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Christmas Tele-Like Creation
http://w-ww.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10123&t=30457		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  Mike Dotson [ Fri Dec 24, 2010 10:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Christmas Tele-Like Creation
Recently I bought out a guy getting out of the electric business and along with the tools and stuff got an alder Jagstang sort of body and a Strat neck to fit it. After a little reshaping of both and some budget Tele parts from azguitarparts.com I came up with this for my daughter.

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She helped design the pickguard and I dusted off some veeery dusty leather skilz to tool it up.
The finish is an automotive type catalyzed poly. The sunburst is a little rough as my jamb gun chose to act up but I really like the clear. Her skin eats nitro for breakfast so she needed a tougher finish. This stuff is pretty easy to use, goes on well and cures in a day or so instead of weeks. Quite a bit more work to buff out though, I'll have to get some coarser grades of Menzerna.
Author:  Mike Baker [ Sat Dec 25, 2010 12:06 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Christmas Tele-Like Creation
Hey, that's sweet! Congratulations on a job done well!
Merry Christmas!
Author:  turmite [ Sat Dec 25, 2010 12:09 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Christmas Tele-Like Creation
Hi Mike,

I saw this on the Tele forum but did not have time to post. Beautiful work and I love the leather work. I too use the automotive clear and for solid body guitars, I don't think there is anything better. I will say though, that you may think the finish is cured in a couple of days, but it too takes time to fully cure. I made the mistake of not filling the grain on a crotch walnut top on the first guitar I built, and the finish was spectular if I do say so my self.... eek , but after a couple of months, I noticed the finish was shrinking into the filled grain leaving a little texture.

How did you get the scroll work for the leather?

Mike
Author:  Mike Dotson [ Sat Dec 25, 2010 12:55 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Christmas Tele-Like Creation
Thanks for the tip on the finish. I know it doesn't fully cure right away because even a week later when I sanded it I could smell the solvent. I have a flamed maple neck I sprayed at the same time and before doing the final level and buff I'm letting it sit for a few weeks while I finish the other body.

The designs and lettering in the leather was done with a swivel knife and various stamps. I used to do holsters and belts so I have a pretty complete tool set. Just haven't used them in years.

PS, is everybody here named Mike? :mrgreen:
Author:  Mike Baker [ Sat Dec 25, 2010 2:04 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Christmas Tele-Like Creation
Mike Dotson wrote:
PS, is everybody here named Mike? :mrgreen:


LOL! Everybody in this thread, at least. Mike is pretty much the most common male name around. I don't know about the rest of you, but I've spent most of my life answering to my last name instead of my first, because there's always a couple of other Mikes around. It was the only way to differentiate between us.
Author:  Mike Dotson [ Sat Dec 25, 2010 8:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Christmas Tele-Like Creation
My folks picked Mike because they didn't know anyone that had used the name, and it turned out to be the most popular name of 1966. I grew up as 'Mike D' in school and there were usually 2 to 3 others in any particular class.
My long time buddy and bandmate is named Mike and at one time we had a drummer named Mike too. Crazy.
Author:  Ken McKay [ Mon Dec 27, 2010 12:31 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Christmas Tele-Like Creation
Pure class! Great job Mike.
Author:  peters instruments [ Mon Dec 27, 2010 10:29 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Christmas Tele-Like Creation
i really dig that guitar, i like the whole package, the body shape, the tooled leather, the contours and horns... its all good. love it.
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