'57 Duplicate Copy?

Preacher · April 17th, 2007, 05:56 PM

First post here guys and gals, just found you on a web search for telecaster bulding. Here's the skinny.
I have access to an orginal '57 Tele. But my problem is with the value of the guitar, I am VERY nervous about playing it or hauling it around for that matter. So I want to make a copy. Not close enough to fool an expert, but that I can play in church and not worry about it getting knocked around.

I work in the wood industry and have access to maple, ash, oak, poplar, and could probably find some other exotic wood if I went a looking through the shop. We have glue up ability, have all the routers a man could want and so forth to work the wood. I am pretty confident that a slab tele body I could build for the neck I have already bought which should mate up to a fender cutout (wether tele or strat I am not sure).
So, I am looking for suggestions, cautions and encouragement on this endeavor. I am hoping to have no more than $100 parts and such in this as I can scrounge some pieces on Ebay and don't really need the total '57 vibe, but that distinctive tele sound.

What do you think, (other than playing the '57 and not worrying about it)

SixString821 · April 17th, 2007, 06:01 PM

if the '57 is yours... id think about playing it, but since you said you have access i get the feeling you dont necessarily own it and if thats the case i wouldnt play it much.

i think building a 57 copy would be a great idea either way. making a guitar yourself is alot of fun, and you're gonna feel very connected to your instrument if you do it yourself.

im not sure about the parts for under 100 bucks thing though... id say 200 if you already have the neck and you'd be safe...

spankdplank · April 17th, 2007, 06:17 PM

Here is my 50's (ish) tele copy that was done for about $200. Go for it.

Preacher · April 17th, 2007, 07:00 PM

dad in laws tele, bought new in '57 (it might be a '56 and '57 hybrid)
I have it at my house and it is there to play anytime I want, but it is not MINE you know? But I love the tele vibe... so I will build my own to replicate it.

jaydawg · April 17th, 2007, 07:26 PM

I highly recomend the templates that ron kirn sells. They are the best you will find and will make the job of building a body a "no brainer". If you work in a shop, than with the templets you can cut and route a body in an afternoon.

http://cgi.ebay.com/GUITAR-TEMPLATES...QQcmdZViewItem

April 17th, 2007, 05:56 PM	#1 (permalink)
Preacher Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Oklahoma Age: 40 Posts: 248	'57 Duplicate Copy? First post here guys and gals, just found you on a web search for telecaster bulding. Here's the skinny. I have access to an orginal '57 Tele. But my problem is with the value of the guitar, I am VERY nervous about playing it or hauling it around for that matter. So I want to make a copy. Not close enough to fool an expert, but that I can play in church and not worry about it getting knocked around. I work in the wood industry and have access to maple, ash, oak, poplar, and could probably find some other exotic wood if I went a looking through the shop. We have glue up ability, have all the routers a man could want and so forth to work the wood. I am pretty confident that a slab tele body I could build for the neck I have already bought which should mate up to a fender cutout (wether tele or strat I am not sure). So, I am looking for suggestions, cautions and encouragement on this endeavor. I am hoping to have no more than $100 parts and such in this as I can scrounge some pieces on Ebay and don't really need the total '57 vibe, but that distinctive tele sound. What do you think, (other than playing the '57 and not worrying about it) __________________ So many guitars... so little time.

April 17th, 2007, 07:00 PM	#4 (permalink)
Preacher Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Oklahoma Age: 40 Posts: 248	dad in laws tele, bought new in '57 (it might be a '56 and '57 hybrid) I have it at my house and it is there to play anytime I want, but it is not MINE you know? But I love the tele vibe... so I will build my own to replicate it. __________________ So many guitars... so little time.

April 17th, 2007, 06:01 PM	#2 (permalink)
SixString821 Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Delaware, Philly Age: 22 Posts: 307	if the '57 is yours... id think about playing it, but since you said you have access i get the feeling you dont necessarily own it and if thats the case i wouldnt play it much. i think building a 57 copy would be a great idea either way. making a guitar yourself is alot of fun, and you're gonna feel very connected to your instrument if you do it yourself. im not sure about the parts for under 100 bucks thing though... id say 200 if you already have the neck and you'd be safe...

April 17th, 2007, 06:17 PM	#3 (permalink)
spankdplank Tele-Holic Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Houston, Tx. Posts: 726 28 Photos	Here is my 50's (ish) tele copy that was done for about $200. Go for it.

April 17th, 2007, 07:26 PM	#5 (permalink)
jaydawg Tele-Holic Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: York, ME Age: 32 Posts: 536	I highly recomend the templates that ron kirn sells. They are the best you will find and will make the job of building a body a "no brainer". If you work in a shop, than with the templets you can cut and route a body in an afternoon. http://cgi.ebay.com/GUITAR-TEMPLATES...QQcmdZViewItem