So I went and bought this...

[crash]

An Ebay special, Zebrawood Telecaster.

I'm thinking of finishing it with Tru oil.  Any suggestions on grain filler?  Light, dark colored?  What is going to make the zebrawood pop the most?  Any particular brand of grain filler?

2nd question: How do I know if the wood is dry enough to start finishing?

 

[Nando Vallart]

Very cool! Too bad it's top routed!

 

[swarfrat]

Yeah, but at least it's a top routed Tele. Not that I'm a huge fan of the traditional tele pickguard, but at least if you WANT a minimal pickguard, you could. Bridge and control plate is all you really need to cover up.

 

[Cagey]

I would use an either light or neutral filler, otherwise you'll lose some of the contrast that makes zebra unique and attractive. As for which brand - I've used both the Colortone and the Behlens stuff, and prefer the Behlens. The Colortone stuff is very thin, and requires far too many coating/sanding passes to do its thing. You could almost just fill with finish if you're going to use that stuff.

 

[llmtelecaster]

How much would you say that body weighs?

 

[Cagey]

Here's a chart listing various wood densities. Zebra is roughly like oak or maple, but some woods are more variable so even swamp ash or mahogany can weigh that much.

 

[crash]

I weighed it right at 6 pounds.

I'm not planning on a pickguard.  I like to expose my wood.  :toothy11:

I'll take a look at that Behlens stuff.

 

[Wana_make_a_guitar]

I weighed it right at 6 pounds.

I'm not planning on a pickguard.  I like to expose my wood.  :toothy11:

I'll take a look at that Behlens stuff.

You should also look into getting a brass colored control plate. 

 

[kboman]

Well, why grain fill? Feels much better without :icon_thumright:

 

[crash]

I have not decided on black or gold (brass) colored hardware.

I just assumed it needed grain filler.  Otherwise won't I need about 30 coats of try oil?

 

[Cagey]

I just assumed it needed grain filler.  Otherwise won't I need about 30 coats of try oil?

It's not necessary. It depends entirely on how fine a finish you want. If you're ok with a body that feels like it was made from yard waste or unfinished construction scrap, then don't fill it at all. If you're not interested in collecting and carrying around all the dirt, dead skin cells, slobber, sweat, body oil, booze, smoke particles, hooker dust, bacteria, viruses and other detritus that a guitar gets exposed to, you might want to fill in the grain and make it smooth. Whatever's best for you <grin>

Of course, you don't have to go apeshit and put a mirror-gloss finish on it, but some sort of protection that wipes well is usually a Good Thing.

 

[ORCRiST]

I just assumed it needed grain filler.  Otherwise won't I need about 30 coats of try oil?

It's not necessary. It depends entirely on how fine a finish you want. If you're ok with a body that feels like it was made from yard waste or unfinished construction scrap, then don't fill it at all. If you're not interested in collecting and carrying around all the dirt, dead skin cells, slobber, sweat, body oil, booze, smoke particles, hooker dust, bacteria, viruses and other detritus that a guitar gets exposed to, you might want to fill in the grain and make it smooth. Whatever's best for you <grin>

Of course, you don't have to go apeshite and put a mirror-gloss finish on it, but some sort of protection that wipes well is usually a Good Thing.

LOL! I always love the "hooker dust" - I heard that stuff is bad for your guitars and eats musicians... :laughing11:

ORC

 

[Dan025]

nothing wrong with a top routed tele. there is no need for a pick guard unless it has that weird extra hole some factory teles have. but this doesn't, just a pickup ring or a direct mount pickup like any rear routed guitar and a small control plate. i dont see how a tele being top routed is a problem in any way.

 

[crash]

Another question, how do I drill in the Neck holes???

 

[richship]

Another question, how do I drill in the Neck holes???

Measure how far the holes are from the bottom of the neck and use a neckplate as a template. A drill press would be handy as well.

 

[dmraco]

I did not grain fill the zebra on mine...only used a very light stain to darken the wood a bit.   I was going to a totally natural look.  The Body was zebra on top of Korina.

questions...
1.  that looks like solid zebra...correct?
2.  What type of finish are you looking for?  satin...natural...gloss?  This will help your decision on if you should grain fill.

I agree...a gold tone control cover would look killer...or something nickel...aged....

body should be dry enough now.  Zebra can feel oily.  Use some naptha before finishing.  

I would go with some tru-oil or satin poly.  I used satin spray poly and it worked AWESOME on the zebra...buffed with 0000 steel wool or scotch brite pad.

 

[Cagey]

LOL! I always love the "hooker dust" - I heard that stuff is bad for your guitars and eats musicians... :laughing11:

More to the point, it eats marriages and other more or less stable relationships. Can't get the crap off of you, there's only one way to get it on you, and there's never any good explanation for it <grin>

What's weird is that they use it all. It doesn't look good, it's not inspirational or titillating, it costs money, and for as persistent as it is it can't be good for you, plus I gotta imagine it's as bad as sand for getting into places you'd rather it didn't and be irritating once it's there. It's lose-lose all around for everybody but the manufacturers and sellers.

Of course, all of that's true of Hot Pockets microwaveable heart attacks too, so what do I know? <grin>

 

[crash]

It is solid Zebra.

I guess I am looking for kind of a gloss finish, which is why I am thinking of a grain filler.  Just wondering what color grain filler would look best, dark or light colored.


This is what I was think about for drilling the neck mounting holes.  I have not seen anything other than the picture below.