1971-72 Fender Telecaster Project

HNB · Post by **HNB** » Sat Mar 08, 2014 1:46 am

Resistors finally came in so I got the wiring done. Sorry for the odd shape from my cell phone camera.

DGNR8 · Post by **DGNR8** » Sat Mar 08, 2014 7:45 pm

How is an Esquire done?

For the life of me I can't find a photo that shows how all that stuff hooks together in an elegant way. Mine looks like I tied a bunch of coat hangers together. I asked on TDPRI and as always heard nothing but urinals flushing.

Cap 1 hooks to resistor, then to Cap 2, which then feeds to ground. But I haven't connected wire to wire before. I have seen them bundled into a tight stack of either Sprague drops, or PIO cylinders, but not in a way that I could follow the wires.

And that's not even getting into the Eldred Cocked Wah modâ€”whatever the fuck that is.

Josh · Post by **Josh** » Sun Mar 09, 2014 1:51 am

wasn't able to figure it out so it went back to being a Tele. lol

HNB · Post by **HNB** » Sun Mar 09, 2014 5:37 am

This is the diagram I used.

Wasn't hard. I did put wire coating over the capacitor and resistor wires to help make sure they are covered to avoid shorts.

Bridge position bypasses the tone pot. Middle is normal volume and tone, Neck position adds more bass and such with the cap and resistor. So far as far as I can tell the tone pot doesn't work in neck position. Just bassy tone.

HNB · Post by **HNB** » Wed Apr 09, 2014 3:49 am

Neck came in. Tinted satin. I really dig it, except it is a little too big for the pocket. Now I have to figure out what to do. Easiest option would be to take a little from the pocket. Some would say neck, but it would take the tinted finish off. Seems really close. Thoughts? It is a refinished body and it has that middle pickup rout anyways. Might as well take a little from the pocket?

NickD · Post by **NickD** » Wed Apr 09, 2014 11:56 am

The general advice tends to be sand whichever is the cheapest.

HNB · Post by **HNB** » Wed Apr 16, 2014 3:15 am

I was working on my vintage Jag and used it to check the pocket. It was too tight for that neck as well, so I decided to take out the tiny bit needed from the pocket to get the neck to fit. Looking good! Once I have my decal, I can do the rest of the assembly.

IMG_6580 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

IMG_6581 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

IMG_6582 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

IMG_6584 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

IMG_6585 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

cur · Post by **cur** » Wed Apr 16, 2014 4:29 am

That looks great.

HNB · Post by **HNB** » Fri Apr 25, 2014 1:02 am

Neck progress! Looking cool. Tomorrow I can spray some clear on it.

IMG_6608 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

IMG_6609 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

taylornutt · Post by **taylornutt** » Fri Apr 25, 2014 1:55 pm

Are you going to clear coat over the decal?

I think you made the right call making the pocket bigger. Looks fantastic.

HNB · Post by **HNB** » Fri Apr 25, 2014 3:04 pm

Thanks! I plan on doing a thin layer of clear over it to help protect the decal. Not enough to bury it in clear, just a layer to help keep it from peeling off. Then I will use some steel wool to knock the shine off and polish to give it a satin look like the rest of the neck. Trying to decide if I should use my Deft nitro clear or my acrylic clear. I am worried the Deft nitro would mess with the nitro Warmoth used.

othomas2 · Post by **othomas2** » Fri Apr 25, 2014 11:01 pm

Damn, that Esquire is lovely. It's just the guitar I've been after.

HNB · Post by **HNB** » Sat Apr 26, 2014 2:39 am

Thanks!

I put the first light coat of clear nitro on it. I only taped off the fretboard. I didn't do around the headstock so it should (hopefully) be easier to feather and blend.

IMG_6621 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

HNB · Post by **HNB** » Thu May 01, 2014 2:00 am

Got the tape off. I will let it cure for a few more weeks before I mess with it since it is nitro and I want it totally cured before I drill.

IMG_6654 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

IMG_6655 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

IMG_6656 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

impmann · Post by **impmann** » Thu May 01, 2014 2:37 pm

Very nice.

I'm surprised you needed to adjust the pocket... my '72 Telecaster's original neck bit the dust courtesy of a low lighting gantry and an ill-advised rock n roll move at the end of Teenage Kicks one night and so has been replaced with an Allparts one. This slotted in an was a better fit than the original - and played nicer too, if I'm honest. Just shows that Fender tolerances weren't *that* accurate.

HNB · Post by **HNB** » Thu May 01, 2014 3:05 pm

Totally. I am pretty positive the neck pocket was on the smaller size since another actual vintage neck also wouldn't fit. I hate waiting on curing time, but I know from rushing in the past that you kind of have to just let it sit and dry.

HNB · Post by **HNB** » Sun May 04, 2014 10:40 pm

Wetsanded and polished the headstock today. Looks pretty good! I will do all the drilling some other day. Haven't felt well today and don't want to rush the work.

IMG_6794 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

IMG_6795 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

IMG_6796 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

IMG_6797 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

HNB · Post by **HNB** » Wed May 14, 2014 2:24 am

Tuners installed. I found out the neck mounting screws I had are too big so I ordered some different ones. Once those arrive, I will get the neck attached.

IMG_6880 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

IMG_6878 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

NickD · Post by **NickD** » Wed May 14, 2014 11:44 am

It's looking really good.

jculpjr · Post by **jculpjr** » Wed May 14, 2014 11:54 am

NickD wrote:It's looking really good.