7 string Telecaster build!!!

[BobbyBaja]

So I lucked out pretty hard on this one. I have some friends who are still in high school, and one happens to be in a wood shop class (and he loves building guitars). You see where this is going...

For pretty cheap, I'm getting an axe built! Enough talking, here are the specs!

Telecaster Body
7 string
Bubinga Body
Maple Neck
26.25" scale length
Reverse headstock
24 frets
Routed for Active pickups
Black Hardware

I also gave him the idea for a deeper cut in for higher frets as well. We're only a little over a week into the build, and here's what we got...

I'm going to be going for a white satin on the top of the body, with a black satin on the sides and the back. I'm keeping the fretboard and the headstock all natural (like a Loomis), and am gonna have a black diamond inlay on the 12th fret.

The only thing that's missing that I wanted added was a Birdseye Maple fretboard, but regular maple should work just fine!

More pictures as I receive them!

 

[BobbyBaja]

There has been some progress made!
The body and neck are set in together now, and we made some changes to the body.

We're adding some tummy cuts, and cut ins for better access on the neck. Today we decided on a radius for the neck, and picked out a piece of Maple (didn't get to snag a picture) for the fretboard. The particular piece is gonna look sweet!

I also got these in yesterday \m/

 

[BobbyBaja]

This thread has gotten no love </3
But I'll post this anyhow! We changed up the headstock design a little bit. I grabbed inspiration from the Strictly 7 Solar headstock, and we're modding it a bit to flow better with the Tele body.

More pictures to come, as I plan on heading to the shop later in the afternoon... shes almost done

 

[scherzo1928]

I've been dying to try a bubinga body.

Are those actual inlays or decals?

 

[BobbyBaja]

I've been dying to try a bubinga body.

Are those actual inlays or decals?

They are decals! I'm still debating on using them though, because the particular fretboard blank we chose has a neat grain and texture itself.

The Bubinga is REALLY heavy so far, granted we haven't routed anything out as of yet. I'm curious as to see what sort of tone it will produce.

 

[brynotherhino]

Looks sharp dude!

 

[BobbyBaja]

Looks sharp dude!

Thanks bro! Expect some more pictures here in a matter of hours.
I'm picking up the Matte Black paint for it today, and going to workout how we want the neck radius.

 

[brynotherhino]

Sweet! What pickups are you gonna use?

 

[Kapee]

Thanks bro! Expect some more pictures here in a matter of hours.
I'm picking up the Matte Black paint for it today, and going to workout how we want the neck radius.

>Matte Black



Edit: Phew! Readed the first post and noticed that its not gonna be all black.

 

[BobbyBaja]

>Matte Black



Edit: Phew! Readed the first post and noticed that its not gonna be all black.

Lol yeah man, sorry I scared ya!
The top is going to be a slightly transparent Satin White, so we have have some of the grain stick out.
The sides and back are going to be the Satin/ Matte Black, and I'm keeping the front of the headstock natural to match the fretboard.

Sweet! What pickups are you gonna use?

Seymour Duncan Blackouts!

 

[highlordmugfug]

Eeeenteresting. Can't wait to see the finished guitar.

 

[BobbyBaja]

So I just got back from the shop, and things are going swell! It won't be done Friday as originally planned, but that's okay because we decided on a few more things.
I'm going to purchase a bone nut, and black frets. It'll really go well with the color scheme we have planned for it. Here's where we're now at...

Edit: Anyone know where I can actually find Black Fret Wire?

 

[Djdnxgdj3983jrjd8udb3bcns]

Looks tasty dude. I wouldn't have thought you could buy black fret wire easily, as I'd imagine any finishing/anodizing on them would be quickly worn away...

 

[BobbyBaja]

I wish you could buy black fret wire, but you can't :'(
I did order a Tusq nut for the guitar though, have one in my Agile and it's great!
Routing for the hardware begins Friday also.

 

[BlackMastodon]

Glad you are goin with a different headstock, I hate the tele ones. This looks reall good though so far! I'd be iffy about inlay decals too though, something about vinyl stickers on the fretboard puts me off.

 

[scherzo1928]

I'm still waiting for someone to make boron carbide frets. Would look awesome, and I imagine nobody would ever wear those out.

 

[BobbyBaja]

Glad you are goin with a different headstock, I hate the tele ones. This looks reall good though so far! I'd be iffy about inlay decals too though, something about vinyl stickers on the fretboard puts me off.

Yeah, I'm still considering even using them. I'm just so used to having fret markers I think not having them would screw with me

 

[BlackMastodon]

Yeah, I'm still considering even using them. I'm just so used to having fret markers I think not having them would screw with me

Yeah, I imagine it would take some getting used to but it wouldn't be too bad since you would have side markers too.

I'm still waiting for someone to make boron carbide frets. Would look awesome, and I imagine nobody would ever wear those out.

That would be freaking awesome. Is boron carbide expensive to produce?

 

[BobbyBaja]

Here's how the heel turned out thus far, it's still being worked on.

He also radiused the neck, which he's like 90% done with, and I have to say, the neck feels perfect. He nailed exactly what I wanted.
No pictures of that, but he also finished radiusing the fretboard.

Here's the guitar I'm salvaging parts and hardware for. It's an Agile Hornet 727. It's past owner is on these forums, his username is Severance if any of you recognize that. The guitar had a fatal accident, death by bad guitar wall hanger. The right wing has a huge crack in it, the fall messed up the neck big time.

(Ps, that's radioactive green duct tape, not actual paint).

 

[Levi79]

Looks good dude.