ShortScale.org

So I'm taking the "Industrial Woodworking Technician" course at the
college around here and have access to machines and teachers with know-how.

My question is, what are the most basic steps/tips for cutting... let's say, a telecaster body?
Should I grab my current telecaster, throw it on some plywood and make a template?
or should I find a slab of wood, trace it on there and then bandsaw it?
(It makes sense to make a template so you can reuse it if all goes well... I think)

What are some tricky parts when it comes to cutting a body?

I'd say cut out the body with a router, much easier and better for fiddly neck pocket parts.

slap your tele body on some ply wood, make a template.
then trace that template on some wood, band saw the design,
then attach the template and use a router.
the trickiest part is the end grain, if you are not careful you will get some "tear out"
basically it will shoot wood across the room.