Questions about building a Tele (first build)

[DaveBorn2Rock]

Hey guys,
I've lurked on this forum for a while but finally decided to join. I'm excited to be part of such a cool forum and look forward to learning a lot.

Anyway I've been apprenticing with a luthier here in Columbus for a few months and have been trying to decide what to attempt for my first guitar build.
I was thinking about a Les Paul for a while until I saw this.

It's rear-routed, with a mahogany body and maple top and it has a set neck plus 2 humbuckers. As I see it, it's got the best features of the les paul but still has the beauty and feel of a Tele (and of course the 25 1/2'' scale).

At this point, this is my first choice guitar to make.

I've been looking around the web and this forum for plans and I have Terry's drawing (which looks great) and an old drawing from fender.
My main concern was about how to adapt these plans for 2 humbuckers and a set neck. Does anyone have plans for a set neck and/or HH pickup setup? Would it be easy to make the changes? What would such changes entail?
Thanks, I'm looking forward to your insights!

Dave

[Clive Hugh]

That looks beautiful, I just put together a 2 HB tele but I like 2 volums and 2 tone controls. with the right p/u it would sound sweet.

[68thinline]

Welcome to the Forum Dave.

IMO the bolt-on neck is one of Leo Fender's greatest innovations. The simplicity of the design allowed Fender an entry into a difficult market that until that time had been dominated by skilled individuals rather than complex machinery. It revolutionized the production of electric guitars and put them in the hands of many who otherwise could not afford them, just as rock-n-roll was also starting to cross cultural barriers.

Also ask yourself how big of a challenge you'd like to take on for your first build. Don't underestimate the simplicity of a flat-top body and a bolt-on neck.

[DaveBorn2Rock]

Originally Posted by 68thinline

Welcome to the Forum Dave.

IMO the bolt-on neck is one of Leo Fender's greatest innovations. The simplicity of the design allowed Fender an entry into a difficult market that until that time had been dominated by skilled individuals rather than complex machinery. It revolutionized the production of electric guitars and put them in the hands of many who otherwise could not afford them, just as rock-n-roll was also starting to cross cultural barriers.

Also ask yourself how big of a challenge you'd like to take on for your first build. Don't underestimate the simplicity of a flat-top body and a bolt-on neck.

Thanks 68thinline.
I don't have my heart set on making one exactly the same as this. I'm open to using a bolt on but I thought I'd find out what I can about the set neck option. I am pretty set on 2 humbuckers and rear-routing though. I know the neck would be tough to make if I did a set neck but I will have the guidance of my boss who is a professional luthier.
I guess ultimately I can make the neck decision when I get there, but for now I'm just trying to do my pre-build research and find if anyone here has made a tele with 2 humbuckers or a set neck and if they have plans for it, or how to make those changes from a standard tele plan.

Cheers,

Dave

[hackworth1]

Originally Posted by DaveBorn2Rock

Thanks 68thinline.
I don't have my heart set on making one exactly the same as this. I'm open to using a bolt on but I thought I'd find out what I can about the set neck option. I am pretty set on 2 humbuckers and rear-routing though. I know the neck would be tough to make if I did a set neck but I will have the guidance of my boss who is a professional luthier.
I guess ultimately I can make the neck decision when I get there, but for now I'm just trying to do my pre-build research and find if anyone here has made a tele with 2 humbuckers or a set neck and if they have plans for it, or how to make those changes from a standard tele plan.

Cheers,

Dave

Dave,

It's really easy to put in whatever kind of pickups you want and it's not hard to rear mount the controls. Look at my build - Mahogany thinline Flame Maple Top Build. I liked the look of two of Ron Kirn's builds I saw here on tdpri. I incorporated elements from both. I learned a ton of stuff here from others as I went along.

There is a wealth of information here and dozens of talented builders. You just have to hunt down the information you need. Rest assured, it is no harder to put in humbuckers than it is to use the standard tele pickup layout.

[mgdesigns]

As I see your design choice, it's a bolt on neck, but if you prefer to make it a setneck, just create a longer tenon and mortice to go under the bridge pickup, and glue that puppy on. Seems pretty easy (especially if you don't have to do yourself;->). But seeing as your choice has a traditional enough tele style bridge, and no offset neck required - go for it. You'd save the cost of a heel plate and 4 screws. But you'd be stuck with your neck!! See ScatterLee's double cut build for the tenon process.

[DaveBorn2Rock]

Thanks for the advice guys.
As far as the humbuckers go I just wasn't sure if it would change the placement, but it sounds like that's a non-issue.

I look up those other builds you guys mentioned.

Thanks

Dave

[DaveBorn2Rock]

oops sorry this was a double post and I've yet to find a way to delete it.

[Casual_Reader]

http://www.tdpri.com/forum/tele-home...dog-build.html ...pics of the tuff dog tele courtesy of jwells.

in that thread, he says:

Originally Posted by jwells393

On the Merle Haggard Tuff Dog the neck just appears to be a regular Telecaster neck glued into a snug but extended neck pocket.

all the other set neck teles that I've seen were done in a similar manner.

for a first build, a bolt on would seem the way to go. If you want to go crazy with the coupling, do a search here for threaded inserts. When you're all done, loosen the bolts to let the strings pull the neck in, tighten them back up, play it a while and then ask yourself what the advantages of a set neck are.

pg 5 of this pdf shows different p'up placements on a tele.
http://www.tdpri.com/forum/attachmen...tom-deluxe-pdf
if you need more precision than you cant get by printing them out 100% and using a ruler, pm me here.

hopefully the pickups you want to use are available with fender pole spacing.

[DaveBorn2Rock]

Wow, thanks a lot Casual Reader!
VERY helpful links there!