"Next-Gen" Blackguard Tele

[jackthehack]

I've got a Telecaster body with black binding that's been beckoning me to do something with it for a while now, and some Butterscotch Blond Re-Ranch rattle cans on the way...  Have to leave "Vintage" up to Tonar, so I decided to do a Next-Gen/21st century version of a Blackguard; think all black hardware to include anodized aluminum pickguard and either an SD Antiquities or Rio Grande Muy Grande pickup set, but what to do for the neck???

Go way out of the box with a Warmoth neck?

Tele neck with black blocks/binding?

Traditional flame maple neck?

 

[Cagey]

Personally, I like the Warhead on a Tele. It's not as common as the Strat head, not as viscerally disturbing as the Tele head, not as juvenile as any of the pointy heads and not as out of place as any of the 3+3 heads.

This may not work with what you want, but just to show the headstock...

 

[JCizzle]

I like that Warhead. I can't stand how the tele headstock looks. It looks like a physically retarded strat headstock. I'm sure I'm in the minority here.

 

[Cagey]

Yeah, I like 'em too, and I'm probably in the same minority with you disliking traditional Tele headstocks.

They don't advertise it, but you can get any (unfinished) Strat headstock milled to a Warhead for $45. Opens up a lotta possibilities as there aren't often many Warheads in The Showcase.

 

[jackthehack]

I think I'd go the Warmoth neck ahead of a Warhead...

 

[leo12.]

If its 21st century how about a Canary (with the right colouring reminds me of a worn 50's neck), SS frets, has a sound similar to Maple.
http://www.warmoth.com/Showcase/ShowcaseNeck.aspx?i=TN4581&Body=1&Path=Neck
The bound block Tele neck does sound like a match for a bound body.
I do like the look of a Tele headstock. 3X3 on a Tele not for me.

 

[jackthehack]

You have a point, but I think the black bound neck looks sharp with black body binding....

 

[Patrick from Davis]

I like the black bound neck as well.  I like the exotics as well, but maple is a great neck wood.  I think that the framing that the black does on both the body and the neck would look good.  The black pick guard/blonde body/black binding would match the black inlay, blond maple, black binding on the neck.
Patrick

 

[DangerousR6]

I think I'd go the Warmoth neck ahead of a Warhead...

Good choice, I like the W neck with a tele. No as much as I like the "Juvenile Pointy" but better than a tele or warhead.. :headbang1:

 

[Pelagaard]

I say go all the way, and get a Ken Lawrence/Hetfield neck  :headbang1:

 

[DangerousR6]

I say go all the way, and get a Ken Lawrence/Hetfield neck  :headbang1:

Good choice... :headbang1:

 

[Mor Paul]

I'd think the second one would look pretty great.

 

[jackthehack]

Discovered that I had a set of inline 6 Planet Waves tuners I mis-ordered and had forgotten about, so I just pulled the trigger on the bound Tele neck, with black Tusq bridge installed:

 

[jackthehack]

UPS just dropped these off; can get started on body this weekend....

 

[jackthehack]

Was thinking about using a set of SD Antiquities on this build, but see that Warmoth's stocking Fralins now, anybody tried that Fralin Tele Blues Special set?

 

[Great Ape]

I may be in some sort of minority here, but I personally think
Fralin p-ups put a guitar smack dab into a tone-free zone, 'specially the single-coils. I know you can't go wrong with the 'antiquities', and that's a very cool off-the-wall neck choice!! Can't wait to see this one.

 

[jackthehack]

After viewing/listening to all the clips/videos I could find on the 'net I'm sticking with the SD Antiquities, everything I could find with the Fralin Blues Specials had too much of the "icepick in the ear" quotient...

Didn't get around to spraying any Butterscotch Blonde over the weekend, too hot/humid here...

 

[Patrick from Davis]

I'd put in a recommendation for Ken's Roadhouse pickups.  The string to string clarity between notes is very cool, and it is shocking how well they do that.  Also you can tell him what sound you are after and he is very good at nailing it.  The price is not bad either.  However, if you dig the SD offerings, go with what you like.
Patrick

 

[DangerousR6]

You could get Ken to whip you up a couple of these D6's... :guitarplayer2:

Actually I don't know how they sound yet, I'm itchin' get them hooked up...

 

[Danuda]

+1 for Ken.  He made up some great pickups for my hollow body I built.