See what you guys did! Thanks A Lot!!!!

[PCR985]

No really, thanks to everybody on TDPRI! Hanging around here taught me enough, and given me the inspiration, to put together one OUTRAGEOUS Tele that I REALLY enjoy playing.

It took me over 13 months, but I am finally finished with my Tele Build (Assembly... whatever you want to call it). Here's the story.....

I've been a die-hard Strat guy since 1979, and never imagined I would play (much less own) anything besides a strat.

Then I found this site in July 2008. Hanging around here, a started to see all the awesome Tele's and started gassing for one. I almost bought a brand new Double Bound 3-Tone Sunburst '62 AVRI. But, being a person that can't leave ANYTHING un-modified, I started to add up the cost of new pickups, new bridge, new saddles,etc. And soon I was looking at a +$2K investment. The more I lurked on this site, the more convinced I was that I could build a tele myself exactly the way I wanted from parts.

Plus, since I own several Strats, kinda knew that if I just went and plunked down a wad of cash for another guitar, there was a good chance that after a while it would end up sitting in the corner or in the closet un-played after the honeymoon period. However, if I 'built' one exactly the way I wanted from the beginning, and I take my time researching and experimenting (and learning) as I put everything together, I would take a lot of pride in the end result and make something special.

So I started out coming up with a list of objectives that I wanted in my guitar:

• Modern Country twang
• Clean full tone: think Alan Jackson
• Double-bound body
• Nitro finish
• Burst finish w/ interesting grain
• Swamp Ash (light) wood
• Not to be affraid to try new or different things
• Don't just build a 'stock' Fender guitar
• Take my time and have fun

So I started to monitor Ebay auctions and Craigslist ads to see how much stuff was being sold for. At the same time I started to browse through venders and postings to decide where to buy other components and to determine what bridges, saddles, pickup, etc. that I wanted.

Here's what I ended up slapping together (remember, I wasn't trying to make a '62AVRI clone, I was just inspired by it).

Body: Musikraft: 2pc Swamp Ash
Finish: The Guitar Mill (Double Bound: Honeyburst Nitro)
Neck: '62 AVRI Rosewood
PUPs: Don Mare Hayrides
control Plate: Callaham
Knobs: Callaham
Jack Plate: Callaham Electrosocket
Strap buttons: Fender
Tuners: Fender
Ferrules: Fender
Bridge: Glendale SS
Saddles: Glendale Brass
Pickguard: Callaham Single ply 8-hole parchment
Pots: CTS: 280K Audio, 250K Audio
Switch: CRL 3-way
Cap: Sprague VitQ 0.039 uf
Case: G&G Case Brown Tolex

The results? See for yourself (linky)
I love playing this thing. It looks and sounds exactly like I want, and I don't even have to mod it to get there....cus I already did.

Thanks,

PCR985

[kate033]

Congrats! Isn't it a wonderful feeling to have a guitar that is exactly the way you dreamed it! I know I get much more playing time out of a partscaster than an off the shelf Fender.

Looks gorgeous! Great choice on those pickups too! I just put a set of Don Mare's in my tele and they are unbelievable.

[Tele Fan]

That's a nice looking guitfiddle you've got there. Congrats on the build.

[Mark Davis]

Looks good so how much did it end up costing?

[edwardjeffrey]

Man that's real purdy!!Does it play as good as it looks?Congrats on a fine job!

[Strongpersuader]

Congrats PC!

I know exactly how you feel, just because I have just done the same :)

The main difference is that I decided for a black guard 51 Tele with Nocaster pups. This weekend I will take some time to shoot pictures and I will post a new thread here.

Enjoy your gorgeous brand new axe!

PS: I am looking forward for my band practice tonight with my new Tele.

Edited for typos!

[Hoodster]

Stunning--Congrats!

[GKev222]

sweet guitar

[Ron Garson]

It looks superb!

[Telenator]

Stunning! A superb job!

[rocketop777]

Stunningly gorgeous guitar!!! The grain and finish are drool-worthy!! You've got a real looker there!!

[indiobravo]

nice!

[caliban335]

Excellent. I love the look of Sunburst Customs.

[Sterling Indigo]

Beautiful and inspiring!

[IPLAYLOUD]

Welcome to the Club.
Beautiful use of Honeyburst over that Ash body.

What were those other guitars you have been playing since 1979?
It doesn't matter now. ;-)

Let us know what compliments you get when you take her out.

[riolux]

That looks so good I can't believe it!

I also put together my own tele. I'm still modifying and tweaing partscaster number one, but number two is my favourite guitar ever!

[BAW4742]

Looks great! I like the rosewood neck. I would have slapped a tort guard on that one but that just me. :-)

She's real purty all the same! You did good.

[PCR985]

Originally Posted by Mark Davis

Looks good so how much did it end up costing?

Here's my actual budget (hope Mrs. PCR doesn't see this....):

Parts: Budget (Actual)
Body: $200 ($170)
Neck: $350 ($250)
Control Plate: $22 ($22)
Knobs: $38 ($38)
Strap buttons: $15 ($3)
Jack Plate: $12 ($12)
Tuners: $37 ($22)
Ferrules: $21 ($5)
Bridge: $78 ($125)
Saddles: $37 ($58)
Pickguard: $28 ($28)
Pots: $19 ($19)
Switch: $12 ($12)
Finish: $355 ($355)
PUPs: $210 ($200)
Cap: $25 ($5)
*Neck Inserts: $- ($10)
*Refret: $- ($230) (Vintage frets)
*G&G Case: $- ($80) Brown Tolex

Total: $1,459 ($1,644)

My total was $185 over budget, but if I back out my three 'optional' line items, I'm actually under my budget by $135.

Considering the cost of a brand new '62 AVRI at MF is $2K, I think I did pretty well.

I should actually thank my poker buddies for financing this guitar. I think my out of pocket $$$ was only a few hundred bucks.

[marcbc]

Thats awesome man congrats! Nice work!

[Joe M]

That second pic really shows off the beautiful grain in the body....how bout a shot of the back???

[PCR985]

Thanks for all the kind words!

Originally Posted by Joe M

That second pic really shows off the beautiful grain in the body....how bout a shot of the back???

Here are two pics I took right after I got the body back from Guitar Mill. The finish was so awesome looking, I bolted the neck on and shot some pics.

It's hard to tell in the picture, but the grain has a 3-D look to it depending on the angle the light hits it.

[django365]

Really Awesome Build!!!
Good Work

[ADK Teleman]

PC,
Fantastic craftsmanship!!! Absolutely gorgeous Tele..:)

[mchet]

PC, being on my first build (now 3 months and counting) I can tell you I am EXTREMELY jealous!!!

I hope mine turns out 1 third as nice as yours!!!

[rangercaster]

awesome job !!! if you go piece by piece, the hit on the wallet doesn't seem as severe ... but, i don't think i would have the patience ...

[PaisleyIsGod]

That is an unreal looking guitar. BEAUTIFUL finish. Congrats on building exactly what you wanted. I'd say getting the guitar with every detail you want is worth almost any price.

[Crabby]

Congrats - great looking axe!

[refin]

Great looking tele,wow!

[IPLAYLOUD]

Hey...on your next build, go to the next level: ESQUIRE.
You won't regret it.

Really, you won't.

(The back is gorgeous. Great piece of wood!)