Why You Should Build or Buy a Partscaster

[telemnemonics]

Fender does not make a model with my chosen / required specs, which include:
Fatter neck
6100 frets
Around 6lbs
Bridge SC
Ash or alder body

Neck is most important though, with huge frets.
A plus that both of these cost around $600 to put together.
Fender is not even in the running, no way they can compete.

 

[pbenn]

Me too!
When I was 21, circa 1978, I started playing Teles in country bar bands.
My first Tele was an heavy, yellowish, maple neck, early 70s model.
It was a, uh, dog of a guitar.
It had a skinny maple neck with polyurethane shot on the fingerboard, microphonic pickups in both positions and an un-tune-able 3 saddle bridge.
By the time I was finished modding it, only the body was left stock.
It was a great learning experience!

I think Jack DeKeyzer's early-period Tele was early '70s.
This is from 1986, Uxbridge, Barn Bash.

 

[ndcaster]

4 kids and one on the way



crummy light, I have to spiff up that corner

all $600 and under

doing the finish work yourself saves hundreds

muck around!

 

[user name]

I really enjoy the ritual of it all.
Obsessing over pickups and hardware, choosing a color, looking for deals, researching everything, and the best part is putting it all together.
It's also easier for me to buy some parts here or there than it is to save up and drop 1k or more on an off the rack guitar.