Winter Build Off 2022 - Toby-or-not-Toby

[2groggy]

A few touch ups were required, so I won't be able to wrap until some glue dries.

The joints between core and inner wraps needed fairing.

And there was one small bit of tear-out on the lower bout, treble side of the back. I used the same gouge (curved chisel) to cut our the bad bit and to cut the patch. Now I have to let the glue set under the patch before I continue.

 

[Matt Liebenau]

Now it's time for the unpredictable part of the build - audience participation.

I'm looking for opinions on a few things. First, here is the current mock-up. Sorry if you strain your neck while tilting your heads to the right. Chiropractic expenses will not be reimbursed.View attachment 4533986

My list of questions, from the top to bottom of the picture:
1) football jack on the side or strat jack on the back to do double duty as a mini cover plate?
2) bridge ideas? I have ruled out string-through because I never get them aligned. There isn't room for a Bigsby. It will be supported by the solid core.
3) I've planned my dimensions for three or four wraps of veneer, alternating colours. Should I use 3, leaving dark on the outside, or four, leaving light on the outermost wrap?
4) do I bother with the switch for single or double coil? If so, do I position it near the knobs or on the upper horn?
5) for the headstock, I can strip it to clear maple or veneer it to match the face birds-eye, the side clear maple or the side dyed maple. The builder of the neck said the headstock was originally pained to cover is some discolouration of the wood.

Why not do both? Strat jack on the side…

 

[2groggy]

Why not do both? Strat jack on the side…

View attachment 4534321

Another good idea. I also like the added benefit of getting my frustrations out by pounding the plate into the correct curve.

 

[cholyoke]

My list of questions, from the top to bottom of the picture:
1) football jack on the side or strat jack on the back to do double duty as a mini cover plate?
2) bridge ideas? I have ruled out string-through because I never get them aligned. There isn't room for a Bigsby. It will be supported by the solid core.
3) I've planned my dimensions for three or four wraps of veneer, alternating colours. Should I use 3, leaving dark on the outside, or four, leaving light on the outermost wrap?
4) do I bother with the switch for single or double coil? If so, do I position it near the knobs or on the upper horn?
5) for the headstock, I can strip it to clear maple or veneer it to match the face birds-eye, the side clear maple or the side dyed maple. The builder of the neck said the headstock was originally pained to cover is some discolouration of the wood.

1) I like strat jack on the side as suggested by Matt.
2) The vibrola looks cool. Does that still need a tuneomatic bridge, too?
3) The guitar with the wide stripe of dark and bands of lighter wood looks super.
4) no opinion.
5) veneer to match the body.

 

[2groggy]

...
2) The vibrola looks cool. Does that still need a tuneomatic bridge, too?
.

The same supplier in the Toronto area has a variety of TOM bridges. They also have Mustang and Jag vibrolas and bridges

 

[Matt Liebenau]

The Gibson Vibrolas look cool my only thought would be that they don’t have a spring or anything like that. It’s just the bent metal that counters the string pull. It might be ok with higher tension Bass VI string but it might not.

 

[2groggy]

The first wrap of veneer hasn't really been behaving I might re-think the veneerial plan, and switch to something like on the TUBSCROD build - many small vertical pieces. I have a bead and cove router bit set, so I'd use that to ensure tight joints. I just need to find decent wood for it.

 

[Flamingo21]

the veneerial plan

 

[2groggy]

I made some bead and cove strips from some of the ash floor boards in the wood pile post. It seems to be working well.

 

[2groggy]

The body is closed in. I've trimmed the ends of the strips with a sander and done a first pass with 150 grit, then filled the edges with paste made from the sawdust. The picture is from before filling.

 

[postalflunkie]

That's some pretty birds eye, I can never find a piece with the eyes spaced so evenly like that

 

[2groggy]

Since the last picture, I sanded, filled the perimeter, and sanded again. Then I slapped on a quick cheater coat of tung oil. There will be lots to do on the body6, including sanding and finishing. This coat is just for temporary protection. But I guess that this make today the official grain-pop day

 

[2groggy]

Knowing that there is a solid core, I decided to try a Jag tailpiece and bridge. Spacing looks tight. I'll have to work backwards to my usual process - position the tailpiece first, then measure for the bridge and neck pocket, and extend the neck away from the body as much as required.

 

[Reedt2000]

The Fender tremolo is a little clunky, what about the gibson?

 

[2groggy]

I decided that the jag hardware just didn't fit and took it back. I picked up a wrap around bridge with individual string intonation adjustments. It could operate with a separate tailpiece if I want to add one later. It is enough that I can move along with cutting the body cavities over the weekend.

 

[2groggy]

Back to work on this body...

1 = temporary template

2) hog out the cavity with a forstner bit on the drill press

3 - Route out the last bits

and Voila!

 

[2groggy]

And here is the current hardware plan:

1. Wrap around bridge
2. Lace humbucker with coil tap
3. Push-pull pot for volume, tone
4. Strat jack on the side
5. Access through the stat jack opening and pick-up opening

Now the question of the day - Where should I position the pick-up?

 

[TFM94]

Yeah, that wraparound bridge looks so much better than the Fender of Gibson trem units.

If it were up to me, I'd make it a bridge pickup, but not too aggressive, 1-2 inches from the bridge. Just above the second knob maybe?

 

[Reedt2000]

I'd move it closer to the bridge as well. You'll have a tone knob to knock brightness off if you need to.

 

[RichterScale]

Put it in the sweet spot.