Winter Build Off 2025 Tele

[mapleglo]

I took yesterday off, but got a little work in this morning. There was a lot of little things that needed to be done on the body. I worked on the upper horn/neck pocket transition, I trimmed the neck pocket, sanded the pickup routs further, and did a little sanding on the body.



I also did the string test to make sure the bridge was in the correct general area.



I also remembered I'll have to make a nut at some point. That nut I have is way too wide. All said, I waisted over two hours doing what seems to be very little. But at least I did make some progress. At some point, I have to decide what, if any, king of round over I want to do, and whether or not I'll do body contouring, or just leave it as a slab. I'm tending toward a significant round over, and standard "Stratocaster" type contouring.

Oh, and I also ordered a Hipshot licensed tuner. The look of the clover tuners is simply much better than those "Y" tuners.



Lowered the exposure and re-uploaded that last pic. For some reason, it seems to get worse after a few hours. I've really come to dislike technology these days...

 

[DonaldR]

Oh, and I also ordered a Hipshot licensed tuner. The look of the clover tuners is simply much better than those "Y" tuners.

Hipshot has mini-Clover if you want.

 

[mapleglo]

Hipshot has mini-Clover if you want.

I don't think I want to spend the money on 5 new tuners. It took a bit of self-convincing to buy the one licensed tuner. Unfortunately my wood purchases for this build blew the budget. Though the mini tuners might be a nice upgrade at some point.

 

[mapleglo]

I ordered a Tusq nut off of the 'bay. Should be here in a few days.

 

[mapleglo]

Spent a little more time in the shop this morning. I finally got the pickups to fit.



I'll likely sand them out just a bit more, but at least they go in. And I worked on the control panel.



Volume, blend, and the output jack. Two controls, 2 pickups, and this is the 2nd attempt at the body. 2 strips of maple down the center, and 2 walnut body wings. Going a bit overboard on the Gemini theme, but that's what I do

I also did some other minor sanding on the body. I have to think about what kind of roundover I want to do on the body edge. I realized today that I'll have to order a couple of knobs as well.

 

[mapleglo]

OK, knobs are ordered, they should be here tomorrow.

 

[mapleglo]

Knobs and tuner came in.



Oddly enough, the tuner shaft and washer is a slightly different color than the others. I may swap them with the other shaft and washer from one of the other tuners so everything matches. Or not, if I get lazy.

 

[mapleglo]

Started working on the pickguard.

I still have no idea what's going on with the picture washout.

I think that last one is a little better.

Oddly, it keeps changing brightness every time I load the page.

 

[mapleglo]

I did some more work on the pickguard this morning.



When I installed the tuner, I realized that even though I ordered a licensed Hipshot tuner, I received a USA tuner. It doesn't match. I emailed Best Bass Gear so we'll see what they say.



I'm posting this from my old computer to see hw the pictures come out.

 

[mapleglo]

Here's the same pic from my new computer:



*edit - of course now it seems to be working correctly. Either that, or I'm going crazy. Probably a little of both...

 

[mapleglo]

This is one of the reasons I like to order from Best Bass Gear. They already got back to me within 20 minutes of sending the original email. They will send me the correct tuner and include a label to return the incorrect one. That's what I call great customer service. I'm almost inclined to order a set a real pickups from them now.

 

[Gervais Cote]

Here's the same pic from my new computer:

View attachment 7126468

*edit - of course now it seems to be working correctly. Either that, or I'm going crazy. Probably a little of both...

That’s a lovely look.

Is there any finish on the body or not yet ?

 

[mapleglo]

That’s a lovely look.

Is there any finish on the body or not yet ?

Thanks, no finish yet. There's still a bunch of sanding I have to do, and I have to decide what kind of roundover I want on the body's edges.

 

[mapleglo]

I started on the body roundover this morning.



I figured I'd started with the smallest roundover bit I have, 1/4", and work my way up from there if necessary.



I liked the 1/4" right away, so I'm going with it.

Now, lots and lots of sanding.

 

[mapleglo]

And I'm starting to think about what kind of finish I'll use, on both the body and the neck, which also needs a finish. I'm thinking a lot about Danish oil.

 

[Lo-E]

And I'm starting to think about what kind of finish I'll use, on both the body and the neck, which also needs a finish. I'm thinking a lot about Danish oil.

View attachment 7127182

Not very durable but a very nice look, IMO.

Carl Thompson’s been using Watco Danish oil followed by Butcher’s wax on his basses since he started building in the early ’70s. Seems to be working out all right for him!

 

[mapleglo]

Not very durable but a very nice look, IMO.

Carl Thompson’s been using Watco Danish oil followed by Butcher’s wax on his basses since he started building in the early ’70s. Seems to be working out all right for him!

I think my walnut Rickenbacker uses the danish oil, and I like the look.

 

[Lo-E]

I think my walnut Rickenbacker uses the danish oil, and I like the look

It couldn’t be much easier to apply, either!

Years ago (at Carl’s suggestion), I refinished a battered 72 Jazz bass using Watco Danish and Butcher’s wax. It looked great. I had to reapply the wax every once in a while but it held up okay.

 

[Gervais Cote]

I started on the body roundover this morning.

View attachment 7127176

I figured I'd started with the smallest roundover bit I have, 1/4", and work my way up from there if necessary.

View attachment 7127178

I liked the 1/4" right away, so I'm going with it.

Now, lots and lots of sanding.

View attachment 7127179

Yep ! 1/4 looks great, not too sharp, not to large.

 

[mapleglo]

My life is sanding.



Actually, I sanded for about a half hour, then ran out of steam. I have to do this a little bit every day. Running low on 120 grit sandpaper. I'll see if it lasts before I move to 220. If not, I'll have to stop by the hardware store.