THE perfect Tele: buy it or build it?

There is no perfect instrument being built today, they all will require some mods to match your needs. The real question should be: Do you build your own or start with a factory model and modify to preference? I think you start with the neck and body from factory and fill in the blanks from there. The body and neck will be pre-drilled so hanging parts is a relatively simply matter for most people.

 

I only build partscaster tele's now. I don't know of a cheaper way to get what I want in a tele. Plus it's fun if there's no deadline involved.

 

I was lucky that Fender already built the perfect for me Tele - 62 AVRI Custom Tele in Surf Green. I wouldn't change a thing other than rewire from vintage to modern - the capacitor for which Fender already included in the case.

 

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Get a used MIM and mod it with a few parts like a 4-way switch.


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I have six, bought three, built three. There is no perfect Tele. There is only the next one with X, Y, and Z. If you want what you want, build it or you have to settle for something off the shelf.

 

I wouldn’t know perfect if it slapped me in the face, so that’s one issue...

I built a partscaster La Cabronita beacause at the time you could only get em from the Custom Shop for 3000 bucks; if they’d come out with the Squier ones at the same time I might never have gotten into building.

I don’t recommend building or partscastering unless you enjoy that activity in and of itself, or you have a strong need for some really wacky specs. It’s a lot harder than it seems to save money going that route (though I hear some people can put things together cheaper than buying), and if you are a person who tends to sell guitars—some of us are NOT——you’re gonna be sad when you try to get your money back out.

Modding can be fun and easy and reversible, depending on what you want, but beware: it’s a gateway drug...

 

I’d definitely have to build it.

 

I didn't know the first thing about putting together a Tele out of parts, a "parts caster."

Maybe I got lucky, but I only used great parts and the guitar was never even set up. I play it like it was built, but its amazing, it really is. Best one I've ever played:

MJT solid ash body
Real Fender '52 maple neck
Kluson vintage relic'ed tuners
Best quality wiring kit I could find online
Pick-up Wizard twangy "Nashville sound" pick-ups
pre relic'ed parts throughout
brass saddles

 

I would buy an MIM as close to what I wanted.
Probably a Deluxe Modified.
Try to get one with a scratched up body. Then, refinish it myself.
Do some 'John 5' mods to it.

 

Not long ago I didn't have enough experience either. Most of what I know, I learned from the good people here. And I'm still learning. The journey is as rewarding as the destination if you let it be. Hope yours is as fulfilling as mine was.

 

What I find is that it is possible to put together a partscaster that's worth more or less than the total cost.
IMO it's a mistake though to view the value as a finished guitar, when resale will return more of the investment if you sell as you bought- parts.

I don't understand why anyone would choose to sell a partscaster they don't like as a whole guitar. It's a collection of parts, and while the builder may feel like they put a lot of work into "building it", choosing to sell it whole gains nothing for that labor.

If you follow some ebay auctions you might notice that a $150 Warmoth neck brings more used than it cost new.
If you pay for all the options you'll likely lose some money, but buy top brand basic model and you can get your money back on parts you don't like.
While there are some super cheap bodies and necks, I'd suggest paying a little more and getting parts with good reps for fitting and working well. You won't lose money on for example unfinished Allparts necks. Put on a basic easy finish and if you don't like it you can easily sell it for a fair price, maybe more than you paid.

Another reason it's crazy to sell your builds whole is that there's gotta be at least some parts you like.
If you start out wanting something different from off the rack, just stay in the game and buy another of whatever part you don't like.
If you're not sure what exactly makes your new build uninspiring, follow through and figure it out!

I find that since every guitar sounds a little different, even with the same pickups, it's possible to take two guitars I don't like very much and redistribute the parts into a two guitars I like better.

Might be a thin sounding guitar needs a pickup that sounds a little muddy in a darker sounding guitar.
Similarly an ebony fingerboard needs the right body and pickup to sound right to me.
Ebony board, heavy ash body, and low wind bright pickups makes a harsh sounding Tele IME.

While many will insist that only the pickups and the pots influence the plugged in sound, that fails to account for builds that are not satisfying.

Don't fall into the trap of thinking a great partscaster is some mysterious unobtanium, keep changing it until you understand what effects the outcome.
This may sound expensive, but for me I have all these left over parts now, so when GAS hits, I can bang out a "new" guitar for free!

 

@El Tele Lobo, I read you loud and clear

Mine will be a long road... I might be "finished" with it in about ten years or so I can't name exactly what kind of neck or pickups I want. But that's pretty much the point... parts can be replaced, and as long as they're something like Warmoth or Allparts - or Fender, why not? - they have a resale value. I am considering some kind of no-solder harness. Not cuz I can't hold a solder, just for convenience

 

IMO that's the only value a partscaster I built has, and only to me. My first build has an Affinity body, the neck, control plate, bridge plate and locking tuners are Chinese. Next bridge and control plates will also be - I'm keeping now to the engraved theme, and western ones are just too expensive if I want to test an idea; not to mention somewhat hard to find. I've got two other uprgrades / modifications and a partscaster strat underway; and a dream Tele in planning. They won't be benefiting from cheap parts just for the reason you stated... even if I didn't like the guitar, the parts can always be repurposed. Gimme a year or so and I'm in the same place - digging into spare parts when GAS hits

 

One nice thing about getting into partscastering as a hobby is that after a certain point you got enough parts lying around to make an extra guitar!

 

Sorta hit that already. The only reason I'm building a strat is the extra pickup set, neck, trem and pots that have been in my drawer for a year

 

Oh, man! That Aged Cherry Burst finish is gorgeous! And so is the photograph!

 

I would play several Fender Masterbuilt models at a dealer that had ample stock and buy the one that "speaks to me". If there is not a dealer nearby, then locate one and travel there. That is the best way IMO.

Is it cheap? NO

But that is how I have always found the perfect guitars for me.

Buck

 

I am a simple guy: I am perfectly happy with my AV telecasters and my classic series 60s.
Should I pick one, that would be the first 52 I bought.

 

I'd build it. That way it would be exactly like I want it.

 

So true... Teles can be so varied and not a single one of them scratches all of the itches perfectly. That's what forces us to have MULTIPLE Teles!