My First Tele Build

[Frankie Chestnuts]

Always excited when the package arrives.  This is my 4th build, but my first Tele and the first time I'm going to do most of the build myself.  (So I'll be asking some help with the electronics.)

I'll post more details as it moves forward, but neck and body are both Warmoth.  I just got them back from MJT.  (Love these guys.)  Mahogany body and neck.  Rosewood.  Chambered.  Went with a wine red stain.  Was shooting for a Gibson SG look. 

I also am a Strat player.  A Tele has always felt uncomfortable.  So I went with a forearm and tummy cut like a Strat.  Hope it works out.  Tele controls also seem to be in the way, so I'm reversing.  Have a 920D control setup. 

Mockup shown.  I'm going to take my time.  Drilling into a paper thin nitro finish is freaking me out. 

More to come...

 

[PhilHill]

Very Nice, Good Luck on it. :headbang:

 

[rgand]

That really is beautiful! Congrats on the new goodies.

 

[Frankie Chestnuts]

So... We got a stacked Seymour Duncan in the bridge. A TV Jones Classic in the neck. 4 way Switch on a reverse control plate. Got the Gotoh vintage tuners installed. String ferrules. Gotoh modern Tele bridge. Waiting on a variety of screws, the neck plate.

Got a couple hrs in and making progress. Damn, thin finish chips if you look at it the wrong way.

 

[PhilHill]

So... We got a stacked Seymour Duncan in the bridge. A TV Jones Classic in the neck. 4 way Switch on a reverse control plate. Got the Gotoh vintage tuners installed. String ferrules. Gotoh modern Tele bridge. Waiting on a variety of screws, the neck plate.

Got a couple hrs in and making progress. Damn, thin finish chips if you look at it the wrong way.

Yes unfortunately that happens with finish done the way they do it now. PRS and Martin and several other companies have done a lot of research into finish. They mostly discovered that exactly what type of finish isn't as important as how it's applied. The best way seems to be a hard finish applied thin. So, it tends to crack and chip if you disturb it. Good luck on it though. :icon_thumright:

 

[Frankie Chestnuts]

Yea... Somehow after it's put together and 'official', I don't have much of an issue with a little bump or chip here and there.  The MJT's finish check after time.  But it would be nice to have a pristine guitar at the start.  C'est la vie 

 

[rauchman]

Beautiful guitar.  Congrats!

 

[Frankie Chestnuts]

Not completely done, but close.  Still need a few more details and a proper setup.  But I'm happy so far.

 

[PhilHill]

But I'm happy so far.

In the end, that's all that matters.  :icon_thumright:

 

[bagman67]

That's a great looking axe.  Once you get it fully dialed in you will be a very happy camper indeed.

 

[rgand]

Looks really good. :icon_thumright: :icon_thumright: