First Time Build! Axesrus Telecaster

Hi everyone, I have been lurking for a while, thought I would share my Telecaster build with you. I have never owned a Tele before, but always wanted one.

After pricing up various parts vendors I decided to go with a Axesrus as I live in Edinburgh, UK and the price seemed the most realistic. I couldn't afford tax and shipping with some of the US suppliers.

I chose the 'parchment' tele body (polyurethane finish), and the 50s style neck with jumbo frets. I ended up doing some very minor levelling and recrowning on the neck. This was only after playing it in for a week or two and identifying some high spots. The finish on the neck looks stunning and is flawless, same for the body.

The joint between neck and body was really good. The neck fitted very snugly and stayed in place. It was also in the right place first time:cool:

I was really impressed by Axesrus, service and quality of goods taken into account. A real class act. Free UK delivery is a bonus.

I also bought all other hardware except pups from Axesrus. Their own brand kluson style tuners are heavier duty than the ones on my import guitars, they are keepers!

I opted for the Wilkinson compensated bridge. I also purchased a pre-assembled control plate from them. All vintage cloth covered wire and heavy duty alpha pots and switch. I replaced the film cap with a mojotastic PIO cap.

The Pickups are Bare Knuckle Stagger '55s. I am really loving the Tele tones.

I bought a 1 ply plastic pickguard and after leaving the tele in a sunny room for a week it had warped. I dug deep and bought a bakelite guard and the difference is night and day visually. The Bakelite is much classier (not to mention stiffer)

This project came in at about £530 (£350 Axesrus, £150 Bare Knuckle and £30 Bakelite guard). This guitar plays and sounds like a guitar of twice that price.

Here are some pics. I have tried to capture the 'parchment' body colour as truthfully as possible:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7245/7393973762_1dc9cc0856_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7087/7393973566_8d41aa525a_b.jpg

Beautiful job - I bet it sounds fantastic.

+2!!!!
Beautiful job - I bet it sounds fantastic.

Thanks. The guitar sounds stellar. The Stagger '55s seem to capture the Tele sound in my head very well. I love the sound with the tone rolled off, something I never bother with on most guitars.

forgot to mention the guitar weighs 3.4 kg (7.5lb). The body is alder.

Axesrus are great! Building a Tele with one of their lovely necks and the Wilkinson bridge that you have there, also got one their prewired control plates as my soldering skills leave much to be desired!

Great job!!!!

I have noticed they now have some b-stock Nitro bodies for sale (sold cheaper as imperfect). I guess they are looking to start providing the UK with Nitro finished parts once they can get a reliable quality from there supplier. I will keep a beady eye on this as is not so easy to get Nitro finished bodies and necks here in the UK.

Very nice, I've had a lot of parts from axesrus and they have never let me down with anything :grin:

I'd love to know where you got the bakelite guard from, assuming it was U.K. sourced.

Strings direct have them - http://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/products/5079-fender_52_telecaster_1_ply_5_hole_scratchplate

I just realised it is £37, not £30 as I mistakenly thought. This is the Fender one from the 52 RI. Fender part number 099-2019-000.

Strings direct have them - http://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/products/5079-fender_52_telecaster_1_ply_5_hole_scratchplate

I just realised it is £37, not £30 as I mistakenly thought. This is the Fender one from the 52 RI. Fender part number 099-2019-000.

Thanks for that, I'm thinking of turning the black guard esquire I made a while ago into a tele and one of those would just finish things off.

Great looking guitar, I also built a kit from Grizzly Industries. I did not use the tuning machines or the pup that came with it. I put on planet wave tuners as I am lazy and don't want to cut the excess wire after re-stringing and the pup are the Texas Specials by Fender and the four way switch. The four way switch is the only way to go. It puts the pup in both series and paralell.

Again, good looking guitar. PS: I was thinking of the Wilkinson compensated bridge. Does it make a difference in the intonation?
Rick

Great work.

Tony and Jackie are a delight to deal with.

:smile: Peter

PS: I was thinking of the Wilkinson compensated bridge. Does it make a difference in the intonation?
Rick


It helps, but isn't perfect. I use 11s and I find that with the high E and B string I am still having to find a middle ground. The other 4 strings are very close as measured with my peterson strobe tuner.

The 4 way thing is quietly gnawing away at me. I am sure I will have to try it eventually.

Greetings fellow Edinbugger!

Great looking Telecaster. I took a similar route (my tele's body came off of Ebay but the rest is 100% Axesrus stuff). I'm happy with everything I've ever purchased from Axesrus. Some people gripe about the site, but in terms of smalltime parts retailers in the Uk it is actually one of the better sites in terms of layout.

I once looked at their "warehouse" on Google earth (using their shipping address) and was sent to a row of houses in Hull. Who knew.

Beautiful!

Greetings fellow Edinbugger!

Great looking Telecaster. I took a similar route (my tele's body came off of Ebay but the rest is 100% Axesrus stuff). I'm happy with everything I've ever purchased from Axesrus. Some people gripe about the site, but in terms of smalltime parts retailers in the Uk it is actually one of the better sites in terms of layout.

I once looked at their "warehouse" on Google earth (using their shipping address) and was sent to a row of houses in Hull. Who knew.

There site improved recently. I remember the old site was really frustrating, but I find the latest revision really good. The email responses I got gave a good impression, they seem to really have an eye on quality control with the necks and bodies. Very hands on. I placed my order 8PM (around 20 items!) and it shipped before 9AM the next morning - Amazing service.

Thanks for all the kind words on this project everyone. It has been really encouraging.:razz:

Great job there, looks like a cracking Tele!

I can echo your experiences with both Axesrus and Bare Knuckle, I'd recommend them to anyone.

Very smart looking tele you got there.

That's a lot of money but you've got a superb guitar there.

Axesrus are great, shame their website is stuck in the '90s.

Put down that electronic tuner! If it's close enough by ear then it's close enough!

A perfectly intonated tele would sound sterile, I don't even bother with compensated, sure it's wacky but it has character and I rarely play much up the neck anyway.

Nice one.

Great Job!!!

That's a lot of money but you've got a superb guitar there.

Axesrus are great, shame their website is stuck in the '90s.

Put down that electronic tuner! If it's close enough by ear then it's close enough!

A perfectly intonated tele would sound sterile, I don't even bother with compensated, sure it's wacky but it has character and I rarely play much up the neck anyway.

Yep modern tuners have a tendency to make you OCD about tuning. I do notice a difference when using the guitar for recording at home, but not so much when playing live (I always tune by ear when playing live.)

I think my figure for the axesrus order was probably over as I did order some extra hardware that I probably will keep for my next project or sell on. Ended up with spare locking straplocks (can't stand the rattle!) and i ordered 2 pickguards I never used.

I was quite nervous as well as I had never really assembled a guitar fully before. I decided to go with the pricier option of finished wood and assembled electronics. Next time might try my own finishing and will definitely wire my own electronics.

It is a curve, and now I have the bug.