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Building my first Tele-Style guitar
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Author:  dzsmith [ Thu Mar 07, 2013 7:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Building my first Tele-Style guitar

I decided to try a Tele style build for fun.
I hope the thing sounds like a Tele when it is finished.
I used local trees: Chinaberry body and neck, Pecan fretboard, and a Mesquite neck stringer.
The fretboard is 25.3" scale, 14" radius, and the neck profile is a "D" shape.
I was able to get about a 1 degree neck angle by setting the neck deep into the neck pocket.
The Chinaberry sands very easily. I sanded the neck profile by hand in about two hours.
I used a Martin truss rod and the neck is very stiff. I hope to get some neck relief when the strings are on. I made a fretboard jig and used a cheap Zona saw to cut the frets. I purchased some wide/low fretwire and will hammer them in a few days.
I want to use transtint dye on bare wood, but the Chinaberry will need grain filling, so I'll have to run some experiments to see what will work.
All of the hardware including pickups cost $60 from Guitar Fetish. The tuners will be replaced if I like the guitar.
Here are some progress pictures.
Dan

Author:  Kent Wilkinson [ Thu Mar 07, 2013 8:13 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Building my first Tele-Style guitar

Beautiful!

Author:  dzsmith [ Sun Mar 17, 2013 4:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Building my first Tele-Style guitar

Strung it up. Plays well and sounds like a Tele should.
I used Stew Mac wide/low frets.
I spent at least 3 hours filing the nut.
The neck is thicker than I wanted, but the transition from the headstck to the neck is a bit limber, so I left it as-is.
I installed 'Lil Buckers from Guitar Fetish. I really like the sound of these pickups. The resistance is about 6K ohms.
Next step will be to tear it down and apply the finish.
Dan

Author:  sdsollod [ Mon Mar 18, 2013 12:13 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Building my first Tele-Style guitar

Very Nice! Are you going to show us a photo after it's finished? ...sound clip?

Author:  dzsmith [ Mon Mar 18, 2013 6:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Building my first Tele-Style guitar

Thanks Kent and Steve!
I'll post photos after finishing: may be a couple of months.
I'll see if my daughter can pu a sound clip on her you-tube account.
Dan

Author:  NightOwl [ Sat Mar 23, 2013 12:23 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Building my first Tele-Style guitar

That is the first time I have seen a bookmatched fretboard , cool

Author:  dzsmith [ Sun May 26, 2013 9:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Building my first Tele-Style guitar

I finished my Tele build today.
This was my first spray finish. Many thanks to Brian H. and Mike P. for their advice and help.
I used Behlen Instrument lacquer. I added purple and red transtint to the lacquer for color.
I sprayed the burst with an airbrush. I wet sanded with 600 and 1000 and polished with Mequire's swirl remover.
It plays great and sounds pretty good.
Thanks,
Dan

Author:  Chris Pile [ Sun May 26, 2013 11:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Building my first Tele-Style guitar

Love that sunburst!
Well done.

Author:  dzsmith [ Sun Jun 02, 2013 3:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Building my first Tele-Style guitar

Chris Pile wrote:
Love that sunburst!
Well done.

Thanks Chris!
This was my number 5 and the first I am proud to display.
I spent four weekends on the finish: what a pain in the bum!
I bought a bunch of local lumber last weekend - Chinaberry, Pecan, Mesquite, and Sycamore.
Itching to start another.
Dan

Author:  B. Howard [ Sat Jun 08, 2013 7:21 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Building my first Tele-Style guitar

Simply stunning.

Author:  dpm99 [ Sat Jun 08, 2013 11:25 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Building my first Tele-Style guitar

That's a real gem. I love the native woods.

Author:  RichB [ Thu Jun 20, 2013 1:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Building my first Tele-Style guitar

Very Nice. Breaking Tele tradition w/ a joined fretboard. Looks like a big arrowhead...! Pecan's a fairly hard wood?

Author:  dpm99 [ Fri Jun 21, 2013 11:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Building my first Tele-Style guitar

Janka rating is reported to be 1820, so yes. Plenty hard. Pecan is a hickory, by the way,

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