Building a Telecaster (new pics/pic heavy)

shae · Post by **shae** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 6:27 am

So since I've moved out I sold off most of my gear including the Vox, several guitars and I was down to a barebones Larrivee acoustic. Time has come for me to start a project given that I've just got my tax moneys. I've ordered an alder body (4lbs 4oz) to be painted and should be finished in 3-4 weeks. I might purchase all my hardware from www.grguitars.com considering they've got Telecaster packages (relic'd hardware tooz!!1). And I've heard a lot of good stuff about Keystone Pickups (Bill Lawrence) and given the price ($60 USD for a pair!) I'm pretty much sold on them.

All that's left now is the neck. I've never done a decal before but I'm thinking of getting a neck and doing my own custom decal. But then again that screams cheese... so I might end up just getting a Fender Classic 50's neck because I loved the one on my Classic 50's tele. Any recommendations, ya'll?

I'll post pics of the project in the coming weeks. I'll also be purchasing a new (el-cheapo) soldering station and various tools as I'll be wiring this baby up myself. I've done a fair bit of electronics but was never compelled enough to buy my own soldering iron till now. I might also buy up a cheap BYOC project as my girlfriend can paint them which encourages more instrumentzz in the house =)

Anyway the body is this guys little brother:

Shite picture but you get the idea. Daphne blue, a little yellowed and a few carefully selected relicing techniques (which obviously won't be done by me

)

robroe · Post by **robroe** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 12:04 pm

this thing looks mega. you are rebuilding the tom petty superbowl tele.

<333333333333333

we ran like a 10 page topic about it on superbowl night back in january. i even made a banner somewhere. its been up on the site a couple times

shae · Post by **shae** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 12:34 pm

Sorry to get your hopes up dude but I'm totally going to buy a maple neck. I just prefer the feel and look of them over the rosewood. But besides that, it'll be almost identical. I never saw the thread/superbowl tho... (I don't have pay per view in my dorm room

).

I'm really happy to start my collection again. I've decided on the guitars I want based on prior experience/ownership. None of it will be done till I have my Tele tho!

Still need recommendations on the decal/neck situation. Should I buy an allparts and put on my own decal (if so, how?) or should I buy a Classic 50's neck (tho it'd be a considerable amount more...)

robroe · Post by **robroe** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 1:29 pm

just get a fender decal. they are easy to put on. you just soak them in warm water and they slide right off the paper and on to what you need to stick it too.

BUT DON'T FUCK IT UP CUZ THEY DON'T COME OFF

Justin J · Post by **Justin J** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 1:46 pm

the maple might look a little weird with a mint pickguard.

Post by **Mike** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 2:15 pm

Rosewood all the way on blue telecasters.

More Cowbell · Post by **More Cowbell** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 2:24 pm

maple necks are the only necks that should be put on any tele ever.

shae · Post by **shae** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 2:28 pm

My inspiration came from this...

eBay linkz

However minus the poxy pickguard and over the top relicing. But yeah, it's the basis to my project

Anyway I'll let you know how I go with the body as I'm getting it from MJCaster (eBay seller) and I'm sure someone will eventually use his services at one time or another so it should be good to see how it all pans out. I'll be ordering it tonight and he said the turnovers 3 weeks. I'll hopefully have the neck and the rest of the hardware by then too.

tribi9 · Post by **tribi9** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 12:45 am

robroe wrote:

I actually wasnt a fan of Teles until I watched the half-time show. I played one at the Store a few days later through a Vibro-king and was blown away.
I might make the Tom Petty tele my next project. I'm a sucker for Daphne/Sonic blue guitars.
I hope I can find a light weight body tho' cuz my old "72 deluxe weighed like fucking 27 pounds, or at least it felt like it did.

James · Post by **James** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 1:07 am

shae wrote:My inspiration came from this...

eBay linkz

However minus the poxy pickguard and over the top relicing. But yeah, it's the basis to my project
Anyway I'll let you know how I go with the body as I'm getting it from MJCaster (eBay seller) and I'm sure someone will eventually use his services at one time or another so it should be good to see how it all pans out. I'll be ordering it tonight and he said the turnovers 3 weeks. I'll hopefully have the neck and the rest of the hardware by then too.

ROLF @ the back of the neck. It's like they masked off part of it and hit it witha belt sander. Either that or it's 50 years of very consistently playing equally across the whole neck.

tribi9 · Post by **tribi9** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 1:18 am

I'd do that neck.. looks, really hot.

James · Post by **James** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 1:20 am

You're talking about that ebay link right? And you're for serious?

Reece · Post by **Reece** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 1:24 am

Looks like the neck has an armsock on.

Needs more rosewood.

tribi9 · Post by **tribi9** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 2:18 am

James wrote:You're talking about that ebay link right? And you're for serious?

Yes I'd give it to that neck up the ass...

James · Post by **James** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 2:18 am

It looks like it has been up someones ass. It's the worst neck relicing ive ever seen.

shae · Post by **shae** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 1:58 am

Hey guys I just bought this...

Finished $20 higher than I would have liked but the fact that I absolutely DUG these necks (Classic 50's Telecaster/Esquire necks... just hawt!) was well worth the extra cost. I can't wait to get the body and the neck out of the way. Paid for the body already but he said it'd take 3-4 weeks to complete the project. *crosses fingers it's not a rushed job*

shae · Post by **shae** » Tue Aug 05, 2008 4:41 pm

Well the bodies finished. The dude doesn't have a very flashy camera but I'm sure it looks ace. He was very highly recommended.

I'm getting an aged parchment pickguard and some old hardware. I'm really considering getting a 'cool rails' GFS pickup for the Bridge and have a Classic 60's neck pickup or something. I think that'd sound ace... but depending of course on whether or not the gents from Keystone/Bill Lawrence fame get back to me... for $65 their Telecaster T-Stone pickup set sounds VERY appealing (especially with the amount of positive feedback going around about 'em...)

Well this is coming along really nicely and I should be finished the project within 2 weeks. This is the final 'Hey I just boughtz...' post... I'll make a thread when I've got it all together and show you guys my attempt at building stuff. I might even buy a BYOC pedal and paint the box... I'm feeling creative now that my learnding is over for the year... (I now have an arts degree, hoo-/sarcasm-ray.)

Haze · Post by **Haze** » Tue Aug 05, 2008 5:29 pm

megacool.

Post by **Mike** » Tue Aug 05, 2008 7:18 pm

It's got dings and crap in it.

suede · Post by **suede** » Tue Aug 05, 2008 7:21 pm

Mike wrote:Rosewood all the way on blue telecasters.

can't find pics of mine...