making a custom tele....

so i was going to buy a custom made telecaster, but came across a 62 custom body that looks really good. im thinking of building my own telecaster now, adding all the parts that i want to.

now this is very new to me. never been one for all the elctronics stuff and everything that goes with it, but i fancy getting into it.

now the first question is, how hard is it to cut a pickup cutout into a guitar? as in, on a telecaster body, making a 3rd pickup route...as in a strat? is this easy to do with an already finished guitar, as i dont wanna destroy the paint?

the way i thinking about this guitar is this sort of idea......

http://static.flickr.com/120/293426527_baa8a8d83a.jpg

i just think that looks amazing. im not going for the finish, just the pickup configuration.

im going to start from scratch, every little detail the way i want it. probably starting with a 62 custom tele body, japanese as im a big *** fender fan, always have been.

is there also any books i could use to go the right way? i own at the mo around 18 guitars, yet ive never dug in deep and find out how to make them, so im really looking forward to this.

i know this is the place to ask, so any tips tricks, pro's and cons apprecaited guys!!

contact ron kirn. www.ronkirn.com (he's also here)
read on here....the buckocaster posts are tops
you can't go wrong with the $20 dollars on the Guitar Player Repair guide.
it's on the amazon site. get the latest version with the dvd.
i'm into this as well, and a beginner.

now the first question is, how hard is it to cut a pickup cutout into a guitar? as in, on a telecaster body, making a 3rd pickup route...as in a strat? is this easy to do with an already finished guitar, as i dont wanna destroy the paint?

It's not hard provided you have the proper tools .............. router, carbide tipped pattern following bit and a Strat pickup template.

im going to start from scratch

Starting with a MIJ Fender body isn't what we call starting from scratch. Starting from scratch is starting with a board.

I was actually thinking of doing the opposite, neck, and middle, no bridge pup.

I never touch the bridge pup on the strat

sorry, not from sratch, basically using fender japan parts.

well i decided to go for it. ordered the lake placid blue body, the control plate, and the 62 bridge, which i will be changing the saddles to brass, apart from the bass strings.

looking forward to getting mucked into it. going to take quite a bit of time to do it, but thats fine as i want to take my time.

going to have to keep on the look out for a japanese tele neck, and an esquire pickguard that will fit a japanese tele body....something i have had a lot of problems with before, as the japanese guards are different from other fender origins!!