First Warmoth Tele built Koa oiled

[gairo]

Ok this is my first build I'm very happy with it.  Thanks Warmoth!

Telecaster (Right Handed)
Tummy Cut
Contoured Heel
Forearm Contoured
KOA Flame Top (Unique Choice# : LT19777) on Mahogany body
HSH Pickup Configuration
Recessed Wilkinson Tremolo
1/2" Jack
Hand Rubbed Oil Finish

Neck:
Telecaster KOA
Ebony (Macassar) Fretboard (Unique Choice # FB2530)
24 Frets
Compound Radius 10-16"
Nut Width 1-11/16"
Stainless Frets size SS62330 (small)
Schaller Locking Tuners
Mother of Pear Side Dots
GraphTech Black Nut
25-1/2" Scale

5 way Strat Switch
Volume Push/Pull Pot  (Additional 2 pickup combinations)
Tone Push/Pull Pot (Coil Split)
Coil Split with additional 7 pickup combinations mods by ToneWorks
See 7 pickup mod here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfZxgQlVRWY

Seymour Duncan Alnico II Pro Humbucker Neck  (APH-1n)
Seymour Duncan Duckbucker Middle (SD8R)
Seymour Duncan Alnico II Pro Humbucker Bridge  (APH-1b)

 

[musicispeace]

Very, very cool. Really nice job and should be great to play. I keep pondering something like a Tru Oil finish on visible wood. Anything you think a person needs to be aware of with wood mounting the pickups? I've heard there is less adjustment travel available that way. Thanks.

 

[gairo]

Thanks

The build was a learning experience. 

Big RED FLAG.. Don't try to put a poly over Danish Oil before it cures for a couple weeks.  I tried to put a poly over my Danish Oil finish about 72 hours after the last coat of Danish Oil and I got little pin size bubbles in the finish and would not cure.  The poly turned into a gummy finish.  Ended up sanding it back down and started over and went with just he Danish Oil by itself.  4 coats.  1 Heavy base coat that I just piled the oil on.  2nd coat I used a 400 girt sand paper and poured Danish Oil on the wood and sanded the oil into the wood to fill the wood grain. 3rd and 4th coats were light coats with a light sanding between coats.  Last coat was wipe on let sit for about an hour and wipe it clean BEFORE it dried.  I thought about a poly or a wax down the road but that would make it hard to do repairs. With just the Danish Oil if anything happens I can just put a coat of oil on it and I'm good to go.  This way it looks cool a matt finish and I can do repairs very easily. 

As for mounting the pickups.  I decided I wanted mine adjustable.  So instead of hard mounting them to the body which I read many people do.  I decided to fill the holes that Warmoth leaves on each side for pickup adjustments with wooden blocks/plugs.  Then I drilled a hole in my plugs and put 4 treaded brass inserts into the blocks so I could mount the pickups and adjust them up and down (had to go up one size on the screws since I could not find a metric #2 threaded insert so #3 metric worked.  Had to drill out the threaded part of the pickup so the #3 metric screw would fit).  I put foam behind the pickups and used the standard pickup springs cut 1/2 behind the pickups for support.  Now I can adjust them.  Note: Don't make the blocks/plugs to long or you will not have enough room for adjustment (your pickups will sit to high)

 

[crunch777]

You could use teak oil for the final couple of coats if you want more luster. Recent videos from crimson guitars on his Clarity build show how he went one direction and then ended up on teak. Take a look.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGkYB8OL1Do

 

[TurboTony]

Spot on Tele build. I am building one up and just waiting on the neck

 

[stratamania]

Very nice.

If you do an oil finish that's it. Putting poly or nitro over it, as you've found won't work out.

For those wanting to do an oil finish but want a shinier end result, you can use tru oil and by building up the layers and buffing with a soft lint free cloth get quite a luster. Especially if you also use the wax product Birchwood Casey make.

 

[DangerousR6]

Very awesome recipe, koa tele, hums and a trem.... :yourock:

 

[gairo]

I've always liked a matt finish on my guitars so the Danish Oil by itself is perfect for me. 

Spend some time dialing it in and has very low action.
Played with adjusting the truss rod and I purchased the Wilkinson Bridge because I knew it has individual string height
adjustment (Floyd Rose Does Not) beyond just up and down on the bridge.  This allowed me to adjust each string perfectly.
Now it plays like its part of my hand. 

I like everything about this guitar. 

Thank you Warmoth!