My First Telecaster build

Not from scratch, but a $30 body - 2 piece ash - that I had to rout, without templates or the correct tools. Guitar looks great, just do not look underneath the pickguard! Neck is a cheap one from Guitar Fetish, as are the tuners, bridge pickup and the Wilkenson bridge. Other parts were taken from my Mim Telecaster. This guitar sounds great, although it needs a proper setup. Color is golden pecan stain with one or two coats of laquer, sanded down to a matte finish.

I put about $150 into this. Plan to do more, but with pre-routed bodies. It was lots of fun, but it did take me about 2 years to actually finish.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff33/VintageSixtyTwo/Telecaster.jpg

Looks great. Love the finish. I'd love a shot of underneath the pickguard :lol:

Thanks for the compliment on the guitar.

If I showed what was underneath the pickguard, it would quickly make the rounds as the worst routing ever done! I used a router and a drill with a spade bit - it is very ugly!

Looks like Alder to me... Alder is a cheaper substitute for Cherry and that sure looks like Cherry but maybe it's the pic.

Whatever it is, it looks really nice. And I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only one working slowly and without the proper tools. :grin:

It look so long because I sliced a fingertip with a drill bit while doing the string holes. After that I did not even look at if for a year or so. Last December I got it done without the finish. Finally got motivated to do the rest.

It is probably ash, but maybe not. Thats what I was told.

Thanks for the compliment on the guitar.

If I showed what was underneath the pickguard, it would quickly make the rounds as the worst routing ever done! I used a router and a drill with a spade bit - it is very ugly!

I always liked this quote from Ron Kirn's Strat tutorial here’s a tip how to achieve a true vintage appearance, make these routs as sloppy as possible.


http://www.ronkirn.com/tutorial/index.htm