The TDPRI 2010 $210 Tele Build Challenge -- UPDATED RULES

All posers and imposters stand aside. This is the OFFICIAL TDPRI 2010 $210 Tele Build Challenge.

Here are the OFFICIAL (real, not fake, not what do you think about it) RULES:

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1. All Entrants must declare their intent to participate no later than 11:59 pm on March 3rd. The Challenge will end at 11:59 pm on May 3, 2010 -- our 11th Anniversary. All guitars must be displayed in their build threads complete and strung on that day. The itemized price list must also be displayed in the build thread by that date.

2. The body MUST be made from scratch ONLY. No pre-made bodies. The neck can be purchased or made from scratch, but it must not be a neck you already own or have already have made. We want the purchase and use of the neck to be totally included in the $210. You must detail where the neck came from and how much you paid for it. You may have to scrounge around a bit if you can't build it from scratch.

3. Parts can be new or used but must be valued reasonably. ALL costs (except shipping) -- including wood costs -- need to 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. Your build thread must BEGIN with the words: 2010 TDPRI $210 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 $210 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-Style (including Esquire, Thinline, 12 String, Bass, Dual Neck, Acoustic ) ever made. But it must be a working guitar, tunable and playable. To be considered a "Tele" it must resemble a Telecaster body in the main -- but some body shape changes and alterations are permitted. We have to be able to see the general shape of a "Telecaster" in the final design.

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. Should you go over your entry will be disqualified.
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Contest ends on Monday May 3rd at 11:59 pm Central Standard US Time

Three Winners will be chosen via a Poll of the membership during the week of May 4th thru 6th and on May 7th the final winners will be announced. There will be three winning entrants: Overall winner - Best Looking -- Most Innovative.

This year the three winners will get to keep their guitars. And Prizes will be awarded to each winner. (No T-Shirt, No trophy etc.)

Overall Winner -- Squier Classic Vibe Custom Telecaster
Best Looking -- Klein Pickups (http://www.kleinpickups.com/) Tele Pickup Set
Most Innovative -- Klein Pickups (http://www.kleinpickups.com/) Tele Pickup Set

That's it. The rules are clear and the FUN is ready to begin.

I've been waiting for this for awhile. Just a question though, what should we use for the exchange rate for those of us north of the boarder? Current Exchange rate us about 1USD to 1.055CD, making is a 221.55 CD Challenge?

it's too bad the bridge and bridge pickup have to be the traditional type. i would have wanted to build me a la cabronita especial.

i can't wait to follow the threads. i might join myself if i have extra cash.

Yeah, I'd like to join as well! Given our financial situation it will be WAY under $210 though (which is €155.62 for us europeans according to the Convert widget in Mac OS X).

Yeah, I'd like to join as well! Given our financial situation it will be WAY under $210 though (which is €155.62 for us europeans according to the Convert widget in Mac OS X).

I agree and to add...
The conversion gets even worse when you consider that €1 buys as much as $1 U.S.
plus... original parts usually are much more expensive in Europe.
for instance:
just yesterday I had this "it ain't fair" feeling when Mark Davis posted a price of an Ashtray Bridge Cover for $14.95 and over here you can buy it for €29.00 without shipping costs.

I won't be building a Tele myself but I'm looking forward to all of your projects.
so good luck to y'all.

Questions: How do we price off-cuts from the scrap box, and if we build a bass, does it have to have an actual fender tele bass bridge/pickup? For that matter, if a bridge plate is made by hand, does it have to have a tele pickup in it, or can we use a humbucker?
Thanks! I look forward to participating. Had a great time last year!!!!!!

Wow that was quick! One needs to declare their intent by March 3, but the actual build thread can start after that. Am I correct on that? Thanks!

Hey Paul,

...Bass, Dual Neck, Acoustic ) ever made.

Do I have to build my acoustic Tele with a Tele bridge and a bridge pickup?

Too bad the contest occurs during income tax time. Well, I guess I could file for the automatic extension ........ as usual.

I gotta crunch through my schedule... I want to sign up for this one real bad, but there are a couple people on the forum who might get mad at me if I do...

Decisions, decisions...

Just wondering what to do if entering from England? $210 = £137.43, however my personal thinking is that £170 might buy the same amount as $210 in guitar parts...

Fraser

Hmmm... another palletcaster? A Teleguar... a Jagcaster... a Pinesonic...

or... as a Monty Python skit would say... And now for something completely different...

decisions, decisions...

If I join it will be a sidetablecaster...

Ok, to answer some questions.


Exchange rates -- just whatever they are at the time you start is fine. I'm not super concerned about exchange rates.


The Euro to Dollar valuation. We gotta just play it by the exchange rate. The fact that the value or Euros to Dollars isn't fair is just the way it is. And, besides, it's been that way in the UK for ever. A GBP is worth much more than a dollar, but routinely if it costs $10 in the US it costs £10 in the UK.


Bridges -- I think you're correct -- it doesn't have to have a Tele bridge and pickup. I'll change that in the rules. I used that, because that's how we determine what is a Tele and what is not in the main Tele forum. What I mean is, if the body is totally different than a Tele but it has a Tele bridge then we call it a Tele. The same kind of thing applies here. If it looks like a Tele and does not have a Tele bridge/p'up then that's fine. But if it doesn't really look like a Tele AND it has a bridge from a Gibson Les Paul then we're going to have a hard time calling it a Tele. See the issue? But I'll leave that to the membership when they vote. I'm guessing they won't vote a totally non-Tele to the top of this competition.


So, naturally an Acoustic Tele build doesn't need to have a Tele bridge and pickup. And, a Tele base doesn't have to have a standard Tele Bass bridge and pickup.


Finally, Yes, you can declare that you are in by March 3rd but not start until March 19th (or whenever) if you wish. You just have to start your build thread by the 3rd with one beginning post.

Thanks for the clarifications!
And btw, forgot to mention: excellent prizes!!!

Is there a significance to the $210 limit?

Sorry, just to clarify, are we going for £210 or £137?

Is there a significance to the $210 limit?

Yes, it's a very scientifically derived amount based on the expected difficulty that people will have actually getting all this stuff and staying within the rules. I'm mean, having to source a neck and all. $100 build not counting the neck is relatively easy.

Oh, and it's 2010 so I figured $210 sounded cool.

Sorry, just to clarify, are we going for £210 or £137?

The exchange rate equivalent of $210 US Dollars.

Oh, and it's 2010 so I figured $210 sounding cool.
:mrgreen::mrgreen::mrgreen:

I like it, see what I can come up with.

Should have a build contest for a $2010 telecaster! :D

Paul, does the build thread go in this forum...
Telecaster Guitar Forum > The DIY Channel > Tele Home Depot > TDPRI 2010 $210 Tele Build Challenge

Or does it go in the main Home Depot forum? (I see there is one there)
Telecaster Guitar Forum > The DIY Channel > Tele Home Depot

Thanks for all you and the moderators do to make TDPRI "home"

It goes here. I'll move the other one.

Dang, i knew i should've waited to start the "juliettecaster build", but a week, now that's killing me. Oh well, guess i could use all the scrap wood from it for this build contest...."The Scrapcaster".....i'm in.

I have a few days to think about it, but I imagine I'm in.

What about tools, shop supplies and templates that will be used for other builds? Do we count those costs? For example, this is my first tele build and I'm pretty sure it won't be my last. So, I need a template. Do I include the cost for the template in the $210?

What about tools, shop supplies and templates that will be used for other builds? Do we count those costs? For example, this is my first tele build and I'm pretty sure it won't be my last. So, I need a template. Do I include the cost for the template in the $210?

Yes, and you must include the cost of your house that you sleep in and the building that houses your tools and the vehicle you drive to pick up parts and the cost of any and all schooling you had up until this point. Lastly, calculate all the food you have ever eaten in your life and include that in the $210 budget as well.

(Perhaps you can tell that the answer to your questions is "of course not." It's parts and materials used in the guitar only.)

I'm in!
with a LPjunior t-style holycaster/pinecaster from a 3 piece laminated pine church bench

thanks TDPRI. I will see if I can come up with some extra cash. Cabronita, here I come!

Hmmmm. I've been wanting to build a new Tele for myself for quite some time. If I can find the time in between working on everyone else's instruments, I suppose this would be good a time as any. I may give this a shot.

Yes, and you must include the cost of your house that you sleep in and the building that houses your tools and the vehicle you drive to pick up parts and the cost of any and all schooling you had up until this point. Lastly, calculate all the food you have ever eaten in your life and include that in the $210 budget as well.


Darn! Now I only have $7.42 left for a pickup and tuners...

Darn! Now I only have $7.42 left for a pickup and tuners...

Post of the month!

I'm itchin, I will probably be in, I cannot resist, I guess a simple finish will have to do as my last one had over 10 cans of nitro between the sealer and the finish, that alone would have taken half of the build money.....

Cool, this will give me an excuse to buy another $500 more in guitar and wood working tools!

Moderator
I started a build yesterday that I feel would be perfect for this competition if I change my goals, I have only cut the rough shape of the guitar at this point, and all of this is on the web site. I would like permission to transfer this build to the competition, the only issue would be a picture of the date on the initial blank, I could take it today before I proceed with the rough cut. Please let me know if this is okay with you or not.
Thank you,
Cavi

2. The body MUST be made from scratch ONLY. No pre-made bodies. The neck can be purchased or made from scratch, but it must not be a neck you already own or have already have made. We want the purchase and use of the neck to be totally included in the $210. You must detail where the neck came from and how much you paid for it. You may have to scrounge around a bit if you can't build it from scratch.

Question about this rule with respect to necks:

If the neck can be purchased, why not a previously purchased neck if that price is included in the cost breakdown? Similar question for a previously built neck. What about a neck that was started but not completed?

Another question:

Can an individual enter more than on entry?

Cool, this will give me an excuse to buy another $500 more in guitar and wood working tools!

Building guitars is expensive isn't it?

NM

Ok, I am in...


What about a neck that was started but not completed?


I also would like to know this. I have a blank with a shaped headstock, but the back not shaped or playing surface even radiused yet, a plank with a Tele headstock shape basically.

I await....

And what if we already have the wood? Can it just be included in the breakdown as well?

Over the years, people have given me crap parts, and I've "picked" broken guitars out of people's trash. If I use parts that were gifted, or found, can I assume that there's no monetary value in them?

To me, the biggest challenge is, how do I hide $210 from the wife??? :)

Okay, I am probably in for this but I have a question. What if you dont have your wood together by the 3rd but want to enter? Can you just start a thread and declare your entry without a pic of the wood?

moderater, I still didn't hear back fro you on my build.

I forgot if we don't include a title on the replies with questions it does not get caught for a while.


So Paul or MOD, seek advise per previous messages in the thread...


Ciao

Moderator
I started a build yesterday that I feel would be perfect for this competition if I change my goals, I have only cut the rough shape of the guitar at this point, and all of this is on the web site. I would like permission to transfer this build to the competition, the only issue would be a picture of the date on the initial blank, I could take it today before I proceed with the rough cut. Please let me know if this is okay with you or not.
Thank you,
Cavi

See the PM I sent you.

Question about this rule with respect to necks:

If the neck can be purchased, why not a previously purchased neck if that price is included in the cost breakdown? Similar question for a previously built neck. What about a neck that was started but not completed?

Another question:

Can an individual enter more than on entry?

The idea on the limitation of the neck is to keep people honest. Somebody has a $400 neck that has been on another guitar for 4 years, but they want to take it off and count it as a $75 neck for this contest. The rule is unenforceable as it is, but I'd like folks to scrounge a neck and stay in the budget. That's the reasoning behind it. So, you can see the spirit of the rule.


Ok, I am in...

I also would like to know this. I have a blank with a shaped headstock, but the back not shaped or playing surface even radiused yet, a plank with a Tele headstock shape basically.

I await....

See above answer. You be the judge of whether or not your neck meets the letter and spirit of these rules.

And what if we already have the wood? Can it just be included in the breakdown as well?

There is no rule about wood you already own. But it must be fairly valued.

Over the years, people have given me crap parts, and I've "picked" broken guitars out of people's trash. If I use parts that were gifted, or found, can I assume that there's no monetary value in them?

To me, the biggest challenge is, how do I hide $210 from the wife??? :)

Every part presumably has a value -- if you sold it, what would it bring? If you put a list of a dozen parts and zero value, that's not going to look right.

Okay, I am probably in for this but I have a question. What if you dont have your wood together by the 3rd but want to enter? Can you just start a thread and declare your entry without a pic of the wood?

I believe I answered this one earlier last week. You have to start your thread by the 3rd. You do not have to have your photo by the 3rd.

I forgot if we don't include a title on the replies with questions it does not get caught for a while.


So Paul or MOD, seek advise per previous messages in the thread...


Ciao

On weekends, I try to spend time with my family and this sometimes takes me away from the TDPRI for periods of time and I can be delayed answering individual questions.

The idea on the limitation of the neck is to keep people honest. Somebody has a $400 neck that has been on another guitar for 4 years, but they want to take it off and count it as a $75 neck for this contest. The rule is unenforceable as it is, but I'd like folks to scrounge a neck and stay in the budget. That's the reasoning behind it. So, you can see the spirit of the rule.

You be the judge of whether or not your neck meets the letter and spirit of these rules.

OK, mine has not even been a neck yet, so I will consider it fair game, especially sine the wood was left here in the shop by the previous owner. I will give it a fair value for the sake of accounting. Just needed to be clear as to if previously worked on and not started from scratch for this build was OK.

On weekends, I try to spend time with my family and this sometimes takes me away from the TDPRI for periods of time and I can be delayed answering individual questions.

Of course, and you should not need to explain that, and I apologize for being the cause of your having done so.

Was I right about the subject line assumption as far as you guys seeing stuff easier ?


Ciao, Bob

Was I right about the subject line assumption as far as you guys seeing stuff easier ?


No, the subject line on posts within a thread isn't material. We have to read through the whole thing.

Always keep in mind that we have upwards of 20,000 posts a week. On a good week I'd guess I read less than 2,000 posts. So, never assume we've read it and are not answering or that our silence is approval or even that we want something to remain on the forum and in place because we haven't acted to remove it.

TDPRA Moderater, i did PM you back and am still waiting to proceed with my build.
Thanks,
Cavi

Sorry, you PM'd at 7 pm Sunday night and I don't work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The rules stand. All builds MUST start with a photo of the uncut wood and a note just as the rules clearly state.

Any build not starting with this will be disqualified.

I understand that winners will be chosen by a poll but what exactly will the poll be based on?

Let's say Joe #1 cuts out a body, buys his neck and all his parts and assembles a guitar.

On the other hand Joe #2 cuts out a body, makes his own neck, winds his own pickups, makes his bridge and control plate.

It doesn't seem like the two Joes above are even in the same contest.

I understand that winners will be chosen by a poll but what exactly will the poll be based on?

Let's say Joe #1 cuts out a body, buys his neck and all his parts and assembles a guitar.

On the other hand Joe #2 cuts out a body, makes his own neck, winds his own pickups, makes his bridge and control plate.

It doesn't seem like the two Joes above are even in the same contest.

Fair question! (from Joe #1)

Also, could we possibly make a rule against canvassing for votes in the poll at the end?

Fair question! (from Joe #1)

Also, could we possibly make a rule against canvassing for votes in the poll at the end?

Does that mean we have to start canvassing now?:mrgreen:

I would hope the vote would be based on the finished product and nothing else.

Mike

I understand that winners will be chosen by a poll but what exactly will the poll be based on?

Let's say Joe #1 cuts out a body, buys his neck and all his parts and assembles a guitar.

On the other hand Joe #2 cuts out a body, makes his own neck, winds his own pickups, makes his bridge and control plate.

It doesn't seem like the two Joes above are even in the same contest.

I'm thinking my hand cut necks are a slight "cut" above an Eden or Mighty-Mite. I have no issues going up against anyone else's build (that honors the $210 limit).
I think the idea is to have fun, winning is just a bonus. :grin:

I agree, the idea of the contest is to not go over the $210 limit, if you build your parts or not that should not matter, that bieng said, the voters will for sure take that fact into consideration, or at least I would and will, even though I will be Joe#1 style. There are still alot of variables, this year's contest takes the finish price into the whole account, where last year's contest did not seem to as the price ist presented from the winner's did not include paint costs and clearly all three winner's used many dollars for finish. My last guitar had at least $60 worth of nitro and probably $20 of sandpaper. For this build I know that since I am buying my parts that is out of the equation

As a spectator only, I think seeing a build where the builder made everything (like Mr. ScatterLee did last time) is more interesting and fun to watch than a the builder who bought most parts. So it would not matter to me if they bought a $1000 neck, when it came time to vote I probably would go for the person who made it all.

Really love watching these BTW. Already there are tables and that one who went out in the woods and cut up a dead stump. Priceless media there already.

j

Since everyone has to cut the body, route it and finish it, I think that this is an equalizing force in the competition. Maybe if you could hold the guitar you'd think differently about a neck that is scratch made -- maybe you'd like it but maybe you wouldn't. It's not a given that a scratch-made neck is better or preferred.

There will be LOTs of folks voting, so they will pick their favorites for LOTs of reasons.

We will work to guide voters and ask them to vote based on various criteria just was we did last year when we had judges. But in the end they will make their selection based on their own criteria, I would think.

Purchased parts vs hand made parts can't really be the basis, because you won't be able to inspect the guitars personally. You'll be using photos and as we all know that's an unreliable way to judge absolute quality.

I considered using judges again, but really, in the end the judges just choose the way the members do -- from the build threads and the photos. And having a larger number of people voting, I think, helps make the process better in this case.

I have an idea for my build, I made a template for a double cut Tele' and would lie to use it but rather than a traditional Tele bridge I've seen a cheap Floyd Rose I'd like to use, would this still count as a tele?

I also have a neck I have started. It's been sawn, and routed to shape but has not finger board or truss rod channel, does anyone object to me using it as long as I put a fair value on the wood?

Thanks

We changed the rules to accommodate non-Tele bridges about a week ago due to popular demand.

Hi Paul,

A question regarding paint.
It does not appear to be expressly stated (or I missed it) that paint is part of the price (though Cavi above mentions it, I think it's his assumption).

Is paint part of the price?
If you use half a can, is it half the price?

Not trying to be nit-picky, just want to be clear (don't wanna be disqualified) :oops:

I need to be clear on the pricing. I have acquired some of the wood that I'm using for free. Should I put a value on this or leave it out of the calculations?

And also, in my search for parts I have been given a bridge, pickup and several other pots/switches for the price of postage. Under the rules of not including the postage in the total cost that would mean these parts were free. Do these also need a value placed on them? I can understand if they were parts I already had, but these were donated specifically for this build

Thanks,
Leigh

I need to be clear on the pricing.

What would the items sell for? You can claim that you've got all these free parts and so you spent .99p for your build, but that's not really in the spirit or the letter of the rules.

I would guess that people will hold that against you come voting time.

Just be totally above board and honest.


3. Parts can be new or used but must be valued reasonably. ALL costs (except shipping) -- including wood costs -- need to be included.

Hi Paul,

A question regarding paint.
It does not appear to be expressly stated (or I missed it) that paint is part of the price (though Cavi above mentions it, I think it's his assumption).

Is paint part of the price?
If you use half a can, is it half the price?

Not trying to be nit-picky, just want to be clear (don't wanna be disqualified) :oops:

Everything is part of the price except shipping costs. As is detailed in the rules.

3. Parts can be new or used but must be valued reasonably. ALL costs (except shipping) -- including wood costs -- need to be included.

Just be totally above board and honest.

I have been, which is why I wanted to ask the question. I'll put a fair value on the parts I use.

Thanks :wink:

I have one question:

If I buy a neck on ebay, do I only include the sale price, not the shipping price, regardless of the ratio of sale price to shipping price(i.e. neck sells for $30 but $50 shipping)?

3. Parts can be new or used but must be valued reasonably. ALL costs (except shipping) -- including wood costs -- need to be included.

Shipping is not included in the pricing.

I have a finish failure and have redo the finish on the body...

Do I count only the stuff that is on the guitar when it is finished or do I have to count the cost of the primer, flake and clear I just peeled off?

Hummm, my first thought was to include both finishes, but thinking about it, I'd say... No, you don't have to count the first ruined finish costs.

I am planning for next years official TDPRI 2011. Does it happen every year at the same time? I know if you buy a neck you have to perches the neck after the start of the contest. Does this apply to tuners, pickups and all the other Paraphernalia needed to build a tele, or can i start scrounging around for parts now as long as i document what i bay for them?

It doesn't necessarily happen at the exact same time every year. This year is about 4 weeks later than last year.

EVERYTHING has be be counted in the cost except shipping.

Nothing can officially be started before the start of the contest.

The contest rules are subject to change every year. There is no guarantee that next year's contest and rules will look anything like this year's contest and rules. So, starting "early" would be a mistake.

Can i just point out that we have VAT in the UK? I'm probably being stupid here but shouldn't the build cost be the exchange rate + 17.5%? Which by my calculations is £161.39.

Taxes are not included because they vary from location to location and that would make it unfair for one person living in one place over another living elsewhere.

That's what i'm saying, if you don't account for tax it's unfair on those that have it... do you just deduct the tax from what you buy?

You list the price without taxes on your accounting post.

Okay, thanks for clearing it up. Not sure why i needed to know though...

Still, i'm glad i stumbled across you guys ;)

aww man! i wish i would have registered sooner and joined :B well i'm eager to see who wins still.

Congratulations on your 11th Anniversary!!! I have truly enjoy my time here, even though it's only been recently that I have joined.

There are so many great builds here, it's going to be tough to decide!