Thread: New Build - start from scratch

Hi BBM
It will be difficult to bore me with a Tele, will follow you build with interest. I am curious though, if it's a through neck does that mean the neck is set on a angle as in a L.P. or is it still parallel to the body like your average Telecaster.
Jim

Hi Toejam,
I am using a Schaller Roller bridge (stewmac) and I expect that there will be some degree of neck angle, I won't know exactly until I piece the actual bits together.

I don't think the angle will be as severe as a tunomatic.
BBM

G'day BBM

Thanks for the reply. I checked out the Schaller bridge at Stewy Mac's and as always they look like a quality product. I'm a bit of a Gotoh fan and I do like these ones(pic). they have stainless steel roller string guides but differing from the Schaller with the string through the body. These are available in Australia too.
Jim

If I'm reincarnated I want to be a woodpecker

Hey Toejam,
You may have missed it, but I'm doing 2 humbuckers on this tele, a little like the 73 deluxe model.

I used the 5 string bass equivalent of this bridge on a previous build,, and was very happy with it, thats why I am using this particular model
BBM

Oops, yes, did miss it. In truth i did not even look at the drawings closely I just saw that tele shape and my ears pricked up.

Jim

i have used the schalle roller and all you do is adjust the depth of the neck pocket
no need to angle the neck at all

Hi Old Picker,
this is a neck thru along similar lines to Oz-Tradies Qld Walnut build from earlier this year

http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...ight=oz-tradie

I am assuming I can do one of 2 things.
1. Introduce neck angle by sloping the neck blank, then gluing on wings at that angle then squaring the whole thing up

or

2. reduce the thickness of the body end of the neck blank (with its wings) to leave the whole thing flat (if that makes sense), this will mean the fretboard will be raised above the body by the same amount that the neck angle would compensate for (???)

I think I prefer the first option, but am open to opinions
BBM

i wouldn't bother with neck angle if you use one of these schaller rollers
i like these bridges as they probably the simplest of all to set up
they have good mass and give great tone


but if its one of these


you may have to - personally i never much used tune 'o' matic style bridges

Definitely the chrome roller bridge in the top pic.
I used the 5 string bass version on a previous build, and it was fantastic. Tone sustain, weight, all perfect.
I'm expecting similar from this one too.
Michael

Hi, you are unlikely to need any angle as these bridges are lower than a standard tele style, you may not need any more than fretboard and fret height to get action which will make a much easier build, but these bridges have a very small adjustment window so triple check your calculations before getting out the glue bottle.
Garry.
Oh yeah, if you want to make wooden back plates ensure the wood is well quartered or make up a 3 ply section [learnt this one the hard way]

Hey Garryalb,
I've not done wood cavity covers before. Could you please elaborate on the problems and solutions you've found
Thanks
BBM

Originally Posted by bassbuilderman

Definitely the chrome roller bridge in the top pic.
I used the 5 string bass version on a previous build, and it was fantastic. Tone sustain, weight, all perfect.
I'm expecting similar from this one too.
Michael

you will find this bridge has a removable shim on the base plate which can give a low or high adjustment to compensate for the neck hieght - you definitely wont need to angle the neck

Sorry Guys,
No work this weekend.
SWMBO still wants me to fix up a couple of things arounf the house.
Now you know why it takes me 8 months to finish a build.

Also, off the topic a bit, but I've had my credit card hacked again (twice in 3 months). I really only use to buy online guitar stuff. Anyone else had this trouble? Its a separate VISA card with a small limit, so its max'ed out and can't be used until the transactions are reversed, so I have to wait a bit longer for the timber for this build.
BBM

Now you have me worried BBM as Ive only just started using a credit card online. Do you know how it happened?

While I'm here, about you rear control cavity covers.

The long story
If the pieces you use for the back covers are back sawn or even skew sawn then it is almost quaranteed that they will move quite alot. Because they are thin and also Qld Walnut has a medium movement in service they are likely to cup or warp quite significantly. You may get away with very well quatersawn pieces of wood as quater sawn wood is dimensionally stable (less likely to cup although if it picks up moisture on one side only it can still cup). If it is not well quatersawn then laminating it into three-ply will help make it behave for you. Also putting a finish on both sides will help.

Jim