Just another telecaster build.... Or is it?

[Stuart973]

Have built a handful of guitars before but this is the first telecaster and first Warmoth. Here is what I have so far. Hoping documenting this build here will help me take my time and do it right and also get the input of others here so don't be shy if you see something you like or think I should do different. The neck is here and the body arrives Tuesday.

I chose the neck as it was the least expensive neck in the showcase and only a little more expensive than the neck I bought originally (see below). Am very happy with it, especially after what I have read about what a good match these two woods are for necks.

As far as the body goes, my original idea for finishing was using the Wudtone finish as shown below. I was briefly distracted by a beautiful piece of spalted maple but after damaging that body beyond use I went back to my original idea.

 

[Stuart973]

Hardware:

Tuners, standard Gotoh mini oval, chrome

Bridge, Gotoh, titanium compensated saddles

Neck plate, Custom engraved

 

[Stuart973]

Electronics:

RH Factor Hot Vintage tele set (see spec sheet) - Probably the only place I really cut corners but I figure they'll be a good place to start and pickups are something that are easy to swap and experiment with once the project is done. And, in all honesty, they seemed to have the best description on paper for what I am looking for after researching what different magnet types and resistance levels do for their tone.

Emerson Custom T3 pre wired harness, PIO cap and treble bleed - Thought about doing my own harness but when I saw this one it looked so pretty and perfect and wasn't much more than buying the parts by themselves. Much cleaner job than I could have pulled off.

 

[Stuart973]

Finish:

I wanted the biggest part of the "done by me" part of this project to be the finish. Was originally thinking about tru-oil on some sort of exotic wood body but when I stumbled on the picture below my mind changed. Researched and discovered the finish and color is by Wudtone which, from what I have read, sounds just about as easy as tru-oil to apply.

 

[bagman67]

Water-based dyes are very easy to apply to ash.  You should find it quite easy to get a uniform finish if you go that route.  I have not personally used the Wudtone line of pigmented oil-based finishes, but they seem simple enough - looks like a pigmented polymerized oil of some sort, which is basically what Tru-Oil is.


Your real challenge with ash - assuming you want a smooth finish, with no sunken pores - is likely to be filling the grain, about which much has been written and several good videos have been made.

 

[Stuart973]

Not looking for a smooth finish. Want to feel the wood under it. Don't plan on filling the grain.

 

[Stuart973]

Full disclosure: Warmoth was not my first choice for body and neck. The first neck I got was a nice piece of flamed maple but had a heavy high gloss poly finish and a poor fit in the neck pocket of the body I chose. Originally decided I would only change the neck as I really liked the body but after damaging the highly figured spalted/flamed maple top beyond repair I was forced to change directions on both pieces. I think I made the right choice.

 

[bagman67]

So how did you damage the spalted maple?  I feel badly for you - that's a handsome body. 


Having read more of the Wudtone copy, it sounds like a useful product, and I may give them a try at some point -- but I'd be lying if I didn't have to hold my nose to get through their snake oil pitch.  Tone-robbing nitro and poly finishes?  They're SOLID BODY guitars - the point is for the thing to be stable and not to vibrate.  The sound is a consequence of a metal string vibrating within the field of a magnet.  If we're talking about acoustic guitars, in which case the body has everything to do with the sound, yeah, I can see where perhaps there's room to suggest a thick poly finish might have undesirable consequences (but I'd like to see some data in that case, as well).  Selling a product by making people paranoid about the perfectly good alternatives to your product is a chickensh*it way to go, is all I'm saying.  And claiming your particular finish will have any effect on the tone of an electric guitar is unalloyed horse pucky.


Ease of use, variety of available options, reasonable durability, safety, feel of the finished product - why not just let those factors sell the goods?

 

[Stuart973]

Part of the spalted maple top at the bass side of the neck pocket chipped off during final sanding. Tried to file, sand and blend it back smooth but wasn't able to due to different densities of wood. Ended up very uneven. Thinking that I might be able to save it at some point by maybe routing a whole new radius edge around the entire body. Maybe creating a carve top like effect. But that's for a different time and a different project.

As far as Wudtone goes it was the color and the ease of use that sold me. I never pay attention to all the hype about what a type of finish does to the sound. Wood choice maybe but as far as finish goes I'm more interested in how it looks and how it will wear.

 

[bagman67]

Bummer about your spelt.  I wish you luck when you decide to devote the energy rescuing it will require.  I know some folks stabilize spalt with epoxy before they undertake any other finishing.  Dunno if it's too late for that in your case, but worth considering.

Regarding Wudtone, yeah, on further reflection, I overreacted, but I just saw it and went, Oh, cripes, this load of crap again.  Really, they're no worse than a lot of others, and not as bad as many.  But they're still pushing false information.

 

[Stuart973]

Yeah, the first thing I am gonna do before anything else with the spalted body is apply the tru-oil I got for it to try and help harden the soft spots. Then from there we will see what is best approach to even out the whole thing.

 

[Stuart973]

The body has arrived and all I can say is wow! Nice, straight matching grain. Two piece book matched to center. Very light weight, maybe under 4 lbs. wish I had a way to weigh it accurately. Couple pictures of some pre-assembly of parts before starting the finish process. Can't wait to see how the Wudtone finish brings the grain to life.

 

[Stuart973]

First "deep color" coat applied. Sucked up the whole little bottle of dye which I wasn't expecting. A little uneven in spots but hopefully that will even out as it dries or as "base" coats are applied.

 

[Stuart973]

First base coat applied

 

[Ddbltrbl]

Oh, ah! Nice color! Looking great so far!! :guitarplayer2:

 

[Stuart973]

So, yada yada yada, a few more coats of Wudtone, a little soldering and a whole lot of screwing and it's finished. Sounds great, feels very comfortable and plays great although the 17th fret is a little high and makes the 16th fret out. Nothing left but the fine tuning. Very happy with the results.

Only one question and I want honest answers.  Watcha think of the pickguard? Does it work? If not what should I do. Was originally going to go sans pickguard but decided it looked like it was missing something when I got it all together. Definitely want to use a guard just not sure if I'm sold on the wood guard or not. Please, give me honest answers and critique. I can take it and use it as a learning experience. Just want to know what you all think of the final product. Thanks!

P.S.

Part of me thinks the back is sexier than the front.  :headbang1:

 

[ragamuffin]

So, yada yada yada, a few more coats of Wudtone, a little soldering and a whole lot of screwing and it's finished. Sounds great, feels very comfortable and plays great although the 17th fret is a little high and makes the 16th fret out. Nothing left but the fine tuning. Very happy with the results.

Only one question and I want honest answers.  Watcha think of the pickguard? Does it work? If not what should I do. Was originally going to go sans pickguard but decided it looked like it was missing something when I got it all together. Definitely want to use a guard just not sure if I'm sold on the wood guard or not. Please, give me honest answers and critique. I can take it and use it as a learning experience. Just want to know what you all think of the final product. Thanks!

P.S.

Part of me thinks the back is sexier than the front.  :headbang1:

Sexaaay. I like the pickguard, and the wood color goes nicely with the finish. To me teles just generally don't look right without one
Congrats!

 

[Cagey]

I think if it was me, I'd put a white 'guard on there.

 

[Jumble Jumble]

Yeah, either that or stain that piece of wood down to near-black.

 

[stratamania]

I think it would look great with the pick guard done in a limed finish against the blue.