Archie Creek Fire Tele Build

[Hodgo]

So I got this lovely 3.5lb body from the recent sale. What to do with it?

First things first - placed an order for some Wilde Microcoil Alnico Tele pickups. I think these are vastly under appreciated pickups and produce some of the best Tele tones money can buy. That universal neck rout was tempting to fill with a PAF, but the vintage tint finish and knotty pine makes me want to go a little more traditional with a twist.

The finish has a lovely sunny amber glow and I am thinking of going a bit monotone here with a deep gold pickguard and canary neck, here’s a mockup:



Maybe half scalloped? Really enjoying the scalloped canary neck on the Shredowhawk, but don’t necessarily need to duplicate it.

More to come as decisions are made, opinions are welcome

 

[rockandroller]

That mockup looks splendid! Highly recommend the Canary necks... (mine is unfinished, and super comfortable)

 

[Spud]

View attachment 68058
So I got this lovely 3.5lb body from the recent sale. What to do with it?

First things first - placed an order for some Wilde Microcoil Alnico Tele pickups. I think these are vastly under appreciated pickups and produce some of the best Tele tones money can buy. That universal neck rout was tempting to fill with a PAF, but the vintage tint finish and knotty pine makes me want to go a little more traditional with a twist.

The finish has a lovely sunny amber glow and I am thinking of going a bit monotone here with a deep gold pickguard and canary neck, here’s a mockup:

View attachment 68059

Maybe half scalloped? Really enjoying the scalloped canary neck on the Shredowhawk, but don’t necessarily need to duplicate it.

More to come as decisions are made, opinions are welcome

Can't go wrong with Wilde pickups! I just installed an L290 TL-E and love it!

 

[Hodgo]

Well, Mighty Mite has takeoff Babicz FCH Z Series bridges from the Fender Aerodyne Specials for 49.99 - that’s one choice down.

I’m vacillating between traditional Tele wiring and something more convoluted. I kind of want to do a a PTB or Q filter + tone control… not a ton of space on the control plate for that unless I put a rotary pickup selector in which might be cool?

But also defeats what make Teles so interesting to me. IMHO a Tele is best when it’s barely more convoluted than an acoustic guitar, but I have three Esquires already so I think I can afford to prance around outside the box here

 

[Hodgo]

You guys like neck specs?

Telecaster® Replacement Guitar Neck

Construction Modern
Shaft Wood Maple
Fretboard Wood Maple
Nut Width1.650" (42mm) - Vintage Medium
Neck Back Profile 59 Roundback
Fretboard Radius Straight 10.5"
Number of Frets 21
Scallops Half Scallops
Fret Size & Material SS6115 - Wide & Tall (Stainless)
Tuner Hole Size Gotoh/Grover (13/32" - 11/32") Inlay Shape Standard Dots
Inlay Material Black
Side Dots Black Side Dots
String Nut No Nut Install
Finish Vintage Tint Gloss

 

[Spud]

You guys like neck specs?

Telecaster® Replacement Guitar Neck

Construction Modern
Shaft Wood Maple
Fretboard Wood Maple
Nut Width1.650" (42mm) - Vintage Medium
Neck Back Profile 59 Roundback
Fretboard Radius Straight 10.5"
Number of Frets 21
Scallops Half Scallops
Fret Size & Material SS6115 - Wide & Tall (Stainless)
Tuner Hole Size Gotoh/Grover (13/32" - 11/32") Inlay Shape Standard Dots
Inlay Material Black
Side Dots Black Side Dots
String Nut No Nut Install
Finish Vintage Tint Gloss

I am quite proud of you Hodgo!

 

[Heavy Rock]

Cool I like the idea of a rotary switch in general. I was looking at the Schaller website the other day and they have some interesting switches and some rotary ones, but they look pretty huge, I don't know if they can fit in tight spaces like that.

Megaswitch rotary | 1533

Megaswitch rotary 3- and 5-way for a wide range of circuit variations The same applies to the Megaswitch rotary switch: get more out of your instrument's pickup combinations. Pickups, i.e. single coils with one magnetic coil or humbuckers with two single…

schaller.info

Interested to hear how you'll like the half scallops.

 

[Tretgeraet]

I don't know if they can fit in tight spaces like that.

Cool thing about the Schaller website is, that they have technical drawings down at the end of the product pages

https://schaller.info/media/da/51/3e/1707210926/1533.pdf

 

[Hodgo]

I am quite proud of you Hodgo!

Thanks internet Dad

Cool I like the idea of a rotary switch in general. I was looking at the Schaller website the other day and they have some interesting switches and some rotary ones, but they look pretty huge, I don't know if they can fit in tight spaces like that.

Megaswitch rotary | 1533

Megaswitch rotary 3- and 5-way for a wide range of circuit variations The same applies to the Megaswitch rotary switch: get more out of your instrument's pickup combinations. Pickups, i.e. single coils with one magnetic coil or humbuckers with two single…

schaller.info

Interested to hear how you'll like the half scallops.

Rio Grande sells this, which I’m eyeing for this build https://riograndepickups.com/tele-tone-twister-pre-wired-control-plate/

I went back and forth between my fully scalloped Meadowhawk and my Tele before ordering half scalloped. I don’t grip hard enough to push cowboy chords out of tune EXCEPT when I’m doing some pedal steel type stuff where I’m bending a note in a chord. However, the scallops at the 12th fret and beyond are much harder to bend out of tune - not sure why. It also makes those frets feel a little “wider” under my fingers - don’t ask why. The scalloped neck I have is sporting 6100s, so I think the 6115s will be even more open feeling since they are “peaked”.

My hope is it is the best of both worlds.

 

[Hodgo]

Cool thing about the Schaller website is, that they have technical drawings down at the end of the product pages

https://schaller.info/media/da/51/3e/1707210926/1533.pdf

This is so very German

 

[Heavy Rock]

Thanks internet Dad

Rio Grande sells this, which I’m eyeing for this build https://riograndepickups.com/tele-tone-twister-pre-wired-control-plate/

I went back and forth between my fully scalloped Meadowhawk and my Tele before ordering half scalloped. I don’t grip hard enough to push cowboy chords out of tune EXCEPT when I’m doing some pedal steel type stuff where I’m bending a note in a chord. However, the scallops at the 12th fret and beyond are much harder to bend out of tune - not sure why. It also makes those frets feel a little “wider” under my fingers - don’t ask why. The scalloped neck I have is sporting 6100s, so I think the 6115s will be even more open feeling since they are “peaked”.

My hope is it is the best of both worlds.

Yeah, half scallops make a lot of sense actually. The higher frets are harder to bend out of tune due to reduced string length between the frets so the tension is higher. I think you do get best of both worlds.

That wiring assembly is perfect.

 

[Heavy Rock]

Cool thing about the Schaller website is, that they have technical drawings down at the end of the product pages

https://schaller.info/media/da/51/3e/1707210926/1533.pdf

Yes! I love it when manufacturers do that. I didn't notice they'd do this for the switches too though. I know they have drawings for the bridges etc.