My Latest Build: Hello Alligator!

[pauldo]

Do it.

[David Houck]

Congrats!

[edwin]

Twenty minutes after I listed it on reverb I received a pretty good offer.  While I was considering it, about 1/2 hour after posting, someone else bought it for full price!  I'm thinking maybe I should get some brass channel and start making bridges.

Bill, tgo

Definitely!

[sonicus]

Most Exemplary,  indeed !

[paulman]

You should make some Hello Alligator lunch boxes, ha.

Reverb is so tricky.  Sometimes it'll be an offer that you pass on and it never sells, or your situation happens. 

Make custom footman loops!  Just kidding....

[lbpesq]

Well, with the above encouragement, I’ve ordered some extruded brass channel, bar stock, screws and nuts.   I hope to have my first home-built bridge before the end of the year.   I’ll have to think about other “Hello Alligator” merch.  lol!

Bill, tgo

[Cabbage]

Can I ask how you did the brass string tree piece? Were you able to purchase one? Or did you fabricate it! Great work BTW!

[lbpesq]

Hi Cabbage.  Thanks for the kind words and welcome to the club.   I assume you are referring to the bar that goes across the E, A, D, and G strings?  It’s a brass Footman Loop.   I had to modify it a little to widen the inside just a touch. 

 Bill, tgo

[Cabbage]

Bill--
thanks for that! Ive been searching for how I could source that piece! I'm working on an Alligator now, first guitar build of any kind so any info helps. Thanks again!

[lbpesq]

A worthy challenge for a first build.   I’ll be glad to answer any questions and maybe save you some of the dead ends I went down.  What are you using for the bridge?  Pickups?

Bill, tgo

[Cabbage]

Bill-
I will most likely hit you up with more questions- I keep a set of your photos in my shop for reference, along with some of real alligator from the last auction.
For PUs I'm using some 57/62 reissues.
for the Bridge, I'm working with a machinist who has made them before. still waiting on that so we will see...
Im using some old brass door kickplates to fab the pickguard extension, output jack cover and a fake trem cavity cover (using a hardtail body)-

One question- For the wood piece that acts as a lifter for tail piece I believe? Is that totally flat or does it have a slight bevel? Some pictures of original look light there is a slight angle? Also Im using a Mahogany scrap, Do you see any issues there? I think the original was rosewood but not much of that kicking around. What did you use?

im still in the gathering phase, so I might post some pics once I get going.- Thanks again- It was your photos and story of your build that got me inspired!!

[cozmik_cowboy]

A worthy challenge for a first build.   I’ll be glad to answer any questions and maybe save you some of the dead ends I went down.  What are you using for the bridge?  Pickups?

Bill, tgo

But - I thought a Dead end was the whole point of the exercise......

Peter (who is now ducking)

[lbpesq]

“Bill-
I will most likely hit you up with more questions- I keep a set of your photos in my shop for reference, along with some of real alligator from the last auction.  For PUs I'm using some 57/62 reissues.”


Alligator was early 1955.  At the time, Fender was using Alnico 3 magnets.  The 57/62 pickups used Alnico 5.  I wound my own.


    *******

“for the Bridge, I'm working with a machinist who has made them before. still waiting on that so we will see...  Im using some old brass door kickplates to fab the pickguard extension, output jack cover and a fake trem cavity cover (using a hardtail body)-“

The trem cavity cover on Alligator is wood.   I made it from scratch.  I also make the bridge myself.  Your machinist should be able to do one for you.


    *******

“One question- For the wood piece that acts as a lifter for tail piece I believe? Is that totally flat or does it have a slight bevel? Some pictures of original look light there is a slight angle? Also Im using a Mahogany scrap, Do you see any issues there? I think the original was rosewood but not much of that kicking around. What did you use?”

I believe the initial version of Alligator had the bridge mounted on top of the wood.   The problem I discovered when I attempted this is that it places the bridge quite high in relation to the neck, resulting in very high action.  Jerry liked his action quite high, but I suspect Alligator could not be set up with low action.   I know of at least one builder that dealt with this by shimming the neck to sit higher in the pocket.   The final incarnation of Alligator had a sustain block added below the bridge.  It appears the wood riser was cut back to just meet the bridge instead of running beneath it.   I cut the wood back on mine.  My next one, in progress, will sport the sustain block.   Also, I bevelled the edge of the wood riser where it meets the bridge to allow better access to the bridge saddle adjustment screws.  I got the wood/brass tailpiece from Rusch guitars.  I believe he uses Cocobolo.


     *********

“i’m still in the gathering phase, so I might post some pics once I get going.- Thanks again- It was your photos and story of your build that got me inspired!!”

Thanks!
 
   ********

Peter:  ROTFLMAO!

Bill, tgo

[Cabbage]

Bill-
Thank You for the info- This is huge!

[lbpesq]

Cabbage, please feel free to contact me directly by email.  Just click on the little envelope to the left, under my avatar.  I suspect the two of us could really geek out on this stuff.   Maybe a little more than we might want to impose on everyone else!  Lol!

Bill, tgo