My self built Teles; feeling pretty smug

PeterUK · April 27th, 2003, 07:26 AM

My two main guitars are both self built Teles. This one with the white pickguard

and my TDPRI prize "Broadcaster" which is featured on the www link below.

Both were quite "expensive" to put together (obviously the Broadcaster was the cheapest since the body and neck were courtesy of USACG/TDPRI !!) and I had started to question whether it would have been cheaper to buy a 52-RI and a Custom Shop No-Caster.

Well on Friday I was in Birmingham, UK on business and got a call to say the meeting I was to attend was put back which meant I had an hour or so to kill. Rather conveniently, a music store, Sound Control was just around the corner, so I used the time very effectively!

I must confess the store - in UK terms is huge - and the staff very very helpful. They effectively left me to my own devices as they were more interested in keeping an eye on a bunch of teenagers - obviously some sort of Goth Band - who were more interested in cranking out grunge with BC Rich axes. Very scary (the music and the teenagers!).

Now, rather conveniently, the CS and Vintage series axes were in a corner, together with a Fender Cyber Twin (tremendous amp!). So for an hour, I had my run of several CS No-Casters and quickly came to the conclusion that my self built axes were just as good. No! Better.

Don't get me wrong, the CS No-Casters were well built, nice guitars, but I was surprised by the following:

1. Set up. The Closet Classic buzzed along the length of the neck. I assume it would be set up if I was to buy it, but for an off-the-shelf $1500 guitar, I was surpised that it buzzed at all.
2. The bridge pick ups. My guitars really TWANG. My Vintiqued, white pickguard axe has a specially wound pick up to suit the stainless steel bridge and sounds fantastic, whereas the "Broadcaster" has a Peter Florance VooDoo which quite frankly is amazing. Loud, twangy, bassy, responsive and powerful. Also, both of my bridge pick ups are more responsive to the tone control.
3. The neck pick ups. With one one of them - I think it was the Relic No-Caster, when I flicked the selector switch to the neck pick up, the volume dropped off dramatically and I was reaching for the volume switch on the amp to get a respectable output.

In their favour, I really liked the necks and all were light - 7 to 8 pounds I would guess - and looked great.

To be honest, I was playing through an unfamiliar amp so it was hardly a back-to-back test, but I left feeling very satisfied with my own efforts, as both worked out cheaper than a No-Caster, play better (the Vintiqued one was set up by Jay himself to be fair) and have pick-ups to suit my tastes.

Plus, of course, I've got the satisfaction of having done it myself.

Me. I'm feeling pretty smug.

Regards

Peter

The Snowman · April 27th, 2003, 09:47 AM

Peter...if ya keep maikin guitars like these...ya might have ta go in business....really nice.....don

Smokin OP · April 27th, 2003, 10:10 AM

Peter,
You have a right to be proud of your Tele's. Would love to get my hands on it to try it out myself. Wouldn't surprise me if some of your mates start requesting your services building these beauties. Good job!

OP

FrankenTex · April 27th, 2003, 12:12 PM

You picked the right place to do your braggin'! Might as well post some closeups or construction pictures.

Great Job!

Unburst · April 27th, 2003, 01:34 PM

Nice Teles Peter and I have to say I'm not surprised that they equal a Nocaster which is overrated imo.
Just fyi though-on a Nocaster the neck pickup is actually the middle pos. of the switch, what is normally neck pos. is the neck pup with a preset treble roll off which does make it sound dull and quiet.
The tone control is actually a blend for the neck pup when you're in the bridge pos.

Lew UK · April 27th, 2003, 01:42 PM

how much would you charge?

PeterUK · April 27th, 2003, 03:44 PM

Soon after I posted this I thought I may come across self-conceited, so your kind words have put my mind at rest.

Unburst. Yes, you're right of course. Thanks for the info. And Lew, I'm going to do another one and then I may consider doing it for others.

The next project is to take the Broadcaster theme to another level and produce an authentic replica, similar to Bob Sickler's projects. I'm in discussion with Tommy at USACG about authentic replica bodies and necks and this is a summary of that conversation (I'll post it on Tele Tech too). As follows:

Tommy confirms that USACG can do the vintage routes and a thinner, authentic thickness body. They can also do the angled wiring rout, the routers hump and the rout going from the neck pocket into the neck pick up too.

Because Fender used very crude routing back in the 50s and 60s and USACG don’t use those types of tools, the shelf-style neck pocket or the pin router holes can’t be reproduced.

The jack cup area can be rounded over to look vintage authentic with a bit of self-sanding and Tommy tells me that he has matched up the USACG perimeter with a few '52 Teles and some were dead on and others were miles off. Fender apparently used aluminium templates back in the old days so they got sanded smaller as they sanded more bodies so they all varied a bit. Apparently, when they started getting noticeably smaller Fender replaced the template. They were hand done with old-school routers so they varied just by human error.

With regard to authentic necks, Tommy tells me that USACG could do the headstock as a paddle head with a big V-profile. An extra $50.00 is required to move the dots .030" at the twelfth fret. The extra cost is because USACG would have to lay them out and drill them by hand.

There are no licensing issues on the bodies whatsoever as Fender lost the trademarks on the bodies years ago and by ordering a paddle head, this avoids any licensing issues for USACG on the neck. If its your you can do what peg head shape you want.

Tommy pointed out that a CNC router uses the same bits as pin router, so they basically are the same tools cutting the same way. The only thing missing from them is human error and less precision which is perhaps a good thing?

The one thing I didn't mention is the ferrule holes and to be authentic "Broadcaster" these need to be uneven/staggered, so I'll mention this to Tommy when I next drop him a note. My thoughts are perhaps to have these drilled under-sized and when the ferrules are fitted, the holes can be opened up to the right diameter and staggered to look authentic.

So there you have it. Authentic bodies and necks from the best in the business.

BTW, they do a 54-profile neck that sounds just right.

Once the milled jack cups have been produced, the only item I think will produce a challenge will be the bridge, but I have plans to reproduce them. Watch this space.

Best regards

Peter

Pedalworld · April 27th, 2003, 04:43 PM

Nick Fanis · April 28th, 2003, 05:40 AM

GREAT axe!I also prefer self made teles to Fender ones.The only way to get exactly what you want at a reasonable price...

wattsy · August 22nd, 2003, 07:23 PM

Wow... your Tele's make me salivate with envy!!!
I'm new to this guitar making stuff, but I have a very willing (and capable) carpenter who said he would happily make the body for me. The only problem is, is the placement of the body cavities. How did you get it right?! I was wondering whether you can get plans and if so where from? Is it possible to get a full scale PDF of a tele body on the internet somewhere? Oryou could just give me one of your beauties!!!!

Anyhelp would be most appriciated. :D

PeterUK · August 22nd, 2003, 07:33 PM

Hi Stu

There are various sources for plan and I remember seeing them on eBay.

It's late here in the UK and I'm just off to bed, but if no-one can advise you before tomorrow for a source of plans, then I'll trawl though my bookmarked pages.

Guys. One if the luther supplies has Tele plans?? Who is it.

Regards

Peter

Michael Murphy · August 22nd, 2003, 08:28 PM

Musical Instrument Makers Forum has full scale, dimensioned Tele blueprints.

Scroll down about halfway to the 'Services' section.....

-Michael
Charter Member S. Texas He-Man Emoticon Haters Local #316

wattsy · September 11th, 2003, 10:44 PM

Thanks guys, I eventually found a guy who owns a vintage repair store. He had a '53 body that was being restored. He let me make plans from that! So that what I am going to do!!!
Thanks again!

Doc · September 11th, 2003, 11:56 PM

Very, very nice!

Dale

Scotland · September 12th, 2003, 04:00 AM

What you have just said makes me feel totally inadequate. I was feeling quite smug myself (knowing my project is almost finished) until I read your post. You certainly have two of the nicest guitars around, no question there.
Good luck with the "original" Broadcaster project.
As someone said previously ....can you post pics of the production stages ?

PeterUK · September 12th, 2003, 04:43 AM

Shucks.

I remember writing that one and then thinking that it would come back and bite me one the.....

Well you know.

Yes, the replica Broadcaster project is still on the cards but I must confess that finding accurate body and neck parts is the biggest challenge.

I'm in regular touch with one of the guys on here and he's got a pal who is a luthier with one of the big vendor custom shops who's planning to produce a limited run of handmade, accurate, period body and necks reflecting the 1950s era.

Brian Poe has also got some late 50s bodies planned for production so I'm holding back to see if these two projects produce the goods.

Maybe by Christmas I may have something to report?

Thanks for the post.

I'm sooooo embaressed that this one keeps popping up!!

Peter

April 27th, 2003, 07:26 AM	#1 (permalink)
PeterUK Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: . Posts: 3,320	My self built Teles; feeling pretty smug My two main guitars are both self built Teles. This one with the white pickguard and my TDPRI prize "Broadcaster" which is featured on the www link below. Both were quite "expensive" to put together (obviously the Broadcaster was the cheapest since the body and neck were courtesy of USACG/TDPRI !!) and I had started to question whether it would have been cheaper to buy a 52-RI and a Custom Shop No-Caster. Well on Friday I was in Birmingham, UK on business and got a call to say the meeting I was to attend was put back which meant I had an hour or so to kill. Rather conveniently, a music store, Sound Control was just around the corner, so I used the time very effectively! I must confess the store - in UK terms is huge - and the staff very very helpful. They effectively left me to my own devices as they were more interested in keeping an eye on a bunch of teenagers - obviously some sort of Goth Band - who were more interested in cranking out grunge with BC Rich axes. Very scary (the music and the teenagers!). Now, rather conveniently, the CS and Vintage series axes were in a corner, together with a Fender Cyber Twin (tremendous amp!). So for an hour, I had my run of several CS No-Casters and quickly came to the conclusion that my self built axes were just as good. No! Better. Don't get me wrong, the CS No-Casters were well built, nice guitars, but I was surprised by the following: 1. Set up. The Closet Classic buzzed along the length of the neck. I assume it would be set up if I was to buy it, but for an off-the-shelf $1500 guitar, I was surpised that it buzzed at all. 2. The bridge pick ups. My guitars really TWANG. My Vintiqued, white pickguard axe has a specially wound pick up to suit the stainless steel bridge and sounds fantastic, whereas the "Broadcaster" has a Peter Florance VooDoo which quite frankly is amazing. Loud, twangy, bassy, responsive and powerful. Also, both of my bridge pick ups are more responsive to the tone control. 3. The neck pick ups. With one one of them - I think it was the Relic No-Caster, when I flicked the selector switch to the neck pick up, the volume dropped off dramatically and I was reaching for the volume switch on the amp to get a respectable output. In their favour, I really liked the necks and all were light - 7 to 8 pounds I would guess - and looked great. To be honest, I was playing through an unfamiliar amp so it was hardly a back-to-back test, but I left feeling very satisfied with my own efforts, as both worked out cheaper than a No-Caster, play better (the Vintiqued one was set up by Jay himself to be fair) and have pick-ups to suit my tastes. Plus, of course, I've got the satisfaction of having done it myself. Me. I'm feeling pretty smug. Regards Peter __________________ .

April 27th, 2003, 09:47 AM	#2 (permalink)
The Snowman Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Philly Pa Posts: 764	hmmmmm nice Peter...if ya keep maikin guitars like these...ya might have ta go in business....really nice.....don __________________ Vice President, Friends Of The Forgotten http://www.streetshooter.us

April 27th, 2003, 10:10 AM	#3 (permalink)
Smokin OP Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Leesburg, GA Posts: 354	Beautiful Peter, You have a right to be proud of your Tele's. Would love to get my hands on it to try it out myself. Wouldn't surprise me if some of your mates start requesting your services building these beauties. Good job! OP __________________ It's so country, it couldn't go pop with a mouthful of firecrackers.

April 27th, 2003, 12:12 PM	#4 (permalink)
FrankenTex Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 369	Outstanding! You picked the right place to do your braggin'! Might as well post some closeups or construction pictures. Great Job! __________________ I don't suck yet but, with lots of practice, I will suck pretty soon. You might say I am in my "Pre-Suck" phase. Dare to suck! =FrankenTex=

April 27th, 2003, 03:44 PM	#7 (permalink)
PeterUK Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: . Posts: 3,320	Thanks Guys. Some more info... Soon after I posted this I thought I may come across self-conceited, so your kind words have put my mind at rest. Unburst. Yes, you're right of course. Thanks for the info. And Lew, I'm going to do another one and then I may consider doing it for others. The next project is to take the Broadcaster theme to another level and produce an authentic replica, similar to Bob Sickler's projects. I'm in discussion with Tommy at USACG about authentic replica bodies and necks and this is a summary of that conversation (I'll post it on Tele Tech too). As follows: Tommy confirms that USACG can do the vintage routes and a thinner, authentic thickness body. They can also do the angled wiring rout, the routers hump and the rout going from the neck pocket into the neck pick up too. Because Fender used very crude routing back in the 50s and 60s and USACG don’t use those types of tools, the shelf-style neck pocket or the pin router holes can’t be reproduced. The jack cup area can be rounded over to look vintage authentic with a bit of self-sanding and Tommy tells me that he has matched up the USACG perimeter with a few '52 Teles and some were dead on and others were miles off. Fender apparently used aluminium templates back in the old days so they got sanded smaller as they sanded more bodies so they all varied a bit. Apparently, when they started getting noticeably smaller Fender replaced the template. They were hand done with old-school routers so they varied just by human error. With regard to authentic necks, Tommy tells me that USACG could do the headstock as a paddle head with a big V-profile. An extra $50.00 is required to move the dots .030" at the twelfth fret. The extra cost is because USACG would have to lay them out and drill them by hand. There are no licensing issues on the bodies whatsoever as Fender lost the trademarks on the bodies years ago and by ordering a paddle head, this avoids any licensing issues for USACG on the neck. If its your you can do what peg head shape you want. Tommy pointed out that a CNC router uses the same bits as pin router, so they basically are the same tools cutting the same way. The only thing missing from them is human error and less precision which is perhaps a good thing? The one thing I didn't mention is the ferrule holes and to be authentic "Broadcaster" these need to be uneven/staggered, so I'll mention this to Tommy when I next drop him a note. My thoughts are perhaps to have these drilled under-sized and when the ferrules are fitted, the holes can be opened up to the right diameter and staggered to look authentic. So there you have it. Authentic bodies and necks from the best in the business. BTW, they do a 54-profile neck that sounds just right. Once the milled jack cups have been produced, the only item I think will produce a challenge will be the bridge, but I have plans to reproduce them. Watch this space. Best regards Peter __________________ .

April 27th, 2003, 01:34 PM	#5 (permalink)
Unburst Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 185	Nice Teles Peter and I have to say I'm not surprised that they equal a Nocaster which is overrated imo. Just fyi though-on a Nocaster the neck pickup is actually the middle pos. of the switch, what is normally neck pos. is the neck pup with a preset treble roll off which does make it sound dull and quiet. The tone control is actually a blend for the neck pup when you're in the bridge pos.

April 27th, 2003, 01:42 PM	#6 (permalink)
Lew UK Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Where the cheese rolls Posts: 1,396	how much would you charge?

April 27th, 2003, 04:43 PM	#8 (permalink)
Pedalworld Banned Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 936	Ho-made

April 28th, 2003, 05:40 AM	#9 (permalink)
Nick Fanis Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Athens-GREECE Posts: 1,843 15 Photos	GREAT axe!I also prefer self made teles to Fender ones.The only way to get exactly what you want at a reasonable price... __________________ "Hit him again Jack,he is crazy!" Hunter S.Thompson www.myspace.com/nickfanis

August 22nd, 2003, 07:23 PM	#10 (permalink)
wattsy TDPRI Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 71	Re: My self built Teles; feeling pretty smug Wow... your Tele's make me salivate with envy!!! I'm new to this guitar making stuff, but I have a very willing (and capable) carpenter who said he would happily make the body for me. The only problem is, is the placement of the body cavities. How did you get it right?! I was wondering whether you can get plans and if so where from? Is it possible to get a full scale PDF of a tele body on the internet somewhere? Oryou could just give me one of your beauties!!!! Anyhelp would be most appriciated. :D

August 22nd, 2003, 07:33 PM	#11 (permalink)
PeterUK Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: . Posts: 3,320	Blimey, that's an old post Hi Stu There are various sources for plan and I remember seeing them on eBay. It's late here in the UK and I'm just off to bed, but if no-one can advise you before tomorrow for a source of plans, then I'll trawl though my bookmarked pages. Guys. One if the luther supplies has Tele plans?? Who is it. Regards Peter __________________ .

August 22nd, 2003, 08:28 PM	#12 (permalink)
Michael Murphy Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: I can hit the Pacific Ocean and/or Canada with a rock from here... Age: 63 Posts: 1,227	Musical Instrument Makers Forum has full scale, dimensioned Tele blueprints. Scroll down about halfway to the 'Services' section..... -Michael Charter Member S. Texas He-Man Emoticon Haters Local #316 __________________ *Just an analog boy in a digital world...*

September 11th, 2003, 10:44 PM	#13 (permalink)
wattsy TDPRI Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 71	Thanks guys, I eventually found a guy who owns a vintage repair store. He had a '53 body that was being restored. He let me make plans from that! So that what I am going to do!!! Thanks again!

September 11th, 2003, 11:56 PM	#14 (permalink)
Doc Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: South Dakota Posts: 1,096	Very, very nice! Dale

September 12th, 2003, 04:00 AM	#15 (permalink)
Scotland Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Aberdeen, Scotland, Yewrup Age: 55 Posts: 7,476 3 Photos	Now What you have just said makes me feel totally inadequate. I was feeling quite smug myself (knowing my project is almost finished) until I read your post. You certainly have two of the nicest guitars around, no question there. Good luck with the "original" Broadcaster project. As someone said previously ....can you post pics of the production stages ? __________________ All those who believe in psycho-kinesis, raise my hand !

September 12th, 2003, 04:43 AM	#16 (permalink)
PeterUK Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: . Posts: 3,320	Blimey, this post keeps coming back to haunt me! Shucks. I remember writing that one and then thinking that it would come back and bite me one the..... Well you know. Yes, the replica Broadcaster project is still on the cards but I must confess that finding accurate body and neck parts is the biggest challenge. I'm in regular touch with one of the guys on here and he's got a pal who is a luthier with one of the big vendor custom shops who's planning to produce a limited run of handmade, accurate, period body and necks reflecting the 1950s era. Brian Poe has also got some late 50s bodies planned for production so I'm holding back to see if these two projects produce the goods. Maybe by Christmas I may have something to report? Thanks for the post. I'm sooooo embaressed that this one keeps popping up!! Peter __________________ .

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