Fender Asheville Redux project

Hi,

I'm new here, but I've been doing basic guitar setup/maintenance for years and don't-quit-yer-day-job gigging off and on for a while.

I've started a telecaster project that will likely become my #1 gigging axe if I do it right - I need more twang to fit in with the band I'm in.

The starting point is a new Fender Nashville Deluxe MIM in Honey Blonde/Maple - chosen for the ash body and maple neck. I plan to mercilessly strip and rebuild it into the "Asheville Redux." Pics will follow if there is any interest.

The teledonor arrived on 7/3 and I spent the holiday stripping it down to (almost) bare wood and ordering parts.

Here is what I have planned for Phase I:


Clean body cavities/neck pocket. DONE
Fret job on neck. IN PROGRESS
Cavity shielding
Barden comp. bridge
Add mojotone copper/steel plate to bridge pup.
Replace pots/switches. IN PROGRESS

Add volume mod
Add toggle to mix bridge pup into switch positions 1 & 2
Wire for reverse control plate
Electrosocket jack upgrade

Chiropractic neck adjustment
Schaller strap lock buttons
Blue pearl guard and knobs - baby needs a new dress :wink:


For now, the tuners and pups are staying: the tuners are OK until the first nylon gear strips (probably a few years) then they are gone. The Tex-Mex pups will get a good listening to once Phase I is done. After that, who knows...

Questions:


The neck pocket is pretty loose - I'm thinking about adding copper tape to the sides ONLY to tighten that up. Good/bad idea? Use some other shim material instead?

Anything obvious I've missed? Suggestions, comments?


Thanks,
DrDeFab