on at the end of last month, and since the company was paying for me to go within an hour of my two sons, we made a vacation out of it and took the following week as well. Then work has been insane since I got back. But i finally got up the nerve and gathered up a few moments to try to get back on this build.
So here's where I am:
I got it all wired up, pickups mounted, control plate mounted, jack mounted. Got the bridge and tuners mounted, strung it up and it makes noise!
I did check every step of the way with the multimeter just to make sure these pickups were working. I literally checked the bridge pup, fed the wires through the holes, checked it again, wired it up, plugged it in and gave it the thump test on the pickup poles, checked the bridge pickup, fed the wires through the holes, checked it again, wired it up and plugged it in again and gave it the thump test. Then I strung it up and plugged it in to a real guitar amp and strummed it. Every5thing is working as it should. Volume works, tone works, pickup selector switch works in every position and even works correctly. So this is the Texas Special pickup set wit ha 4-Way switch so it has -
It really does look beautiful, I'm sure happy with how it is turning out. I still haven't put the back cover plate on it or the truss rod cover, because...
The next thing I need to do is brush up on my Floyd Rose setup process and get this thing properly playable and in tune. I've never set up a Floyd before, so this will be fun (he said sarcastically).
If anyone has a link to a good video on Floyd Rose setup, fire away!
You guys probably thought I died or something, but alas, I'm still here!
I did have a business trip to go on at the end of last month, and since the company was paying for me to go within an hour of my two sons, we made a vacation out of it and took the following week as well. Then work has been insane since I got back. But i finally got up the nerve and gathered up a few moments to try to get back on this build.
So here's where I am:
I got it all wired up, pickups mounted, control plate mounted, jack mounted. Got the bridge and tuners mounted, strung it up and it makes noise!
I did check every step of the way with the multimeter just to make sure these pickups were working. I literally checked the bridge pup, fed the wires through the holes, checked it again, wired it up, plugged it in and gave it the thump test on the pickup poles, checked the bridge pickup, fed the wires through the holes, checked it again, wired it up and plugged it in again and gave it the thump test. Then I strung it up and plugged it in to a real guitar amp and strummed it. Every5thing is working as it should. Volume works, tone works, pickup selector switch works in every position and even works correctly. So this is the Texas Special pickup set wit ha 4-Way switch so it has -
- Position 1 (all the way "back" towards volume knob) - Bridge and neck pickup in series
- Position 2 - Bridge pickup solo
- Position 3 - Bridge and neck pickup in parallel
- Position 4 (all the way "forward" toward neck) - Neck pickup solo
It really does look beautiful, I'm sure happy with how it is turning out. I still haven't put the back cover plate on it or the truss rod cover, because...
The next thing I need to do is brush up on my Floyd Rose setup process and get this thing properly playable and in tune. I've never set up a Floyd before, so this will be fun (he said sarcastically).
If anyone has a link to a good video on Floyd Rose setup, fire away!
Looks great 
I'd rock it (though I'd stick a little 59' in the bridge position
). Most annoying thing about a Floyd trem is the intonation. Check, loosen string, adjust, repeat. Otherwise it's just like any floating trem, mess with the springs, tune, see if it's sitting right, repeat.
I'd rock it (though I'd stick a little 59' in the bridge position
). Most annoying thing about a Floyd trem is the intonation. Check, loosen string, adjust, repeat. Otherwise it's just like any floating trem, mess with the springs, tune, see if it's sitting right, repeat.
I remembered what I hate about guitars.
Already broke the high E string while trying to tune this thing. Man I hate that tiny little bast....
Guess I'll need to get a new set of strings. And maybe about a dozen extra high E strings.
Already broke the high E string while trying to tune this thing. Man I hate that tiny little bast....
Guess I'll need to get a new set of strings. And maybe about a dozen extra high E strings.
You can get a Floyd Rose tool from a couple of places. Allparts, probably Solo. It holds the string lock screw from behind and has an Allen bolt that lets you move the saddle to intonate. If you’re doing several Floyd Rose style bridges it could be worth it, if you’re only doing this one maybe not.
If the bridge is going to float, and it’s recessed so I’m guessing it is, cut a block the right size to hold the spring block in the position you want the bridge to stay in. Loosen the springs. Set action and intonation like normal. You can adjust the overall bridge height with the studs at either end but don’t adjust them under string tension, to adjust individual strings you need to shim under the saddle, I’m sure someone sells precut shims, I usually use brass or abuse old feeler gauges. Once everything is set start to tighten the springs underneath until the wood block holding the spring block just slips out, as soon as the string tension is off of it. You should be pretty close at that point. PM me if you want if you have other questions.
If the bridge is going to float, and it’s recessed so I’m guessing it is, cut a block the right size to hold the spring block in the position you want the bridge to stay in. Loosen the springs. Set action and intonation like normal. You can adjust the overall bridge height with the studs at either end but don’t adjust them under string tension, to adjust individual strings you need to shim under the saddle, I’m sure someone sells precut shims, I usually use brass or abuse old feeler gauges. Once everything is set start to tighten the springs underneath until the wood block holding the spring block just slips out, as soon as the string tension is off of it. You should be pretty close at that point. PM me if you want if you have other questions.
Carpenter's pencil under the Floyd (between the trem and the top) works for that too
IT'S DONE!
I'm calling it done, finished, finito, fertig, færdig, klaar, fini, terminado, acabado, skończony, 終えた, законченный, τελειωμένος . It's as done as I can make it. At some point you have to let it go. I'm at that point.
Part of me is thrilled, while part of me is scared to death, because this one is going out in the wild and what if it's not good enough?
Regardless, I need to let it go. This build has taken FAR too long.
So, after letting it sit strung up for a couple weeks and then going back through and readjusting the setup one last time, I present to you, the Hellcaster, in its final glory -
This is only my third complete build, and I'm very happy with it. In fact, I'm actually thrilled with how it came out. I do want to give a huge thank you to everyone here who encouraged me, gave me advice and kept pushing me to be a better guitar builder. You guys are amazing, and I appreciate you all.
I didn't do much recording of the final assembly, because with the issues I had with the electronics I just got to a point where getting it finished was more important than making a video. So I'll need to pull something together for that. But that's okay, I'm good with it. It's time to send this one to its rightful owner.
Now, on to the next one. I've got this neck blank sitting here....
I'm calling it done, finished, finito, fertig, færdig, klaar, fini, terminado, acabado, skończony, 終えた, законченный, τελειωμένος . It's as done as I can make it. At some point you have to let it go. I'm at that point.
Part of me is thrilled, while part of me is scared to death, because this one is going out in the wild and what if it's not good enough?
Regardless, I need to let it go. This build has taken FAR too long.
So, after letting it sit strung up for a couple weeks and then going back through and readjusting the setup one last time, I present to you, the Hellcaster, in its final glory -
This is only my third complete build, and I'm very happy with it. In fact, I'm actually thrilled with how it came out. I do want to give a huge thank you to everyone here who encouraged me, gave me advice and kept pushing me to be a better guitar builder. You guys are amazing, and I appreciate you all.
I didn't do much recording of the final assembly, because with the issues I had with the electronics I just got to a point where getting it finished was more important than making a video. So I'll need to pull something together for that. But that's okay, I'm good with it. It's time to send this one to its rightful owner.
Now, on to the next one. I've got this neck blank sitting here....
Looks great, Tim! Way to stick with it and see the project through. Ya did good. 
Eventually yes. I had so many troubles with the final assembly that I ended up turning the cameras off so I could just focus. So none of that got filmed. But I do plan on pulling a video together to wrap up the build series and have the customer play a demo on it. Delivery day is Friday. He's beyond thrilled with it based purely on pictures, so hopefully he is equally thrilled once he lays his hands on it. His comment was "This is most likely my last and final guitar", so there's that. He's in his mid-50s and doesn't play out any more, mostly just does the recording studio sound engineer thing and records his own stuff when he feels like it.
