ChazFromCali
Tele-Meister
Early stages probably shouldn't even post this, but what the heck.
The body I got for $60 & $20 shipping on Reverb. Looks like a science experiment gone bad, homemade? Has marks from a Forstner bit on the bottom of the control cavity. I sprayed all the cavities black, looks much better now. The binding looks good though, good job on that but there's stain on it that I'm lightly sanding off.
The top of the body had streaks of a clear goo on it that wouldn't come off with 409 and a washcloth not sure what that was about. I "sanded" it with a Scotchbrite pad which hid it pretty good and also made the top more matte, which is what I'm going for on this build. Not relic'd per se, more of a used, matte look. The worst thing is the ferrule holes on the back. Not lined up properly but they do go thru the body, and the holes on the top line up with the holes in the bridge, so that's a relief.
Electrosocket jack. Only way I roll.
The bridge is notched. Got it from Bridge Works, a tad pricey but it looks great. Came with metal saddles but I'm replacing them with Graph Tech string-saver saddles. I may have to do a bit of sanding / tweaking on the sides of them to make them fit better.
Six individual saddles, that's what I like. I don't like the two-per-string saddle. Heresy!
Nothing about this guitar is gonna be "traditional" it's not gonna be a copy of an early blackguard or any other particular Tele model, (looking at the body should tell you that, lol) it's just gonna be how I want to build a Tele.
The back was a mess as you can see in the pic.
So I hit it with a couple coats of rattle-can flat black. Dried quick looked pretty good. Then I used a coat of sealer on it which in retrospect may have been a mistake. Shined it up too much. So I guess the Scotchbrite pad will give it a once over to make it more matte.
I'm thinking matte black pickguard. The body/finish has too much going on to have a "busy" pickguard on it. Altho I've seen some fantastic looking Tele pickguards on Etsy. https://www.etsy.com/shop/STORMGUIT...ame&listing_id=1100807699§ion_id=33103571
If I had a solid color body I'd put one of those designs on it.
Control plate, looking at Callaham. I like the modified knob spacing he does. Might just buy the entire pre-built unit from him.
Pickup's, still have not decided. Leaning towards a neck HB or mini HB. Choices, choices.... too many choices.
Neck, maple. Looking now for something not too ridiculously priced. 21 frets, 9.5 radius, medium frets.
I have a set of Grover locking tuners I bought. And I'm going to put an Earvana nut on it. Again, the only way I roll. I can hear it.
Just for laughs thinking of putting on a drop D tuner. I will probably do that.
In a moment of uh.... whatever, was considering a Certano B bender as well, but that's probably not gonna happen.
Not a faithful copy of any particular model of Tele. Not a Hot Rod, not a faux steel, not a roots-o-caster with Teisco p/u's either. we'll see I guess.
cheers!
The body I got for $60 & $20 shipping on Reverb. Looks like a science experiment gone bad, homemade? Has marks from a Forstner bit on the bottom of the control cavity. I sprayed all the cavities black, looks much better now. The binding looks good though, good job on that but there's stain on it that I'm lightly sanding off.
The top of the body had streaks of a clear goo on it that wouldn't come off with 409 and a washcloth not sure what that was about. I "sanded" it with a Scotchbrite pad which hid it pretty good and also made the top more matte, which is what I'm going for on this build. Not relic'd per se, more of a used, matte look. The worst thing is the ferrule holes on the back. Not lined up properly but they do go thru the body, and the holes on the top line up with the holes in the bridge, so that's a relief.
Electrosocket jack. Only way I roll.
The bridge is notched. Got it from Bridge Works, a tad pricey but it looks great. Came with metal saddles but I'm replacing them with Graph Tech string-saver saddles. I may have to do a bit of sanding / tweaking on the sides of them to make them fit better.
Six individual saddles, that's what I like. I don't like the two-per-string saddle. Heresy!
Nothing about this guitar is gonna be "traditional" it's not gonna be a copy of an early blackguard or any other particular Tele model, (looking at the body should tell you that, lol) it's just gonna be how I want to build a Tele.
The back was a mess as you can see in the pic.
I'm thinking matte black pickguard. The body/finish has too much going on to have a "busy" pickguard on it. Altho I've seen some fantastic looking Tele pickguards on Etsy. https://www.etsy.com/shop/STORMGUIT...ame&listing_id=1100807699§ion_id=33103571
If I had a solid color body I'd put one of those designs on it.
Control plate, looking at Callaham. I like the modified knob spacing he does. Might just buy the entire pre-built unit from him.
Pickup's, still have not decided. Leaning towards a neck HB or mini HB. Choices, choices.... too many choices.
Neck, maple. Looking now for something not too ridiculously priced. 21 frets, 9.5 radius, medium frets.
I have a set of Grover locking tuners I bought. And I'm going to put an Earvana nut on it. Again, the only way I roll. I can hear it.
Just for laughs thinking of putting on a drop D tuner. I will probably do that.
In a moment of uh.... whatever, was considering a Certano B bender as well, but that's probably not gonna happen.
Not a faithful copy of any particular model of Tele. Not a Hot Rod, not a faux steel, not a roots-o-caster with Teisco p/u's either. we'll see I guess.
cheers!
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