Check this out!

http://www.tdpri.com/forum/attachments/telecaster-discussion-forum/9549d1205093566-tele-12-conversion-dscn09011065-jpg

http://www.tdpri.com/forum/attachments/telecaster-discussion-forum/9548d1205093459-tele-12-conversion-dscn08541032-jpg

Pretty cool bender telesavant has come up with....

Okay, telesavant... tell us about it! I'm all ears!

How is it made, what are the possibilities? how thick is it? how does it feel to play? etc etc etc..

I think it looks kinda like the first bender clarence played... kinda 'double thick'

that's a McVay, ain't it...?????....pretty kewl.....would try to snag one but Mrs bender-freak ain't wild about it.....naw, really...she wouldn't say much....

what I'm curious about is if it has a cover or if you just have the aluminum up against your body...

Telesavant said it only takes a few minutes to install.

really dunno bout a "cover" for it...i think what you see is all there is.....guess another tele body could be "routed" out and fit over this thing for a more "Clarence" look, but lordy lord, wouldn't it be heavy..??

that's a McVay, ain't it...?????....pretty kewl.....would try to snag one but Mrs bender-freak ain't wild about it.....naw, really...she wouldn't say much....


It's a Paul McEwen B Bender...right Telesavant?
http://pullstringsystems.com/_wsn/page2.html

I'm sure you could rig a cover for it...but that defeats the purpose of the non-invasive installation...but I think it looks great just the way it is..

Thanks Brian! that is good info.

i dont know......

It's a Paul McEwen B Bender...right Telesavant?
http://pullstringsystems.com/_wsn/page2.html

I'm sure you could rig a cover for it...but that defeats the purpose of the non-invasive installation...but I think it looks great just the way it is..


i stand corrected.....McVay and McEwen are the only two types of benders i don't have......yet....could happen, tho:roll:

Hello Gents; Yes, I take full responsibility for that contraption....(Way to much time on my hands).

Hope this info, answers some of your questions.

The Bender is made from 6061-T6 aluminum, which is easy to machine, and cut. It can be flush mounted (inset in the body) with no problem, but that too defeats the "non invasive" purpose, but some great benders invade, so I might offer it both ways. There is 1/2" between the plates, and the 2 plates are .080 thick. It feels similar to a Parsons/White in execution. Long or short throw...players choice.

I usually default to aprox. a 5/8" throw, at the lever tip, if no preference is specified, though I like a little longer swing.

No holes, no routing, 10 minute install

A single, double, or triple can be built.

I can add one , non invasively to an existing Parsons/White, or Glaser, for further possibilities.

I shoot an acrylic clear over the top plate, which it makes it as smooth as the guitar's back surface.

A cover can be made with a Tele body, but as Brian stated earlier, that also tends to defeat the non-invasive purpose.

The weight is aprox. 1.5 Lbs.

The possibilities are that most any bolt-on can have a non-invasive, strap-actuated bender, and any guitar period, can have a strap-actuated bender, as this can be mounted permanently on the back of most any guitar.

The possibilities are endless really.

Hello Gents; Yes, I take full responsibility for that contraption....(Way to much time on my hands).

Hope this info, answers some of your questions.

The Bender is made from 6061-T6 aluminum, which is easy to machine, and cut. It can be flush mounted (inset in the body) with no problem, but that too defeats the "non invasive" purpose, but some great benders invade, so I might offer it both ways. There is 1/2" between the plates, and the 2 plates are .080 thick. It feels similar to a Parsons/White in execution. Long or short throw...players choice.

I usually default to aprox. a 5/8" throw, at the lever tip, if no preference is specified, though I like a little longer swing.

No holes, no routing, 10 minute install

A single, double, or triple can be built.

I can add one , non invasively to an existing Parsons/White, or Glaser, for further possibilities.

I shoot an acrylic clear over the top plate, which it makes it as smooth as the guitar's back surface.

A cover can be made with a Tele body, but as Brian stated earlier, that also tends to defeat the non-invasive purpose.

The weight is aprox. 1.5 Lbs.

The possibilities are that most any bolt-on can have a non-invasive, strap-actuated bender, and any guitar period, can have a strap-actuated bender, as this can be mounted permanently on the back of most any guitar.

The possibilities are endless really.

Paul...Can I install one on a Gretsch Double Anniversary that already has a Bigsby B6 tremolo??...how about a Casino or Strat???

Hi Brian; If the backs of the guitars you asked about are flat, it should be relatively easy, be it permanent, or neckplate mount.

Strat...no problem, though the trem has to be blocked, and the b saddle re-tapped, and a larger brass intonation screw installed with a hole right through the center of it, for the string to travel through....very easy for a Strat.

I have often thought of mating a bender with a trem, be it Bigsby, or a Jag. type.....should be easy.......... as I can mount mine on just about anything.

Unfortunately the Gretsch and Casino are arch-tops so their backs are also not flat...although they are great guitars and would be very cool with strap actuated benders.

Very, very cool. I was in Palo Alto this morning and thought how cool it is to have guys keep working at it... making new stuff in a zillion fields... it is a great time to be around guitars and amps.

it is a great time to be around guitars and amps.

Ain't it the truth !

what's the going price for one of these with only the B-bender? Some of us are retired and on fixed incomes and don't have the mega bucks to spend on a bender...............JH in Va.

what's the going price for one of these with only the B-bender? Some of us are retired and on fixed incomes and don't have the mega bucks to spend on a bender...............JH in Va.

Hi, J.Hayes; In response to your question: the price was 400.00 for a single pull, I'm making the plates myself now, so I'll be dropping to 350.00, or thereabouts. The amount of time, and hand work in the making of these is where most of the cost is.

With just a quick look at this, that price seems extremely reasonable. Having some experience in machining, there appears to be some very complex pieces there that require not only alot of time, but proper equipment to do it with! I got to admit, I'm curious about this thing!

Hi, Paul

I sent you an email a few months back (I probably got address wrong) to ask this very question: can a bender be made to fit a double-cutaway LP Jr, with a wraparound bridge?
Think Frank Reckard's guitar that he used with Emmylou as a model.

If so, how much'd it be and how much would shipping be Scotland?

Thanks, The benders look like a cool idea!

All I can say is wow. I hope I can make stuff like that when I grow up. If I ever grow up. :mrgreen:

Does this require drilling etc to your existing pride and joy or is it damage free ?
Also do you need a particular bridge / ferrules etc ?

Hi, Paul

I sent you an email a few months back (I probably got address wrong) to ask this very question: can a bender be made to fit a double-cutaway LP Jr, with a wraparound bridge?
Think Frank Reckard's guitar that he used with Emmylou as a model.

If so, how much'd it be and how much would shipping be Scotland?

Thanks, The benders look like a cool idea!

Absolutely... no problem at all!! Same price as mentioned above (I don't charge any more for R&D, I enjoy doing different types of guitars). The device will however have to be attached to the back, as there is no neckplate to attach to. I've done L.P's before...no sweat!! I might need a traced template, or the guitar to shrink the rear mainframe plates to the correct size. I'd have to estimate shipping so I can't tell you now, should be considerably less than a complete guitar though.

Does this require drilling etc to your existing pride and joy or is it damage free ?
Also do you need a particular bridge / ferrules etc ?

Hey Flat; NO holes, NO routing, NO damage whatsoever.... 10 minute install.

Any bridge...though I need to know which one.

How about an acoustic. Lots of flat backed acoustics out there, but; I could see that not having a neck plate could pose issues. I could also see where an acoustic bridge might also be a significant problem. Since there are no inexpensive strap activated acoustics, it might be worth looking at.

How about an acoustic. Lots of flat backed acoustics out there, but; I could see that not having a neck plate could pose issues. I could also see where an acoustic bridge might also be a significant problem. Since there are no inexpensive strap activated acoustics, it might be worth looking at.


Acoustic: No problem, bridge, also no problem.
Though I would suggest an inexpensive model, as the device has to be affixed to the back, and rear bout.
Also, it makes it easier if it is, but the back doesn't HAVE TO be flat, as the device can be attached to most anything.

Thanks for the info, Paul. That's interesting, although it'd be awkward shipping a set-neck guitar back and forth over the Atlantic.

Maybe I should go with an Esquire instead...

Anyway, thanks: will bear all this info in mind, for sure.

So the attachment points are the neck plate and the rear strap button? Nothing else? I've been considering the hipshot unit but this may be better since it is strap activated.

So the attachment points are the neck plate and the rear strap button? Nothing else? I've been considering the hipshot unit but this may be better since it is strap activated.

Absolutely nothing else..... as far as attachment points. I just removed one that had been on a Tele for 10 years, and there is absolutely no evidence that it was ever installed.

[QUOTE=Iain;1155898]Thanks for the info, Paul. That's interesting, although it'd be awkward shipping a set-neck guitar back and forth over the Atlantic.

Maybe I should go with an Esquire instead...

Anyway, thanks: will bear all this info in mind, for sure.[/QUOTE




All I'd really need is a traced template of the body. That is a great guitar to add a bender to, though an Esquire is also a good choice.

sorry for being stupid. on the picture on to p of this thread the whole thing looks quite deep. on the pictures on the website it looks like a plate. what do i understnad wrong here? i have a superlightweight tele that needs a bender, but i am still undecided. if it would be a plate-like stystem, it could be interesting. eddie

sorry for being stupid. on the picture on to p of this thread the whole thing looks quite deep. on the pictures on the website it looks like a plate. what do i understnad wrong here? i have a superlightweight tele that needs a bender, but i am still undecided. if it would be a plate-like stystem, it could be interesting. eddie

The device is 1/2" between the plates...the plates are .080 thick...there are two of them...a hair over 5/8" deep in total.

My website pics need updating.... those are the pictures of the bender I built for Brad Paisley, on a "Crook" guitar, and the pics aren't very revealing.

Hope these pics help your perspective.

thanks for that quick reply! and how much would such a system cost? eddie

thanks for that quick reply! and how much would such a system cost? eddie Hello Eddie; The cost is as follows: $350.00-single pull, $450.00-double, $550.00-triple.

Thats pretty darn cool! I have been considering a new Bender...:shock:

Telesavant...can you make the strap lever so that it angles over (ie bent at a 90 degree angle) to where the strap button should normally be? Otherwise it looks like the guitar would hang less than optimal (balance-wise).. being connected off the back like that...

Telesavant...can you make the strap lever so that it angles over (ie bent at a 90 degree angle) to where the strap button should normally be? Otherwise it looks like the guitar would hang less than optimal (balance-wise).. being connected off the back like that...

No sweat!!...but the more I think about it...the normal position for an "installed in the body" bender, is where the strap button is. If you put something between you, and that body, like my device, or a double bodied installation...that isn't the normal position any more. It should migrate rearward, as the device is moved in that direction. This is especially true if the player wears his guitar high. The closer to the player's body the lever is...on mine anyway, the more natural it hangs, and feels. The 90 degree jog is no problem though.