Results 1 to 39 of 39

Thread: Weird project idea

  1. #1
    Forum Member telecast's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    Ann Arbor MI
    Posts
    4,560

    Weird project idea

    I recently came into ownership of a Tele body with a less-than perfect neck pocket. That's not a problem, I can fix it easily enough, but resale-wise it's pretty useless. I started thinking about what I could do with it. I don't need another Tele, but I've always liked the TC-90 double cut Tele shape. And, I've been missing my LP Double cut w/P-90's for a while now, so....

    I'm thinking about turning the body into a DC Tele-ish/Gibson-ish...thing. It'll have a hardtail Strat bridge, a couple of P-90's, a custom guard with shape YTBD, and a Warmoth 24 3/4" Scale conversion neck wth a Gibson styled headstock. I'm thinking I may do the body in Crimson Red Transparent. I'm also going to do away with the neck plate and install bolts with bushings. The neck pocket will get rounded and shaped on the back for upper fret access.

    Sound like fun, or am I delusional?
    A friend in need is a good reason to screen your calls.

  2. #2
    Gravity Jim
    Guest

    Re: Weird project idea

    Sounds dreamy, no lie.

    Short scale, two P-90s, transparent red? I don't care WHAT shape it is, it rocks. But I'd seriously consider a Gibson style wrap-tail bridge. The one on my cheapie PRS works a treat... intonates just fine, and gives plenty of that clangy, snappy string thing.

  3. #3
    Forum Member NeoFauve's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    in interesting times
    Posts
    12,530

    Re: Weird project idea

    Sounds like fun.
    But I wouldn't be all that surprised if you were also delusional.:%
    It could be that delusion is a source of fun.

    So would you make it a double-cut?
    It'd be kinda' neat, since the heel would be contoured on the finger-side, to just contour the thumb-side of the heel just to give your thumb somewhere to rest, BUT not actually rout out the cutaway.

    When I play that far up my thumb tends to lay on the back of the neck, pointing toward the nut anyway, rather than wrapping around.

    You'd still have the Tele sillouette, only with some ergonomics happening on the backside. Very stealthy.
    "Well, I used to be disgusted, now I try to be amused..."
    Elvis Costello

  4. #4
    Forum Member telecast's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    Ann Arbor MI
    Posts
    4,560

    Re: Weird project idea

    GJ: I was actually thinking about a TOM, but that leaves me with string holes to fill. Also, I'd need to taper the neck pocket to make up for the taller bridge. That's not a problem, I've done it quite a few times, but the string holes would look like crap no matter what I do.

    Neo: I haven't decided yet if I'll shape the whole thing or both sides, but it will be a double cut, so that will probably dictate the neck mounting.
    A friend in need is a good reason to screen your calls.

  5. #5
    Forum Member telecast's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    Ann Arbor MI
    Posts
    4,560

    Re: Weird project idea

    Quote Originally Posted by telecast
    but the string holes would look like crap no matter what I do.
    Or not...I've just had an idea.

    No...come on now, no point in asking, I won't tell anyway....
    A friend in need is a good reason to screen your calls.

  6. #6
    Forum Member Jonnda's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Evanston IL, or Bluffton OH... which ever comes first.
    Posts
    2,117

    Re: Weird project idea

    Quote Originally Posted by NeoFauve
    Sounds like fun.
    But I wouldn't be all that surprised if you were also delusional.:%
    It could be that delusion is a source of fun.

    So would you make it a double-cut?
    It'd be kinda' neat, since the heel would be contoured on the finger-side, to just contour the thumb-side of the heel just to give your thumb somewhere to rest, BUT not actually rout out the cutaway.

    When I play that far up my thumb tends to lay on the back of the neck, pointing toward the nut anyway, rather than wrapping around.

    You'd still have the Tele sillouette, only with some ergonomics happening on the backside. Very stealthy.
    Smashing idea, Do you mind if i steal it? I might if i find my guitar body needs lightening.
    "The other Shaltanac's joopleberry shrub is always a more mauvy shade of pinky-russet."

    "there's NOTHING WRONG with a live penguin, but...I expected a hamburger!"

  7. #7
    Gravity Jim
    Guest

    Re: Weird project idea

    Aw, c'mon, I wanna guess... like one of those Godins with the P-90s, is that where you're headed?

  8. #8
    Forum Member NeoFauve's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    in interesting times
    Posts
    12,530

    Re: Weird project idea

    Godin does have a nice way with a bolt-on neck.:yay
    "Well, I used to be disgusted, now I try to be amused..."
    Elvis Costello

  9. #9
    Forum Member FrankJohnson's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    Bad JuJu Blues - Its Good for your Soul!
    Posts
    3,935

    Re: Weird project idea

    I think this works....a friend of mine used to make gunstocks and swore by it....

    if the pocket is too big, put in some filler (choose your product of choice so I don't get flamed)......lay saran wrap over it making sure it is in place where, how and how much you want.....press the neck into place......pull it out check and adjust as needed......with the saran wrap in place, press the neck back in place and screw it on as you would normally. Let it sit overnight and cure as appropriate. take the neck off and remove the saran wrap to let it cure and trim/sand if needed.....put the neck back on and it should be pretty good. You may need to mask the opening but i would guess not. I couldn't even slip a dollar bill between the stick and barrel on his guns. Why wouldn't it work here?

    (Disclaimer - I never tried it......don't know the details....but why not?)
    Kenny Belmont
    >:^{I)>

  10. #10
    Gravity Jim
    Guest

    Re: Weird project idea

    I do like the Godin neck joints, but I was thinking specifically of the string-through-body-over-a-TOM kinda thing I've seen on some of them....

  11. #11
    Forum Member telecast's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    Ann Arbor MI
    Posts
    4,560

    Re: Weird project idea

    Quote Originally Posted by Gravity Jim
    I do like the Godin neck joints, but I was thinking specifically of the string-through-body-over-a-TOM kinda thing I've seen on some of them....

    No, that won't work. The string-thru holes on a Fender are way to close to the bridge, on a Godin they set back quite a ways.

    This may not even work, so I won't say anything just yet.

    I love having a Telecaster guitar body with little or no resale value to experiment on...
    Last edited by telecast; 03-27-2006 at 12:37 PM.
    A friend in need is a good reason to screen your calls.

  12. #12
    Forum Member telecast's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    Ann Arbor MI
    Posts
    4,560

    Re: Weird project idea

    Quote Originally Posted by FrankJohnson
    I think this works....a friend of mine used to make gunstocks and swore by it....

    if the pocket is too big, put in some filler (choose your product of choice so I don't get flamed)......lay saran wrap over it making sure it is in place where, how and how much you want.....press the neck into place......pull it out check and adjust as needed......with the saran wrap in place, press the neck back in place and screw it on as you would normally. Let it sit overnight and cure as appropriate. take the neck off and remove the saran wrap to let it cure and trim/sand if needed.....put the neck back on and it should be pretty good. You may need to mask the opening but i would guess not. I couldn't even slip a dollar bill between the stick and barrel on his guns. Why wouldn't it work here?

    (Disclaimer - I never tried it......don't know the details....but why not?)
    That is ONEHELLUVANIDEA! I may not need it if I taper the pocket, but if I leave it flat, I will definitely try it. I was going to fill and then route it smooth.
    A friend in need is a good reason to screen your calls.

  13. #13
    Forum Member NeoFauve's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    in interesting times
    Posts
    12,530

    Re: Weird project idea

    Quote Originally Posted by telecast
    I love having a worthless body to experiment on...
    That's such a tempting set up.

    Must... resist :brr
    "Well, I used to be disgusted, now I try to be amused..."
    Elvis Costello

  14. #14
    Forum Member telecast's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    Ann Arbor MI
    Posts
    4,560

    Re: Weird project idea

    Why, whatever are you talking about?
    A friend in need is a good reason to screen your calls.

  15. #15
    Gravity Jim
    Guest

    Re: Weird project idea

    They called him mad at the University....

  16. #16
    Forum Member NeoFauve's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    in interesting times
    Posts
    12,530

    Re: Weird project idea

    telecast experimenting with backside contours:
    http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/liposuction/illustration1.gif


    :lol
    "Well, I used to be disgusted, now I try to be amused..."
    Elvis Costello

  17. #17
    Forum Member Kap'n's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Where phony hippies meet
    Posts
    19,769

    Re: Weird project idea

    Quote Originally Posted by Gravity Jim
    I do like the Godin neck joints, but I was thinking specifically of the string-through-body-over-a-TOM kinda thing I've seen on some of them....
    Older Godins, like mine, don't have the wood protected where it breaks on the top of the guitar, so your strings kind of saw through the wood.

    I contacted Godin customer service, and they told em to cram a ball end from a string in there, to protect what's left of the wood. It works (I did strings 1-4), but it seems kind of a cheesy solution.
    Several guitars in different colors
    Things to make them fuzzy
    Things to make them louder
    orange picks

  18. #18
    Forum Member telecast's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    Ann Arbor MI
    Posts
    4,560

    Re: Weird project idea

    Quote Originally Posted by Kap'n
    It works (I did strings 1-4), but it seems kind of a cheesy solution.
    Man, no kidding. That reminds me of the time the driver's side window on my wife's brand new Aerostar was getting jammed in the track, it wouldn't go up at all unless you pulled as it went. Ford's better idea? They gave me a can of silicone spray to lubricate the....


    ...get ready for it...


    ...are you ready?







    weatherstripping.

    It seems the weatherstripping used to leak, so they designed it tighter. Of course, someone in R&D never thought about other ramifications.
    A friend in need is a good reason to screen your calls.

  19. #19
    Forum Member chuckocaster's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    spanish for lard.
    Posts
    8,605

    Re: Weird project idea

    yo kap'n, stewmac sells these http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Hardware..._Ferrules.html which would probably look cooler.

    let's see telecast...extra holes...the skills to plug a neck pocket...going to have to paint the body anyways...unless you're going to do something crazy i think somehow the thru holes will work out just fine

    sounds like a fun project. :yay
    "don't worry, i'm a professional!"

  20. #20
    Forum Member BradKM's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Charlotte, NC, or therabouts
    Posts
    1,428

    Re: Weird project idea

    Chuck's right. You've got the skills to flawlessly plug the holes. Get yourself a plug cutter and get to it.

    Or, get yourself a handfull of cubic zirconia and Liberace-ize that bad boy.
    "Go Team Venture!"

  21. #21
    Forum Member NeoFauve's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    in interesting times
    Posts
    12,530

    Re: Weird project idea

    If you want to really employ those mad woodworking skillz, steal some wood from the cutaway-ectomy and make plugs.
    Kind of like stem cells. :chs
    The body would breed its own spare parts from donor tissue. :yay

    If you do that, I'd be in favor of the cutaway, which I bet would mean a lot.
    Plus, we'd all be permanently impressed.
    "Well, I used to be disgusted, now I try to be amused..."
    Elvis Costello

  22. #22
    Forum Member telecast's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    Ann Arbor MI
    Posts
    4,560

    Re: Weird project idea

    Nope, I'm having another idea. Just let me rest here for a moment....
    A friend in need is a good reason to screen your calls.

  23. #23
    Forum Member Kap'n's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Where phony hippies meet
    Posts
    19,769

    Re: Weird project idea

    Quote Originally Posted by chuckocaster
    yo kap'n, stewmac sells these http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Hardware..._Ferrules.html which would probably look cooler.
    See the problem is here on the top side.

    If you look at where the tailpiece "should" be, you've got some narrow grooves leading to holes.

    Fitting real ferrules in there would be a little wierd. So I did the ball thing on E, B, G and D. Makes it a bit of a PITA to change strings, but it works.

    Too bad, because I think the string through on this guitar is responsible for a lot of its mojo.
    Several guitars in different colors
    Things to make them fuzzy
    Things to make them louder
    orange picks

  24. #24
    Forum Member LesPauloholic's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2002
    Location
    Northern Colorado
    Posts
    375

    Re: Weird project idea

    Quote Originally Posted by telecast
    Or not...I've just had an idea.

    No...come on now, no point in asking, I won't tell anyway....
    Add a maple top and veneer the back... add binding to the top and back and give it a LP custom vibe...

  25. #25
    Forum Member chuckocaster's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    spanish for lard.
    Posts
    8,605

    Re: Weird project idea

    Quote Originally Posted by Kap'n
    See the problem is here on the top side.
    gotcha. :yay

    what if you did something like a string tree but in reverse? you could use a piece of metal that was half round (sort of like a ball end) and then screw that into the top where you needed it. kind of weird maybe, but it'd make restring a breeze. just a thought...
    "don't worry, i'm a professional!"

  26. #26
    Forum Member telecast's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    Ann Arbor MI
    Posts
    4,560

    Re: Weird project idea

    Quote Originally Posted by LesPauloholic
    Add a maple top and veneer the back... add binding to the top and back and give it a LP custom vibe...

    Nah, I just did one.
    A friend in need is a good reason to screen your calls.

  27. #27
    Forum Member telecast's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    Ann Arbor MI
    Posts
    4,560

    Re: Weird project idea

    Quote Originally Posted by Kap'n
    See the problem is here on the top side.

    If you look at where the tailpiece "should" be, you've got some narrow grooves leading to holes.
    What about some small liners, cut out of a thin sheet of brass plate and superglued in the slots? You could shape them so the brass wraps down into the string-thru hole on the front side where the string hits.
    A friend in need is a good reason to screen your calls.

  28. #28
    Forum Member Kap'n's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Where phony hippies meet
    Posts
    19,769

    Re: Weird project idea

    Oddly enough, the string ball thing works pretty well, other than it's a pain to string the E through.

    Not a biggie. I've got a bigsby on my other guitar. :lol
    Several guitars in different colors
    Things to make them fuzzy
    Things to make them louder
    orange picks

  29. #29
    Forum Member NeoFauve's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    in interesting times
    Posts
    12,530

    Re: Weird project idea

    That's a beautious guitar, Kap'n.
    So, without the ball ends in there, once the string goes through the ferule, it'd be against wood (and the finish) as it heads for the bridge?
    I've never seen a heavily used one, but I've wondered how that string trench design would hold up over time.
    I wonder if the string thru mojo would be diminished by protecting the trench with metal.
    "Well, I used to be disgusted, now I try to be amused..."
    Elvis Costello

  30. #30
    Forum Member chuckocaster's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    spanish for lard.
    Posts
    8,605

    Re: Weird project idea

    sooooooo...what's crappenin?
    "don't worry, i'm a professional!"

  31. #31
    Forum Member Kap'n's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Where phony hippies meet
    Posts
    19,769

    Re: Weird project idea

    Nuthin' much. Not playing that one as much these days. Trying to resurrect my tele to replace it, probably as an open G thang.
    Several guitars in different colors
    Things to make them fuzzy
    Things to make them louder
    orange picks

  32. #32
    Forum Member telecast's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    Ann Arbor MI
    Posts
    4,560

    Re: Weird project idea

    Quote Originally Posted by chuckocaster
    sooooooo...what's crappenin?
    If you mean me, nothing yet. I have the parts, still need to do some measuring and reckoning before I finalize.
    A friend in need is a good reason to screen your calls.

  33. #33
    Forum Member chuckocaster's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    spanish for lard.
    Posts
    8,605

    Re: Weird project idea

    Quote Originally Posted by Kap'n
    Nuthin' much.
    thanks , i wasn't talking to you...
    "don't worry, i'm a professional!"

  34. #34
    Forum Member telecast's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    Ann Arbor MI
    Posts
    4,560

    Re: Weird project idea

    Ok, the body is in the oven.

    And that's all I'm sayin'.
    A friend in need is a good reason to screen your calls.

  35. #35
    Forum Member BradKM's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Charlotte, NC, or therabouts
    Posts
    1,428

    Re: Weird project idea

    And that's all I'm sayin'.
    Beans. Spill 'em.
    "Go Team Venture!"

  36. #36
    Forum Member chuckocaster's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    spanish for lard.
    Posts
    8,605

    Re: Weird project idea

    sounds like somethin's cookin...
    "don't worry, i'm a professional!"

  37. #37
    Forum Member telecast's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    Ann Arbor MI
    Posts
    4,560

    Re: Weird project idea

    Well, that didn't work....
    A friend in need is a good reason to screen your calls.

  38. #38
    Forum Member chuckocaster's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    spanish for lard.
    Posts
    8,605

    Re: Weird project idea

    wood doesn't melt...
    "don't worry, i'm a professional!"

  39. #39
    Forum Member telecast's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    Ann Arbor MI
    Posts
    4,560

    Re: Weird project idea

    Ok, the project is officially underway. I have much to do, for starters I have to fully restore a headstock leftover from my pointy days.
    A friend in need is a good reason to screen your calls.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •