Guitar thread: Tele build

Shuie · 05:20 PM

This is the first guitar I've ever built from the ground up. Assembled is probably a better term. With the exception of the body, these are all licensed Fender parts that can be bought off the shelf. From ~10ft, its a reasonably accurate '55-'58 Telecaster replica. Total damages are ~$600 so far and I've got 10hrs of time in it, mostly in the sanding and finish work. FWIW, this is cheaper than you can buy a Mexican '50s Classic for.

Unlike a real '55-'58 tele, the body is made of pine and weighs 3 lbs 7 oz by itself. Pine was only used on the very early prototype guitars and on some of the first blackguards. Fender never defined a spec for the wood, but Ash is the correct wood for a blonde or a blackguard and Alder would probably have been used on anything painted a solid color by Fender. Anyway, this body has all of the little nuances and identifying features from the routers and tooling that the '50s guitars would have.

I used a water based Minwax stain for the finish, sanded to 400 grit, and rubbed a few coats of truoil gunstock varnish on it to give it more of a pale yellow patina. Its not the correct nitrocellulose, but overall, I think the color is pretty close to what Fender was using on the blonde guitars back then. Its a good thin finish, it only cost about $20 total, and was all done by hand without spray equipment.

The hardware is mostly Allparts with a Fender bridge, vintage brass saddles, control plate, pots, and a cheap off the shelf duncan bridge pickup. Allparts licensed neck with '50s V profile, small frets, and 7.25" radius. The knobs are for a '75+ guitar, but everything else is as correct for a '55-'58 as you can get with after market parts. Its also wired like a '50s-'60s guitar, FWIW. I guess I should have wired it like an Esquire since I only have the bridge pickup right now.

I've never really played a tele for any length of time. I built this just to noodle around with while I gather funds and decide if I really want a real vintage '50s or '60s guitar. It still needs a setup, but this is really a good piece of wood. Unplugged its just freaking loud and acoustic with a lot of upper midrange and treble. It vibrates like my '66 345 and it sustains a lot better than I expected. Its a little thin sounding, but I think thats the way pine is supposed to sound. This is going to be a really good guitar. Way better than any non vintage fender Ive ever played to date. Its going to be a lot of fun with a setup and the right pickups. Total weight is well under 7lbs also, so its a featherweight

Anyway, gratuitous pics:

Don Plumley · Don Plumley's Garage

Sweet.

Back when I was 15 I made a Strat copy from scratch (okay, except the neck). Still have it, should play it again one day....

Sonic dB · Sonic dB's Garage

Nice job with that build...it takes real care to build a quality guitar... kind of like rebuilding a porsche engine...

I have a tele deluxe plus from 92. They dont make them any more... it weighs a ton..more than any les paul..

Silveresrty911S · Silveresrty911S's Garage

Great work!
Sounds light, I've got a pre CBS 1964 Strat I've had for over 30 years and they aren't light. Fun working and playing on it.

Jim Richards · 12-17-2006, 01:12 PM

Very cool, Shuie. Vintage 3 saddle bridge. What pup(s) are you using? Are you leaving the neck pup out?

bigchillcar · bigchillcar's Garage

that's simply awesome, shuie. how many hours altogether did it take to make? can't believe that a first attempt guitar looks like that!

ryan

Shuie · 07:17 PM

Thanks, guys.

ryan, Ive probably got 15-20hrs in it, tops. Over 3/4 of the work I did was in the finish. Most of these parts can be bought easily, so its not like I did any real work in building it. Assembled is definitely a better description of what I did.

Jim, Wolfe is going to want to smack me for saying this, but its a cheap Duncan alnico 2 magnet '54 wannabe pickup. I think its called an 'STL-1', or something. The pickup is ass, but I just bought it to get the guitar up and running. I'll probably go back and wire it like an Esquire if I dont belly up to the bar and buy a vintage tele soon.

FWIW, I took some time to go back over everything this weekend and it just got better. I readjusted the bridge saddles, tweaked the tension on the neck, and filed the nut down so that it fits a little better. It still needs a pro setup and a fret dress, but this guitar is crazy good. And sooooo light. I love it. Im on the road right now, but I visted a local Guitar Center tonight and played a new Custom Shop Nocaster blackguard relic (US made, $2500+) and it wouldnt stand a chance next this guitar.

stuartj · 12-19-2006, 05:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sonic dB
Nice job with that build...it takes real care to build a quality guitar... kind of like rebuilding a porsche engine...

Ah nuts, Strats and Teles, bolt them together, none are worth more than $200…

Shuie- looks great. Much as vintage cream is my fave- with beautiful grain, I have to ask- why not butterscotch to show it off?

kach22i · kach22i's Garage

I picked up this link recently, I think from this forum.........something to strive for.

http://www.abyssguitars.com/

Shuie · 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by stuartj
Ah nuts, Strats and Teles, bolt them together, none are worth more than $200…

Shuie- looks great. Much as vintage cream is my fave- with beautiful grain, I have to ask- why not butterscotch to show it off?

I was going for a somewhat visually accurate '55-'58 replica. I think the butterscotch you are referring to is the yellow, right? Thats actually for a '51-'54, or blackguard guitar. The really accurate repro hardware for a blackguard replica, while attainable, is a lot more money and harder to source, so I just went ahead and tried for a '55-'58. There are a lot of small details on the '55+ guitars that make them easier to recreate, at least to point where they look period correct, with off the shelf stuff. I'll do a blackgaurd replica for my next one

bigchillcar · bigchillcar's Garage

do it, shu...

ryan

stomachmonkey · 12-20-2006, 07:20 AM

I have a bit of a collection. In it is an absolutely mint 60's Hagstrom II and a Hagstrom III in pieces. Don't know if you've ever seen or played Hagstroms. Swedish made

They have the thinnest necks with the lowest action I've ever seen. Plays really fast but I have trouble playing them because I have large hands for someone my size.

Both necks have new boards and I had jumbo frets put in.

Got them for a steal. Paid $25 for the III and traded a Pevey case for the other. They were kind of worthless back then but they have become minor collectors items now.

Anyway, thinking of putting the III together for my daughter. She is six and we just ordered her 1st real accoustic. Her mother will start her on lessons.

Pics of a Hagstrom II, I have the Sunburst in the middle.

bigchillcar · bigchillcar's Garage

sweet, stomach...how do they sound?

Victor · 12-20-2006, 04:33 PM

That's odd Shuie, I just finished building your Tele's cousin:

stuartj · 12-20-2006, 04:54 PM

Yngvie rules.

stuartj · 12-20-2006, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by stomachmonkey
I have a bit of a collection. In it is an absolutely mint 60's Hagstrom II and a Hagstrom III in pieces. Don't know if you've ever seen or played Hagstroms. Swedish made

I used to know a guy with Hagstrom Les Paul type design. This would date to the early 80's, quite different to the types you have there. It was a very good guitar, beautiflly made. I used to love borrowing it.

Victor · 12-20-2006, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by stuartj
I used to know a guy with Hagstrom Les Paul type design. This would date to the early 80's, quite different to the types you have there. It was a very good guitar, beautiflly made. I used to love borrowing it.

Perhaps oddly, Stuart - this is precisely the model favoured by Björn Ulvaeus of ABBA. I think they also custom made his famous axe with a body shaped like a star finished in a nice silver sparkle.

I know, I know - I read too many Guitar magazines. . .

stuartj · 12-20-2006, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Victor
Perhaps oddly, Stuart - this is precisely the model favoured by Björn Ulvaeus of ABBA. I think they also custom made his famous axe with a body shaped like a star finished in a nice silver sparkle.

I know, I know - I read too many Guitar magazines. . .

Bjorn- Possibly the greatest player Sweden ever produced. That other guy just wears leather pants and noddles.

Victor · 12-20-2006, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by stuartj
Bjorn- Possibly the greatest player Sweden ever produced. That other guy just wears leather pants and noddles.

Care to say that to his face?

stuartj · 06:06 PM

Unleash the fockin fury. What is he gonna do? Beat me do death with hair product?