TDPRI $100 Telecaster Challenge -- Are you in?

Some folks in England have had a £100 challenge to build a new guitar. But that's nearly $150 and they let the contestants use an existing guitar, as part of their challenge. We can do better than that -- so starts the first TDPRI $100 Telecaster Challenge.

Here are the contest details:
<ul>
1. All Entrants must enter no later than 11:59 pm on Feb 15th

2. The body MUST be made from scratch ONLY. No pre-made bodies.

3. Parts can be new or used but must be valued reasonably. Wood costs need not be included.

4. A build Thread in this forum for your build is required. When you start your build thread you are entered. Responding to this thread does NOT enter you. Only starting your build thread will. You may name your build thread anything you want but it must include the words: $100 Telecaster Challenge.

5. Photos in your build thread must show the uncut wood at the beginning (WITH a hand drawn sign showing that day's date in the photo and the words "TDPRI $100 Telecaster Challenge"). The build thread should also show the process you used to shape the wood and the finishing (all must have some sort of finish) and other stages as you see fit.

6. The finished guitar can be any kind of Telecaster (including Esquire & Broadcaster even) ever made. But it must be a working guitar, tunable and playable.

7. Your final build post will include complete photos of the finished guitar and an itemized parts list and cost list. All parts are to be listed and priced fairly -- including all screws and hardware.
</ul>
Contest ends on Sunday March 15th at 12:00 noon Central Standard US Time

A panel of judges will review the build threads, the photos and especially the final photos and determine the winner on March 17th. The winning entrant will be based on the following criteria: originality, ingenuity, appearance, and the build thread/photos.

The winner will also be given $100 in cash for his guitar and the guitar will be given away to some lucky TDPer on May 3, 2009 to celebrate the TDPRI's 10th Anniversary Extravaganza. The winner will also receive a trophy (to be shown later) and a TDPRI T-Shirt of their choice from www.telecastershirts.com.

So, are you in or are you OUT? What's it gonna be boys and girls?
Let the games begin!

Very cool. Building from scratch is still a bit beyond me but I can't wait to see what you guys come up with.

Question... when showing the cost of parts, do you have to include what you paid for shipping in the case on online purchases?

And what about parts that were given to you?

Nope you don't have to show shipping costs nor taxes.

Parts given to you should be valued approximately.

Is this open to everyone?

I have no desire or inclination to build a guitar...that is just something that...just no way! (it took me upwards of a minute last nite to realize I wasn't getting any sound from guitar cuz I was plugged into the wrong amp - yes, really). So, build a guitar? HA!
However, I have seen some of the pics that the members of this site have built, and I would gladly own one, especially if I were to "win" it. I'm down for entering the drawing.
:-)
Scotty

What a cool idea. :-) And I assume all entries will be sent to the moderators for a personal evaluation? :wink: CS

Can we build an Esquire? (saves the price of a neck pickup)
I think I'd be into this.... but a month sure is a quick build.

A month is lots of time... just not THIS COMING MONTH!

How about May? :wink:

It's THIS month. Sorry.

Yes, it's open to everyone.

There will LOTs of time to learn about entering to win the guitar after the Challenge is over. For now, it's all about getting folks to actually participate.

Can we build an Esquire? (saves the price of a neck pickup)
I think I'd be into this.... but a month sure is a quick build.

Yes, you can build an Esquire. That's Tele enough. I'll amend the rules.

Wot about parts what you've got in your parts box ? - How should they be costed ?

Many builders will have spare pickups, pots, knobs, screws, pgs, saddles, nuts, tuners, bits of wire, solder, dye, beer, lacquer, etc, just lying around, with no idea where the reciepts went, or if there were any.

If it were a pro-job, you'd have to include tooling, labour, administration and overheads.

I'm in. Let the games begin....not that I ever win anything anyway....

Wot about parts what you've got in your parts box ? - How should they be costed ?

Many builders will have spare pickups, pots, knobs, screws, pgs, saddles, nuts, tuners, bits of wire, solder, dye, beer, lacquer, etc, just lying around, with no idea where the reciepts went, or if there were any.

If it were a pro-job, you'd have to include tooling, labour, administration and overheads.

Well, trust everyone to afix a reasonable price to the parts in their bin. Got a bin full of knobs? Use the worst of the lot and value them cheap. Don't use Vintique (ugh) knobs and value them at $2.

No labor costs etc. Even Pro builders build for fun. It's not for sale its to see who can do it for CHEAP while making it good.

Very cool. Building from scratch is still a bit beyond me but I can't wait to see what you guys come up with.

Same here, but I hope this turns into an annual event! Good luck all.

A month is lots of time... just not THIS COMING MONTH!

How about May? :wink:

Yea, I'd love to do another little pine Esquire, but no way until May either for me.

Sounds like a great challenge. I can't participate, but I'll be watching.

My wheels are spinning now.

What about wood costs? Do we estimate the value of the wood as the board we purchase, or the part of the board we use for this build. I mean lets say I go to the lumber yard and buy a 16 foot board that I can make 8 bodies out of it. If the board cost 200$, do I equate the value of my board as 25$?

I reckon Im going to get parts.
Does sandpaper count? Just because its cheap doesn't mean it has to look like hell.

Wood costs will not be included. This will encourage people to use the best woods.

Wood costs will not be included. This will encourage people to use the best woods.

:confused: That's not ghetto!

Wow, very curious to see how this will play out! Hopefully everybody will document their process so that beginners will have an idea of how to repeat it.

Wow, very curious to see how this will play out! Hopefully everybody will document their process so that beginners will have an idea of how to repeat it.

Yes, PICS will be required every step of the way for anyone who wins
(if I get the drift of typical posters here):?:

And welcome home, Sergey

What an awesome idea for a competition!! I can't wait to see what you geniuses out there come up with!

This is WAY COOL!!! Can't wait to see what y'all come up with ...

mud

What you should do is if its obvious someone spent more then $100 dollars on the guitar is buy it anyway for the flat $100, their loss,
Then either give it away to a VERY lucky winner or sell it at a gain, then use said cash to continue the contest/ start another, and make some bucks while yer at it!


Reason i thought of this is there's this race that goes on in which your car cannot be worth more then $5000. Also in the form to race is that the manager can buy your car for 5k at anytime. So if you show up to the partsmobile race in a new Ford, or with a new v8, you just sold it for 5k! :twisted:

What a great idea! Unfortunately I'm not setup to participate at the moment, but I am eager to see what y'all come up with.

Whoo hoo! I'm in.

Paul? Do I have a USD$100 budget (AU$151)?

Cool idea, but I'm out because I don't own any woodworking tools.:sad:

Whoo hoo! I'm in.

Paul? Do I have a USD$100 budget?

Yep, $100 USD budget. I have no idea what that is in Aussie dollars, but we'll let the conversion rate float during the contest and adjust for it at the end. So, lets say $100 USD as determined on Feb 15th.

Heck, I'll start-er up and see if I can get-er-dun in time...

As fun as this sounds, I think I may need to get a little more experience fixing my guitars before I go ahead and build one... someday I'll have that 12 string Tele! :mrgreen:

Yep, $100 USD budget. I have no idea what that is in Aussie dollars, but we'll let the conversion rate float during the contest and adjust for it at the end. So, lets say $100 USD as determined on Feb 15th.

Will TDPRI be responsible for shipping costs?

Will you be making this an annual event?

I don't have the experience or the workshop at the moment for this but I'd be up for it next year.

Oh but could you make it a bit later in the year when the weather in nicer for spending a month in the shed?

Will you be making this an annual event?

If so, next time give us a bit more notice. Like a few months. :wink:
There is just no way I can fit it into my schedule on such short notice. :sad:

Darn. I'm just finishing an "unemployment Esquire" that I've assembled from leftover parts since I lost my job last month.

It'll come in under budget.

I have to say, as a builder, that scratch building a guitar in 4 weeks a bit much. The neck alone takes a long time to properly shape, fret, and make playable.

I love the idea but feel that it's a bit rushed.

Good thing I don't have the time for this right now. It would give my wife yet one more reason to be mad!

You can buy an SX or an Indiana Guitar Company tele for about $100 already built.

Interesting idea. I'd like to participate but the timing is not good for me. Maybe next time.

Jack, (off topic), was that you who did the pictorial on removing a truss rod recently? If so, may I extend a hearty virtual hand shake! It worked out great on a Precision Bass I just bought for $60 with a broken truss rod.

Can you say cha ching?! :lol:

Fun idea! But I'm in the camp of do this annually so that there is a lot more notice and schedule flexibility.

I'm still working on my first, and its going to be more that $100, but that's only because the hardware actually is costing me money!

I WOULD like to see what I can pull of for $100! Maybe #2...

I have to say, as a builder, that scratch building a guitar in 4 weeks a bit much. The neck alone takes a long time to properly shape, fret, and make playable.

I love the idea but feel that it's a bit rushed.

Good thing I don't have the time for this right now. It would give my wife yet one more reason to be mad!

Leave the gun, take the canoles.. er.. I mean give her the $100.00 to shop with, keep the Tee...

...

I have to say, as a builder, that scratch building a guitar in 4 weeks a bit much. The neck alone takes a long time to properly shape, fret, and make playable.!

No one said you had to build a neck.

Will TDPRI be responsible for shipping costs?

Sure, we'll pay the actual carrier shipping costs (not boxing etc) on top of the $100 for the winner.

No one said you had to build a neck.

Oh, well, it said scratch build and there was no mention of simply "procurring" a neck. Unless I read it too fast.

The BODY must be scratch built. No mention of the neck was made at all.

Oh, well, it said scratch build and there was no mention of simply "procurring" a neck. Unless I read it too fast.

I believe it says scratch build the body...

Awesome idea. Any chance of opening a (temporary) forum to house the entries? After the deadline, I guess...

I'll probably make them stickys. If I open a new forum for them Google will index them and then when the Challenge is over and I merge them back into the regular forum they'll get orphaned. I can make them Stickys for the month and that won't happen.

Will you be making this an annual event?

As KennyH said, is this going to be annual? or coming back in the near future?

I will determine this after we see how this one goes. There's no way to tell at this time.

Sorry guys, that's what threw me. No mention of a neck at all, and then trying to figure out how I could do this for $100 without building a neck too!

Scronge a free neck, hunt up a neck, trade something for a neck. But with the knowledge that if you win you will get paid $100 for the whole thing.

Very cool idea. I've never done a scratch build, and probably never will just because of the tools cost. But I can't wait to see what the true builders come up with!

Sorry guys, that's what threw me. No mention of a neck at all, and then trying to figure out how I could do this for $100 without building a neck too!

It's the time factor more than anything. Parts and material for me to build a neck from scratch is about half of what I could buy a decent one for. Mind you I've picked up a few pretty decent used necks on ebay for under 30 clams.

The last maple/maple neck I built from scratch had $8 worth of lumber, a $12 truss rod, $7 for fretwire and a 50 cent piece of corian for the nut. That's $27.50, but it took me 5 or 6 weeks to get 'er done.

Do you need to have a pickguard? Are the finish materials to be included to?

I have a maple tele neck i paid $5.00 for.I think it's an older '80's one puchased from stew mac by someone.Igot it for $5.00 because it has a hole in the skunk stripe.I have a feeling "cheap" parts are about to become scarce around here.

Every guitar has to be finished. But I have no idea how you could estimate the cost of the finish materials actually used on the guitar. If you bought a can of paint for $10 would the guitar have 25 cents worth of the paint on it, or 57 cents worth.

I'm not splitting hairs that much. If you want to figure it out be my guest. I don't think anyone will be disqualified for not including the cost of finish materials in their final tally.

Just as an FYI...

I do a lot of hand applied finishes (tru-oil, tung oil, shellac, etc) and have tracked the cost to finish a guitar, plus I've added in such things as sandpaper, wire, solder, etc and have come up with a figure of approximately $15.00 per guitar for me. If you use rattle can lacquers you can easily triple that figure.

Man I must be getting my hardware in all the wrong places.

I totaled up the cost for enough hardware for this thing out of my parts cabinet and came in at $148 without a neck. Looks like I'll have to wait till next time around too. Maybe I can find some yard sale gems to salvage hardware from between now and then.

Good luck to all you guys who are in for this.

The BODY must be scratch built. No mention of the neck was made at all.

The ultimate Esquire: no neck pickup, and no neck. It'll save money on machine heads, too.

Paul, define "pre-made body". Do I have to cut the body or can someone else do it for me? After all, they are all pre-made when you think about it...Not trying to be a smartass, just asking...

Hmmm,this could be interesting:shock:

You have to make the body, not purchase it.

So,I managed to get a tele standard bridge pickup off evilbay for 99 cents
Can I use that price or do I have to put a realistic price on it?
Just curious :wink:

Sounds like a 99 Cent pickup to me.

sound like a crime has to be committed in order to build a guitar for $100, no less a tele, you would have to go to the junk yard or dumps every day looking for parts, but then again my diesel truck gets about 4 miles per dollar and the nearest dump is over 12 miles away or $3 each way, so one week at the dump is going to cost me $42 in travel expenses, that leaves not much for buying parts, even if i built a guitar out of fallen branches and a chunk of firewood i'm sure it still needs to look like a tele to qualify for this nonsense, sounds like a promo for stealing from others

How are you going to determine who will get the guitar? Do you have to enter or sign up or is it going to be random of all current members?

sound like a crime has to be committed in order to build a guitar for $100, no less a tele, you would have to go to the junk yard or dumps every day looking for parts, but then again my diesel truck gets about 4 miles per dollar and the nearest dump is over 12 miles away or $3 each way, so one week at the dump is going to cost me $42 in travel expenses, that leaves not much for buying parts, even if i built a guitar out of fallen branches and a chunk of firewood i'm sure it still needs to look like a tele to qualify for this nonsense, sounds like a promo for stealing from others

Not necessarily... Last night I went through my boxes of parts and pulled out everything I need. Add in an Eden neck which you can find for as low as $30 and I had a total of $120.60 and that includes the wood for the body. This is using all brand new parts. If I do some digging I can easily shed $25 from that total. So it is doable. You just have to be resourceful. :wink:

Add in an Eden neck which you can find for as low as $30 and


Don't forget that reasonable EDEN shipping cost. ;)

How are you going to determine who will get the guitar? Do you have to enter or sign up or is it going to be random of all current members?

I haven't determined how the guitar will be award exactly. But unlike the Fundraiser there will be no donation to enter the contest.

I may have people register for it by signing up -- or I may just do it randomly out of ACTIVE members. I'll have until May to work all that out.

Don't forget that reasonable EDEN shipping cost. ;)

And don't forget that shipping costs are not included in the budget.

And don't forget that shipping costs are not included in the budget.

It sez that up there, don't it ??:oops:

What a cool idea! I´m not entering but for the ones that do GOOD LUCK!
Can wait to see the results!

Hmmm...on my last build, I totaled up the following:

Control plate and associated parts: $42.50
Bridge, neck plate, ferrules, jack components: $34


I already had the control plate in my parts box, but a new one costs about $15. The pots cost me $14, the three-way switch was $12, and the bridge cost me $8. The cap cost $1.50. I already had the ferrules, but some new ones I just bought cost $6. I also had a neck plate in my box, but that would have cost $8 for a plain one. The electrosocket jack plate was about $9, and the output jack itself would have cost $3, but I used one I had.

Grand total: $76.50, give or take a few bucks, without pickups. No pickguard or screws included either. Or neck. Now I guess one could scrounge around for a better price on some of these components, but it's going to be awfully tough, even with the cheapest pickups, to build something for $100. And if you can do it, you've then done all that work in order to build a tele with the cheapest components you can find? Seems a bit weird to me.

Well, I won't be attempting it for another reason: the timing is awful...it's just too cold for those of us without dedicated, heated shops in the northeast and elsewhere. I guess this challenge would get a lot more takers in the spring, summer, or even fall months in the USA.

Now I guess one could scrounge around for a better price on some of these components, but it's going to be awfully tough, even with the cheapest pickups, to build something for $100.

OK, now you've got the spirit of the enterprise -- that's exactly what's going on with this Challenge. But not just the cheapest parts -- the very best parts you can scrounge for the least amount of money. Using any new parts would be antithetical to the whole endeavor. It would seem to me.

I'm just saying.

Wood costs need not be included.

Well, because of the timing, I can't be involved in this. Seems to me that wood costs should be a factor. While the rules have been set for this contest, I suggest wood costs be included in any future contests. If you're going to have a $100 guitar contest, it seems you should include all components including the wood. This would show just how resourceful contestants can be. Also it wouldn't give an advantage to someone who purchased a StewMac swamp ash body blank for $96.88.

Include the wood costs and you'll really have a challenge.

I hear you Jack. I am not including wood because it would be difficult to determine the exact value and what if they messed up and wanted to start over. I think those are more compelling reasons than just to make the list complete.

Stew Mac Sells a uncut body blank? A plain piece of uncut wood for $96? If they do then I'm getting into that business.

Lastly, if someone wants to use $120 worth of uncut wood to build a guitar they might have to swap for $100 then heaven help them.

Besides, this is all just for FUN. At least that's the intention.

Don't know if they actually sell them but they do list them.

......http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v208/jwells393/NewAlbum2/SMBlanks.jpg

The only reason I decided to use swamp ash was because I have it here and it cost me nothing.It was given to me from a guy that just had it sitting in his garage and he was going to try to build a guitar.That and the fact I have used up all my scrap on my other builds:shock:

Leave it to Stew-Mac to sell you $15 worth of wood for 100 bucks.

Cool everyone should use this... and lose even more money on this enterprise. Of course you have to order it, get it here, get your photo taken and such still and be done on March 15th.

I'm sticking with the "no charge" for wood rule.

Besides, this is all just for FUN. At least that's the intention.


Yeah. I think some folks are missing this point.

I hope I loose so I can keep my creation. ;)

I hope I loose so I can keep my creation. ;)

You might be missing the point too :razz:

You might be missing the point too :razz:


I put the generic winky smiley! :oops:




svinehund....


Did I type that out loud ??:razz:

That's why I razzed ya.

Good luck with the build. :cool:

Yeah, good luck to everyone with their builds! :grin:

I buy most of my rough cut lumber from a local saw mill. I can get 8/4 oak, hackberry, plain maple and walnut for $3/FBM. Thats less than $12 for a chunk of really good wood suitable for a tele body. Figured woods are a bit more.

What is the position on headstock shape? If you make a neck is it OK to use the Tele headstock shape as long as you make your own original decal? ... or does the shape have to be different if you make your own neck?

I am still trying to decide whether to jump in or not... I really have too much going on right now (pine esquire build and motorcycle build) to dedicate the time to this but it sounds like fun seeing what might come out of it... I have some crazy ideas though...

Hi all

I'm one of those English people who took part in the original £100 challenge last year - and I'm taking part again this year.

It's great to see you all getting involved in something similar too. You're going to have great fun, though I don't envy the "winner" having to give their creation away!

If I'd seen this thread earlier, then I'd have joined in here too! As it is, I'll just watch from a distance ...

Tony

Hey Tony, We're glad you're here!

With 15 builders it should be FUN.

Thanks!

I just thought I'd share these with you ...


My first £100 build (which came in at around £70, so around $100!)
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_QYdDO5-bV1Y/SAshODV65zI/AAAAAAAAAI4/W8W1Ykt2-_Y/s800/Self22.jpg

Solid (1-piece) cherry body, with a maple/rosewood neck. I admit to buying the neck - £5 from eBay because it really needed a lot of repair work! HB in the neck and a cheapo tele bridge p'up.

And my second £100 build - actually came in less than the first one because the pickups were cheaper!
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_QYdDO5-bV1Y/SHngaUTMl3I/AAAAAAAAA-4/SLhhwnnnJjs/s800/IMG_2037.JPG

"AXL by EMG" p'up set. On this one, I made the neck too - a mahogany/wenge creation. As you can see, the body is chambered - cherry body again with a (bookmatched!) cherry top, and a piece of mahogany inlaid around the sound holes.

I bought a whole stack of cherry, and I've still got enough for another 2 or 3 bodies!

Being totally honest, the first one (my first self-build) wasn't up to much. It played, just, but it was easily the worst guitar in my collection. So, for our UK challenge this year, I'm modding build #1 - not spending much more money on it, just spending some time. It's on the blog.

Some folks in England have had a £100 challenge to build a new guitar. But that's nearly $150 and they let the contestants use an existing guitar, as part of their challenge. We can do better than that -- so starts the first [B]TDPRI $100 Telecaster Challenge.

Do you have a link to the folks in England have had a £100 challenge to???

I just wanted to THANK them and have a looky at how they did it!

Thanks

Sure, here it is:

http://www.musicradar.com/forum/showthread.php?t=32864

This is for their current contest. I believe it's their second.

I believe it's their second.

It is indeed our second.

If you have the time (it's a HUGE thread - the biggest ever on our board), this is a link to the first challenge ...

Where it all began! (http://www.musicradar.com/forum/showthread.php?t=15212)

ps - good luck with the language barrier too :wink:

It is indeed our second.

If you have the time (it's a HUGE thread - the biggest ever on our board), this is a link to the first challenge ...

Where it all began! (http://www.musicradar.com/forum/showthread.php?t=15212)

ps - good luck with the language barrier too :wink:

you need to get all your guys on one page like our stickys,

Man, I have been gone for a few months and come back to this???
GREAT idea!!! I spent all evening browsing the builds, I am excited to see how this turns out

I must say this concept is a fantastic one!

I just assembled my first tele at Christmas from specific parts I chose...(I thought I "built" it), then I started a new tele project with a body slab...and I'll be adding pre crafted parts...but I haven't really "built" this one either....

But instead of being crushed by the absolute talent on this forum I have been inspired... and the next project I will "BUILD" from scratch...after all it's only wood...and flesh.

Thanks guys for documenting your building talents!

the guitar will be given away to some lucky TDPer on May 3, 2009 to celebrate the [B]TDPRI's 10th Anniversary Extravaganza!


I must have missed it, but did they ever determine how the lucky recipient will be picked????

Are all tdpri members entered to win or how do we enter?

Everyone please read the first post in the thread you'll see that the giveaway will not be until May. And that we will announce the method that we are using to enter the giveaway sometime after this Challenge is over.

Here's a link to that info: http://www.tdpri.com/forum/tele-home-depot/147891-tdpri-%24100-telecaster-challenge-you.html#post1672132

an idle thought.... would tdpri/whoever pay a c-note for every challenge t-style completed in time? there are only 14 enteries, after all.

sure, select a winner, and perhaps a runner-up. give it/them away, as planned. then, auction ALL of the others and donate the proceeds to your personal choice of charity/s. sure, it costs, but what better way to celebrate the Tele than to spread it around? they won't bury you with the $ or the guitars....

First it was guitar gear, CV, case, amp, bass, case, etc, etc, etc...

Now its guitar building tools! I can see a router in my future!

Anyway, the real point of this is whoever's idea this challenge was, it was pure genius! I have really been enjoying the build threads.

Thanks to all those who have participated and shared their skills with us. I have learned a ton and I haven't made any sawdust yet!

I have been really impressed with the builds which has inspired me to try my hand at building.

A guitar can't be too much more difficult than super cub wings can it? At least thats what I used to do.

Dan

the trophy will be solid gold, right?

the trophy will be solid gold, right?


No, just a gross of Fender Celluloid picks... :cool:

modification of earlier idea:

FUND-RAISER FOR TDPRI

Buy all 14 for $100 each, if they finish on time. Give the winning one away, per your orig deal. And then, AUCTION the others on eBay with all proceeds going to support this website. Bid high and raise BIG money for the site.

Some of these builds will bring serious money - no doubt!!

Any person who entered only expects to get a hundred bucks, on a lucky day. Is there a better way to support this site than celebrate the challenge, and give every entrant their dream at the same time.

Buena Suerte, amigos. [ good luck, friends ]

It's all over but the Judging! Threads Locked and I'm organizing everything.

The judges have a secret forum that only the five of us can see and we'll be starting our discussions and voting soon.

We'll be back later with more info.

Thanks all for your terrific work!