Mwah Hah Hah! It's ALIVE! Witness my monster!

nasonm · May 26th, 2007, 04:52 PM

Well the project is done:

Originally a stock Fender John 5 Telecaster, now I introduce to you...the Mark 5 Telecaster!

Changes Made:
1) Replaced Stock (and often the butt of jokes) Neck with a TL-71 CIJ Tele Neck (off of an Antigua RI)
2) Replace Stock Enforcer HB with a TV Jones TV'Tron Mounted Magna'Tron
3) Added a LP style pickup selector ring
4) Changed Chrome pickguard to white

I'm going to fire it up tonight and see how it sounds!

The only thing I might do in addition is change the knobs to Gretsch G Arrows and add a gretch switch tip to the toggle (but now I'm officially out of GAS money as I just bought a Boss DM-3 and CS-2 in the same day).

Whadday think?

SMPTE · May 26th, 2007, 05:00 PM

That looks really classy, a 'Tuxedo Tele'? Not too much glam just right.

Nice job!

jwells393 · May 26th, 2007, 05:24 PM

Very nice .........

...... and a much better place for that neck ........Antiguas .......... Yuck.

91xlntS-3 · May 26th, 2007, 05:43 PM

Wow, that's one CLASSY looking Tele! Great Job!!

P-Zilla · May 26th, 2007, 05:50 PM

I am green with envy...

Did you still run the two volumes?

tuuur · May 26th, 2007, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwells393

Very nice .........

...... and a much better place for that neck ........Antiguas .......... Yuck.

+1 on that antigua.
Over all a big improvement I'd say! Kudos!

(edit: whoa, my 99th post! What do I get at 100?)

Big Tony · May 26th, 2007, 05:57 PM

That is one cool Telecaster mod!

Personally, I would reverse the control plate, for better reach...

Very well done!

/ Tony

MulliganChebichev · May 26th, 2007, 05:58 PM

Wow, a J5 that looks nice!

Please keep us tonally informed!

RockinCarl · May 26th, 2007, 06:11 PM

How do you like that Magna 'Tron?

BritishBluesBoy · May 26th, 2007, 06:13 PM

Groovy Baby!!

jwells393 · May 26th, 2007, 06:14 PM

Quote:

whoa, my 99th post! What do I get at 100?

Ye shall be known as a Tele-Meister!

Ben Harmless · May 26th, 2007, 06:18 PM

I still don't know why you wanted to go and ruin the vintage value of that minty J5.

She's a looker though. Well done.

Telecaster Joe · May 26th, 2007, 06:22 PM

Very cool. Much better than the J5 neck.

2 THUMBS UP!

fenderix · May 26th, 2007, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwells393

Very nice .........

...... and a much better place for that neck ........Antiguas .......... Yuck.

+1! The Antigua has to be the worst finish Fender ever used ....
Nice mod, nasonm! Bet you'll have some nice sounds at hand with that TV Jones P/U ...

getbent · May 26th, 2007, 07:05 PM

Beauty!

Mark Davis · May 26th, 2007, 07:17 PM

Thats a huge improvement over the original. Now it looks like a Tele.

Buckocaster51 · May 26th, 2007, 07:38 PM

I can dig those changes.

The child of an Antigua and John 5 turned out pretty good looking.

Some of those ugly genes must be recessive.

tuuur · May 26th, 2007, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buckocaster51

I can dig those changes.

The child of an Antigua and John 5 turned out pretty good looking.

Some of those ugly genes must be recessive.

Makes you wonder what the Antigua body with the John5 neck would look like...
Any chances of you assmebling such an abomination?

nasonm · May 26th, 2007, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tuuur

Makes you wonder what the Antigua body with the John5 neck would look like...
Any chances of you assmebling such an abomination?

No way, the J5 neck was sold and shipped and the antigua neck was bought all by its lonesome.

And it's still wired with the orig wiring (2 vols. no tone).

Thanks for all the nice comments folks!

sean79 · May 26th, 2007, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nasonm

Mwah Hah Hah! It's ALIVE! Witness my monster!

I used to try that line with women - never really worked for me either.

Huge improvement on that J5 - too bad Fender never thought of that. Nice job.

Rathmann · May 27th, 2007, 03:26 AM

A tremendous improvement.

I suspect the J5 headstock will wind up falling in the "what in the name of Mike were we thinking" category over at Fender. But you were able to mitigate the damage.

tuuur · May 27th, 2007, 04:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rathmann

A tremendous improvement.

I suspect the J5 headstock will wind up falling in the "what in the name of Mike were we thinking" category over at Fender. But you were able to mitigate the damage.

Maybe in the future most of those necks will end up as twelve string necks...

Unkie Al · May 27th, 2007, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tuuur

Makes you wonder what the Antigua body with the John5 neck would look like...
Any chances of you assmebling such an abomination?

I just threw up in my mouth a little bit

byrdbrain · May 27th, 2007, 08:54 AM

Very stylish! I'd really like to hear a soundclip of that MagnaTron.

Telenator · May 27th, 2007, 09:03 AM

Very nice. I like the two volume, no tone idea.

Antigua? Bletch! Those things look like they were kitchen appliances at one time!

Waiting for the full "tone report."

Digam11 · May 27th, 2007, 09:24 AM

VERY SHARP !!!!!!

Great job.

MIke

markophonic · May 27th, 2007, 09:34 AM

Most Excellent!

Jack Knife · May 27th, 2007, 10:10 AM

Whoa, that turned out great! That's a nice package. Fender should take a look.

telel6s · May 27th, 2007, 10:13 AM

Mark: Nice job on the new & improved J5. Be interesting to hear your thoughts on how the pickup combination sounds once you get some time behind the wheel. I'm wondering if you'll miss the tone control with those two different style of pickups in there.

As for the rest of you:

Quote:

Antigua? Bletch! Those things look like they were kitchen appliances at one time!

Makes you wonder what the Antigua body with the John5 neck would look like...
I just threw up in my mouth a little bit.

.......Antiguas .......... Yuck.
+1 on that antigua.
+1! The Antigua has to be the worst finish Fender ever used ....

Being the source of the neck for Mark's new beauty, I'm starting to feel a little picked on here. It takes a real man to strap an avacado with strings around his neck!

bobthecanadian · May 27th, 2007, 10:24 AM

Yup... it's a hit. Love it! It's a keeper.

Brian Krashpad · May 27th, 2007, 10:25 AM

Looks great Mark!

tuuur · May 27th, 2007, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by telel6s

Being the source of the neck for Mark's new beauty, I'm starting to feel a little picked on here. It takes a real man to strap an avacado with strings around his neck!

Well. Um. It's a bit better without the Antigua pickguard.
It still looks to me like a sunburst gone horribly wrong...
I wouldn't choose this finish, but if it's your thing, go with it!

Alamo · May 27th, 2007, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by telel6s

Mark: Nice job on the new & improved J5. Be interesting to hear your thoughts on how the pickup combination sounds once you get some time behind the wheel. I'm wondering if you'll miss the tone control with those two different style of pickups in there.

As for the rest of you:
Being the source of the neck for Mark's new beauty, I'm starting to feel a little picked on here. It takes a real man to strap an avacado with strings around his neck!

It looks cool with a caipirinha at hand

telel6s · May 27th, 2007, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alamo

It looks cool with a caipirinha at hand

SWEET! I'm playing it at a Luau party this afternoon. Gonna have to find me a recipe for a caipirinha.

yegbert · May 27th, 2007, 12:20 PM

Looks good, nasonm.

I like this one too. Maybe because I like a good guacamole dip.

Hmm, is that rosewood neck what's left of that 3TS CIJ Bigsby '62 Custom?

Jorge · May 27th, 2007, 12:22 PM

That is on guitar with class!

fuzzferatu · May 27th, 2007, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by telel6s

Mark: Nice job on the new & improved J5. Be interesting to hear your thoughts on how the pickup combination sounds once you get some time behind the wheel. I'm wondering if you'll miss the tone control with those two different style of pickups in there.

As for the rest of you:
Being the source of the neck for Mark's new beauty, I'm starting to feel a little picked on here. It takes a real man to strap an avacado with strings around his neck!

I personally think Antiguas are lovely. I have had avocado GAS for one (particularly a strat) for years. If I ever find one, i will take bossanova lessons!

emailhot · May 27th, 2007, 02:11 PM

thats one sweet lookin tele, can't wait to hear what she sounds like

stevieboy · May 27th, 2007, 03:46 PM

You know, without the Antigua pickguard, that looks cool. And I've seen an Antigua pickguard on a non Antigua finish and that looked pretty good too. Go figure!

bendingtens · May 27th, 2007, 07:45 PM

50 years from now, someone's going to find your tele in a pawn shop or garage sale, and through painstaking research, will discover that it's actually a John 5 model. They'll spend thousands of dollars returning it back to original specs, and will be forced to make a John 5 neck from scratch, because they can't find one anywhere.

It's gonna happen...

May 26th, 2007, 04:52 PM	#1 (permalink)
nasonm Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bangor, Maine Age: 32 Posts: 2,108 16 Photos	Mwah Hah Hah! It's ALIVE! Witness my monster! Well the project is done: Originally a stock Fender John 5 Telecaster, now I introduce to you...the Mark 5 Telecaster! Changes Made: 1) Replaced Stock (and often the butt of jokes) Neck with a TL-71 CIJ Tele Neck (off of an Antigua RI) 2) Replace Stock Enforcer HB with a TV Jones TV'Tron Mounted Magna'Tron 3) Added a LP style pickup selector ring 4) Changed Chrome pickguard to white I'm going to fire it up tonight and see how it sounds! The only thing I might do in addition is change the knobs to Gretsch G Arrows and add a gretch switch tip to the toggle (but now I'm officially out of GAS money as I just bought a Boss DM-3 and CS-2 in the same day). Whadday think? __________________ "i have learned to just grit my teeth, change the subject, consider their deep total ignorance, fondle the thumb picks in my pocket and go on my way" - bender-freak It's been lonely in the saddle since my horse died

May 26th, 2007, 05:00 PM	#2 (permalink)
SMPTE Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Minneeeesoooottta Posts: 1,349	That looks really classy, a 'Tuxedo Tele'? Not too much glam just right. Nice job! __________________ '63 CS Tele, HW1 Texas Tele, EJ Strat, MIJ JM, Epi Casino (AlnicoV), Gibson SG Robot, Gretsch G6118-LTV 125th, Steinberger, Squier PBass (heavily modded)

May 26th, 2007, 05:24 PM	#3 (permalink)
jwells393 Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Albuquerque, USA Age: 65 Posts: 14,522 101 Photos	Very nice ......... ...... and a much better place for that neck ........Antiguas .......... Yuck. __________________ Jack's Disclaimer: When I say something.... always ask yourself ..... "What the hell does he know?" I'm just not cool enough to be a Mac person.

May 26th, 2007, 05:57 PM	#7 (permalink)
Big Tony Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Sweden, by golly! Age: 55 Posts: 2,841 30 Photos	That is one cool Telecaster mod! Personally, I would reverse the control plate, for better reach... Very well done! / Tony __________________ {8^)>

May 26th, 2007, 06:13 PM	#10 (permalink)
BritishBluesBoy Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 7,466 62 Photos	Groovy Baby!! __________________ BBB.

May 26th, 2007, 05:43 PM	#4 (permalink)
91xlntS-3 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 1,470	Wow, that's one CLASSY looking Tele! Great Job!!

May 26th, 2007, 05:50 PM	#5 (permalink)
P-Zilla Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Florence, SC Age: 21 Posts: 1,181	I am green with envy... Did you still run the two volumes?

May 26th, 2007, 05:58 PM	#8 (permalink)
MulliganChebichev Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Eugene, Oregon Age: 20 Posts: 1,962 11 Photos	Wow, a J5 that looks nice! Please keep us tonally informed!

May 26th, 2007, 06:11 PM	#9 (permalink)
RockinCarl Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,495	How do you like that Magna 'Tron?

May 26th, 2007, 06:18 PM	#12 (permalink)
Ben Harmless Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Albany, NY US of A Posts: 4,588 15 Photos	I still don't know why you wanted to go and ruin the vintage value of that minty J5. She's a looker though. Well done. __________________ "I think I'll go for the life of sin, followed by the last-minute, presto-change-o, deathbed repentance." - B. Simpson "...Because we all expect the truth, we must be the best of fools." - Stiff Little Fingers

May 26th, 2007, 06:22 PM	#13 (permalink)
Telecaster Joe Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Long Island, New York, USA Posts: 449	Very cool. Much better than the J5 neck. 2 THUMBS UP!

May 26th, 2007, 07:05 PM	#15 (permalink)
getbent Moderator Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: San Benito County, California Posts: 14,484 37 Photos	Beauty!

May 26th, 2007, 07:17 PM	#16 (permalink)
Mark Davis Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bakersfield Ca. Age: 59 Posts: 18,637	Thats a huge improvement over the original. Now it looks like a Tele. __________________ I'm so blind my seeing eye dog needs glasses.

May 26th, 2007, 07:38 PM	#17 (permalink)
Buckocaster51 Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Iowa USA Age: 58 Posts: 8,831 1 Photos	I can dig those changes. The child of an Antigua and John 5 turned out pretty good looking. Some of those ugly genes must be recessive. __________________ "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

May 27th, 2007, 03:26 AM	#21 (permalink)
Rathmann Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Milwaukee, Wis. Posts: 265 15 Photos	A tremendous improvement. I suspect the J5 headstock will wind up falling in the "what in the name of Mike were we thinking" category over at Fender. But you were able to mitigate the damage. __________________ "Soul shine is better than sunshine, better than moonshine, damn sure better than rain."

May 27th, 2007, 08:54 AM	#24 (permalink)
byrdbrain Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Sweden Age: 51 Posts: 1,669 4 Photos	Very stylish! I'd really like to hear a soundclip of that MagnaTron. __________________ In vino securitas

May 27th, 2007, 09:03 AM	#25 (permalink)
Telenator VENDOR Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Connecticut Posts: 7,179 5 Photos	Very nice. I like the two volume, no tone idea. Antigua? Bletch! Those things look like they were kitchen appliances at one time! Waiting for the full "tone report." __________________ Dogs have the right idea! www.telenator.com

May 27th, 2007, 09:24 AM	#26 (permalink)
Digam11 Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: MA, USA Age: 54 Posts: 144	VERY SHARP !!!!!! Great job. MIke

May 27th, 2007, 09:34 AM	#27 (permalink)
markophonic Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Michigan Age: 48 Posts: 1,039 1 Photos	Most Excellent! __________________ http://www.brianvanderark.com/

May 27th, 2007, 10:10 AM	#28 (permalink)
Jack Knife Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Minneapolis, MN, USA Age: 53 Posts: 656	Whoa, that turned out great! That's a nice package. Fender should take a look.

May 27th, 2007, 10:24 AM	#30 (permalink)
bobthecanadian Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: EDMONTON, Alberta... yes, in CANADA Age: 43 Posts: 1,777	Yup... it's a hit. Love it! It's a keeper. __________________ It don't mean a thang if it ain't got that TWANG!!!

May 27th, 2007, 10:25 AM	#31 (permalink)
Brian Krashpad Tele-Holic Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: GVL FLA USA Posts: 845 39 Photos	Looks great Mark! __________________ Visit Crash Pad at: http://krashpad.fortunecity.com http://www.myspace.com/CrashPad Gear List/Pics: http://krashpad.fortunecity.com/brian.html

May 27th, 2007, 12:20 PM	#35 (permalink)
yegbert Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Clinton, Maryland (US) Age: 55 Posts: 5,864 95 Photos	Looks good, nasonm. I like this one too. Maybe because I like a good guacamole dip. Hmm, is that rosewood neck what's left of that 3TS CIJ Bigsby '62 Custom?

May 27th, 2007, 12:22 PM	#36 (permalink)
Jorge Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Oslo Posts: 1,286 11 Photos	That is on guitar with class! __________________ And I knew the world was over so I took a look outside. - Jeff Mangum http://www.myspace.com/juggernautism

May 27th, 2007, 02:11 PM	#38 (permalink)
emailhot Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Leduc, Alberta, Canada Age: 37 Posts: 221 3 Photos	thats one sweet lookin tele, can't wait to hear what she sounds like

IMPORTANT:Treat everyone here with respect, no matter how difficult! No sex, drug, political, religion or hate discussion permitted here.

May 27th, 2007, 03:46 PM	#39 (permalink)
stevieboy Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: the valley Age: 58 Posts: 3,543 6 Photos	You know, without the Antigua pickguard, that looks cool. And I've seen an Antigua pickguard on a non Antigua finish and that looked pretty good too. Go figure!

May 27th, 2007, 07:45 PM	#40 (permalink)
bendingtens Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: New York City Posts: 150	50 years from now, someone's going to find your tele in a pawn shop or garage sale, and through painstaking research, will discover that it's actually a John 5 model. They'll spend thousands of dollars returning it back to original specs, and will be forced to make a John 5 neck from scratch, because they can't find one anywhere. It's gonna happen...