Back chambered Tele weight loss

[Dreamsinger]

I built my Tele on a DeHavilland body that I picked up online at a really low price. When I got it the swamp ash body alone weighed 8.5lbs. Not willing to torture myself with that I took off 1/4" from the back and routed out chambers. Also added tummy cut and modest forearm bevel. That got the weight down to 4.2lbs. I found an unusually figured piece of swamp ash that we bookmatched to close it up.

 

[Strat Avenger]

'You sure it's swamp-ash? Even hard ash shouldn't weigh that much..

 

[Dreamsinger]

'You sure it's swamp-ash? Even hard ash shouldn't weigh that much..

That's what it was advertised as and my luthier guru concurred.

 

[bagman67]

Handsome work! Whatever the species, looks like a solid solution to the too-heavy guitar problem.

 

[Dreamsinger]

Handsome work! Whatever the species, looks like a solid solution to the too-heavy guitar problem.

I gotta say though it was a real PITA to do. If you don't have a commercial grade thickness sander you may as well not attempt it. Mark Arnquist is a platinum level tech whose gift is thinking outside the box with the skill and precision to execute it

 

[mayfly]

I've always wanted to do this with a Peavey T60. How did you make the original cut to remove the back? band saw in a jig or something else?

 

[Dreamsinger]

I've always wanted to do this with a Peavey T60. How did you make the original cut to remove the back? band saw in a jig or something else?

A commercial grade thickness sander is the best way. A planer wouldn't be wide enough. You really want the surface to be flat and level. I was lucky to have a tech with the right stuff.

 

[mayfly]

so ... you sanded off the back and replaced it with a veneer?

 

[Hagwood]

Awesome work, that is a nice piece of wood for the back.

 

[Dreamsinger]

so ... you sanded off the back and replaced it with a veneer?

Sanded down 1/4". The back was an unusually figured piece of ash that wasn't big enough for anything else but we saw the possibilities with bookmatching it. It's not exactly "veneer", it's about 1/4" thick.

 

[mayfly]

Gotcha. Thanks for the explanation!