[johsonrod]

So the RCB Twangmasters have inspired me to to a gretschy/jetty tele build.
Honduras Mahogany body, chambered with a maaple top(havnt chosen a top yet)no f'hole, flame maple neck and ebony fretboard with thumnail inlays. Its going to be 24.6 scale, with filtertrons or TV classics, possibly a bigsby, havnt decided on that maybe you guys can help with that! What bridge would I use since im putting in filters so cant use standard tele bridge.?

Heres some pics of what I got done today!

[johsonrod]

few more

[Dirtymug666]

I love build threads! And teles! I think definitely go for a bigsby, especially since you're making a gretschy tele

[Ricochet]

Carved top and binding, full Gretsch S-holes, not the puny thinline variety, brass Compton bridge, backloaded, and 1 Filtertron please.

[6stings]

Subscribed!

[MatchlessMan]

Ditto.

[drmilktruck]

Great start. I loved your last one.

[Henrytwang]

Looking good. I think that you may be building my dream guitar.

[araT]

Awesome! can't wait to see it come together!

I vote Bigsby and a compton on a skinny base! keep it authentic!

[old slowy]

I am a wood head guitar builder too! I hate forstner bit drilling all of those holes. I have a semi hollow body on the drawing board, as well as a bunch of ideas I am always dreaming about. I build my guitars by the seat of my pants, no plans, and they look it too. I buy used necks so far, one day, I will make my necks.

[johsonrod]

Thanks for checking it out and the great feedback already!

Riccochet: Not gonna carve this top but I am thinking binding. What would look good with a natural finished quilted maple top? Maybe a mahogany to match the body?

She will be rear loaded with 2 filtertrons or tvs whatver I find first for a good deal.

Tara: I would love to use a compton, Im thinking it will be way too high though with the normal flat neck angle on a tele, has is been done? And since its a flat top would a wood base work?

Old Slowy: Yea the forster drilling isnt the most fun thing to do but its pretty satisfying feeling how light the body gets after all the work.I also never use plans for anything I just GO! I learnt from a pro but my first few necks I made on my own are in the trash, its hard at first but if you take your time can be done really well.


Im off to the workshop to get the neck started, more pics tonight!

[old slowy]

Not to steal your thread,, here is my current project, hand made pups with Cocobolo tops, I will be insetting more Cocobolo on the top as inspiration hits me. It is a sold body. Cherry top, Ash back.

[araT]

Originally Posted by johsonrod

Tara: I would love to use a compton, Im thinking it will be way too high though with the normal flat neck angle on a tele, has is been done? And since its a flat top would a wood base work?

I'm sure it -could- be done, with some adjustments.. the base would work rosined up, and you would need to make it super-skinny. As for the Compton, again, it would work if you skinnied it right up. if you made super-low profiles for both I think you might manage

[beatnik]

Originally Posted by araT

I'm sure it -could- be done, with some adjustments.. the base would work rosined up, and you would need to make it super-skinny. As for the Compton, again, it would work if you skinnied it right up. if you made super-low profiles for both I think you might manage

i agree i think it could be done make ur own base so u can have it flat on the bottom to suit the top of the guitar make it low in terms of height and just trim the thumbwheel screws down to fit looking great so far mate as for binding if ur keeping it natural i vote ebony binding black against the natural looks awesome
(ps i promise to have some jet build progress soon! been snowed under with uni work and am currently on my first teaching placement broke up for xmas today)

[johsonrod]

Reeally nice lookin build OL SLowy, The pickups are amazind did you make those?

So today I slotted the fretboard and marked it out to taper. Also got the end of the neck fitted in the neck pocket, though the actual neck pocket isnt done becasue I have to glue the top on first, so I test fit in in another tele Im building. Then I went for lunch at my buddies downtown not far from my shop, came back down from his condo and my car was gone!! Aparently I didnt read the signs that were everywhere saying no parking after 3;30. And my car got toed 20 kms away and my wallet was in the car so I had to borrow $40 from my buddy becasue I didnt feel like sitting on the bus for 2 hours I would have ripped someones head off. About a $280 mistake that hopefully everyone can learn from!



So not much work but heres a couple pics anyway! Goodnight!

[DevilYouKnow]

Originally Posted by johsonrod

...Tara: I would love to use a compton, Im thinking it will be way too high though with the normal flat neck angle on a tele, has is been done? And since its a flat top would a wood base work?

it's been done. Fender currently offers a Tele Custom and, I believe, Thinline, set up Les Paul style, with a tune-a-matic bridge. That said , I thing if you're going to get Gretschy with it, you should use a Bigsby B-5 or B-16. Fender actually offers an orange Tele like this now that look's bad a$$. Clearly a nod to Fred's line of guitars.

[old slowy]

Originally Posted by johsonrod

Reeally nice lookin build OL SLowy, The pickups are amazind did you make those?

Thanks J, no, I had them custom made for me, I sent the guy the Cocobolo wood to make them out of. They are suppose to have a Telecaster sound. I can't wait to hear them, and I don't want to just throw this together, so I am only working on it when I get inspired. It is a fine balance to hold back and think about things before doing them wrong. LOL

[rcboals]

Mercy! Mercy! Mercy! WOW! That is going to be Real Special Can't wait to see the finished product. It is way over my head and talent to do. When and if you sell try to get at least $1.00 an hour for your work that should put you in the $2500.00+ price range right? On the bridge maybe something like this pic with a bigsby and P90's then you can put TOM, Compton, Roller, Just about any standard bridge on. If you don't do the Bigsby the standard stop tail not sure if that's what you call it.

[johsonrod]

old slowy: thats very cool man cant wait to see that thing finished!

Beatnik, good call on the ebony that will match the fretboard and body nicely thats what Im going to use!
My jet build is on hold for your jet build! I dont really know what Im doing with that one lol! Il start a thread on that one when I finish this one.
about the bridge, Im really set on using a bigsby So I will probably buy a compton, and if it dosnt work out no biggie Il have one for my jet build.

RCboals: MAn would I love to sell it for $2500! I havnt made any money really yet and Ive sold about 5 tele Ive built since May, and that dosnt count 4 Ive made for my friends for the price of parts! Realistically if this thing turns out good with no minor umperfections, Ill be looking to get around $1000.

Thanks for those pics too I hadnt seen those models.

Well Im off to work, wont get any more progress untill Monday, have a good weekend everyone!!

[johsonrod]

So I was looking around at wood for the top and I found this bookmatched Curly Eucalyptus! Its got some nice 3D figure going on and its different from quilted or flame maple, which is a nice change. Shes sitting in the clamps with glue over night.

Also thought I would show a couple pics of a Jagstangish build that will also have filtertrons, and has thumbnail inlays on a padauk fretboard. Toona Mahogany body is super light.