The Tele Fender Wishes They Made

[Cagey]

I like the saddles.

They're Graphtechs. Nice parts, and highly recommended, although they're a bit pricey. Can't wait for their patent to run out. What are currently $40 parts will only be $5.

 

[AutoBat]

I've got 'em on my Strat. I like 'em too.

 

[DangerousR6]

I think it looks better with the brass knob, but that's just me. Anyways, the brass is gonna tarnish anyway without constant polishing, so maybe they'll all look the same then... :dontknow:

 

[bagman67]

Congratulations, Kevin.  It just makes me tear up a little to hear you waxing rhapsodic about a Telacaster-ish guitar.  She's a beauty.

 

[Cagey]

I think it looks better with the brass knob, but that's just me. Anyways, the brass is gonna tarnish anyway without constant polishing, so maybe they'll all look the same then... :dontknow:

Well, my laziness knows no bounds, so now that the brass knob is back on there, it'll probably stay for a while unless somebody bitches about it. Lord knows I'm hyper-sensitive to peer pressure so I do whatever I can to make others happy. At least, until a couple more hours of Adult Swim and another 6 pack filters through my brain and kidneys. Then, who knows? Maybe I'll put one of those faggy fake MOP-inlaid knobs on there and run around the living room naked and giggling like a 2 year old. What could possibly be wrong with that?

 

[ZionWarmoth]

Hi,
The binding is the natural wood?, it looks terrific!

 

[Cagey]

Congratulations, Kevin.  It just makes me tear up a little to hear you waxing rhapsodic about a Telacaster-ish guitar.  She's a beauty.

Thanks. I owe it all to Quty Pie. I'd have never considered a Tele otherwise. That's the first one I ever worked with or played that I thought was a viable example of the design.

 

[Cagey]

The binding is the natural wood?, it looks terrific!

It's what Warmoth calls "Natural Masked Binding". Rather than actual binding, they strategically mask it during the finishing process to make it look like it's bound, but it's actually the underlying wood showing through. Once they clear coat it, it's all perfectly level. Very nice effect, if you haven't seen one in real life yet. Makes sense, too, since there's no real mechanical reason to bind a solid body guitar - it's just for appearance's sake.

 

[SustainerPlayer]

That is an astonishing good looking tele.

And looking through a correctly graded beer filter (as one should) all that brass looks exactly the same.  ccasion14:

 

[Updown]

Wowza Cagey    ..... that turned out very nice indeed. 

If that was hanging in my local music shop ............. It would, first of all make me stop !!

Second ...... would want to play it  :guitarplayer2:

Then would more that likely end up walking out with it under my arm after buying it  :icon_biggrin:

Nice job, looks great ..........

 

[Cagey]

Thanks. You should hear it. Thing's magical.

 

[Perry Combover]

I've been considering the Graphtechs on my Tele as well, but a friend at work poopoo'd them.  Claims tone loss, blahblahblah....

What's your take Cagey?

 

[Cagey]

I'm not sure, but I think it depends on the bridge.

I have two Teles built up here. One has a hollow body using a Maple cap over a Swamp Ash carcass and a Kingwood over Canary neck with a Graphtech nut and locking Schallers. I used the Gotoh humbucker Tele bridge on it with Graphtech saddles.

The one in this thread is a hollow body using a Mahogany cap over a Mahogany carcass and an Aframosia over Aframosia neck with a Graphtech nut and locking Schallers. I used the Scartozi bridge on that with Graphtech saddles.

You would think the first one would be painfully bright, and the second fairly so, but that's not how it worked out. The one with the Scartozi bridge is dramatically brighter, with much greater sustain. I mean, when you pick it up and strum a chord, your first question is WTF? It just rings like a bell. You don't have to listen for it, It jumps right out at you.

So, tone loss? I don't think so. At least, not because of the saddles, if at all. Not that the first one is suffering from lack of tone - far from it. It's been just about the only thing I've been playing because it sounds so good. But, compared to this new one, the first one is dead.

As close as I can tell, the only downside to Graphtech saddles is the cost. They want ~$40 a set for the little buggers. But, they do a good job, so what the hell? It's a pretty small percentage of the overall cost of the instrument and I think they return better articulation and sustain than most OEM parts.

 

[Perry Combover]

Well, I think I am sold.  The one I am building is similar to your first mentioned (chambered swamp ash, maple top, maple neck, graph tech nut) and I'm willing to bet I'll get similar results.

I don't know how you feel about video or at least a sound clip, but I'm sure that I'm not the only one here who is jonesin to hear that thing.  :guitaristgif:

 

[Updown]

Yeah ... I used the Graph Tech Saddles both my scartozi bridges, rock solid !!
Plus used on other bridges as well.  :icon_thumright:

 

[kricha6431]

OH, Sweet Jesus, do I like that binding with the Gloss Black!  :cool01:

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

The bridge pickup ring doesn't match the neck pickup ring.  The bridge pickup doesn't match the neck pickup.  That bridge is hideous.  The neck wood does nothing for me.  The natural binding is orange and huge.

I WANT IT.  IT'S GORGEOUS! 

 

[Great Ape]

Sweet...Clean...Dangerous lookin'...Beautiful!!

 

[ezas]

Seriously, seriously good looking Tele.

And there is the Warhead headstock. Looks good on there.

Knob, I like the black better.

Thats some beautiful work on a unique (in good way) guitar.

 

[Cagey]

Thanks, guys!

I gotta get the rest of the pictures organized. Got some wiring shots, at least. I think most of the other stuff is scattered around the forum.