New Build:Tele TT Frets Walnut/Bubinga/Rosewood 2-16-17 DONE

[Brandon Breeze]

Nitro sounds killer!

Yeah, that's what I recently used to refinish the first guitar I built, it came out beyond expectation, literally looks like it was dipped in shiny stuff, or coated with glass, really makes the wood grain pop

 

[MetalHeadMike]

Nice. Yeah I was really thinking of getting this new Aries finished in matte satin but decided on the clear gloss considering its an antique swamp ash body stain. Should really make the grain pop like you said.

 

[CaseyCor]

Put an Evertune bridge on that, and you'll never have to worry about tuning issues again! True Temperament Frets + Evertune bridge would be awesome.

The build looks great mate. Great work! Now make an explorer

 

[Brandon Breeze]

Nice. Yeah I was really thinking of getting this new Aries finished in matte satin but decided on the clear gloss considering its an antique swamp ash body stain. Should really make the grain pop like you said.

There's definitely a place for satin finished, my preference is on colors, or on the back, since the front is what everyone sees I like it to be shiny, or simply even Tung oiled like I did when aI refinished a few of my guitars.

Put an Evertune bridge on that, and you'll never have to worry about tuning issues again! True Temperament Frets + Evertune bridge would be awesome.

The build looks great mate. Great work! Now make an explorer

I was thinking Evertune initially, until I read into it and there's 6-7 hours of routing to make it happen, not to mention the bridge is $300, then another $100 for the jig/routing plates. I think with sperzel tuners, and a TUSQ nut it will be able to stay in tune incredibly well with the wraparound bridge I'm planning on using.

The guys that I bought my nec from are saying they are developing an auto tuning bridge that will fit in standard Tele and Strat bridge locations, we'll see!

 

[glip22]

Do you have to level and crown the TT frets or did it come already completed? It's painstaking work but not impossible at all.

 

[Brandon Breeze]

Do you have to level and crown the TT frets or did it come already completed? It's painstaking work but not impossible at all.

They said they are ready to go, I'd hope so for the price of these things. I've bought plenty of awesome guitars for much less than the cost of this neck lol

 

[glip22]

Do you have to level and crown the TT frets or did it come already completed? It's painstaking work but not impossible at all.

They said they are ready to go, I'd hope so for the price of these things. I've bought plenty of awesome guitars for much less than the cost of this neck lol

Good to go then hopefully. Just throw your rocker across the neck to check the work. They're not as bad as some think to crown and dress but takes much much longer.

 

[Brandon Breeze]

Ordered the sperzel locking tuners, and wrap around bridge over the weekend!

 

[Brandon Breeze]

Walnut knobs came today!

 

[JimmyBlind]

can you get left-hand vibrato on those frets and not have it sound strange/change pitch?

I've always wondered the same thing with the TT frets. The fret position changes with the bend. Some of the frets really deviate as well, especially relative to the G string by the looks of things.

 

[Brandon Breeze]

can you get left-hand vibrato on those frets and not have it sound strange/change pitch?

I've always wondered the same thing with the TT frets. The fret position changes with the bend. Some of the frets really deviate as well, especially relative to the G string by the looks of things.

I've seen plenty of videos with bends on TT frets, don't think it will be a problem.

Sperzels came in today!

 

[glip22]

can you get left-hand vibrato on those frets and not have it sound strange/change pitch?

I've always wondered the same thing with the TT frets. The fret position changes with the bend. Some of the frets really deviate as well, especially relative to the G string by the looks of things.

I've seen plenty of videos with bends on TT frets, don't think it will be a problem.

Sperzels came in today!

Its not a problem. Actually easy to bend on these. It is true that if you dont look you wont know the frets are TT. Wait until you hear the chords

 

[Brandon Breeze]

Getting the tone pros measured out for correct scale length. Already got that little extra piece of the body below the neck marked off, gonna likely remove it tomorrow, make sure it's perfectly inline with the neck.



Neck is on, dead center, look at that rosewood grain, bad ass! Used stainless screws that are thicker than normal neck screws, countersunk the body perfectly, and drilled the holes so they actually thread through the body into the neck and got them long enough to go all the way right on the backside of the fretboard for maximum contact, tone transfer, and magical unicorns!



Test fitting the bridge, no binding at all, so I got the holes drilled really well. The center of the bridge is perfectly over the bookmatch, we're in business!



Bought a bunch of knobs so I could check them out and pick the ones that actually look the best, instead of what I thought would look the best. I was gonna do the walnut, but I'm thinking chrome after this comparison.

 

[Brandon Breeze]

Made the veneer, and a corresponding piece of wood to clamp it down



Getting ready to route the electronics pocket



Routing the pickup pockets



Pickup pockets routed

 

[Brandon Breeze]

Electronics pocket done, plus the shelf for the cover, I did it wider than normal, for less likelihood of stripped screw holes



The veneer on the back of the headstock cane out perfect



Got the bevel started, long way to go, but it's a start

 

[Brandon Breeze]

Got some of the carving done



Drilled through the veneer for the tuners, and drilled the positioning holes, and sanded it down to 320 grit all around



Comfort cut on the back, also reduces weight on this beefy body, and makes the grain really come alive

 

[Brandon Breeze]

Got the electronics cover done. Same piece of bubinga as the front, with carbon fiber for structural reinforcement.



Got the neck joint right



Electronics holes and output jack hole drilled



Getting there! Gonna put the sealer coat on as soon as the weather clears up

 

[MYLILSS]

Wow man, that's coming along nicely ! I cant wait to see it finished.

 

[Brandon Breeze]

Wow man, that's coming along nicely ! I cant wait to see it finished.

Thank you! I cant wait to see it finished either, gonna be an awesome guitar. Once the lacquer starts hitting the wood its really going to come alive, and depending on the weather that could be pretty soon. After that its just down to putting on several coats, then sanding several times, then let it dry for a couple weeks, finish sand, then polish. So, still awhile to go before it's one.

Still really excited to do my first build in many years. The next on ill definitely be kicking it up several notches.

 

[Brandon Breeze]

First couple coats of nitro



Little tint on the back to give some more contrast