Replacement Tele Body for AmProII?

[AquariumRock]

Hello all,

I’ve had my AmProII tele deluxe for a few months and I keep going back and forth on replacing the body. I love the guitar aside from the finish, which is the dark night variety.

When I got it I told myself I could go through warmoth and get a new body but in pricing out a new body I noticed they don’t have an option for the offset 4 bolt neck pocket. (Because of the heel carve on the AmPros.)

Does anyone know of an option for this? A body with the misaligned 4 bolts? (Not stratosphere, but a customizable option.) or would I be better off getting the Warmoth body undrilled and having a shop do it? I don’t love the idea of adding more of an expense to what is essentially a vanity mod but if that’s where I am, oh well.

 

[AAT65]

Heat gun and scraper to take off the finish?? (I don’t like the Dark Night finish either, although I know a lot of people do.)
Or advertise the body on Reverb saying you will swap it for another AmProII body in a finish you prefer… you might find someone who was gassing for Dark Night and has “settled” for Olympic White or Mystic Surf Green or Natural and is happy to swap…

 

[brookdalebill]

MJT makes great stuff, too.
Perhaps they can accommodate you.
Perhaps you could check with them.

 

[Highway 49]

I’d refinish the body rather than attach everything else to another body.
Or I’d sell the guitar and buy another one in the colour you like.
Or I’d just live with it as it is.
I thought about refinishing my CAR polyester Telecaster because I didn’t like its indestructible nature - kind of uncanny to have a guitar that stays the same over the years, while you fall apart more (or less) gracefully.
But I couldn’t do it, and I’ve learned to live with the finish as it is, and sometimes even love it. Dark Night is a ridiculous colour though so that might be difficult.

 

[AquariumRock]

Heat gun and scraper to take off the finish?? (I don’t like the Dark Night finish either, although I know a lot of people do.)
Or advertise the body on Reverb saying you will swap it for another AmProII body in a finish you prefer… you might find someone who was gassing for Dark Night and has “settled” for Olympic White or Mystic Surf Green or Natural and is happy to swap…

I played a bunch of tele deluxes, and it was this neck that I fell in love with. It’s a hair thicker than most of the other ones I played, so I definitely don’t want to part with it.

I’m nervous about refinishing it myself, if I screw it up I’d be in a worse position than I am now. And I don’t know if I’d want to pay to have it done, I figure I’m probably halfway to a new body by that point anyway. Though I admit I haven’t priced out nearby shops. Thank you for the suggestion though.

I’d refinish the body rather than attach everything else to another body.
Or I’d sell the guitar and buy another one in the colour you like.
Or I’d just live with it as it is.
I thought about refinishing my CAR polyester Telecaster because I didn’t like its indestructible nature - kind of uncanny to have a guitar that stays the same over the years, while you fall apart more (or less) gracefully.
But I couldn’t do it, and I’ve learned to live with the finish as it is, and sometimes even love it. Dark Night is a ridiculous colour though so that might be difficult.

on a scale of 1-10 how difficult is refinishing a body? I’m apprehensive about attempting it myself. I’m a reasonably handy person (tradesman in my other life) but it seems so high stakes. I screw it up and then I’m worse off than if I had just sucked it up. I absolutely love the neck on this guitar. I tried multiple teles and tele deluxes specifically (including other dark night ones) and this one just had the sauce, despite being in the worst condition otherwise. (It had been sitting at the shop for a moment.) I’m very hesitant to give up the neck.

As you said, dark night is a choice of finish. People love it or hate it. I think it looks fine on the standard teles but I hate the balance of colors on the deluxe in that finish. My wife and kids think it’s the coolest guitar they’ve ever seen though and they probably have better taste than me. But yeah, it’s hard to live with sometimes. Maybe I’ll see if I can have a local artist spray paint a mural of wolves running under pale moonlight, really lean into the “van art” aesthetic that dark night suggests.

 

[Monoprice99]

Pretty much why I went with the standard issue slab, square pegs go in square holes, color is a preference and I just didn't see an advantage for making the neck pocket sexier or more ergonomic when the Telecaster body is essentially a Rhinoceros tank of a body for it's shape. I leave the contours for the Strat body.

 

[Wayne Alexander]

If you refinish the body it will reduce the resale value of the guitar.

 

[ponycar]

I have used these necks with nice aftermarket bodies. The 3 holes offset is not a problem.
Just add another hole

Aquire/ finish the new body of choice.
Get a 4 hole neck plate on line.
The ones that are sold as replacements for American bases, are engraved Fender Corona California. The neck pictured, already had the hole drilled. Check yours.
If not, here is how to do it.
Use the offset 4th hole, in the neck, as a guage to find the appropriate drill bit for drilling a 4th hole, after test fitting. Do not use the hole in the body to choose a bit!
Use the 3 holes that do line up to bolt the neck on.
Gently bolt it to the new body.
Put both e strings on the guitar and align the neck so that it is in an optimal position.
Use just your fingers to run the drill bit through the new 4th hole position. Spin it until you get bored, in order to properly start the hole. Put a drill stop on the bit, put it in your drill and carefully drill hole 4.
Please do not drill through your fretboard.
PM me if you need further help.
Long explanation, but it actually takes very little time to do.
Enjoy not having the silly rounded off heal, that serves no purpose whatsoever.

 

[AquariumRock]

If you refinish the body it will reduce the resale value of the guitar.

Yeah, there’s that, too. Of course I don’t intend to part with it, but then again I never do.

 

[bumnote]

I’m nervous about refinishing it myself, if I screw it up I’d be in a worse position than I am now

One thing to consider is what's under the finish may not have been matched for anything like a transparent finish or a burst...or it could also be really nicely matched with excellent grain. I've experienced both equally.

on a scale of 1-10 how difficult is refinishing a body?

The first time...probably a 6 or 7 depending on this finish. Black is easy for example...butterscotch, lake placid blue, etc. get slightly more involved, but not much. LPB was the first finish I did and I was shocked how well it came out for a first time.
The hardest part will be removing the original finish, a decent heat gun is a must unless you enjoy sanding.

 

[robt57]

Maybe a perloid guard will appease and save a LOT of trouble.

 

[AquariumRock]

One thing to consider is what's under the finish may not have been matched for anything like a transparent finish or a burst...or it could also be really nicely matched with excellent grain. I've experienced both equally.


The first time...probably a 6 or 7 depending on this finish. Black is easy for example...butterscotch, lake placid blue, etc. get slightly more involved, but not much. LPB was the first finish I did and I was shocked how well it came out for a first time.
The hardest part will be removing the original finish, a decent heat gun is a must unless you enjoy sanding.

I also meant to ask, what’s the wisdom on heat gun vs sanding vs just scuffing the existing finish and applying primer? Why are any of those options better than any other?

I’m definitely not going for a burst or translucent finish. Not 100% but probably a metallic. Thought about a straight LPB (I think that’s basically what the dark night is, an LPD blackburst). Or maybe a gun metal/Mercedes blue.

Front runner is probably Sherwood green metallic, but again, nothing final. But definitely nothing translucent.

 

[AquariumRock]

Maybe a perloid guard will appease and save a LOT of trouble.

View attachment 1406103

I just put that together in the mod shop website, just to visualize, and you might be onto something…

 

[Highway 49]

on a scale of 1-10 how difficult is refinishing a body? I’m apprehensive about attempting it myself. I’m a reasonably handy person (tradesman in my other life) but it seems so high stakes. I screw it up and then I’m worse off than if I had just sucked it up. I absolutely love the neck on this guitar. I tried multiple teles and tele deluxes specifically (including other dark night ones) and this one just had the sauce, despite being in the worst condition otherwise. (It had been sitting at the shop for a moment.) I’m very hesitant to give up the neck.

I see your point - I backed away from refinishing mine because there was nothing wrong with it and, however good the work, refinished guitars can sometimes look just a bit wrong. If I was going to do it, I’d get a pro. - we’ve got good people near here, and I’d just make a mess of it.
So, yes, your plan to change bodies actually sounds good on further thought - completely reversible if needed… Although, kinda tempting to buy another Deluxe in the colour you like and just swap the neck over… but then that would cause its own problems (I have two almost identical Teles for similar reasons).
Sorry, not much help
Actually, I’m changing my mind - if the guitar is really working, maybe best to leave it alone, and own the colour, and learn to love it - it is possible for that to happen with familiarity - some of those funny seventies colours now look super-cool

 

[bumnote]

what’s the wisdom on heat gun

As someone who's done the sanding, it's a lot faster and doesn't remove any wood.

just scuffing the existing finish and applying primer

Rarely looks good at the end, I've done that too. You also run the risk of the new finish not adhering to the old. Also if you want a thinner feeling finish than the current one, getting down to the bare wood would be a good idea. Years ago I striped a gorgeous black finish off of a Strat because it felt off, a little thicker. I found out there was Candy Apple Red finish under the black and it was noticeable to me.

 

[Supertwang]

Pretty much why I went with the standard issue slab, square pegs go in square holes, color is a preference and I just didn't see an advantage for making the neck pocket sexier or more ergonomic when the Telecaster body is essentially a Rhinoceros tank of a body for it's shape. I leave the contours for the Strat body.

Hello all,

I’ve had my AmProII tele deluxe for a few months and I keep going back and forth on replacing the body. I love the guitar aside from the finish, which is the dark night variety.

When I got it I told myself I could go through warmoth and get a new body but in pricing out a new body I noticed they don’t have an option for the offset 4 bolt neck pocket. (Because of the heel carve on the AmPros.)

Does anyone know of an option for this? A body with the misaligned 4 bolts? (Not stratosphere, but a customizable option.) or would I be better off getting the Warmoth body undrilled and having a shop do it? I don’t love the idea of adding more of an expense to what is essentially a vanity mod but if that’s where I am, oh well.

Financially it only really makes sense to sell it on and find a used Am Pro II in the color you desire. Even if you replace Only the body For another AmPro II body, you still then technically have a “parts guitar” because the neck & body stamps probably won’t jive.

 

[AquariumRock]

Financially it only makes sense to sell it on and find a used Am Pro II in the color you desire. Even if you replace Only the body For another AmPro II body, you still technically then have a “parts guitar” because the ne k & body stamps probably won’t jive.

Sure, but I am overly fond of the neck. I picked this guitar out of several tele deluxes, I would not part with this neck.

Also, I don’t really love any of the other colors so much as to spend the $600 going through stratosphere would require. Maybe the mystic surf green.

Other than the AmProII, no other teles have been sold with the off set four bolt neck plate. Historically they were three bolts, and the Squier level ones have the standard four set. As did the original AmPros.

 

[frisco slim]

Finishing (and refinishing) is not easy. I would go with the Warmoth body, a standard 4-bolt neck plate and drill the extra hole in the neck. If you want to retain a heel contour, Warmoth has that option( cf. attachment), although it's not the same as Fender's. It is designed for a standard 4-bolt mounting plate with two regular length 1-3/4" screws and two 1-3/8" or 1-1/2" screws.

 

[unixfish]

If you are replacing the body anyhow, why not replace the bridge as well? You could get a standard body and bridge (and probably saddles) and just move everything else.

 

[AquariumRock]

If you are replacing the body anyhow, why not replace the bridge as well? You could get a standard body and bridge (and probably saddles) and just move everything else.

I have considered replacing the bridge, but that wouldn’t fix my issue. I’m talking about the screws that hold the neck onto the body, on the AmProII, they aren’t in a standard four bolt configuration, one screw is off set because of the additional heel curve.