Guitar Luthiers - Please Read

[Jonny]

I love the idea of building guitars. From a wood blank to a masterpiece. However, it would be all fine and dandy to build exisiting 24 fret, FR, H-H, etc. or 22 fret, S-S-S, stop tail, etc. etc.

But what if I wanted something different?

My first custom guitar idea would be a Telecaster. With 24 frets. And a Floyd Rose (Yes, I am being serious) with two humbuckers (also being serious)

So when you change the measurements from a standard Telecaster, it being without a Floyd Rose and being 24 frets I'm sure SOMEWHERE along the road, you're going to have to adjust something, what do you adjust? Or do you adjust anything? Does it change if a carved top is added?

I guess I made this topic out of curiosity.

Thanks for reading.

[WezV]

you have two options when making it 24 fret.  either extend the extra neck into the body or move the bridge slightly forward.

if you extend the neck into the body you obviously have access issues so my choice would be to move the bridge slightly.  If using stock oarts you obviosuly also have issues with pickup routes.

so i would start from scratch making a standard tele shaped body with the 3" fender neck pocket but non of the other standard tele routes..  then i would make the 24 fret neck to fit that pocket.  Next job would be to fit them together and measure the location for the bridge.  then when that was done its simply a case of fitting the pickups between the bridge and neck. 

this would maintain good access but the eagle eyed would notice the slightly different bridge location and the fact the pickups would be pushed a little closer together

you could then carve it as much as you wanted, doesnt change anything but be aware of where you are carving - if you carve the section were the bridge or pickusp sit you may have a few more issues to deal with

[the guitar repair workshop]

good question,
my personal feeling is that not moving the bridge is best, and dealing with the 24 fret acess by either just reaching over or scooping the lower horn a little more, even if its just the front of it.
This is because i like the weight balance to be right, and moving the bridge can mess this up.
Its a good idea to build prototype bodies from B&Q pine, that way you can bin it if its not quite right.
Also, i find that humbuckers need to be in the right place to sound right, sometimes a stacked single coil is a better bet - even though they dont sound quite as good as a trad h/b...there's a little bit of give and take there...

post plenty of pics!!

[WezV]

teles generally balance well enough that moving the bridge that short distance forward wont throw it off.. although those used to a tele or strat might notice the extra reach to nut positions.    If it was a worry i would split the difference between the two options.  movethe bridge halfway forward and only loose a bit of access to the 24th - maybe helped by a scoop which is actually something i work into all my own designs

I agree about the neck pickup being compromised on a 24 fretter.  the bridge is still in the right place compared to the scale length but the neck pickup cant be so they get squashed together and you dont get as much tonal difference.

personally i prefer to prototype in woods i know will work - body blanks are not that expensive so i am prepared to scr@p a few that dont work... and i hate working with knotty pine!

the fact is.. once you start to make your own, you can do what the damn well you like :) 

[Jonny]

It would be OK, to make the neck pocket the same dimensions just have a longer neck for 24 frets?

I made a drawing :B

[Roobubba]

Some fairly good ideas for building something that's not your traditional telecaster, there.
May I also suggest that you scoop out the top horn, so that you don't end up looking like a complete **** when you play it?

:)

Roo

[WezV]

It would be OK, to make the neck pocket the same dimensions just have a longer neck for 24 frets?

I made a drawing :B

yes, it is fine to use the standard neck pocket and have a longer neck... but be aware that the bridge will not be as far back as it looks in your drawing.  Do some reading up on scale length.. as long as you keep that in mind you are free to make the changes you want

[Jonny]

It would be OK, to make the neck pocket the same dimensions just have a longer neck for 24 frets?

I made a drawing :B

yes, it is fine to use the standard neck pocket and have a longer neck... but be aware that the bridge will not be as far back as it looks in your drawing.  Do some reading up on scale length.. as long as you keep that in mind you are free to make the changes you want

EDIT: I looked up the Telecaster, it's 25.5" does that not mean that the bridge can stay the same but I can just have a blank fretboard and cut 24 frets instead of 22?

[Will]

Then the fretboard would overhang the standard neck pocket

[gwEm]

Then the fretboard would overhang the standard neck pocket

...like a 22 fret strat does, if you've ever seen one

(tag team replies)

[Jonny]

Don't think I'm thinking about this correctly. So the bridge will just move forward by the distance of 22-24, right? Christ I'm gonna have a headache after all this.

[gwEm]

Don't think I'm thinking about this correctly. So the bridge will just move forward by the distance of 22-24, right? Christ I'm gonna have a headache after all this.

it depends if you want to use a neck you make yourself, or a pre-made neck (warmoth etc). if you'll use a premade neck - something like a telecaster 24 fret conversion neck - keep the bridge in the same place. if you'll make your own neck, do what you want.

[Will]

Just think, that with the layout with the neck on, 12th fret must be half way between saddle + nut(and 24th needs to be 3/4 the way (I think))

If you have the fingerboard overhang (more tag teamage) then you won't need to move the bridge, but top fret access will be harder.

If you move the bridge, you can have the 24th fret in the same place as the 22nd would be, but the neck sticks further out.

this illustrates what a 24 fret neck does in a standard pocket quite well.

[WezV]

bear ion mine the 25.5" between nut and bridge need to be the same if you have 22 or 24 frets... all you would be changing is how that sits on the body.  Like gwen says  - if you buy a neck its probably best to have the extra fretboard over the body.. but if you are making it yourself it makes sense to put the 24th where the 22nd would normally be  to ensure good access - -  this would mean moving the bridge forward by about 20mm. 

Obviously that also means the guitar is 20mm longer which will affect balance but not negatively so on a telecaster body.

if you draw it out full size  starting with teh scale length and fretboard it will start to come together.

if you are planning on building this then i would buy melvyn hisc--k's book.  How to make your own electric guitar

[ToneMonkey]

if you draw it out full size  starting with teh scale length and fretboard it will start to come together.

if you are planning on building this then i would buy melvyn hisc--k's book.  How to make your own electric guitar

Amen brother.