Twinfan has gone custom! (Completed guitar - pics added!)

[Lew]

Looks hawt but I reckon a white pickguard would look better and maybe a smaller pickguard?

[Jonny]

I'd love to see the outcome after the finish. Looks good.

It's fuelling my Warmoth GAS :)

[MrBump]

Very nice, Dave.

There's a VERY distinct Tele thing going on on this forum at the moment...

On a related note, my Fecker Testicaster decal arrived yesterday!!!  Will be applying that at the weekend!!!

 :D

[Twinfan]

To answer the comments/questions:

The scratchplate is the right size and shape for a '72 Thinline Telecaster - that's what the body is.  The cavities are large so it needs a big guard.  White pearloid is the normal colour on the Fender reissues, so to be different I chose three ply B-W-B.

Yep, the body will be a natural finish.  This was my inspiration for the finish/scratchplate colour combo:

[Philly Q]

This was my inspiration for the finish/scratchplate colour combo

[jaw dropping]  :o  [/jaw dropped]

[Twinfan]

Do you like it Phil?  ;)  :lol:

[indysmith]

Well I certainly do :o

[AndyR]

Tis looking good there TF :D

Didn't like the pickguard shape when I first saw it, but it's kinda growing on me.

I am as amazed as Philly over the timescales (with somewhat less experience, and therefore less "issues", than he might have :lol:)

What's happening over nut-cutting and fret-dressing? Are you going to do this yourself? (apologies if I've missed/skimmed over this earlier - I'm going through a "busy patch" at the moment and not able to put the proper attention into the BKP forum :lol:)

Oh, and Philly, on the "switch close to the volume control". I just tried this out on a switch I'm about to replace: Take the knob off, then use a pair of pliers to put a small bend into the blade - I did about 15 degrees at the most. I bent mine "down", away from me when I'm playing. I'd read about this ages ago, but... it actually works! Switch much easier to use with the pinky... (and the switch isn't broken :lol:)

[Twinfan]

The nut was fitted by Warmoth and is already cut.  Frets were installed by Warmoth too, and having run my hands over the neck it feels like they've done a great job.  Lovely and smooth fret ends  :)

I'm planning on bolting it all together, getting it fired up, and seeing how it sounds.  I'll do any minor initial tweaks myself, but if it looks like it needs a bit more specialist knowledge I'll take it to my usual luthier for a full setup.

[Twinfan]

Quick question - should I drill the strap button holes before applying finish to the body?  Or leave it until later????

[Philly Q]

Do you like it Phil?  ;)  :lol:

If yours turns out looking like that, Dave - and hopefully it will - I'll be mighty impressed!  

Good tip about the switch Andy, I believe that's what Danny Gatton used to do.  I might give it a try.  Also Rockinger in Germany make a Tele control plate with the volume control moved a little further away from the switch, which is a very sensible idea.

[Philly Q]

Quick question - should I drill the strap button holes before applying finish to the body?  Or leave it until later????

I don't know what the pros would suggest, but I'd do all the drilling - strap buttons, scratchplate, whatever - before finishing, then just countersink the holes a little once the finish is on.

It sounds like they did a good job on the frets etc.  When I had a Warmoth neck - which I kept for about 10 years but never used  :roll: - the fret installation seemed really neat but they'd left the ends very square.  It wouldn't have been playable without some extra work.

I think I might have to invest in some Warmoth necks.  I was looking at one of my Highway One necks last night and I've become so used to the big neck on the ES-339 the last few weeks that the Fender neck felt like a toothpick.  :(

[Philly Q]

On a related note, my Fecker Testicaster decal arrived yesterday!!!  Will be applying that at the weekend!!!

Question for both Mark and Dave - are you going to try finishing over the decals, or just stick them on top of the finish?  I know the latter is the old skool way, but personally I'd prefer the thing to be properly sealed in place.

[Twinfan]

I'm just putting the decal on after the oiling.  I'm not 'finishing' the guitar so it'll look odd if I try and finish just the headstock with clearcoat.

I'll drill the pilot holes before oiling the body then - cheers Phil  :)

[noodleplugerine]

I'm getting such Tele gas... Its insane... Never had this before. Makes me want to pick up a highway one or something.