New Black Cherry Tele + Afra/Afra Pro Neck

[Cagey]

Yes, that's an artifact of a pickup re-routing. Both cavities got the treatment. The bridge has obviously been changed to a traditional humbucker route, but the neck has been changed as well from a Tele to a Strat-style pickup route. There are a lot more choices for both those pickup styles than there are for Tele-style pickups, so...

In the case of the bridge re-route, I could always go to the traditional Tele-style bridge if I wanted to use a Tele- or Strat-style pickup, so no loss there if the other plans don't work out for some reason. The bridge plate will cover up any unusual carving that's been done beneath it. The neck cavity I'm sorta stuck with, but that's not the end of the world. There are only about 72 bajillion varieties of pickup that'll slip right into that opening like an old shoe. The plan is for an unusual bridge that'll leave that whole area open, and use a pickup mounting ring for the pickup rather than the plate you normally see on Teles.

As for interfering with a possible Roland GK3 install, I can't say, not having ever installed one of those. But, at the extreme point that little leftover bite from the original route is only .130" (about 1/8") deep, so I wouldn't worry about it if it was something you were thinking of doing. From what I've seen of that pickup, you'd have plenty of room. I'll be able to tell you more exactly in a week or so.

 

[Death by Uberschall]

I like it.  :icon_thumright:

 

[DangerousR6]

Even if you went with a different bridge than a tele style, a pup ring should cover that little garf up to I'd imagine... :dontknow:

 

[Tonar8352]

Great paint job!!!!

 

[Cagey]

Even if you went with a different bridge than a tele style, a pup ring should cover that little garf up to I'd imagine... :dontknow:

I'd imagine so as well. But, in the interest of resting easily, I whipped out a pickup ring to check that assumption. The long sides of the ring are .135" wide, so that should cover the .130" remainder of the previous cavity. But, I discovered another problem. The ring's outside dimensions are 1 3/4" x 3 1/2", give or take a few thou. The pickup cavity's dimensions are 1 3/4" x 3", give or take a few thou. So, since the short dimensions are roughly equal, there's no covering up for edge aberrations. It's going to be possible to see that leftover bit of the previous cavity route.

Dammit.

Haven't even started putting this one together yet, and I'm already pissed at it.

 

[Cagey]

Great paint job!!!!

All hail Warmoth!

 

[59tele]

Afra,,,,, looks real nice,,,it would match well with my koa top,,if they make,one piece quarter sawn,, will consider.
how do the gold frets feel?

 

[Cagey]

Afra,,,,, looks real nice,,,it would match well with my koa top,,if they make,one piece quarter sawn,, will consider.
how do the gold frets feel?

Gold frets feel very much like stainless steel frets. They're much harder than the typical nickel/silver frets, so it's like playing on glass. Super smooth.

It's not really gold, I think it's an iron/copper alloy, so it just looks gold. Kinda like brass. So, there's no plating involved - the color is the material itself, so grinding/polishing/wear doesn't remove the effect.

 

[59tele]

COOL!!! :guitaristgif:

 

[Cagey]

Yeah, they're nice. They're not gaudy at all - it's a subtle effect. Sort of a "finishing touch" kinda thing depending on your wood/hardware choices. Most people who've seen mine don't notice them right away, because they seem to just belong to the whole package. It's certainly not something you'll see on any production guitars.

 

[Johnny]

I'd imagine so as well. But, in the interest of resting easily, I whipped out a pickup ring to check that assumption. The long sides of the ring are .135" wide, so that should cover the .130" remainder of the previous cavity. But, I discovered another problem. The ring's outside dimensions are 1 3/4" x 3 1/2", give or take a few thou. The pickup cavity's dimensions are 1 3/4" x 3", give or take a few thou. So, since the short dimensions are roughly equal, there's no covering up for edge aberrations. It's going to be possible to see that leftover bit of the previous cavity route.

Dammit.

Haven't even started putting this one together yet, and I'm already pissed at it.

Bummer.  I found the following at All Parts:

http://www.allparts.com/Humbucking-Pickup-Rings-Slanted-Black-Plastic-p/pc-0743-023.htm

They're slanted which is probably wrong for the Tele, but they're 1 25/32" wide.  An extra 1/32".

Update: Actually, it depends where you read the dimensions from.  On the page that lists all the rings and covers, it says 1 25/32".  On the actual page listed above, it shows as 1 3/4", so maybe not.

Update 2: Again, these may not work, but I also found the following at Guitar Parts:

006-0586-000
(1) Genuine Jackson® black short slanted humbucker guitar pickup ring. Outside dimensions are 3-5/8" X 1-13/16" with a 2-3/4" X 1-1/2" pickup opening. Mounting screw pattern is 3-5/16" X 1-7/16". Common "oversize" import Jackson® pickup ring.

http://www.guitarpartsresource.com/covers_plasticrings.htm

 

[Cagey]

Yeah, those don't really buy me anything. I appreciate the find, though.

It's a dark finish, and the rings/pickups are going to be light, so I don't think the gap is going to be obvious. If it is, and it bothers me too much, I'll just have to regroup a bit. I can still put a Tele-style bridge/plate setup on there, which would cover anything I do up to that point. I do have another guitar I could use the tricky new bridge on, but I've already got a lot of work into making the bridge setup for that one work that I'd hate to throw away. So, maybe I'll end up needing to put together yet another guitar I don't need. What would be wrong with that? <grin>

 

[Johnny]

Ah well, thought I'd try.  You contribute a lot to this forum so I thought I'd try to do (a little) something to help out.  You could make some wooden rings (even some knobs to match) if you have the tools, but I don't know about wood against that finish.  Or maybe DangerousR6 could fabricate one.  Just random thoughts.

 

[Cagey]

I appreciate it. I suppose I could probably trust Dangerous to do something like that. You should see the bridge he fabbed up here.

 

[Johnny]

Wow. Nice job. As soon as I can get my better half (the only one with talent in this family) to draw me out a design, I'm going to have him make me a neck plate.  Plus, after reading you're posts on threaded inserts, I feel compelled to install some in the process. Will have to order the clamp you recommended, but I'm getting the feeling I'll probably using it again.  :icon_smile:

 

[B3Guy]

how does the afar feel in comparison to pau? (hats off for going with the Warhead 'stock, btw. its my personal favorite.)

 

[Cagey]

how does the afar feel in comparison to pau? (hats off for going with the Warhead 'stock, btw. its my personal favorite.)

The Afra is nice, Nice, NICE! But, it's not Pau. Nothing is Pau. Pau is like silk under your hand.

To me, the Afra is like a higher grade of Canary. The two could be easily confused. Similar feel, but better-looking. It's a bit denser/harder, and the grain is straighter. At least, on the example I have. It is wood, though, so I'm sure they're not all the same. Thankfully, Warmoth doesn't goof around. Nothing is second-grade.

My collection is growing, but it's still incomplete so I'm trying different things. But, if I were to limit it to a couple/few guitars, Pau is an absolutely necessary inclusion. Everybody should have a Pau neck, just like everybody should have an Ebony 'board.

And I agree - the Warhead is the whip. I didn't know you could have (unfinished) Showcase Strat heads modified to that shape, or I'd have started doing it earlier.

 

[scartozi]

I hope to someday try out Pau.....but....I absolutely love wenge and think everyone should at least have one guitar with a wenge neck.

 

[DangerousR6]

I hope to someday try out Pau.....but....I absolutely love wenge and think everyone should at least have one guitar with a wenge neck.

I have two wenge necks.... :headbang1:

 

[Cagey]

I hope to someday try out Pau.....but....I absolutely love wenge and think everyone should at least have one guitar with a wenge neck.

I agree, and it's on my list.

I was looking at that blue SG that's been sitting in the Showcase just rotting away...

... and thought that might be a fun one to add an Ebony over Wenge neck to. But, it's probably not a good idea. An Ebony over Wenge Warmoth Pro neck would be way too heavy for an SG body.