Possible Tele Build

[Ascention]

Hey, everyone. I just ran across Warmoth last week and have been fascinated with the designs that can be made by them. I've been looking into getting a Telecaster for a while now, and previously I was planning on just buying a standard configuration telecaster from Guitar Center or some retail store. However, it doesn't look like it will cost me much more to custom design my own Tele.

Anyways, I was hoping to get some feedback on what everyone thinks on this build I am planning out. I will be buying a stock neck separately.

For the most part it is a pretty normal Tele. However I modified it to have a humbucker in the bridge position, as well as a tummy cut and heel cut on the back. The body is made of swamp ash, solid in this picture, but I have also considered getting it chambered. I guess that really comes down to price. The color is pretty close to what I would want, but I will likely order it unfinished and paint it myself so I can get the right color (anyone have any advice on painting a guitar myself?). I've never built a guitar before, and it looks like I will have to drill all the holes and wire everything on my own. It does make me a bit nervous to drill into the body myself, so if anyone has advice on how hard this will be and if I should have someone set it up for e, that would be great.

Thanks

 

[bagman67]

Welcome aboard!

For what you're proposing, there's not much drilling to be done - only the pilot holes for the pickguard screws.  So breathe easy there  - but of course, be careful, too - you can screw that up just as quick (only perhaps with less potential total damage) as applying a router to the edge.

Separately, chambered vs. solid is a choice that will affect the weight of the guitar more than the tone - there's still a whole lot of wood there, and the top laminate is still very much in contact with the back.  Don't expect a change equivalent to transforming a Tele into an ES335.

There's an entire sub-forum called "DIY Finishing" on this board, and I encourage you to do some reading and research there.

Happy hunting!

Bagman

 

[anorakDan]

I like it! What are you planning to do for the neck?

 

[Strat Avenger]

'Looks good to Me. 
Of course it won't sound like a Tele with that humbucker, but if you just like the look/feel of a Tele and are looking for a different sound, it should work just fine for you.

 

[Ascention]

"I like it! What are you planning to do for the neck?"

I'm not really planning on anything special for that. I don't need anything custom-designed, so I was looking into a stock neck, perhaps Mighty Mite or something if those are any good.

And yeah, it definitely won't have that classic Tele sound, but I can't imagine it will be way too different, especially since the humbucker I put in there is pretty bright. Unless I am just completely uninformed. Haha.
Actually I just realized that Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead uses a Telecaster very similar to this.

Oh, and thanks for the welcome, Bagman!

 

[nexrex]

Welcome, looks like a beautiful build. Might I suggest a canary neck from Warmoth. Either of these would, look, sounds and feels awesome on the guitar. Canary is usally left raw (no finish), and it shares alot of the same sonic properties of maple.

http://www.warmoth.com/Showcase/ShowcaseNeck.aspx?Body=1&Path=Neck&nWood=38&i=tn3962

http://www.warmoth.com/Showcase/ShowcaseNeck.aspx?Body=1&Path=Neck&nWood=38&i=VMT3199

 

[Cagey]

I'd hate to think I had to choose between a Warmoth neck or a Warmoth body. It's easy enough to get both. But, everybody's situation is different.

Warmoth necks can't be beat. I think I'd want that most, especially since bodies are relatively inexpensive from a wide variety of sources. Bodies aren't tough to make, so everybody does it. The thing you have to be careful of is the neck pocket geometry - not everybody does that as well as Warmoth does. But, if that can be determined to be correct and you're experienced enough to do good finish work, then match that up to a Warmoth neck and you've got a thing of beauty. Necks are crucial parts, though. Those have to be done well, or the whole guitar isn't worth spit no matter what you do.

On the other hand, if you buy a Warmoth body you can get a Warmoth finish, which also can't be beat. If you figure the lowest price you're likely to get from an aftermarket finishing guy is gonna be in the $300-$400 range (or more) for something that only requires about $30 in material, that tells you how much work is involved. It's not a trivial task if you want it done well, and it takes experience and talent. Warmoth only charges between $180-$220 for a finish, and it's not only perfect, it's poly, so it'll take quite a bit of abuse before it starts to look bad.

Of course you can always do the oil thing, but that's not without its own set of difficulties. It just requires fewer and less expensive tools.

Keep an eye on The Showcase, and if money's real tight, watch the "Screamin' Deals" category. Most of that stuff has some sort of compromise involved with it, but you may also find something perfect for your needs.

 

[Nightclub Dwight]

Echoing what Cagey said, the neck is really more important than the body when dealing with electric guitars.  Warmoth's strength is the beautiful necks they produce.  It almost seems you may want to reverse it and go with a cheap body and a Warmoth neck.

Also, the paint or finish on a guitar can be one of the most difficult things for a do-it-yourselfer to do.  If you don't have experience in this department you may be underestimating what it takes to do a nice finish.  It seems you have a definite color in mind since your mockup doesn't match exactly what you want.  While it is entirely possible to spray a nice finish at home it requires a lot of work, and if you are using nitrocellulose lacquer there are serious health considerations (and explosion hazards) that may eliminate the possibility of doing it inside your house.  Perhaps you should look into the Warmoth color options more closely and see if maybe the sonic blue or daphne blue might be close to what you seek.

And one last point.  Sometimes assembling a Warmoth can be more expensive than you first think.  Since they are custom guitars it is true you can get something cheaper than what it might cost to get the same thing from the Fender Custom Shop, but the devil is in the details and they can add up quickly.  I find that when I spec out a guitar, since I'm putting it together as a custom instrument for myself, I'll often spec a higher quality part than what may come standard on an off the rack guitar from Guitar Center since I want to do it right rather than cut corners.  While it is possible to put one together on a modest budget, since you have all the options available under the sun, you may find it ends up costing more to get it exactly the way you want it without any compromises.  Because after all, if you wanted to compromise you'd just get something off the rack at Guitar Center for less money.

In any case these are just points to think about.  Its your guitar to build your way, thats the beauty of it.  Good luck, and take the time to research past threads on the forum for answers to a lot of questions you may have.