In any shop, there are tasks that need to be done just to keep the place running. Some are fun and others are less than glamorous. In the Dantzig shop, those jobs usually fall upon Anthony, our "Man Friday". Whether it's taking down a threatening tree, climbing a long ladder to change a light or disposing of a stray raccoon—Anthony is always ready to take one for the team.
Anthony is also a huge Pearl Jam fan, and Eddie Vedder is his man. He's always going on about Vedder's Telecaster, and that someday he's going to get one just like it. So, in appreciation of all that he brings to our little universe, I decided to build him a guitar.
While nobody was around, I got a body roughed out of a couple scraps of alder and fashioned a neck from some four-quarter maple. As I was doing this, it reminded me of something I'd said to Tom Wheeler which he quoted in his book The Stratocaster Chronicles, about how Leo Fender's genius was in how production friendly his designs are. I love the functionality of a bolt-on guitar, and its ease of manufacture was my ally in getting this project done quickly.
I never use grain filler on alder, so to start, I blew four good coats of nitro on the body and gave it overnight to dry before sanding it flat with 400p sandpaper.
I still like to use a solid rubber block for the top, back and sides although after years of doing this my hands are pretty shot. The orbital sander seems like cheating and you can't beat the block for flatness. Next step will be to mix up some butterscotch color and complete the neck. I've got a cool headstock shape that I want to try out, so that will be fun.
Wow, how do I get a job there?
Posted by: Kevin Madison | October 22, 2010 at 08:22 PM
is it going to have a maple fretboard? this sounds like my homegrown jewel, except she is swamp ash!
Posted by: Chromedog | October 22, 2010 at 08:45 PM