New Here, Starting First Project - Telemaster

PsychoSurfer · Post by **PsychoSurfer** » Mon Feb 06, 2012 4:16 pm

Very excited! After a long time of thinking about it... I pulled the trigger on a custom Telemaster style body. So, it should arrive in about 1-2 weeks max. Body will be made of Poplar with standard Tele electronics and neck pocket routs. Now it's time to start sourcing other parts. Leaning towards grabbing a Squier classic vibe tele neck (love the feel of those) used - I will eventually refinish the headstock with a custom logo - or no logo.. haven't decided yet. So.. tinted maple neck with rosewood fretboard.

I chose a white 3 ply pickguard for now, may swap it out later and re-cut in another material. For now my theme is rosewood fretboard, white pickguard and lots of chrome. Not sure on the paint or stain yet... I am kind of leaning towards painting it... maybe an ocean turquoise metallic. I was planning on stain so that is if I don't like the grain of the wood.

Will start posting up some pics as I go!

PS... I love the environment here - many of you are hilarious. I love the excessive foul language and non-PC conversations that go on here... brilliant haha

Johnny Noir · Post by **Johnny Noir** » Tue Feb 07, 2012 8:31 am

i enjoy your project!

PsychoSurfer · Post by **PsychoSurfer** » Wed Feb 08, 2012 1:43 pm

Thanks bud!

So, last night I sourced pretty much all of the parts...

Grabbed a Classic Vibe Tele Neck off of Ebay with Tuners for $130. Logo will probably be removed and might add a new one or refinish and leave it blank. Neck is vintage tinted Maple with Rosewood Fretboard.

This weekend picking up a loaded Classic Vibe Tele body for $150. Going to take all of the parts off of it, pickups, controls, all hardware and sell the body on Ebay/Craigslist. Probably will make back the $150 on it.

The actual Telemaster body is in production, cost me $120.

Now.. I will just need finishing supplies, paint/stain/clear coat, sand paper, tack cloth, rubbing compound, swirl remover, whatever else.. haha Still debating what color I want to do.

What do you guys think of chicken head knobs on this thing?

PsychoSurfer · Post by **PsychoSurfer** » Tue Feb 14, 2012 1:52 pm

All parts are in.... hardware, electronics, neck - just waiting on the body, should get it by Fed Ex tomorrow. Found a really great guy named Kevin from One Eyed Jack Custom Guitars in Kentucky. The dude made me a beautiful Poplar body and a matching white pickguard for $110 shipped. Found him on Ebay, take a look he does custom work. Looks fantastic in the photos, will make sure everything lines up properly tomorrow when I get the body.

So pumped for this! I work in a high end kitchen manufacturers office and asked my boss if I could use our spray booth to finish the guitar, he said absolutely - he offered for our finished to spray it with clear coat too... that's the part I am most worried about.

Will post up some pics soon!

PsychoSurfer · Post by **PsychoSurfer** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 1:59 pm

So here we go.... Body and Pickguard are cut and the guy did a wonderful job! Pictured is my Classic Vibe Tele which I will use parts from. Everything is going, pickups, controls and all hardware.

Looking at the color variation of the boards do you think I could pull off a stain? Dark blue or green or brown? Weighing my options. If not I am just going to paint this thing.

PsychoSurfer · Post by **PsychoSurfer** » Mon Feb 20, 2012 4:01 pm

I noticed the photos changed because they were linked to USCAG's website.. so ignore those on prior pages.

Anyway, my plan is to stain and use tru oil to get a nice Satin Finish. Here are my finishing supplies, let me know if you think I will need anything else. Thanks!

Water Based Stain
320 Grit Sandpaper to get wood stain ready (currently it is 220 grit)
Tru Oil (How much of this do I need for a guitar body?)
0000 Steel Wool
Tack Cloth
100% Cotton Rags for rubbing stain and tru oil

Anything else?

PsychoSurfer · Post by **PsychoSurfer** » Mon Feb 20, 2012 9:07 pm

So... what does a brother have to do to get a response in here?!?!

Do I smell? Do I need a shower? haha

Mooseboy · Post by **Mooseboy** » Mon Feb 20, 2012 10:32 pm

Sorry of this sounds bit of a novice question but does the telecaster neck fit straight onto the Telemaster body without any mods?

PsychoSurfer · Post by **PsychoSurfer** » Tue Feb 21, 2012 1:36 am

No worries man - I'm a novice too.

The Telecaster neck fits directly into the neck socket with out any modification. These Telemaster style bodies are generally cut custom to spec. The most common set up is a standard tele configuration, pick ups and neck pocket, string ferrule holes, jack and control cavities, etc. So, pretty much you can take all of your Tele hardware and electronics and throw them into a Telemaster body... that's the general idea. I am hoping this is going to give me that nice tele snap/twang except with a bit more body things to the larger Jazzmaster style body. Here's hoping...

PsychoSurfer · Post by **PsychoSurfer** » Tue Feb 21, 2012 2:51 am

So, here is a quick mock up - nothing is screwed in. I notice the pickguard and bridge plate are off a bit, but once screwed in everything lines up perfectly.

SKC Willie · Post by **SKC Willie** » Tue Feb 21, 2012 5:03 am

nice, I dig telemasters, although, didn't really like the one I put together. not sure why, they just don't feel right to me playing them.

make sure the bridge isn't off AT ALL when you screw it in. if you mess up the bridge placement/angle it will ruin the way the guitar plays.

PsychoSurfer · Post by **PsychoSurfer** » Tue Feb 21, 2012 1:18 pm

Thanks man! Everything lines up perfectly, things just shifted because the bridge plate and stuff are sitting on top of the wires which are squished into the cavities. I have never tried one of these so I am hoping I like the feel of it. Tone wise I think it will be a home run. We'll see though. Next up going to sand to 320 and stain this thing, then hit it wit Tru Oil... going for a Satin kind of look. Will throw up some pictures soon.

PsychoSurfer · Post by **PsychoSurfer** » Mon Feb 27, 2012 2:47 pm

So, this weekend I grabbed some finishing supplies. I have everything I need now except for the Tru Oil. The stain is a water based stain, Minwax Island Water - it's a nice blue color. Hoping it turns out well. If it looks like shit, I will just sand it off and paint the fucker. Pictures as I go...

h8mtv · Post by **h8mtv** » Tue Feb 28, 2012 1:44 pm

Sweet, I just got a set of Tru-Oil myself for my next project. I got the complete gun stock kit. I don't think I'll be using the walnut stain tho.

PsychoSurfer · Post by **PsychoSurfer** » Tue Feb 28, 2012 2:00 pm

h8mtv Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2012 1:44 pm Post subject:

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Sweet, I just got a set of Tru-Oil myself for my next project. I got the complete gun stock kit. I don't think I'll be using the walnut stain tho.

Cool! I didn't order the Tru Oil yet, what size bottle did you get? 8 oz I assume would be plenty to finish a guitar body? Are you using that on your Jag-Stang project?

PsychoSurfer · Post by **PsychoSurfer** » Tue Feb 28, 2012 2:11 pm

May have to return the neck to the Ebay seller too... the low E nut slot is way too wide and deep for some reason. Looks like some one messed with it. I am not so sure I am comfortable superglue and baking soda'ing the slot. Should I give it a try or just send the fucker back?

PsychoSurfer · Post by **PsychoSurfer** » Tue Mar 06, 2012 9:26 pm

Staining is done, just have to touch up a few small areas that were splotchy/not even. I like the color a lot! Looks a little less blue in person and a bit more subtle but a nice vibrant shade none the less. Next are some touch ups and clear coating - then re-wiring. Getting there!

Bloodbank · Post by **Bloodbank** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 10:27 am

Cool project, good job!

Johno · Post by **Johno** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 10:50 am

Looks great, love the colour

PsychoSurfer · Post by **PsychoSurfer** » Mon Mar 12, 2012 1:30 pm

Thanks guys! I started using the Tru Oil this weekend. Very easy to apply this stuff and I kind of like the smell. Although, I did spill some on my countertop, not sure how to get it off - left a weird shiny residue. Anyway, should I steel wool between every coat or should I build up a few quotes and then steel wool?