My Home-built 50's Tele

tmack · September 3rd, 2006, 01:02 AM

This is my first attempt at a Tele. It was built only from parts purchased online.

I gave it to my father for Christmas. It is a replica of his very first guitar.

Hope you like it.
example-1.jpg

jfp · September 3rd, 2006, 01:06 AM

tmack

I do like it. That's my idea of what a Tele should look like.

Enjoy it!

Stuco · September 3rd, 2006, 01:08 AM

Very nice looking!

I suppose his first guitar was a 50's telecaster? What kind of pickups did you use? Where did you get your body/neck?

tmack · September 3rd, 2006, 01:22 AM

I used the Fender Noiseless '52 Tele pickups. They sound awesome. I was going to get Fralins, but since I was giving it to my father, he wouldn't have noticed the difference.

The neck is an All-parts fat u-shaped neck. It has a 9 inch radius so it plays nicely. The body is Ash from "The Guitar Mill". They sell on eBay a lot. Great stuff for cheap.

All the parts were bought from eBay, or directly from the retailer's web-site. Even the paint I got from Reranch.

The controls were new vintage. Not from a taken apart modern tele. They had the cloth wrapped around the wires and everything. The knobs are off in the picture because they didn't fit. The pot studs were thick, smooth shafts, and did not have the "threading" on them. I had to drill out the threads on the knobs and shove them on. Works fine.

Stuco · September 3rd, 2006, 01:30 AM

What was your dad's reaction when you gave it to him?

Buckocaster51 · September 3rd, 2006, 01:33 AM

That should have put a gleam in Pop's eye.

Good job.

tmack · September 3rd, 2006, 01:43 AM

He was stunned! he said it looked just like his. He traded it in '61 for a sunburst strat, which we still have.

When I finished it, I didn't want to give it up. I guess i'll just have to make one for myself, this time with Fralins.

aznrambo481 · September 3rd, 2006, 02:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmack

He traded it in '61 for a sunburst strat, which we still have.

That should turn some heads around here... beautiful tele... anybody here would love get something like that.

Pete Galati · September 3rd, 2006, 04:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmack

The pot studs were thick, smooth shafts, and did not have the "threading" on them. I had to drill out the threads on the knobs and shove them on. Works fine.

Looks great.

I've had that problem with knobs not fitting pots with solid shafts. I find that really annoying, because knobs with a set screw are made to be used with pots with solid shafts. I couldn't think of a good way to drill the holes out, so I just dug around till I found knobs that fit.

They seem to be made for pots and switches that're made in Asia.

Pete

jwells393 · September 3rd, 2006, 09:13 AM

Some knobs come with a little brass sleeve installed in the knob. It easy to drill out or pull out these sleeves leaving you with a 1/4 in hole. This is true of the one's available from Grizzly.

simplygoodmusic · September 3rd, 2006, 12:03 PM

Looks really really good.

Linds · September 3rd, 2006, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete Galati

Looks great.
They seem to be made for pots and switches that're made in Asia.

Pete

I ran into this issue when I a few years ago when I decided to upgrade the electronics on my MIJ JB Tele. There was no way the factory knobs would fit the CTS shafts. I replaced them with Fender domed accessory knobs.

0le FUZZY · September 3rd, 2006, 07:05 PM

WOW! from watt tie kin tell a Fenner decal inna rite spot.

Watt I kant tell iss iffin them tuners haff slotted shafts er knott.

Good looker !!

MY KIND OF MUSIC !(click)

SMORE !!(click)

Please visit my page

moparmutt · September 4th, 2006, 01:22 AM

nice

Lostheart · September 4th, 2006, 07:18 AM

What a sweet guitar...looks very much like a 55 replica with the decal in that position...

September 3rd, 2006, 01:02 AM	#1 (permalink)
tmack NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 3	My Home-built 50's Tele This is my first attempt at a Tele. It was built only from parts purchased online. I gave it to my father for Christmas. It is a replica of his very first guitar. Hope you like it. example-1.jpg

September 3rd, 2006, 01:33 AM	#6 (permalink)
Buckocaster51 Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Iowa USA Age: 57 Posts: 5,751 1 Photos	That should have put a gleam in Pop's eye. Good job. __________________ "If you can't say something nice... don't say nothing at all." - Thumper the Rabbit "An awfully lot of time can be wasted waiting for the right time." - Gunsmoke's Doc Adams

September 3rd, 2006, 09:13 AM	#10 (permalink)
jwells393 Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Albuquerque, USA Age: 64 Posts: 12,505 101 Photos	Some knobs come with a little brass sleeve installed in the knob. It easy to drill out or pull out these sleeves leaving you with a 1/4 in hole. This is true of the one's available from Grizzly. __________________ 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.

September 4th, 2006, 07:18 AM	#15 (permalink)
Lostheart Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Germany Posts: 1,450	What a sweet guitar...looks very much like a 55 replica with the decal in that position... __________________ Casper: "Mmmmm. Butterscotch, yo. That's the best!" From the movie Kids

September 3rd, 2006, 01:06 AM	#2 (permalink)
jfp Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Albany, NY Posts: 276 3 Photos	tmack I do like it. That's my idea of what a Tele should look like. Enjoy it!

September 3rd, 2006, 01:08 AM	#3 (permalink)
Stuco Friend of Leo's Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: GA Posts: 3,242	Very nice looking! I suppose his first guitar was a 50's telecaster? What kind of pickups did you use? Where did you get your body/neck?

September 3rd, 2006, 01:22 AM	#4 (permalink)
tmack NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 3	I used the Fender Noiseless '52 Tele pickups. They sound awesome. I was going to get Fralins, but since I was giving it to my father, he wouldn't have noticed the difference. The neck is an All-parts fat u-shaped neck. It has a 9 inch radius so it plays nicely. The body is Ash from "The Guitar Mill". They sell on eBay a lot. Great stuff for cheap. All the parts were bought from eBay, or directly from the retailer's web-site. Even the paint I got from Reranch. The controls were new vintage. Not from a taken apart modern tele. They had the cloth wrapped around the wires and everything. The knobs are off in the picture because they didn't fit. The pot studs were thick, smooth shafts, and did not have the "threading" on them. I had to drill out the threads on the knobs and shove them on. Works fine.

September 3rd, 2006, 01:30 AM	#5 (permalink)
Stuco Friend of Leo's Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: GA Posts: 3,242	What was your dad's reaction when you gave it to him?

September 3rd, 2006, 01:43 AM	#7 (permalink)
tmack NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 3	He was stunned! he said it looked just like his. He traded it in '61 for a sunburst strat, which we still have. When I finished it, I didn't want to give it up. I guess i'll just have to make one for myself, this time with Fralins.

September 3rd, 2006, 12:03 PM	#11 (permalink)
simplygoodmusic TDPRI Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Rome Posts: 86	Looks really really good.

September 3rd, 2006, 07:05 PM	#13 (permalink)
0le FUZZY Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Kolly-forn-knee-ya Posts: 10,001 6 Photos	WOW! from watt tie kin tell a Fenner decal inna rite spot. Watt I kant tell iss iffin them tuners haff slotted shafts er knott. Good looker !! MY KIND OF MUSIC !(click) SMORE !!(click) Please visit my page

September 4th, 2006, 01:22 AM	#14 (permalink)
moparmutt Tele-Holic Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: honolulu Posts: 594	nice