String thru body drilling

[Anfontan]

After Arvo's thread about the new mod guitar, I sent him some information about string though body drilling I got from my latest guitar mods. He suggested I should post it so here's the info-

I saw Apl's thread about the new "ready to hot rod" guitar, its always fun to add features that you feel should have been there, or that make them very versatile.
I did a few string through Teles lately and thought I'd send a few pictures of what worked for me. I got my brother in law to help me with his drill press-four hands is much better to steady the guitar body!

Here are the bridge holes from the top:
https://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l161/Anfontan/BridgeHoles-1.jpg

Here are the ferrule holes and the drill bit sizes:
https://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l161/Anfontan/FerruleHoles-1.jpg

Heres my original top loading Tele thats been changed to thru-body-I used a dremel tool to smooth out the edges so the strings wouldn't get cut:
https://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l161/Anfontan/RedTele-Bridgeholes-2.jpg

This is a shot of the finished projects-the white one is a kit I assembled and painted: the red one was one I got for a bargain price and has a great neck, the string thru really makes it sustain great!
Both have a DiMarzio Chopper-T pickup in the bridge position and they growl, both are solid wood too-white is basswood; red is alder
https://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l161/Anfontan/2Teles-1.jpg

 

[punkin]

COOL!

I've never heard of that mod being done before. Nice and clean looking. What motivated you to do this? Is there a tonal or sustain improvement by doing this?

Nice work.

 

[true-eurt]

Those are beauties Tony !! It would be hard to pick a favourite on looks. I remember you talking and showing some picks before. Is that snow girl ? My memory is bad.

How long did the white tele kit take to finish...appx hours?

What was the most taxing of task?

 

[cannabis]

sorry to be a dunce

but it looks to me like they're strung normally



what is the point of the thru body holes

if you're not using them?

 

[Anfontan]

sorry to be a dunce

but it looks to me like they're strung normally



what is the point of the thru body holes

if you're not using them?

The holes for the ferrules were drilled, but the ferrules themselves were on back order, I put the strings back on the top loading bridge to adjust the bridge saddles and intonation after removing it to drill the holes. They have been thru the body now for some time and the added sustain was well worth the work involved.
Okay-updated picture of bridge-

 

[Rokket]

Damn, I can't get the pics to load!

I will try on a different pc later. I really wanted to see this...

 

[Anfontan]

COOL!

I've never heard of that mod being done before. Nice and clean looking. What motivated you to do this? Is there a tonal or sustain improvement by doing this?

Nice work.

Hey Punkin, the white guitar had a bridge that could be used as a top loading or as a through body stringing, it was drilling them correctly thats the trick. Then red one was set up as top loading only so I took measurements from the other bridge to get the holes marked right. A center punch marked the metal after the bridge was removed and 6 holes were drilled.
The motivation is the fact that the through body offers better sound and sustain-the white guitar was done earlier this year and I took white and the red guitars both to a gig to do a shoot-out. Mainly when playing leads higher up the neck the thru body guitar had great sustain and clarity that the top loader didn't. The next day I decided to mod it as the white guitar was done.
The humbucker on them is the DiMarzio Chopper-T, it's output is I believe, 260 miliVolts, about what a PAF style humbucker has. It's coil splitting so in makes a simple Tele a much more versatile guitar and I don't have to wear a heavy Les Paul all night for a similar tone.

Tony

 

[Anfontan]

Those are beauties Tony !! It would be hard to pick a favourite on looks. I remember you talking and showing some picks before. Is that snow girl ? My memory is bad.

How long did the white tele kit take to finish...appx hours?

What was the most taxing of task?

Yes the white one is the Snow Girl, the red one is called Miss Scarlet

With the cutting the headstock to a Fenderish shape-it came with a rather rectangular shape, prepping it for painting, applying numerous coats, then putting a clear sealer coat over the body, I'd say it would spread out to 4 days to a week to get the finish to look good.
For just a clear coat it might be 3 or 4 days-if the wood grain is nice on the body, if it is, show that natural wood with a clear coat!

The Painting! Its tough on you're system to be exposed to the acrylic laquer-and I did the Gibson Paul at the same time as the white Tele. Be sure to have good ventilation and don't forget to give yourself plenty of breaks from the painting.

The reason I posted this was that I had a bit of a hard time finding the actual size of the through the body holes and the ferrule size holes, and I wanted anyone considering this mod to have easy access to this info....

True, I know you could do this, think of what you want to do, and PM me with any more questions. Tony

 

[punkin]

Nice!

 

[true-eurt]

Yes the white one is the Snow Girl, the red one is called Miss Scarlet

With the cutting the headstock to a Fenderish shape-it came with a rather rectangular shape, prepping it for painting, applying numerous coats, then putting a clear sealer coat over the body, I'd say it would spread out to 4 days to a week to get the finish to look good.
For just a clear coat it might be 3 or 4 days-if the wood grain is nice on the body, if it is, show that natural wood with a clear coat!

The Painting! Its tough on you're system to be exposed to the acrylic laquer-and I did the Gibson Paul at the same time as the white Tele. Be sure to have good ventilation and don't forget to give yourself plenty of breaks from the painting.

The reason I posted this was that I had a bit of a hard time finding the actual size of the through the body holes and the ferrule size holes, and I wanted anyone considering this mod to have easy access to this info....

True, I know you could do this, think of what you want to do, and PM me with any more questions. Tony

Ahhhhhh...Miss Scarlet. Of course !!! They are very Hot gals...best to keep watch on them...specially if that r00 p00 b0y is around!!

Tony, I love to see the woodgrains!! I also like a color wash. One of my favorites though, is what I call Cherry-Chocolate or Chocolate-Cherry burst(either way) with some wood grain showing in the center.

I pretty much have a spot for painting in the basement...problem is, my mom, may not be able to handle the smell though. I will find a place though.

Thanks for the info...and hey, why not show off the ladies eh?

I will most likely drive you nutz with questions...but will do so anyway, cause I am like that.

True

 

[Anfontan]

Ahhhhhh...Miss Scarlet. Of course !!! They are very Hot gals...best to keep watch on them...specially if that r00 p00 b0y is around!!


Thanks for the info...and hey, why not show off the ladies eh?

I will most likely drive you nutz with questions...but will do so anyway, cause I am like that.

True

Ha Ha...I know how you are-so nothing will surprise me at all~

Oh, and the twins are now triplets!

Clear coat finish.

 

[true-eurt]

Ha Ha...I know how you are-so nothing will surprise me at all~

Oh, and the twins are now triplets!

Clear coat finish.

Ohhhhhhhhhhh.....that is one purty lady Tony...name? Naked Lady?

 

[Anfontan]

Ohhhhhhhhhhh.....that is one purty lady Tony...name? Naked Lady?

Probably something along those lines-I better not dare to ask Gorty's suggestion~

 

[punkin]

Um...get a room?

 

[true-eurt]

Probably something along those lines-I better not dare to ask Gorty's suggestion~

Yah, he will be wanting to name her, Nurtzgirl or something....

 

[true-eurt]

Um...get a room?

For what...axe passion?

 

[Anfontan]

Yah, he will be wanting to name her, Nurtzgirl or something....

That would be tame for Gortman!

 

[true-eurt]

That would be tame for Gortman!

True !!!!

 

[true-eurt]

Hey Tony, are you going to post your 'Mod' to Miss Scarlett?

I do hope you will.