2012 TDPRI Build Challenge RULES -- Revised 4/3 - 14-Day Disqualification Added

The 2012 Build Challenge will start on March 14, 2012. On March 14th I will post the way you will be required to prove that you are starting on that date. You'll be required to show all the raw wood/material used in the build with the proof of the date. This will insure that no one starts before the 14th. It will require the ability to print an attached document on our website. NOTE: when you start your actual build and post your photos of materials is up to you as long as it is after the 14th. Also note that you must at least begin your build thread on or before March 14th. All the details concerning the build thread are listed below.

Here are the rules this year.* No Exceptions. Keep in mind that if this is too difficult, the time frame is too short or it's the wrong time of year where you live we do not care. Read ALL the rules carefully, failure to comply with them completely may result in your disqualification.

1. You will be required to build both a body and a neck from scratch. No pre-cut fingerboards will be allowed this year.

2. The Challenge will end (all work completed and posted) by end of day (11:59 pm Central US Time) on Monday, May 14th.

3. The body must be based on a resemblance to a Telecaster shape -- everything else about the guitar can be different than a Telecaster, but the body will be required to be able to be seen as a telecaster or a variation of a Telecaster. The body and neck must have a finish -- no bare wood -- unless the guitar is made out of a material that does not require a finish, such as plastic, metal, etc. If you think your design may be a problem in regards to this rule send an email to the Admin for an official determination. All decisions are final.

4. There is no limit to the amount of money you can spend. But you must do all the work yourself and document all the work in your thread, as well.

5. All members will be required to post a video (60 sec minimum length) by NOON Central Standard US Time May 14, 2012 of the guitar being played -- if electric through an amplifier -- with sound -- on YouTube and then embedded in your build thread. Don't have a video camera? Find a friend with a camcorder or a camera or a cell phone with video capabilities. We want to know your guitar is playable, stays in tune and sounds good. It does not have to be you playing the guitar in the video. If there is no video... you'll be disqualified.

6. There will be three categories: Overall winner, Fastest Completion and Best Beginner (first build) winners.

7. One winner and two-runner ups will be selected by the membership in the Overall and Best Beginner categories.

Overall Winner
This category will consist of everyone that doesn't enter the Beginner category and doesn't win the Fastest Completion category. The TDPRI membership will select the winner and runners up in this category. Members will be instructed to consider the final product outcome, the beauty of the guitar and the desirability of the guitar when they vote but, unlike years past, they will only make one vote for the overall winner (i.e. they will not vote for beauty or desirability as separate votes).

Fastest Completion Category
The Fastest winner will be selected by the date and time shown on the final build post in the contestant's build thread. Those attempting to win this category should state in their final build post that they are 100% completed and they must email the TDPRI Admin when they post their final build post to alert us to the possible conclusion of this category. The winner of this category will not be considered for the Overall Winner category.

You do not have to do anything to enter this category -- the person that finishes first will automatically be the winner. However, all the other criteria and rules must be met. If you finish first but the guitar is clearly rushed and substandard it will not be considered for the winner in this prize. This will be determined by a vote of the other entrants in this year's challenge by secret ballot PMs sent to the Admin. If the entrant is denied fastest build for any reason he will then contend for the overall prize and the next fastest finisher will be considered.

There will be one winner. If two or more member's tie for the exact moment of completion (down to the minute) the other entrants in the overall contest will select one winner, by secret ballot PMs.

Best Beginner Category
Each entrant must declare in their first post of their build thread if they are entering in the Best Beginner category and make a statement of their level of build experience (i.e. none). If this is not done in the first post, they may not be considered for Best Beginner even if this is their first build. To be eligible the entrant must not have ever cut a body or a neck out of bare wood and/or routed and shaped either of these items. It must be their first scratch build. However, having assembled and/or finished pre-cut and routed parts (that they were not party to creating) in the past will NOT disqualify anyone from this category.

8. One entry per member please. Once a member starts a build thread he may not start another or document the build of more than one guitar in a build thread.

9. Build threads will not be judged in this Challenge but MUST include Photos of the raw materials, the process of cutting, shaping and/or routing of the body and the neck. Photos must also be included of the finishing and assembly of the guitar.

The purpose of this Challenge is to document the building of your guitar. Any build thread determined to not detail the actual building of the guitar will be disqualified and removed. So, even if it is not your way to photograph and post about the process you must meet this requirement.

UPDATED RULE Apr 3: Build threads should be updated WEEKLY by every builder. Any build thread not updated by the Challenge participant after 14 consecutive days will be disqualified and removed.

We will have a separate forum for your build threads -- You must start your build thread no later than 11:59 PM on March 14th in this new forum once it opens for posting. The forum will open before March 14th. No late entries will be accepted. Your first post establishing your build thread is your official entry. And, remember, if you are entering the Best Beginner category you must declare this fact in your first post.

Your first post does not have to be the actual start of your actual build and you do not have to show your materials with the "proof of date" image in your first post. You may do this in your first post but it is not required. Remember, the one post per week rule applies whether you have started your actual build or not.

UPDATED RULE Mar 13: Participants must begin working on their project no later than April 1, 2012. Any build thread that does not have the Proof of Start / Materials photo posted by end of day 4/1/2012 will be disqualified and removed from the Challenge.


All winners will receive Gift Certificates from Stewart - MacDonald. $100 for first place, $75 for second place and $50 for third place. (Fastest will have only one winner and will not have 2nd or 3rd place prizes.)

Use the following thread to post any questions, problems or general discussion of this year's Build Challenge and this year's set of rules:
http://www.tdpri.com/forum/tele-home-depot/315994-2012-tdpri-build-challenge-rule-discusison.html

NOTE: All dates and times shown are US Central Daylight Savings Time.

* These rules are subject to change -- based upon any unforeseen problems that arise.