I previously hinted that I was going to do some electric guitar building and am happy to say that I completed the first build today with the exception of a little more setup work. The things I've been working on are Telecaster inspired because of the simplicity of the instrument geometry including the neck and body being parallel. This activity is pretty much my current answer to having a hobby in my woodworking shop while I'm not working on client work. I transitioned to a business after retiring from full time work a year and a half ago and this fills the relaxation bill for me right now. It's extremely interesting work and I'm enjoying it a lot as well as learning many new things. And like any good branch of woodworking...it was an opportunity for...more tools. LOL I guess I can blame Dennis Peacock for this "bug" after seeing his build awhile ago.
The body, neck and scratch plate were all produced using my CNC machine. I have an extensive build thread at TDPRI in the "Tele Home Depot" area if you are interested in the nitty gritty. This body is made primarily from a hunk of Sitka spruce I found in the "shorts" bin at Willard Brothers in Trenton NJ a few months ago with a little d-fir added in to make up for a short fall. The neck is hard maple as is the fretboard. Frets are medium. The low noise "Hard Vintage" pickups and control setup is from Guitar Fetish and features their KwikPlug system...ZERO soldering. Finish is Target Coatings EM6500 tinted to a BM shade and top coated with EM7000HBL.
I have some friends coming over on Sunday to put this thing through its paces. I'm a keyboard player with only rudimentary guitar skills that are very rusty. I think the surgery I had on my left wrist a couple years ago doesn't help there, either...oh, well. I'll work it out.
And here's a sneak peak at number two... a "thinline" inspired body...
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