FYI on GuitarFetish "New" Stock of Bodies

[mellecaster]

Not meaning to be a "Dis" on Jay's New stock of Finished Tele Bodies (cause I Love the way all his Pickguards fit)...but he is stating that his Tele bodies will now accept all Fender std. necks and hardware on his latest updating of the Body and neck page. Well after just receiving one this week, I'll give you my take....the width and depth of neck pocket is correct for a good fit...the (4) neck holes drilled in the body are not even close to Fender spec...the string-thru holes are close, and will work...there are no Bridge mount holes, so you're on your own there....and while the bodies are a full 1 3/4" thickness, the control cavity is routed way to shallow to allow use of a CRL or Oak-Grigsby 3-way switch....all of these things can be corrected (the neck hole mis-alignment was a royal pain)....but I felt you guys should be made aware of these shortcomings...I still like the way he does business, and will continue to purchase his Pickguards (cause they fit Great)....but he needs to make buyers aware of these fitment problems in my Opinion.

[tdu]

I wonder if this applies to the guitars as well? They really push the fact that you can use any Fender neck on them in the product descriptions.

[Mr.Reed]

The pickguards are nice!!! haha

[ievans]

I wouldn't hold my breath for Jay to present any information about his products that discourages a sale.

I think the GFS business model relies on volume, so if someone complains, they'll replace or refund, but they're very, well, optimistic about things like compatibility.

[mellecaster]

Originally Posted by ievans

I wouldn't hold my breath for Jay to present any information about his products that discourages a sale.

I think the GFS business model relies on volume, so if someone complains, they'll replace or refund, but they're very, well, optimistic about things like compatibility.

Very well put !.....

[Stuco]

Originally Posted by mellecaster

Very well put !.....

+1

[Jeff_K]

Not to rip on GFS, because I have liked their parts and have some in the mail even, but I just got a new black paulownia body and the top two neck screws are perfect, but the bottom two are off, one by quite a lot. The body was beautiful before I gave it a relic treatment, now it works with my relic'd bridge and controls. But the neck screws were off, the bridge cavity is a little too far left, requiring a bit of routing work and the string-through holes are close enough to work but I'm glad they are covered by the bridge plate. I have to say, the body is so light it doesn't seem like it could be wood, but of course it is. Really amazingly light and worth working on it to get it right. But the neck holes are just awful and the bridge cavity is off by at least 1/4 inch. Scotchbright scrubber was a great tip from the relic guys...worked perfectly to make that shiny new body look old and abused. It was hard to take that first step.

[Chet Johnson]

I saw this thread AFTER I bought a mint green body. Frantically, I grabbed some parts for a dry fit mock up.

1. The control cavity is too shallow for an Oak or switchcraft type vintage switch. I'm gonna see if there's a more shallow , still quality switch out there before routing. Alpha?

2. The neck holes are ok on mine.

3. String through holes line up fine too.


Overall, it seems ok. I don't have a neck to try in it yet.

[Rob DiStefano]

a well placed 1" or so diameter forstner bit in the control cavity, drilled down 1/8" or so, solves the crl or oak switch fit.

the rest of the neck pocket, neck screw holes, string holes, etc. issues can be unique and will require individual attention - i've assembled 11 gfs tele/strat p-wood bodies, they all had somewhat different issues. i'd expect the same from this new, and higher priced, batch.

[Strat62]

I just used a new body as well. I was pleased to no end that the ferrule holes were right, the bridge pup route was large enough and the jack hole was the right size. My neck screw holes were the right pattern, but not exactly square, as you can see. The finish was ok; buffed nicely but there were a few blemishes in the finish; pretty tiny tho. All in all, a pretty damned nice deal for $49! Edit: LOL! The finish IS pretty nice; check out my reflection!

[Chet Johnson]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEWNX:IT

I ordered this switch to try for clearance without "digging aroound" and cutting wood out. Has anyone tried one before? Quality? Have a schematic?

[Rob DiStefano]

for the very most part, those cheapo squarish asian switches will work with gfs p-wood bodies.

[Chet Johnson]

Originally Posted by Rob DiStefano

for the very most part, those cheapo squarish asian switches will work with gfs p-wood bodies.

WOO HOO! Now, http://www.effectsconnection.com/images/3wayschem.pdf using this as my only reference so far, how do I wire the switch? It will be 2 standard pickups.

[Fogboundturtle]

They also added Pedals now

[spiteface]

Good job I spotted this thread. I was considering getting a Butterscotch body for my CV tele.

Might have to think a bit longer about this. I've been wanting a different finish for my CV tele for a while, and figured this might work out a bit cheaper for me, but I don't want to end up with something I might not be able to use in the end.

[garymaddox]

I saw a Strat body recently that the holes were WAY off. I don't think a standard neck with holes could be mounted if you tried.

[jwells393]

Originally Posted by Chet Johnson

WOO HOO! Now, http://www.effectsconnection.com/images/3wayschem.pdf using this as my only reference so far, how do I wire the switch? It will be 2 standard pickups.

Those switches are often wired with the neck pickup wire going to terminals 1&2, the bridge pickup wire going to terminals 7&8. Solder the switch output wire to terminals 4&5.

[Chet Johnson]

Originally Posted by jwells393

Those switches are often wired with the neck pickup wire going to terminals 1&2, the bridge pickup wire going to terminals 7&8. Solder the switch output wire to terminals 4&5.

I'm reconsidering that switch. I think I'm going to Route the comtrol cavity a little deeper and paint it, along with the pickup cavities plack (so tat they all match). There wont be a template to buy since the bit will just follor the original route, just going deeper.

Then, I'll still use a standard vintage Fender switch, so I'm not leary of the electronics' quality because of "space restraints"

[Rob DiStefano]

i'd rather use a crl or oak switch instead of that asian krap. load yer control plate, set on the cavity, push down - it should leave mark where the pup switch hits the cavity floor - just sand down that rub mark for the needed 1/16" of clearance and yer done ... or use a fostner bit for an instant fix.

[Chet Johnson]

I routed the whole control cavity and painted it black, along with both pickup cavities to match.

A vintage Fender switch fits in nicely, and it looks like it could've come that way.

I can't wait for the neck to come.

[mellecaster]

Since I started this thread....here's how it turned out...once I put the fitment issues behind me, it turned out to be a pretty nice finished build...Light and very Resonant.

[Zeppelanoid]

Orange tele mmm-mmmm good.

[Stylemaster]

Originally Posted by mellecaster

Since I started this thread....here's how it turned out...once I put the fitment issues behind me, it turned out to be a pretty nice finished build...Light and very Resonant.

Very nice, Tony!

[Rob DiStefano]

killer tele, tony!

[mellecaster]

Thanks Andy and Rob...the Fun part is when someone comes in the Shop and picks it up, and there is always the comment to follow on the weight (or lack thereof )

[zoobear]

Very sharp!
I hope it sounds as great as it looks!

[Rob DiStefano]

although this 2nd batch of gfs p-wood bodies is definitely heavier than the first batch, the overall build, routing layout and finish is just great and lots better than the 1st gfs batch. what a deal for 50 buck$.

[Stylemaster]

Do these GFS bodies have the neck pocket notch on the strap-button bout side of the neck cavity? Like my pic below? Can't tell from GFS's pix. (I can't stand bodies that don't have this detail - like many '70's Teles that CBS cut corners on [no pun intended]). Tony's orange-caster has a little bit of it but Chet Johnson's green body has more.