novice wants to build a telecaster

the_general · May 8th, 2006, 06:49 PM

i just joined this sight because i am interested in building a tele this summer. i have a friend who did it and did a pretty good job. as of now i have a strat and just had some rio grandes put into it and they sound great. i want to start building my own tele but have no idea where to start. so if anyone sees this maybe y'all could help me with the basics. i want to spend somewhere in the neighborhood of 600 dollars and want to do most of the work myself, except the neck. i want something a little jazz/bluesy sounding but not too twangy (i really like the rio grandes i just got) i appreciate any help or information i could get on this topic

thanks,
the general

guitar_ed · May 8th, 2006, 07:09 PM

Hi General,

This is the place to go for information on building your own guitar.

A few places to start are:
Warmoth
USA Custom Guitars
All Parts
Project Guitar

There are a lot of other sites, but these four should get you started.

One thing to keep in mind is that the closer you get to a standard Fender product, the cheaper it is to buy the guitar rather than building the guitar.

Take care, and take pix.

Guitar Ed

jwells393 · May 8th, 2006, 10:18 PM

By "...........and want to do most of the work myself.", do you mean you want to make your own body? If so there are some Internet sites that have good information and tips. I recently built a semi-hollow Tele type guitar and chronicled the construction here. You might find something useful there. Pictures are in reverse order.

Seanycaster · May 10th, 2006, 03:33 PM

Maybe you could tell us about what you have in mind General? Materials, finish and all that?

moonshiner · May 10th, 2006, 05:35 PM

Realistically, you'll spend around 800... which is still cheap when it's all said and done...

Find a good cheap body from usacg (no affiliation)... an MIM used neck from ebay... some cheap pups and you're on the way...

One thing I suggest doing is write out a list of ALL parts and supplies.. and then price out what you are looking for and see where you can find the best deals...

Guitar building is like golf... extremely fun.. extremely gratifying... and of course... extremely enfuriating try to get it "just right"...

Good luck...

the_general · May 10th, 2006, 06:38 PM

hey guys thanks for all the help. the websites and ideas have given me a start to what i want to do. i want to build my own body, and although i know it will be hard, i want to do that. for the neck i probably am going to buy that already made. if shaping my own head stock is not too hard i would like to do that otherwise i will buy a pre-made one. i'm not sure about the paint job yet, but i like natural wood finishes, or maybe some sort of cream

thanks for all the help,
the general

Tom S · May 10th, 2006, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moonshiner

Realistically, you'll spend around 800... which is still cheap when it's all said and done...

Unless you don't know what you're doing and it turns out crappy, in which case you've got a very expensive crappy guitar.

GlennLewis · May 10th, 2006, 09:01 PM

.... my first parts-o-caster 3-4 years ago was roughly $294 in parts plus a lot of time learning what to do.... and that was before I ever found this wonderful place called tdpri.

My youngest son made a body out of pine several months ago with a little help from me.... when he was 8 years old. And that guitar plays pretty decent. It was a fun project.

So, anyway, the beauty of a tele is all the parts are replaceable/upgradable/whatever. So start where ever you want, spend as much or as little as you want, and just go for it.

Steveinthesticks · May 11th, 2006, 06:38 PM

I've been thinking about building one of the Saga tele kits(~$100 on ebay shipped) as a learning experiance. Add a real string through bridge & better tuners, if nothing else If I blow the first one I have not hosed up an expensive warmoth neck & body.

The Guitar Attack website has a number of built up saga kit guitars that look nice. Judging by some of the galleries I've seen, It looks like guitar building can be habit forming

Steve

May 8th, 2006, 06:49 PM	#1 (permalink)
the_general NEW MEMBER! Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 2	novice wants to build a telecaster i just joined this sight because i am interested in building a tele this summer. i have a friend who did it and did a pretty good job. as of now i have a strat and just had some rio grandes put into it and they sound great. i want to start building my own tele but have no idea where to start. so if anyone sees this maybe y'all could help me with the basics. i want to spend somewhere in the neighborhood of 600 dollars and want to do most of the work myself, except the neck. i want something a little jazz/bluesy sounding but not too twangy (i really like the rio grandes i just got) i appreciate any help or information i could get on this topic thanks, the general

May 8th, 2006, 07:09 PM	#2 (permalink)
guitar_ed Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bankrupt State of California Age: 47 Posts: 711 16 Photos	Hi General, This is the place to go for information on building your own guitar. A few places to start are: Warmoth USA Custom Guitars All Parts Project Guitar There are a lot of other sites, but these four should get you started. One thing to keep in mind is that the closer you get to a standard Fender product, the cheaper it is to buy the guitar rather than building the guitar. Take care, and take pix. Guitar Ed __________________ Piss off a politician, register to vote. When you complain about the government, remember that you ARE the government. Voting is the ultimate act of civil dis-obediance. AIM - guitar_edg Skype - guitar_edg (had to change on 5/16/06)

May 8th, 2006, 10:18 PM	#3 (permalink)
jwells393 Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Albuquerque, USA Age: 64 Posts: 12,210 101 Photos	By "...........and want to do most of the work myself.", do you mean you want to make your own body? If so there are some Internet sites that have good information and tips. I recently built a semi-hollow Tele type guitar and chronicled the construction here. You might find something useful there. Pictures are in reverse order. __________________ Jack's Disclaimer: When I say something.... always ask yourself ..... "What the hell does he know?" _ Guys - learn to disable the flash on your digital cameras.

May 10th, 2006, 03:33 PM	#4 (permalink)
Seanycaster Tele-Holic Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Glasgow, Scotland Posts: 868	Maybe you could tell us about what you have in mind General? Materials, finish and all that? __________________ (\__/) ( >.<) (")__(")

May 10th, 2006, 05:35 PM	#5 (permalink)
moonshiner Friend of Leo's Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Milyucky, Whiskonsin Posts: 2,169	Realistically, you'll spend around 800... which is still cheap when it's all said and done... Find a good cheap body from usacg (no affiliation)... an MIM used neck from ebay... some cheap pups and you're on the way... One thing I suggest doing is write out a list of ALL parts and supplies.. and then price out what you are looking for and see where you can find the best deals... Guitar building is like golf... extremely fun.. extremely gratifying... and of course... extremely enfuriating try to get it "just right"... Good luck... __________________ "Everyone's got to be something... Me? I'm stupid... It's all I ever wanted to be... Shock me again!"

May 10th, 2006, 06:38 PM	#6 (permalink)
the_general NEW MEMBER! Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 2	hey guys thanks for all the help. the websites and ideas have given me a start to what i want to do. i want to build my own body, and although i know it will be hard, i want to do that. for the neck i probably am going to buy that already made. if shaping my own head stock is not too hard i would like to do that otherwise i will buy a pre-made one. i'm not sure about the paint job yet, but i like natural wood finishes, or maybe some sort of cream thanks for all the help, the general

May 10th, 2006, 09:01 PM	#8 (permalink)
GlennLewis Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Chicago Posts: 541 4 Photos	I'll be the contrarian...... .... my first parts-o-caster 3-4 years ago was roughly $294 in parts plus a lot of time learning what to do.... and that was before I ever found this wonderful place called tdpri. My youngest son made a body out of pine several months ago with a little help from me.... when he was 8 years old. And that guitar plays pretty decent. It was a fun project. So, anyway, the beauty of a tele is all the parts are replaceable/upgradable/whatever. So start where ever you want, spend as much or as little as you want, and just go for it.

May 11th, 2006, 06:38 PM	#9 (permalink)
Steveinthesticks TDPRI Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 70	Re: I'll be the contrarian...... I've been thinking about building one of the Saga tele kits(~$100 on ebay shipped) as a learning experiance. Add a real string through bridge & better tuners, if nothing else If I blow the first one I have not hosed up an expensive warmoth neck & body. The Guitar Attack website has a number of built up saga kit guitars that look nice. Judging by some of the galleries I've seen, It looks like guitar building can be habit forming Steve