Leaderboard

It is done (almost)

rauchman

rauchman

Hero Member
Messages
960
Greetings,

First off, a very big thank you to all for advice in helping me take on this project.  I was 15 or so in the mid 80's when I first saw Warmoth advertised in the back of Guitar World magazine and have wanted to do a project since.

Anyway, allow me to introduce to you....the Shore Caster (because the colors remind me of the beach).  There are many flaws, but I'm very happy with how this turned out.  Have to go back and do a little fret work and some detail stuff, but it's just about there.

Finish was Birchwood Casey Sealer/Filler and True Oil, and Keda Dye.
Pickups - Bill Lawrence (wildepickups) L48TL and L45 (Twin Blades)
Bridge - Gotoh
Tuners - Hipshot
Oaks Grisby 4 way switch (Bridge, B/N Parallel, B/N Series, Neck)

The Body...
Model: Telecaster®
Orientation: Right handed
F-Holes: None
Scale: 25-1/2"
Wood: Swamp Ash
Rout: Top Rout
Pickup Rout: Tele® (Neck), None (Middle), Tele® (Bridge)
Controls: None
Bridge: Tele® Bridge
Jack Rout: 7/8" (22mm) Side Jack Hole
Neck Pocket: Tele® Shape
Mounting Holes: Standard 4 Bolt
Contours: Contoured Heel / Tummy Cut / Forearm Contour
Battery Box: No Battery Box Rout

The Neck...
Style: Telecaster®
Construction: Vintage/Modern Construction
Orientation: Right Handed
Neck Wood: Roasted Maple
Fingerboard Wood: Roasted Maple
Nut Width: 1-11/16"
Back Shape: Wolfgang
Fret Size: SS6115 (Stainless)
Tuner Ream: Gotoh/Grover (13/32" 11/32")
Radius: 10-16" Compound
Scale: 25-1/2"
Fret #: 22
Mounting Holes: Standard 4 Bolt
Pre-Cut Installed String Nut: GraphTech Black TUSQ XL - Standard Nut
Inlays: Black Face Dots
Side Dots: Black Side Dots
Finish: No Finish

The Shore Caster (please excuse the crappy pictures)...
Shore-Caster-3-2.jpg

Shore-Caster-2-2.jpg

Shore-Caster-1a.jpg

Shore-Caster-4-2.jpg

Shore-Caster-5-2.jpg

 
'Shore Caster' is a fitting name for it. There's a lot going on visually to keep your interest. It's pretty cool. Congrats. Nice work.
 
Wow, thanks all.  Very much appreciated.

This is my first attempt at something like this and, flaws and all, it turned out better than hoped.

Some notes.....

I tried the Armor All and True Oil combo.  Maybe it's because I have to find a better application method, but can't say it worked any better than applying True Oil for a few coats and then a follow up 2-3 coats of 50% Naptha / 50% True Oil in a session.  Didn't think the Armor All/True Oil combo was worth it.

I used 500k pots just because.  Will be changing to 250k pots this weekend.  The 500k's are very bright.  Having said that, I used the Tone knob to dial back the treble and it was workable.

Need to do some fret leveling and crown/polish.  Have a couple of spots with buzz.

Question - I had ordered radius gauges from StewMac.  Which radius does one use for the 10"-16" compound radius?  I went with 20" radius, thinking that if the compound radius were continued after the neck ends, it would a radius higher than 16".  I'm guessing it would be roughly 20" at the bridge.  It seems to be ok when I'm playing the guitar.
 
rauchman said:
I used 500k pots just because.  Will be changing to 250k pots this weekend.  The 500k's are very bright.  Having said that, I used the Tone knob to dial back the treble and it was workable.
Click to expand...
I put 500K pots in everything. Like you, I can dial the tone warmer if I want but the option of full bright is still there.
 
That compound radius ends up being just a hair over 18" at the bridge. You can rough it in with the radius gauges, but reality usually works better. Adjust until you don't have buzzing or dead spots, and call it good.
 
Cagey said:
That compound radius ends up being just a hair over 18" at the bridge. You can rough it in with the radius gauges, but reality usually works better. Adjust until you don't have buzzing or dead spots, and call it good.
Click to expand...

Thanks!  The other option in the Stew Mac set was a 17" radius gauge.  That might get me a little closer.
 
Nice work rauchman! Enjoy the fruits of your labors.  :icon_thumright:

PS: Love the quote in your signature. Thompson has always been one of my favorite characters. In his formative years he worked as a reporter for our local newspaper, from which he got fired. It's been down hill for that paper ever since!
 
BigSteve22 said:
Nice work rauchman! Enjoy the fruits of your labors.  :icon_thumright:

PS: Love the quote in your signature. Thompson has always been one of my favorite characters. In his formative years he worked as a reporter for our local newspaper, from which he got fired. It's been down hill for that paper ever since!
Click to expand...

Very much appreciate the compliment......thanks!

And yes, I love that line from Mr. Thompson.  Quite the character.  I use that quote as the signature line for my office email as well.  It gets lots of comments!
 
rauchman said:
I use that quote as the signature line for my office email as well.  It gets lots of comments!
Click to expand...
Nice! I tried to use H.L. Mancken's "hoist the black flag" quote at work, but was advised it was not a wise career move!  :laughing11: :laughing3: :laughing7:
 
Wow, that’s beautiful. Very nice. Love the color and love the grain.
Warmoth have a knack of piecing two halves together to make it look like a one-piece.
 
Thank you all.  Very appreciated.

I forgot I had placed an order for the Rock Rabbit slanted control plate https://rockrabbitguitars.com/shop/telecaster-control-plate-custom-aluminum/, so have now installed that.  I like the slant better.  The volume knob is not as much in the way, and it's a more natural position...more Strat.

And ...realized yesterday that the bridge and b/n parallel sound were the same sound.  Checked my really bad soddering and there was a loose connection on the bridge ground.  Fixed and now.....digging the bridge sound.  More gutsy than a Strat.  Also decided to stick with the 500k pots.  I like having the tone knob flexibility.  Probably the first guitar I've had where I'm actually using the tone knob.  Very interesting exploring the tonal capabilities of this guitar.  The b/n series is in the hum bucker tonal zip code.  I had read that when using true single coil pickups with this setting, there was a noticeable volume jump.  I think because of the Twin Blades Bill Lawrence pickups, I'm not noticing that volume bump.

Did a fret job to the neck yesterday as well.  Leveled, crowned and polished and wow, I am a stainless steel fret fan.  All in all, I'm thrilled with the playability and tonal range of this guitar.  Also very happy with how the finish turned out.  Again, I can't thank everyone here enough for their help and advice.
 
Street Avenger said:
I like your contoured heel, but should have filled that screw hole in the neck.
Click to expand...

Thanks.  I just may go back and fix that.  Never thought of that.  Also, I've seen some other guitars with a different heel where the neck heel contour was shaped to the body heel contour.  May give that a whirl as well.

Just spent a couple of hours playing this and my '92 LP Custom.  Definitely a different sound than the LP, but snarlier than a Strat.  Considering the Stetsbar as well.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Rick
Inferno Flake Jazzmaster aka the "Firecaster III"
Replies
10
Views
497
Rick
Rick
ThePhilosopher
Green Flake Jazzmaster
2
Replies
22
Views
2K
mayfly
mayfly
ARCnet78
I thought this was my last....
Replies
2
Views
363
ARCnet78
ARCnet78
D
Total noob at this!
Replies
1
Views
383
stratamania
stratamania
teleme01
Off wall nut tele
2
Replies
24
Views
2K
teleme01
teleme01
Back
Top