Teles that are made of your country's local wood

telechaser · February 22nd, 2008, 10:16 PM

I'm an Aussie and planning to do my first Thinline Tele build (body only) using Queensland Walnut for back and Queensland Maple top. I might get one of the local Luthiers here to build me a neck, maybe blackwood. These are suppose to be 'tonewoods'.

Anyway, to the non-US members here, would love to see (pics please) any Teles that are made of wood local to your country. Also how it sounds like compared to other Teles.

To the Americans, what Teles have you built that are made of woods outside the US? Pics as well please and some info.

Pete Galati · February 22nd, 2008, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by telechaser

I'm an Aussie and planning to do my first Thinline Tele build (body only) using Queensland Walnut for back and Queensland Maple top. I might get one of the local Luthiers here to build me a neck, maybe blackwood. These are suppose to be 'tonewoods'.

Anyway, to the non-US members here, would love to see (pics please) any Teles that are made of wood local to your country. Also how it sounds like compared to other Teles.

To the Americans, what Teles have you built that are made of woods outside the US? Pics as well please and some info.

The Tele body that USACG built for me is made out of mahogany. I can't tell you what kind of mahogany Tommy used, or what country it was from.

I called thinking of getting a basswood body, because I kind of like the basswood sound. But we were discussing what woods he had available and decided that some of the mahogany he had would be ideal.

The Tele I'm playing the most these days is made out of alder. I'm having to play unplugged a lot lately, and this guitar has the most even tone. It's a moderately light alder body that's ideal for playing unplugged.

Nick JD · February 22nd, 2008, 11:03 PM

I've still got another Kauri blank that's probably going to become a four string, 30 inch telecaster bass for the Missus.

This one is kinda ANZAC! New Zealand Kauri and Tasmanian Oak.

Telechaser - Maton almost exclusively use Queensland Maple and Walnut and Blackwood for their acoustics and electrics.

I just love this windmill inlay (Maton CS, Australia): The back, sides and rosette wood is Blackwood. Neck is Qld Maple. The Maton acoustics with back and sides in Qld Walnut look amazing.

telechaser · February 25th, 2008, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick JD

I've still got another Kauri blank that's probably going to become a four string, 30 inch telecaster bass for the Missus.

This one is kinda ANZAC! New Zealand Kauri and Tasmanian Oak.

Telechaser - Maton almost exclusively use Queensland Maple and Walnut and Blackwood for their acoustics and electrics.

I just love this windmill inlay (Maton CS, Australia): The back, sides and rosette wood is Blackwood. Neck is Qld Maple. The Maton acoustics with back and sides in Qld Walnut look amazing.

Is the body Tasmanian Oak? Not really a fan of Maton, I prefer Cole Clarke.

Can't wait to see the finished product. I'll drop by Bunnings or Bowens to check some timber.

RodeoTex · February 25th, 2008, 06:35 PM

I'm not sure if this really counts since this is a Texas wood, but it is the same as the Mesquite that grows in Mexico 75 miles from here. Very nice wood to work with.
I've been thinking about building a mesquite version of the walnut Telecaster.
Thoughts?

texastelecaster · February 25th, 2008, 07:42 PM

love that stratotele

fabiomayo · February 25th, 2008, 07:44 PM

Here's mine, made by a local luthier. Not sure exactly what woods though.
One piece neck (no fretboard) and one pice body. Sounds good.

mowcheeba · February 25th, 2008, 09:00 PM

Here are two bodies I am working on at the moment.
The Thinline is made from a Chilean alder like wood named
Manio with a top made of a wood named Lingue

This second one is all Manio, a little too heavy so I had to rout some
chambers to make it a little lighter.
My first two builds, not perfect but fun. Pictures got reversed in the
iSight camera.

Dan German · February 25th, 2008, 09:27 PM

Mowcheeba, love the look of the lingue! Post a pic of that when it's finished!

My name is O'Higgins, but they just call me.....

RichardM · February 26th, 2008, 02:42 AM

Here's a couple I've been working on for TOO long now.

Hoop Pine.

Freewheeler · February 26th, 2008, 03:06 AM

http://www.propellihattu.fi/willow/

Here's a tele body made of Finnish goat willow. Light and resonant, even autographed by Jim Campilongo :-)

Tedecaster · February 26th, 2008, 05:35 AM

This one is Vermont white pine, probably cut down within a few miles of here. I bought the wood at a local softwood mill.

It's now living in South Carolina with my son, at school.

My other Tele was made from the same plank but is a translucent white w/a neck HB.

As for non-US wood, I have a blank of mahogany but I'm not sure what variety it is. It's very dark & the plan is for a pseudo rose-wood Tele look with a mahogany neck to match.

Dan German · February 26th, 2008, 06:52 AM

Man, what a great thread! Makes me wish Canada had some kind of native wood.....

mowcheeba · February 26th, 2008, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fabiomayo

Here's mine, made by a local luthier. Not sure exactly what woods though.
One piece neck (no fretboard) and one pice body. Sounds good.

Really nice guitar, fabiomayo. How much did it cost you to get a guitar built
like that in Brazil? Is it possible for you to get any info about the wood?

Interesting thread............I am planning a build with red oak from southern
Chile. It is a beautiful wood, really strong red in it.

fabiomayo · February 26th, 2008, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mowcheeba

Really nice guitar, fabiomayo. How much did it cost you to get a guitar built
like that in Brazil? Is it possible for you to get any info about the wood?

Interesting thread............I am planning a build with red oak from southern
Chile. It is a beautiful wood, really strong red in it.

Just found my notes on the guitar. I was told neck is walnut and the body
is a wood called vinhático. Take it for what it's worth as I can't be sure
of that. During a setup, another luthier identified body wood as cedar
(or cedro rosa, which is a common wood for solid guitars around here).

I bought it used from another guy who in turn had the guitar built in
exchange for an old piece of rosewood and used hardware he had laying
around. I payed around U$500 if I recall correctly. This is about what a
Squier cost. I put Callaham bridge and saddles and Lollar pickups
and got rid of that stinkin' Strat button

The guitar is pretty light (under 7lb on a low res bathroom scale),
very resonant and I like the neck, with big frets and a nice feel.
Sounds pretty good to me. My main guitar.

I hope your project is succesful. Don't forget to post pictures.

sha4096 · February 26th, 2008, 02:55 PM

Telechaser, just check my thread on the Pearcaster. Swiss pearwood, Swiss walnut, Swiss chestnut for the pickguard and maple, don't know if the latest is Swiss though :)

ROADMAN · February 26th, 2008, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan German

Man, what a great thread! Makes me wish Canada had some kind of native wood.....

there are at least three indiginous woods used in guitar building on the West
Coast of Canada...Western Red Cedar...Sitka Spruce and Big Leaf Maple..
google Basone guitars a small Vancouver luthier, he builds great guitars using
all of these woods including a tele style. I had one of his SG style guitars that
was outstanding...traded it for my 60th anniversary inlay 52 RI.

Robin Nahum · February 26th, 2008, 06:07 PM

http://www.tomkinsguitars.com/about.html

February 22nd, 2008, 10:16 PM	#1 (permalink)
telechaser Tele-Holic Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 532 10 Photos	Teles that are made of your country's local wood I'm an Aussie and planning to do my first Thinline Tele build (body only) using Queensland Walnut for back and Queensland Maple top. I might get one of the local Luthiers here to build me a neck, maybe blackwood. These are suppose to be 'tonewoods'. Anyway, to the non-US members here, would love to see (pics please) any Teles that are made of wood local to your country. Also how it sounds like compared to other Teles. To the Americans, what Teles have you built that are made of woods outside the US? Pics as well please and some info. __________________ Slowing down . . . to get faster

February 22nd, 2008, 11:03 PM	#3 (permalink)
Nick JD Tele-Afflicted Join Date: May 2007 Location: North NSW, Australia Age: 35 Posts: 1,629	I've still got another Kauri blank that's probably going to become a four string, 30 inch telecaster bass for the Missus. This one is kinda ANZAC! New Zealand Kauri and Tasmanian Oak. Telechaser - Maton almost exclusively use Queensland Maple and Walnut and Blackwood for their acoustics and electrics. I just love this windmill inlay (Maton CS, Australia): The back, sides and rosette wood is Blackwood. Neck is Qld Maple. The Maton acoustics with back and sides in Qld Walnut look amazing. __________________ It was such a lovely day I thought it a pity to get up. W. Somerset Maugham

February 25th, 2008, 06:35 PM	#5 (permalink)
RodeoTex Tele-Holic Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 775	I'm not sure if this really counts since this is a Texas wood, but it is the same as the Mesquite that grows in Mexico 75 miles from here. Very nice wood to work with. I've been thinking about building a mesquite version of the walnut Telecaster. Thoughts? __________________ Turn it on, turn it up, turn me loose. Last edited by RodeoTex : February 25th, 2008 at 06:36 PM. Reason: spellin

February 25th, 2008, 07:44 PM	#7 (permalink)
fabiomayo Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Niterói - RJ, Brasil Age: 26 Posts: 113	Here's mine, made by a local luthier. Not sure exactly what woods though. One piece neck (no fretboard) and one pice body. Sounds good. __________________ When Miles complained to Coltrane about his 20, 30, 40 minutes or more solos, 'Trane replied "There's still more to say, man. I don't know... How you end a solo?" To which Davis replied slowly "... You take the horn out of your mouth..."

February 25th, 2008, 09:00 PM	#8 (permalink)
mowcheeba Tele-Holic Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Cochiguaz, Elqui Valley Age: 31 Posts: 509 20 Photos	Not finished but still....... Here are two bodies I am working on at the moment. The Thinline is made from a Chilean alder like wood named Manio with a top made of a wood named Lingue This second one is all Manio, a little too heavy so I had to rout some chambers to make it a little lighter. My first two builds, not perfect but fun. Pictures got reversed in the iSight camera.

February 25th, 2008, 07:42 PM	#6 (permalink)
texastelecaster NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: pharr, texas Age: 50 Posts: 6	love that stratotele

February 25th, 2008, 09:27 PM	#9 (permalink)
Dan German Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Rupertsland Age: 47 Posts: 518	Mowcheeba, love the look of the lingue! Post a pic of that when it's finished! My name is O'Higgins, but they just call me..... __________________ Higgy

February 26th, 2008, 02:42 AM	#10 (permalink)
RichardM Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2007 Location: Brisbane Australia Age: 49 Posts: 292	Here's a couple I've been working on for TOO long now. Hoop Pine. __________________ -- Richard _/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/ "Sorry for the Inconvenience."

February 26th, 2008, 03:06 AM	#11 (permalink)
Freewheeler Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Helsinki, Finland Posts: 746 38 Photos	Finnish goat willow body http://www.propellihattu.fi/willow/ Here's a tele body made of Finnish goat willow. Light and resonant, even autographed by Jim Campilongo :-)

February 26th, 2008, 05:35 AM	#12 (permalink)
Tedecaster Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Greensboro, Vermont Posts: 1,018 26 Photos	This one is Vermont white pine, probably cut down within a few miles of here. I bought the wood at a local softwood mill. It's now living in South Carolina with my son, at school. My other Tele was made from the same plank but is a translucent white w/a neck HB. As for non-US wood, I have a blank of mahogany but I'm not sure what variety it is. It's very dark & the plan is for a pseudo rose-wood Tele look with a mahogany neck to match.

February 26th, 2008, 06:52 AM	#13 (permalink)
Dan German Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Rupertsland Age: 47 Posts: 518	Man, what a great thread! Makes me wish Canada had some kind of native wood..... __________________ Higgy

February 26th, 2008, 02:55 PM	#16 (permalink)
sha4096 Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Switzerland Age: 28 Posts: 117	Telechaser, just check my thread on the Pearcaster. Swiss pearwood, Swiss walnut, Swiss chestnut for the pickguard and maple, don't know if the latest is Swiss though :) __________________ Pearcaster project - all pictures : http://www.flickr.com/photos/2321586...7603801718951/

February 26th, 2008, 06:07 PM	#18 (permalink)
Robin Nahum Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Sydney, Australia Age: 56 Posts: 1,538 12 Photos	http://www.tomkinsguitars.com/about.html __________________ RN