PGK Tele Kit Build Thread

[syscokid]

Tools for rolling the fingerboard edge's

Cabinet Scraper, 6" Long, .80 mm Thick

6" Burnisher

I definitely like the cabinet scraper idea. Not too much money for what looks like a very useful tool.

I rolled the edges on my '98 Fender American Std. Strat's fret board by using the round edge of a screwdriver and pressing and sliding against the edges which turned out pretty good.


;>)/

I used that technique to burnish the fretboard edges on my '02 SG Special Faded. But, it created a slight scalloping effect between the frets. I had to follow up by sanding down the fret ends including the tangs, and then polishing the fret ends again. It turned out OK, but still nothing like a the rolled fretboard edges that came with my Fender, G&L, and Music Man guitars. I wish I could see how those manufacturers do their rolling, at the factory.

 

[syscokid]

Allow me to blast ya'll with more pics...

I used thin strips of 400, then 800, across the edges and parallel with the edges and fret ends:



Hopefully ya'll can see the difference. This pic shows the treble side of the neck with the edges rolled:



Bass side with unmolested edges:



Remember the the pic on post #11 that shows the file marks on the frets and in dire need of polishing? Check this out:



I used 400 to get the file marks to disappear. Then moved up to 800. Then scrubbed them with 0000 steel wool. And final polish was done with this stuff that's called "Magic Cloth", that doesn't exist anymore. I think it's the same stuff as Gorgomyte, which is still widely available.

Two more pics:






After today, any more progress is going to happen real slow. I won't begin the finish process till I get all the hardware, which I have not order yet. Now I'm thinking some stainless steel mayhem from Callahan Guitars ( Callaham Vintage Guitars and Parts (Home) ).

 

[Mr Grumpy]

Going well; this is gonna be a spectacular guitar.

 

[syscokid]

Going well; this is gonna be a spectacular guitar.

As long as I can properly line up the neck and perfectly mark the pilot holes of the neck's heel, then I'll guarantee you that it will at least sound and play "spectacular"! I can't guarantee the finish, though...

 

[chilipeppermaniac]

Easy to get Tele gas from bro Sysco's guitar here.

 

[67plexi]

Best Sounding Bridge-plates on Earth

 

[syscokid]

Best Sounding Bridge-plates on Earth

Thanks. Glendale Guitars products are even more botiki than Callaham Guitars.

 

[BlackSG91]

You sure have a nice and neat workshop area...something I lack at the moment. I hope your project works out well. It seems like you know what you're doing.


;>)/

 

[syscokid]

You sure have a nice and neat workshop area...something I lack at the moment. I hope your project works out well. It seems like you know what you're doing.


;>)/

Muchas gracias Señor Negro. I only know what I'm doing only after learning what not to do...

 

[gasket]

Late to this thread, that's a good looking kit, will take time later today to read every word and follow from now on.

 

[syscokid]

BREAKING NEWS...

HARDWARE PORN...

$388 worth of Callaham Guitar hardware. Mostly stainless steel:




Stainless steel plate with brass saddles:







These guys do a really nice job. Too bad I'm going to rewire this:






Stainless steel, stainless steel, stainless steel...:






Tomorrow I'll check if all this metal jives with the wood...

 

[eSGEe]

nice.........very ncie

 

[Mr Grumpy]

Top-end bit and pieces; this build is gonna be excellent.

 

[67plexi]

This Esquire has a cool paint job. I love my Esquire's Leo Fender's first electric 6 string guitar.

 

[Inspector #20]

I definitely like the cabinet scraper idea. Not too much money for what looks like a very useful tool.


I used that technique to burnish the fretboard edges on my '02 SG Special Faded. But, it created a slight scalloping effect between the frets. I had to follow up by sanding down the fret ends including the tangs, and then polishing the fret ends again. It turned out OK, but still nothing like a the rolled fretboard edges that came with my Fender, G&L, and Music Man guitars. I wish I could see how those manufacturers do their rolling, at the factory.

On the guitars i put together here in my little shop area, I started shaping the fret ends with a tiny brass hammer.

Then, RVA showed me a file that does the same thing and much easier and faster too.

 

[syscokid]

This Esquire has a cool paint job. I love my Esquire's Leo Fender's first electric 6 string guitar.

Yup... the Perfectamundo Tele. I'm pretty sure that Tele, like many of Billy Gibbons's other guitars, was built by John Bolin (Bolin Guitars).

 

[BlackSG91]

That's a bit of money right there for parts but I guess in the end it would be worth it. Hope your project turns out well Cincinnati Syscokid.


;>)/

 

[syscokid]

That's a bit of money right there for parts but I guess in the end it would be worth it. Hope your project turns out well Cincinnati Syscokid.


;>)/

I hope it does too. Using expensive and high quality parts doesn't necessarily mean the guitar is going to play good or sound good. I've been known to mess up a wet dream...

 

[syscokid]

Test-fit all the hardware and pre drilled all the necessary holes yesterday. Including the holes for the heel of the neck. I decided to assemble the tuners and bridge, and string up the guitar with minor tension. Then mark the holes for neck's heel only after I felt the neck was seated well into the pocket and aligned with the bridge.

This method worked for me in trying to get the tuners straight and drilling for the set screws:






Wish I had a drill press, but this turned out pretty good:



I just realized that I still need the screws and springs to install the pickup to the bridge:




The string ferrules just dropped right in. I guess I'm going to have apply a bit of glue to keep them secure. I thought I was going to have to press them in:




Since I wanted to string up the guitar properly, I needed to get the tuners installed. Therefore, I pressed in the tuner bushings. The bushings are not coming out for when I put a finish on the neck. This should be OK since I'm planning to Tru-Oil the whole neck. I'm not going to Tru-Oil the body, though:



Straight :

 

[eSGEe]

looking YUMMY