Launch - we have lift off

[cherrick]

Tele body and neck ordered from Tommy at USA Custom Guitars.
Callaham Tele kit to be ordered
Got the Don Mare Nancy 2324 pickups in a box

Can you say Blonde Butterscotch 5 hole black guard on the way?

[Stonefreefuzz1]

NICE! Can't wait to see the finished Product!

[chuckocaster]

Can you say Blonde Butterscotch 5 hole black guard on the way?

yes, yes i can!

[cherrick]

Folks, Tommy is building me a two piece medium weight swamp ash body with an offset center seam suitable for a translucent finish (blonde butterscotch).

Cool? What do y'all think of the offset seam?

[chuckocaster]

that's more traditional, either way looks fine to me, i'm not really picky when it comes to this stuff. fender, back in the day, would usually put the seam on the lower portion of the body where the hotdog plate goes. i'd trust those guys with what they do. they sold me a maple body blank, only after i told them i was doing a solid finish on it. i don't think they would have if i was going translucent. they seem to really care about what they do, and that's all good in my book!

[Don]

My "USACG T-Style" is my best guitar. I built it like an old black guard except that I went with a completely transparent, unfilled finish. It's more like a re-finished black guard.

I've been playing it for almost 6 years now. It's an awesome guitar!

[cherrick]

Just getting going:

and

and


anyone want to offer thoughts on the two ovals in the grain? Assume translucent blonde butterscotch finish which should show some grain.

[chuckocaster]

character. wood is wood, and anything that is/was alive has flaws. i think wood grain is very interesting, especially with weirdo stuff like thos ovals. you have a unique body.

[cherrick]

Thanks Chuck.

What about effects on tone? Thoughts?

[chuckocaster]

it's it would sound less linear or pointed?

but seriously, i doubt it would have any affect on the tone. have you tapped the body yet? that'll usually give you an idea if the guitar is going to be bright or dark, and how resonant it is. some people tap for notes, but i listen to the timbre (no pun intended) of it.

[Offshore Angler]

Honestly, the woodgrain is kid of funky for an ash Tele. The front is OK, but the back looks a bit - busy. When I think of an ash Fender with a translucent finish I imagine a nice straight grain for that classic look. YMMV. It will definitely be unique though.

[Custom 5]

that's definitely a slab cut body from the outer section of the tree. i think the grain pattern is pretty cool.

[Offshore Angler]

You know, upon further review, I think the ovals will not look like ovals after the guard is on. The back - it's funkyness is growing on me.

[cherrick]

Body after grain filler and sealer coat but before Blond Butterscotch. Sitting in the MF $50.00 special case I scored for it.







Think I should name the guitar Ovaltina?

[jerryjg]

Looks like this build has virtually unlimited potential! I will keep my eyes peeled for progress reports. Main thing is you got a case..a case of the blues! lol

[Don]

Beautiful!

[surfreak]

How heavy is the body? That looks almost like Northern Ash rather than Swamp Ash, doesn't it?

[Frat Rettle]

Looks great Cherrick.

Take care......stay well.

[cdw2000]

Nice looking body. I wonder if the tight grain down the center of the back will improve sustain?

And I love the grain pattern on the front, ovals and all. I don't think it looks unusual for ash at all.

I have an American Deluxe Ash Strat and love that grain, though due to the weight I suspect mine is Northern Ash, not Swamp Ash.

[cherrick]

Tommy at USACG specified it as Swamp Ash.

Somewhere I have the weight, I'll have to look.