New Goldtop Tele Deluxe project started!

[phillip_h]

Just picked up this body for sale on the TGP emporium.

Here are the details:

Specs:
• USACG Mahogany Tele Deluxe Body
• Maple Top
• 3 lbs 13 oz
• Cream Binding
• Aged Goldtop, Nitro
• Aged Natural back, NItro
• Strat Neck Heel
• Fits wide-range and regular humbuckers
• Drilled to fit narrow (humbucker) spaced "modern" bridges.

Finish and aging was done by MJT. The pictures are of a fully assembled guitar, but I'm just getting the body. No pickups, guard, hardware, etc. Just the nickel string ferrules.

Here's what I'm thinking as far as finishing out the guitar:
• Warmoth Pro neck - Roasted Maple/Wenge (unfinished), 12" radius, 6105SS frets, possibly no fret markers
• Porter Smooth/Classic Humbuckers w/raw nickel covers
• Black (maybe cream) pickguard w/gold bell knobs

 

[sixstringsamurai]

 

[rgand]

That's going to be a fine one. With the cream binding, a cream pickguard would look nice. Of course black works nicely, too. Looking forward to the finished pics.

 

[phillip_h]

That's going to be a fine one. With the cream binding, a cream pickguard would look nice. Of course black works nicely, too. Looking forward to the finished pics.

I'm still kind of undecided about the pickguard. I may just get one of each since they're only $30 apiece.

I'm hoping to get the neck and the rest of the parts ordered next week. While I'm waiting for the neck to be built, I will probably use an old strat neck that I have laying around.

 

[phillip_h]

Question: didn't warmoth used to offer a tele deluxe headstock? I'm unsure about what to go with. Pre-CBS or regular tele?

 

[Cagey]

On a Tele? Warhead.

 

[phillip_h]

On a Tele? Warhead.

I thought about that one.

 

[frown]

I concur with Cagey - Warhead.

Although you may think I'm biased... :icon_biggrin:

 

[Cagey]

I think the Warhead works better on anything that normally takes a Fender 6 inline head, the Tele and CBS designs in particular.

 

[rgand]

Question: didn't warmoth used to offer a tele deluxe headstock? I'm unsure about what to go with. Pre-CBS or regular tele?

I like the looks of the Deluxe headstock. You could just use a Strat neck with a 22-fret extension to cover the neck pocket. But I should talk, my Strat has a Tele headstock.

 

[phillip_h]

I like the look of the warhead. Definitely has the vibe of a fender shape, but with a modern, slightly more aggressive style. I don't have a problem with the tele headstock though.

 

[DocNrock]

That is really cool.  Love the color and the aging.  If you are asking about headstock shapes, I see you are doing roasted maple/wenge.  I don't know your inclination, but other shapes that would go well with the Tele body would be a Jackson or Kramer style headstock, since both guitar makers did a Tele-style guitar with their own headstock shapes.  I think they look cool.  That said, I have a traditional Tele headstock on my Warmoth Tele.

If you wanted to go with something like a Jackson or Kramer-style (or even Ibanez-style), it is fairly easy to cut one out of an Arcade headstock.  Neither the roasted maple nor wenge require a finish, so there are no worries about damaging a finish with either of those woods.  Just a thought.

The body looks great.  It will be a fine build.

 

[phillip_h]

That is really cool.  Love the color and the aging.  If you are asking about headstock shapes, I see you are doing roasted maple/wenge.  I don't know your inclination, but other shapes that would go well with the Tele body would be a Jackson or Kramer style headstock, since both guitar makers did a Tele-style guitar with their own headstock shapes.  I think they look cool.  That said, I have a traditional Tele headstock on my Warmoth Tele.

If you wanted to go with something like a Jackson or Kramer-style (or even Ibanez-style), it is fairly easy to cut one out of an Arcade headstock.  Neither the roasted maple nor wenge require a finish, so there are no worries about damaging a finish with either of those woods.  Just a thought.

The body looks great.  It will be a fine build.

I'm kinda leaning traditional tele headstock at this point, but I may change my mind. It happens all the time. I'm more of a traditionalist - not really a fan of the pointy headstock look. The Warhead is a pretty good balance of modern and traditional, so it's definitely in the mix. I'm definitely sold on roasted maple/wenge/12" radius/6105SS frets. Everything else is up for grabs in the neck specs.

I'm currently torn between a black pickguard and parchment. My wife is not a fan of the black for some reason. I found this pic online of what looks like a parchment/off-white pickguard.

I'm still planning to go with gold bell knobs, but this color scheme looks pretty sweet to me.

 

[Cagey]

I think I'd prefer the parchment, too. Match the gold nicely, and provide some contrast for the neck.

 

[phillip_h]

I just ordered the neck for this one. I decided to go traditional and ordered a tele headstock. Roasted maple core, Wenge fretboard, '59 roundback, 12", SS105 frets, cream dots.

The body is scheduled for delivery today. I already have the pickups and most of the hardware. I'll probably start putting it together this weekend with the temporary strat neck.

 

[pabloman]

You're putting a Tele neck in a Strat pocket?

 

[fdesalvo]

Wow, I really love the big head stock here.

That is really cool.  Love the color and the aging.  If you are asking about headstock shapes, I see you are doing roasted maple/wenge.  I don't know your inclination, but other shapes that would go well with the Tele body would be a Jackson or Kramer style headstock, since both guitar makers did a Tele-style guitar with their own headstock shapes.  I think they look cool.  That said, I have a traditional Tele headstock on my Warmoth Tele.

If you wanted to go with something like a Jackson or Kramer-style (or even Ibanez-style), it is fairly easy to cut one out of an Arcade headstock.  Neither the roasted maple nor wenge require a finish, so there are no worries about damaging a finish with either of those woods.  Just a thought.

The body looks great.  It will be a fine build.

I'm kinda leaning traditional tele headstock at this point, but I may change my mind. It happens all the time. I'm more of a traditionalist - not really a fan of the pointy headstock look. The Warhead is a pretty good balance of modern and traditional, so it's definitely in the mix. I'm definitely sold on roasted maple/wenge/12" radius/6105SS frets. Everything else is up for grabs in the neck specs.

I'm currently torn between a black pickguard and parchment. My wife is not a fan of the black for some reason. I found this pic online of what looks like a parchment/off-white pickguard.

I'm still planning to go with gold bell knobs, but this color scheme looks pretty sweet to me.

 

[phillip_h]

You're putting a Tele neck in a Strat pocket?

It will fit a standard 4-bolt strat neck pocket.

And because I'm am super committed to all the decisions that I make, I just emailed warmoth and requested that they change my order to the oversized CBS headstock.

 

[rgand]

And because I'm am super committed to all the decisions that I make, I just emailed warmoth and requested that they change my order to the oversized CBS headstock.

That will look great. I really like those on Teles. I may have to do one myself one of these days.

 

[phillip_h]

I'm am

"I'm am"

Good job, Phillip  :doh: