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I got the bro deal on an unfinished neck that has a strat heel and tele headstock. It was the perfect neck for a telemaster!

I got a telemaster body of evil bay for an okay price. It is routed for a humbucker in the bridge. and has a really weird contour on the back. I'll be using the fake GFS wide rangers I have laying around for the bridge and nothing in the neck.

First question - I've stated using tru-oil on the neck. All the people on the tele forums talk about how easy it is to use. After my second very light coat, I noticed the black t-shirt I was using was leaving threads behind. Does anyone have experience with tru-oil? What did you use to apply it. I'm thinking my best bet may be rubber gloves and fingers but you still want to wipe off the excess with something?

my game plan is this:

1. Apply 3-4 coats of tru-oil
2. sand with 600 grit then 800 grit sand paper
3. Apply 2-3 more coats
4. sand with 600 grit then 800 grit
5. Apply 1-2 coats
6. repeat sanding
7. apply 1-2 coats
8. repeat sanding

and then just keep doing this until I'm happy with it. It this a smart game plan? should I be hitting the wood up with a pore filler or sealer first?

I'll be posting pictures of everything as I get them. I'm hoping this will be a quick build but right now, things are pretty busy so it make take awhile.

I used tru oil on my baritone neck, and it was relatively painless... I got some 0000 gauge steel wool, rubbed the neck down with it before starting, then applied my first coat with a section of (new) t-shirt material - mine wasn't leaving any thread behind - maybe because it was new? (I'm not crazily rich or anything - someone left a parcel full of plain t-shirts at work, but they're not my size). I let it dry for six or so hours, lightly (very lightly) rubbed it down with the 0000 gauge again, then repeated the process. I went for about ten coats applied this way, letting the last one cure for 24 hours. How you want the neck to look and feel will dictate your last few coats; for a semi-gloss finish, do as I described above, then after your 24 hours, lightly rub with the 0000 gauge again, then buff vigourously with some old denim. For more of a gloss feel, don't rub the the 0000 gauge between the last three of four coats (put these coats on really thin though, so as not to get any gummy overlaps), then let the neck cure for at least a week before, again, buffing with old denim. I really liked tru-oil, will definitely use it again; probably going to try a gloss finish next time (not that there's any problem with my semi-gloss, just fancy trying it).

small update:




got the body in. Everything went together really well. I decided to stop the tru-oil after about three coats. I liked the really thin finish. It looked good and feels really good. I may decide to add more later but I figure it's easier to add more later than decide I've put too much on and have to take a bunch off.

that looks wicked, boris.

I know I'm posting these mainly for myself at this point but I got a solid tracing of the pickguard done tonight.

I'm thinking about the staining the body like Elivs Costello's jazzmaster. I don't really listen to his music, to be honest, but I love the way that thing looks. How would I go about staining it? Just going to buying some stain or should I seal it first?

Lookin' good, but I'd use moar oil.

hahaha still looks like a pore virgin more grease needed.


Yes that looks great. loving the jazz/jag body with the tele switches looks. nice work!

I've done anything to the body.


I used three light coats of tru-oil on the neck and it feels great. I probably will do more eventually.

doing a couple of very light coats of blue automotive paint followed up by two cans of clear. About half a can of clear in so far. Did some quick mock ups.

this is going to look amazing when its finished PW, city blue as well nice

Looking smooth in blue.

Is the Strat hardtail bridge your only option though? Got anything more sexiful?

portugalwillie wrote:

Looking cool but, I’d consider reversing the control plate cause your gonna smack that switch about when you’re strumming

I'm using the strat bridge because I wanted this to be a build that used as many recycled parts as possible. I'm trying to keep total cost of paint, hardware, pickups, and everything under $200.

Also, I'm not even going to wire the switch in. It's purely for looks. I'm going to be running the pickup straight to a volume and tone.

Dang. Thought you might have been going for a stealth neck pickup. Woulda been cool

Ankhanu wrote:Dang. Thought you might have been going for a stealth neck pickup. Woulda been cool

I've thought about it several time. I thought about picking up a cheap rails pickup from GFS. I would probably have to use one of the hottest pickups they have.

At some point I want to use a lace sensor humbucker in the bridge w/ a lace single coil in the neck. Make a telemaster plus. We'll see though.

portugalwillie wrote:I've thought about it several time. I thought about picking up a cheap rails pickup from GFS. I would probably have to use one of the hottest pickups they have.

At some point I want to use a lace sensor humbucker in the bridge w/ a lace single coil in the neck. Make a telemaster plus. We'll see though.

Yeah, it would have to be hella hot to compete with the humbucker, mounted so far beneath the strings... and the hotness would likely result in a questionable tone too :/

The Telemaster Plus idea is great

fuck, robbie.

marvelous. really.

Very well thought out and executed.

Speaking as someone who absolutely hates colored transparent finishes over exposed woodgrain (except sunburst), this shit is tits. Congratulations, it goes against everything I like but looks utterly fantastic.

portugalwillie wrote: At some point I want to use a lace sensor humbucker in the bridge w/ a lace single coil in the neck. Make a telemaster plus. We'll see though.

Shit, I always knew someone would beat me to it.

what is that pickup? it doesn't look like it has adjustment poles... ?

would be cool with something like a toronado or duo-sonic bridge!