I don’t think I’ve ever asked a Master Builder at Fender - or indeed any other luthier - whether, after years of making guitars, they still get excited about the prospect of the outcome. I can honestly say, even though I built my first electric guitar back in the early 70s, the excitement is still there. The temptation to throw it all together bish, bash, bosh Jamie Oliver-style is very strong, but even with a basic build like this vintage-style ‘T’, I’m reminded by previous cock-ups to take my time.
In our last issue I’d prepared the neck and body, which boded well - the apparent quality of both parts is extremely high. With my aim to simply evaluate the kit, I’d left behind thoughts of a posh sprayed or reliced finish and I’d applied a quick (and reversible) sealing finish: oil/wax to the neck and a thin French polish to the body. It’s time to start the assembly.