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First Warmoth Build - Telecaster

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RiverCity28

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I'm new to this board . . . thanks for all the great information I'm finding here!

This telecaster style guitar is my first build (or assembly, if you like).  It has a Glendale stainless steel bridge with Glendale saddles ("Twang" set with Aluminum E/A, and brass D/G and B/E).  Callaham prewired control plate assembly (cryogenically treated, like this really matters), locking Schaller tuners, Lollar Special T pickups, and Glendale "cold rolled steel" chrome plated string ferrules (what they call the"Redd Volkaert" set).

Since this is my first shot at soldering, I thought I keep the electronics simple by purchasing a mostly pre-assembled control plate.  I just need to solder the pickups to the three-way switch/ground; and also solder the jack.  I'm building a neck jig so I can level and dress the frets, which are 6150s mounted on a Warmoth Pro boattail neck.  The neck arrived unfinished from Warmoth and I applied a Birchwood Casey gunstock oil and wax job.  My MusicMan Axis BFR has this same finish and it feels GREAT!  As you can see below, the maple neck has great flame.  The Warmoth body is alder with a tobacco burst quilt maple top. 

I have a number of small things to do including shaping the pickguard a bit better on the lower horn; tweaking the nut height; and finishng the final setup.  I hope to finish it this weekend!

Here are a few photos . . .
hankster_body_01.jpg


hankster_head_01.jpg


hankster_head_02.jpg


hankster_head_03.jpg


 
Congratulations, that's going to be one mighty fine guitar. What nice woods! Have to admire your adventurousness in doing the build yourself for your first one. I'm on my first one and I'm paying somebody else to do it. Look forward to seeing the finished job. Oh, and welcome to the forum.
 
WOW!!!  :hello2:

That's a fantastic looking instrument, both body and neck. The final product will be wonderful. Welcome to the party!
 
i love it! that is a great finish... and the flame on that neck is amazing. was that in the showcase?
 
Well, I'm braver now that I've gained a little knowledge from the web and a few books.  So much so that I've decided to build two guitars on my own.  My intention was to have my tech build this first one.  But, in the year I've had the Warmoth tele body and neck, I think I've learned enough to go it on my own.  I recently purchased another body & neck (strat) that will have Amalfitano SP pickups.  This strat will have a boattail neck as well.  This second build will start during the Christmas season . . . more fun. 

I really learned a lot recently by watching a 30+ YouTube video series by a professional building a strat for a customer.  I also have a few books now by Dan Erlewine.  And, I've scoured the internet for build and setup information . . . some of it seemly questionable . . . but then who really trusts everything the read or see on the internet  :)  Between these and my interaction with my guitar teacher/tech, I have some confidence in building these the right way.  I'm also acquiring a few of the tools necessary to make a quality build . . . I feel like an investor in Stewart MacDonald after the money I've spent with them in the last month. 

Although I sit behind a desk for my day job, I still have all the woodworking tools from my youth (table saw, radial arm saw, planer, joiner, routers, drill press, and the like) which may come in handy from time to time.  During college back in the 70's, I worked summers for my grandfather in his cabinet shop.  I had the best time working with wood.  Although my grandfather has long since passed, I consider my love of woodworking to be his gift to me.

After a good 20 year break to raise kids, I guess my newfound interest in guitar assembling is allowing me to again use some of those skills I learned long ago.
 
JaySwear said:
i love it! that is a great finish... and the flame on that neck is amazing. was that in the showcase?
Click to expand...

Yes, both the neck and the body were in the showcase back in Sept. 2009.
 
great job on your first build. Im about to start my first and hope the quality of work is as good as yours. do you have link to youtube for that strat building series. need all the guidance I can get. thanks
 
leejord said:
great job on your first build. Im about to start my first and hope the quality of work is as good as yours. do you have link to youtube for that strat building series. need all the guidance I can get. thanks
Click to expand...

Go here:  http://www.youtube.com/user/smbstressfest

The frame along the right side has a project called Warmoth Strat Build.  It is composed of 30+ 10 minute videos.
 
RiverCity28 said:
leejord said:
great job on your first build. Im about to start my first and hope the quality of work is as good as yours. do you have link to youtube for that strat building series. need all the guidance I can get. thanks
Click to expand...

Go here:  http://www.youtube.com/user/smbstressfest

The frame along the right side has a project called Warmoth Strat Build.  It is composed of 30+ 10 minute videos.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the link, that will certainly be helpful.
 
Finished my telecaster last night.  Still need to tweak the setup.  Even so, this thing plays like a dream.  I really like the feel of the boattail neck and the sound of the Lollar Special T pickups.  I leveled and dressed the frets using three different diamond stones, three grades of sandpaper (400, 600 & 800), and steel wool.  Using a rocker tool there is not a low or high spot to be found.

When I finally had it strung up, I was disappointed to hear a tremendous amount of static when plugged into my Deluxe Reverb.  I remember reading on this site about someone else's similar experience.  And, sure enough, I had misread the instructions on soldering the input jack . . . I wired it backwards.  When I first soldered the  jack, I knew there was a good chance I was misreading the diagram.  That diagram sure is confusing for a first-timer.  Of course, common sense should have told me that the portion of the jack that is exposed on the outside of the guitar should be ground.  Once I resoldered the jack, the pickups really sang in my (second) test;  they were dead quiet when not playing.

Anyway, I'm happy that this guitar not only looks good, but plays good as well.  In the end, I only needed it to sound great.
 
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