72 Custom-esque Telemaster - finished!
- MayTheFuzzBeWithYou
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72 Custom-esque Telemaster - finished!
My father‘s router has a vacuum table and while it would work perfectly for making bodies - this makes working on already finished bodies extra difficult - so we decided to make it by hand...
The Dwarves dug too greedily and too deep. You know what they awoke in the darkness of Khazad-dûm...
So as you can see - I made some holes a little too deep - concerning shielding - would you rather:
a) fill the holes with some resin
b) ignore them and use copper-tape
I got shielding color at home but copper tape might be more effective in covering things up...
Also the pickguards are finished (I carved the bevel with a blade as the router misses the tool to make a bevel). Still can‘t decide whether to go with mint or black...
Shielding is done.
Next step is to wire that thing up:
What I have: Ruebezahl Wide Range Humbucker and Tele Bridge Pickup, 3 way toggle, 2x 2 way slide switches - 3 Pots
My plan would be to make the WRHB switchable from series to parallel and add a strangle (or a blower) switch and make it dual volume single tone.
Right now I have 3 1 Meg pots in it - one should be logarithmic and one linear - but the third one I can't tell - it says CTS 1000 1513 on it - and google wouldn't spit out what it is...
All the 72 custom and Telecaster deluxe wiring diagrams used 500k or 250k pots (which is probably the Mexican reissue from a few years back) - I also have one 250k pot (CTS 250V 137 1951) - and as I'm totally new to Telecasters - but I do know about their twang and bite attributes - should I go with the 250 in the Bridge position? or on the tone?
The Dwarves dug too greedily and too deep. You know what they awoke in the darkness of Khazad-dûm...
So as you can see - I made some holes a little too deep - concerning shielding - would you rather:
a) fill the holes with some resin
b) ignore them and use copper-tape
I got shielding color at home but copper tape might be more effective in covering things up...
Also the pickguards are finished (I carved the bevel with a blade as the router misses the tool to make a bevel). Still can‘t decide whether to go with mint or black...
Shielding is done.
Next step is to wire that thing up:
What I have: Ruebezahl Wide Range Humbucker and Tele Bridge Pickup, 3 way toggle, 2x 2 way slide switches - 3 Pots
My plan would be to make the WRHB switchable from series to parallel and add a strangle (or a blower) switch and make it dual volume single tone.
Right now I have 3 1 Meg pots in it - one should be logarithmic and one linear - but the third one I can't tell - it says CTS 1000 1513 on it - and google wouldn't spit out what it is...
All the 72 custom and Telecaster deluxe wiring diagrams used 500k or 250k pots (which is probably the Mexican reissue from a few years back) - I also have one 250k pot (CTS 250V 137 1951) - and as I'm totally new to Telecasters - but I do know about their twang and bite attributes - should I go with the 250 in the Bridge position? or on the tone?
Last edited by MayTheFuzzBeWithYou on Mon Jul 12, 2021 2:23 am, edited 3 times in total.
- Larry Mal
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Re: 72 Custom-esque Telemaster - shielding advice needed
I'd probably just use wood putty to make it level, then copper tape or shielding paint (get the good stuff, not the Stew-Mac stuff).
Back in those days, everyone knew that if you were talking about Destiny's Child, you were talking about Beyonce, LaTavia, LeToya, and Larry.
- bodhi
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Re: 72 Custom-esque Telemaster - shielding advice needed
You could also consider just using shielded wire inside the guitar and not do any shielding for the cavity itself...
Jazzmaster project (got a body, placeholder neck, some pickups and ideas)
Tokai Telecaster Thinline with Creamery Pickups Filtertron and Tapped Tele
Blake Mills-inspired Strat project w/ Gold Foil and slide pickup
Tokai Telecaster Thinline with Creamery Pickups Filtertron and Tapped Tele
Blake Mills-inspired Strat project w/ Gold Foil and slide pickup
- Embenny
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Re: 72 Custom-esque Telemaster - shielding advice needed
Shielded wire leaves all your components unshielded. It's a half-measure. I only use it in situations where there are long tunneled wire runs outside of shieldable cavities, or cavities that are inaccessible for shielding like on one of my Gretsches.
Larry's suggestion is a simple way to level out the bottom of the cavity. If you're feeling lazy, I don't see why you couldn't just put the tape down as-is. It's not weight-bearing so there's nothing that'll break through the tape where it lies over the holes. Making the cavity flat before shielding is what I'd do if I was being a perfectionist on my own guitar or building it for money for a client if I was running a business, but from a functional perspective on my own personal guitar, I'd have no qualms with just putting the tape down as-is. There's plenty of flat surface for it to stick to.
The artist formerly known as mbene085.
- timtam
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Re: 72 Custom-esque Telemaster - shielding advice needed
Another vote for just copper-foil-tape over it.
"I just knew I wanted to make a sound that was the complete opposite of a Les Paul, and that’s pretty much a Jaguar." Rowland S. Howard.
- andy_tchp
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Re: 72 Custom-esque Telemaster - shielding advice needed
'Speed holes' and extra weight relief. Copper tape over the top.
"I don't know why we asked him to join the band 'cause the rest of us don't like country music all that much; we just like Graham Lee."
David McComb, 1987.
David McComb, 1987.
- MayTheFuzzBeWithYou
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Re: 72 Custom-esque Telemaster - shielding advice needed
Thank you all for your replies!
As we are in lockdown no. 3 from tomorrow on it might get a little tricky to get both the wood putty and the copper tape - I‘d might be more lucky with the putty as my cousin (who is a carpenter) lives within a 7min walking distance!
For the shielding: I got „ground control“ from Rockinger (a german luthier supplier) - which is labeled as „simply the best shielding paint there is“. I‘m happy how it worked out in my other Rexter-Firemist body... but on the other hand I always wanted to try copper shielding... but there will be more guitars/projects...
As we are in lockdown no. 3 from tomorrow on it might get a little tricky to get both the wood putty and the copper tape - I‘d might be more lucky with the putty as my cousin (who is a carpenter) lives within a 7min walking distance!
For the shielding: I got „ground control“ from Rockinger (a german luthier supplier) - which is labeled as „simply the best shielding paint there is“. I‘m happy how it worked out in my other Rexter-Firemist body... but on the other hand I always wanted to try copper shielding... but there will be more guitars/projects...
- MayTheFuzzBeWithYou
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Re: 72 Custom-esque Telemaster - Now wiring advice needed!
Shielding is done.
Next step is to wire that thing up:
What I have: Ruebezahl Wide Range Humbucker and Tele Bridge Pickup, 3 way toggle, 2x 2 way slide switches - 3 Pots
My plan would be to make the WRHB switchable from series to parallel and add a strangle (or a blower) switch and make it dual volume single tone.
Right now I have 3 1 Meg pots in it - one should be logarithmic and one linear - but the third one I can't tell - it says CTS 1000 1513 on it - and google wouldn't spit out what it is...
All the 72 custom and Telecaster deluxe wiring diagrams used 500k or 250k pots (which is probably the Mexican reissue from a few years back) - I also have one 250k pot (CTS 250V 137 1951) - and as I'm totally new to Telecasters - but I do know about their twang and bite attributes - should I go with the 250 in the Bridge position? or on the tone?
Next step is to wire that thing up:
What I have: Ruebezahl Wide Range Humbucker and Tele Bridge Pickup, 3 way toggle, 2x 2 way slide switches - 3 Pots
My plan would be to make the WRHB switchable from series to parallel and add a strangle (or a blower) switch and make it dual volume single tone.
Right now I have 3 1 Meg pots in it - one should be logarithmic and one linear - but the third one I can't tell - it says CTS 1000 1513 on it - and google wouldn't spit out what it is...
All the 72 custom and Telecaster deluxe wiring diagrams used 500k or 250k pots (which is probably the Mexican reissue from a few years back) - I also have one 250k pot (CTS 250V 137 1951) - and as I'm totally new to Telecasters - but I do know about their twang and bite attributes - should I go with the 250 in the Bridge position? or on the tone?
- MayTheFuzzBeWithYou
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Re: 72 Custom-esque Telemaster - almost finished!
First assembly! I finally decided in favor of the black pickguard! and against the black bridge. Chrome looks so much better with the WRHB.
I need to finish the wiring - but at least I have a diagram that I can use - let's see if I can put it together! It will be series parallel and a strangle or another tone control switch! Because you never know...
I somehow lost one of the tuner thimbles while sanding the cavities on the stairs to the terrace/garden - and two of the pickguard screws don't find grip (because of what I already explained above) - shall I just glue some wood to it and be good with it or is wood putty enough? Maybe my luthier guitar tech can step in - as I need him anyhow for cutting the nut.
But overall I'm pretty pleased. It's very light. I'm really not used to this - I don't know if it's just the missing of the vibrato or if the weight relief/speed holes were too much... not so light as my 60s Tribute Les Paul but my lightest offset!
What do you think of those big knobs? too much? I gave my Telecaster Deluxe style knobs (and had just two anyhow) to our new bassist as we couldn't separate the old knobs from the pot when we changed the scratchy volume pot. But as I need some other parts too I might just order another set! :-)
- Shadoweclipse13
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Re: 72 Custom-esque Telemaster - almost finished!
That's lovely looking! I am loving the guard shape especially!!
Pickup Switching Mad Scientist
http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=104282&p=1438384#p1438384
http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=104282&p=1438384#p1438384
-
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Re: 72 Custom-esque Telemaster - almost finished!
that's beautiful
i want one
i want one
- Shadoweclipse13
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Re: 72 Custom-esque Telemaster - almost finished!
Also, where did you get the knobs?
Pickup Switching Mad Scientist
http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=104282&p=1438384#p1438384
http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=104282&p=1438384#p1438384
- mgeek
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Re: 72 Custom-esque Telemaster - almost finished!
That's really cool! Not normally that into the combinations of two guitars, but this one really works... think the scratchplate shape, switching and WRHB do it. I'd stick with those knobs personally, they look great. Give it a touch of individuality rather than 'explosion in the fender parts bin' if you know what I mean
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/37mm-Alumini ... 2749.l2649
I got some of those from this Ebay seller
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/37mm-Alumini ... 2749.l2649
- MayTheFuzzBeWithYou
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Re: 72 Custom-esque Telemaster - almost finished!
Thanks! I really spent a long time figuring out which guard shape to take and came up with very similar shapes - and then I stumbled across that one from Andrew somewhere in the bareknuckle forums - I think I posted this some time ago...Shadoweclipse13 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 14, 2021 12:22 amThat's lovely looking! I am loving the guard shape especially!!
telemasterII_MG_9905.jpg by andrewrjw,
I was able to track him down and he was so kind to send me his old photoshop mockup - which was usable enough to make some arrangements (WRHB and knobs, and screw position) in illustrator and export it as a dxf so that my father's cnc could read it.
thank you very much! :-)
Hit me up if you need that pickguard-file!
I got my knobs from Musikding in Germany - where I also get my diy-effect pedal kits from... but these are available at many different electronic parts retailers...JPTR FX uses them a lot...mgeek wrote: ↑Thu Jan 14, 2021 6:02 amThat's really cool! Not normally that into the combinations of two guitars, but this one really works... think the scratchplate shape, switching and WRHB do it. I'd stick with those knobs personally, they look great. Give it a touch of individuality rather than 'explosion in the fender parts bin' if you know what I mean
I got some of those from this Ebay seller
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/37mm-Alumini ... 2749.l2649
I'm not a fan of mixing characteristic parts of guitars either - well at least mostly not... but given the opportunity and the fact that everybody needs a Telecaster style guitar at some point of their lives... I think I made the best out of it! :-)
And yes, the knobs are staying!
Next step: get an electro socket jack - as the Fender one just won't stay in place...
EDIT for getting the quotes right.
- Unicorn Warrior
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Re: 72 Custom-esque Telemaster - almost finished!
Those knobs look great! Very cool build!