It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 10:48 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 20 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Go to page 1, 2  Next
Author Message
Post subject: My latest build: The Rocket
Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 7:23 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Thu May 19, 2011 9:10 am
Posts: 17
Location: Portland, Maine
The Rocket: a little bit vintage, a little bit modern...

Image

The Telecaster always strikes me as the '32 Ford of the guitar world: versatile, simple, easy to work on, and almost infinitely modifiable. A hot rod waiting to happen! And who doesn't love a candy apple red hot rod?

The main inspirations for this project were several Fender Custom Shop models in CAR that had great classic 60's looks. I also wanted to update some aspects to make it a little better match for a gigging player doing covers in small bars (my usual venue when I do play out). Pickup choice was key here, along with some hardware changes here and there. A very satisfying personal project that confirms what many of you already know; once you start building it's hard to stop! Photos & graphics are just extra fun!

Body - Pine, a little thinner than a standard Telecaster. Tone seems a bit mellower than ash although I haven't done a true side-by-side comparison. This was my first experiment with a lacquer finish and I went with Duplicolor Metal Specks Retro Red over B-I-N primer and Duplicolor Clear Lacquer clear coat. All rattle cans and done outside during a pretty mild winter for Maine but well below the manufacturer recommended temperatures. I'm much more confident with brush-on & wipe-on furniture finishing techniques and I'm not sure I'm quite onboard with the automotive-type routine yet. A learning experience to say the least!

Neck - Soft "V" maple neck & fingerboard with heel truss rod adjustment, medium tall frets, and 7.25" radius. Finished with Tru-Oil over amber shellac. Tusq nut, which I like a lot and found very easy to work with. Back of the neck was scraped almost bare and polished with #0000 steel wool - smooth! A really nice playable neck. Secured with stainless bolts going into threaded steel inserts for a nice tight fit while allowing easy removal for adjustments or travel.

Tuners - In keeping with the overall vintage style of this instrument I used nickel Gotoh vintage-style tuners. They feel a little better than the Klusons I've used before.

Pickups - My biggest divergence from vintage - Dimarzio Area Hot T bridge and Minibucker neck. First time using these pickups and I'm really impressed with the great tones and wide versatility. From Tele twang to jazz box mellow with sweet funk, blues, and rock along the way. Very quiet even in close proximity to fluorescents and other noise sources.Very happy with this combo.

Controls - Standard CRL 3-way switching. CTS pots: 250K volume, 250k tone with Greasebucket tone circuit. Some people prefer a standard tone circuit but I like how the Greasebucket preserve mids which helps if you favor high gain or use dirt pedals. Switchcraft output jack. Les Paul-style square jack plate - rock solid and any type of straight, angled, fat or skinny plug will fit solidly.

Bridge - Vintage-style stamped steel bridge plate in nickel with Wilkinson-type compensated saddles. Brass on the E-B, G-D strings and steel for the E-A to give the bass a little extra bite.

Knobs - Medium domed chrome plated brass with medium knurling.

Pickguard - Three-ply parchment; warms things up a little compared to stark white.

Hardware - Chrome and nickel throughout except for the stainless neck plate & neck bolts.

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: My latest build: The Rocket
Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 11:22 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2009 3:52 pm
Posts: 2005
Looks great!

Where are the body and neck from? Homemade or purchased or salvaged?

I have Dimarzios in my strat. Very nice pups. The "Area" Series are very quiet.

Any issues with the painting even in under-temperature environment?

_________________
-T

"You can't spend what you ain't got, you can't lose what you ain't never had" ~ McKinley Morganfield


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: My latest build: The Rocket
Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 7:15 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Thu May 19, 2011 9:10 am
Posts: 17
Location: Portland, Maine
Thanks, I really like the Area T pickups, too.

Red Dirt body and AllParts neck.

Spraying was not much of an issue. Did pretty careful surface prep and kept each coat on the light side so no drips or runs. Wet sanding is a pretty tedious process and I'm not sure I spent as much time as I could have there. Didn't eliminate every low spot but I was more concerned with not sanding through the color layer, especially on the edges. Not a perfect mirror surface but I'm happy enough with the results for my first try.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: My latest build: The Rocket
Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 7:35 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Fri Nov 09, 2007 6:25 pm
Posts: 693
Location: High on a Mountain Top
Very Nice. I think you made a great choice of componets. I like to "built to go" Aspect


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: My latest build: The Rocket
Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 8:06 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Thu May 19, 2011 9:10 am
Posts: 17
Location: Portland, Maine
Thanks! I'm not really interested in creating replicas so I pick out parts to improve performance rather than for authenticity. Made to be played!


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: My latest build: The Rocket
Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 8:34 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sat Jan 24, 2009 12:05 am
Posts: 1400
Location: Australia
Yeah that's nice.

_________________
_______________________________________
Image
MIM Std Tele, MIM HSS Strat, Homemade Mongrel Tele, Blues Jr, Champ600, coupla pedals...sweeeet!


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: My latest build: The Rocket
Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 9:42 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Thu Dec 31, 2009 10:34 pm
Posts: 10760
Location: Athens, Greece
Kinda sort of a hot-rodded american vintage 52 reissue with some cool twists on the original design. :)


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: My latest build: The Rocket
Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 4:01 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Thu May 19, 2011 9:10 am
Posts: 17
Location: Portland, Maine
Thanks! Yeah, it's definitely a design incorporating bits from a few favorite guitars.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: My latest build: The Rocket
Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 4:54 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 4:54 am
Posts: 2573
Location: Laurel, MD
Great looking guitar.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: My latest build: The Rocket
Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 1:48 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Thu Dec 31, 2009 10:34 pm
Posts: 10760
Location: Athens, Greece
I guess you've done a nice intrepretation of the CS Cabronita Special as pictured on your personal avatar.

Hombre, did you also make basses? I really liked that cool lookin' Porrazo P-Bass from the Fender Custom Shop. Make it a two pickup version with dual concentric knobs!

Image


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: My latest build: The Rocket
Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 2:17 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Thu May 19, 2011 9:10 am
Posts: 17
Location: Portland, Maine
Thanks but I stick to what I know - guitars. That is one cool looking bass, though!


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: My latest build: The Rocket
Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 5:25 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Thu Dec 31, 2009 10:34 pm
Posts: 10760
Location: Athens, Greece
A Mattos bass would be very cool as an idea, though.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: My latest build: The Rocket
Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 6:13 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Thu May 19, 2011 9:10 am
Posts: 17
Location: Portland, Maine
I am thinking about it! Have some local bass players who have asked, too so I guess I could get some tips on the design. So much to make, so little time...


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: My latest build: The Rocket
Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 6:54 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Wed Feb 02, 2011 7:03 am
Posts: 784
Location: Switzerland, Europe
markmattos wrote:
Neck - Soft "V" maple neck & fingerboard with heel truss rod adjustment


Are you sure? Look like headstock access from the pics.

Cheers

David

_________________
"Humans think they are smarter than dolphins because we build cars and buildings and start wars etc...and all that dolphins do is swim in the water, eat fish and play around. Dolphins believe that they are smarter for exactly the same reasons."


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: My latest build: The Rocket
Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 7:14 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Thu May 19, 2011 9:10 am
Posts: 17
Location: Portland, Maine
Hmm... yeah, I'm sure! :)

If you look at the photo of the headstock you can see the solid walnut plug that fills the hole where the truss rod was installed. It's in the same location as the access hole that would be on a neck with the truss rod adjustment at the headstock end.


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 20 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Go to page 1, 2  Next

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: