Unionjack515
Tele-Afflicted
I purchased a conglomeration of four bodies and four necks on Reverb this week…varying configurations. All from Mario Martin at Guitar Mill, my favorite “boutique” builder.
The four bodies:
1b) 1-pc alder 4lb 7oz, routed for standard Tele pickup configuration and controls, double bound with pearloid binding
2b) 2-pc alder 4lb 2oz, “Tele Custom” routing for pickups and controls (humbucker neck, standard bridge, two volume, two tone, pickup selector switch in upper bout)
3b) 3-pc swamp ash, 4lb 6oz, routed for two p90s, standard Tele control cavity
4b) 1-pc swamp ash, 4lb, routed for p90 in neck position and standard bridge, standard controls, double bound with black binding
And the necks (all 21 frets, 6105 fret wire, 1.65” nut width, drilled for 11/32” vintage style Kluson tuners and medium C profile):
1n) Birdseye maple, dark Indian rosewood fretboard, 9.5-12” compound radius
2n) Roasted 3A flame maple, Brazilian rosewood fretboard, 9.5-12” compound radius
3n) 1pc maple, 9.5” radius
4n) Maple, stripey Indian rosewood fretboard, 9.5” radius, broken nut
We’ll see what speaks to me as far as pairings go, but initial thoughts are:
1b & 1n = “1”
2b & 2n = “2”
3b & 3n = “3”
4b & 4n = “4”
I was thinking 1 would be perhaps Sage Green Metallic with a pearloid pickguard
2 might be Candy Apple Red or Lake Placid Blue, either with a black pickguard and silver top reflector-ish knobs
3 perhaps Taos Turquoise, Ocean Turquoise or Teal Green Metallic (or maybe a turquoise transparent) with a small parchment pickguard and parchment covered p90s
And 4 perhaps silver sparkle with a black paisley pickguard (if Bill Crook is willing to whip one up for me…currently not taking orders for a bit) and black covered p90
Debating on which, if any, would get a matching headstock…the silver sparkle seems like a natural fit.
I’ll have to rifle through my parts bin to see what I’ve got to put into these but I’m guessing I’ll need some metal bits and most certainly pickups. I’ve had some really nice sets from Cavalier and Lollar for single coils, Duncan Antiquities for the P90s and either Lollar Low-Wind Imperial or my beloved Haeussel ‘59 for the humbucker.
I’ll probably finish the necks myself and maybe one or two of the bodies but I’d outsource the silver sparkle and Candy Apple Red if I decide to go that way.
This should keep me busy for a while…ha
The four bodies:
1b) 1-pc alder 4lb 7oz, routed for standard Tele pickup configuration and controls, double bound with pearloid binding
2b) 2-pc alder 4lb 2oz, “Tele Custom” routing for pickups and controls (humbucker neck, standard bridge, two volume, two tone, pickup selector switch in upper bout)
3b) 3-pc swamp ash, 4lb 6oz, routed for two p90s, standard Tele control cavity
4b) 1-pc swamp ash, 4lb, routed for p90 in neck position and standard bridge, standard controls, double bound with black binding
And the necks (all 21 frets, 6105 fret wire, 1.65” nut width, drilled for 11/32” vintage style Kluson tuners and medium C profile):
1n) Birdseye maple, dark Indian rosewood fretboard, 9.5-12” compound radius
2n) Roasted 3A flame maple, Brazilian rosewood fretboard, 9.5-12” compound radius
3n) 1pc maple, 9.5” radius
4n) Maple, stripey Indian rosewood fretboard, 9.5” radius, broken nut
We’ll see what speaks to me as far as pairings go, but initial thoughts are:
1b & 1n = “1”
2b & 2n = “2”
3b & 3n = “3”
4b & 4n = “4”
I was thinking 1 would be perhaps Sage Green Metallic with a pearloid pickguard
2 might be Candy Apple Red or Lake Placid Blue, either with a black pickguard and silver top reflector-ish knobs
3 perhaps Taos Turquoise, Ocean Turquoise or Teal Green Metallic (or maybe a turquoise transparent) with a small parchment pickguard and parchment covered p90s
And 4 perhaps silver sparkle with a black paisley pickguard (if Bill Crook is willing to whip one up for me…currently not taking orders for a bit) and black covered p90
Debating on which, if any, would get a matching headstock…the silver sparkle seems like a natural fit.
I’ll have to rifle through my parts bin to see what I’ve got to put into these but I’m guessing I’ll need some metal bits and most certainly pickups. I’ve had some really nice sets from Cavalier and Lollar for single coils, Duncan Antiquities for the P90s and either Lollar Low-Wind Imperial or my beloved Haeussel ‘59 for the humbucker.
I’ll probably finish the necks myself and maybe one or two of the bodies but I’d outsource the silver sparkle and Candy Apple Red if I decide to go that way.
This should keep me busy for a while…ha
Last edited:
