Alright, another guitar build thread. I will be following this one through to the end. Very interesting to follow your processes Spacey.

spacey
I have supplied a booklet, that I think is very nice, to every person that I've built for.
 

The book was simply the icing on the cake for me Mike.
 
Although I kept all the photos you sent me as Ruby was being created, the book made everything even more special to me.
 
A touch of class from a genuinely classy guy
 
 

SteveStrummerUK

spacey
I have supplied a booklet, that I think is very nice, to every person that I've built for.
 

The book was simply the icing on the cake for me Mike.
 
Although I kept all the photos you sent me as Ruby was being created, the book made everything even more special to me.
 
A touch of class from a genuinely classy guy
 
 

SteveStrummerUK

spacey
I have supplied a booklet, that I think is very nice, to every person that I've built for.
 

The book was simply the icing on the cake for me Mike.
 
Although I kept all the photos you sent me as Ruby was being created, the book made everything even more special to me.
 
A touch of class from a genuinely classy guy
 
 

Spacey is a classy guy, I'm just a glassy eye.

Been working all day and find this...man I'm almost embarrassed.
I appreciate the kind words.
 
Tony wants a "tummy" relief so I carved it out and did clean-up sanding- prep to glue neck on.
Just got it glued so tomorrow I'll post a pic or two.
Yes I could have easily made it a bolt on but I like to carve the neck into the body. Just feels
better playing and it does look good IMO.
 
 
 
 
 

Got the neck on so it was do all finishing prep work before carving neck profile.
So I located the bridge and the drilled all mounting holes. I used one hole to center
and then drilled the four mounting screw holes. The other extra hole is for the bridge
ground wire. (it runs to the bridge pup cavity to control from there)

Tip on Tele bridge pups;
The ground wire of coil is also connected to the pickup plate. If you make control modifications
a good thing to do is cut the small extended length of ground wire to the plate and solder a wire
from the plate to the control cavity and ground on pot.
 
I didn't have a Tele with relief to model after so I cut it the way I think it should be. I can do that? lol
If Tony doesn't like it I'll cut it deeper. No biggy.

 I also drilled the holes for the strap pins.  Now the only drilling left will be for the control cavity cover,
string tree(s) and the HB pickup mounting screws. I can do all of those at setup so now it's time
to carve out the neck profile.
 
 

 
 

She's going to be a beauty when she's done.

Nice tummy tuck.  That was the one thing I didn't like about the custom I sold to Space Cowboy.  It had a finished back so no tummy tuck.  My current and new one both have it - much more comfortable for us who used to have a six-pack and now have a pony-keg!

This is going to be gorgeous. I am dying to know what the finished color is going to be; something transparent I hope to show off that beautiful wood grain.

Oil finish Mike.
Very thin on the back of the neck and waxed.
 
Finally got my labels. Perfect timing as I finished carving the neck and
completed the finish ready for hardware.
Needs a few more coats on the head to cover label and then I'll put her together.
They did a wonderful job making them. Very clean and look like chrome metal.
 
 
 
Last post I was ready to carve so here's a shot of it. I'll do a final buff and if it needs a light coat I'll apply
and then wax it.

 
I also got a postal scale so here's a shot of weight without hardware and a pretty good idea of how the
top looks. The color seems to be very close although the it really doesn't show the wonderful reflection.
I hope it's under or around 7.5 lbs when complete.
I should be playing it by next weekend and have it ready for Tony.