Australian/New Zealand Luthiers Forum

As my Tele is my favourite electric, I thought it might be fun to build one. I changed the headstock, and experimented with a couple things I had in mind. Celluloid binding, and aniline dyes, specifically, and here's the result:

Body and neck: New Guinea Rosewood leftover from a project in the house.
Cap and head plate: Silky Oak.
Binding: Blue Celluloid.
Hardware: Mostly Wilkinson.
Pick ups: ToneRider Hot Classics.
Finish: Mirotone 3220
Case: Leftover project from an old white strat I used to have.

Still going to drill and install the body thru ferrules, but I wanted to make sure nothing needs moving around first...

This is my first electric, and so far, i'm pretty happy with it. Needed to re-do the 4-way switch, but that's all...

Hi Nick,

Looks good. The die seems to have worked - any complaints?
How is the body "chambered" - did you route out sections or is it more open inside?

Thanks,
GregL.

Nice Telealike Nick, it is about time I got started on my telealike plan but having too much fun with the acoustics at the moment.

Jim

Duuuuuude, that case's lining is hurting my eyes!
Nice job with the Tele, I like the washed out denim look of the stain job. What do you think of the toneriders? I got some a while ago, didn't think they were too bad for budget pickups.
Good job.

Jim: I actually started this one when I hit a wall working on a couple acoustics. Just had no interest, and dragged out the bits for this one just to keep a hand in. Eventually got back to the acoustics, too...

Nick: The case was meant for a white strat I had, and matches the strap I used on it. The lining was cactus, so i picked Fred Flintstone's suit....I do like the way the silky took up the dye in different ways depending on the grain....The Toneriders are pretty good. As good as any of the Fenders I've heard, and this set is wound a bit hotter than standard, so a bit more ooomph...9.3 on the bridge, I think....Worth $85, at least...

Bloody hell there some great stuff getting built round here, and love the F/stone case Nick, that's insane.

Steve

Thanks Steve, Greg, sorry I missed your questions. The dye takes getting used to. I watched NZ Nick's tutorial on his tobacco burst, but failed miserably at doing something like that, so I just wiped it on and rubbed in circles till I got something I liked. The dyes I got are really powerful and only need a little bit for a whole guitar. The body was routed out about 50% x 3/4 the depth, if that makes sense. Really, just to get the thinline effect......cheers.

Nice guitar and it is a well executed burst Nick- Looks very organic! Were they powdered dyes?

Stu

Hi Stu. Thanks, and yeah, the dyes were powdered, and from Guitar Australia, IIRC. Comes in 5 colours, red, black, blue, yellow, mahogany, I think. Some dissolves well in water, and some better in solvent but I only used water......Still plenty of colour....I reckon these jars will last as long as I am still making guitars...

I've had the same experience. The black one for me has to be used in solvent otherwise it doesn't dissolve properly

That's the one. the black is harder to dissolve. The rest are easy as....

Nick, What tool did you use for aligning your bolt on neck to the centre line of the body? Straightedge? Laser Line? I'm just about to cut out my neck pocket having today made the jig for the pocket.

Stu

Hi Stu. Straight edge. I saw a you tube clip about making a one-off jig, and did that. I Set the neck on the pocket-to-be, ran a straight edge to get it aligned properly, clamped a piece of perspex on each side, then one across the butt, and went for it.

First thing I did was make it too deep, so I glued in a block to raise it up that is mostly unnoticeable then got a bit more careful....

Went fine. The nice thing is that a few mm one way or the other doesn't matter too much......

Cheers Nick!

Stu