Tele build pic's

Oh my....very sweet, I wonder who'll be playin'  that one.  First release of Bapu playing his Spacey now up in songs forum. I hope I didn't ruin the tone, Marius the client, wanted thick and loud for the bass. Looks just awesome Michael!

I'm a big Tele fan, so i'm curious to see how this works out.
That's a nice grain to start with, good luck!

Sweet Michael.

Grant I enjoyed the tune. You did a great job. I'll be given it a few more listens to
catch it all.
You'll have the first shot....if it makes it.

Mike I'd sure like to see your work. I lucked out and found a beautiful
flame maple 15" wide! 80" long! Will probably attempt a carve top this year.
Will be a long time before I attempt an arch top.

Thanks Slug! I'll take all the luck I can get. Tele's have really grown on me
the last few years.

Thanks Mike lol...that ugly wood still looks good....you sure have it in your blood too.

Thanks Bapu. Sure like your work on the new tune. Had a quick listen with
a bunch of stuff going on... really put my ears on it tomorrow.

Thanks Digi- Trying many new things with this one...feel lucky to have made it
this far. Had a lot of trouble learning how to work the zebra. Just been tough so far
but I'm starting to feel like it will make it to completion now.

Have a few more tuff cuts to make tomorrow. I'll update however it turns out.

Mike I'd sure like to see your work. I lucked out and found a beautiful flame maple 15" wide! 80" long! Will probably attempt a carve top this year. Will be a long time before I attempt an arch top

Man. seeing your work above and your attention to detail. I'm sure you would have no problem.

dang... 15" wide 80" long, as long as it 4/4 you got maybe four tops there.(now if you resaw that you got many nice tops. ha!)  nice find. must have cost a nice penny.

spacey
 

Hope ya'll enjoy me posting the projects...

 
I, for one, certainly do Michael
 
As you know, I'm lucky enough to own a hand-made guitar. Reading these step-by-step type threads makes me really appreciate the craftsmanship and time it requires to create such a beautiful instrument.
 
 
 
 

Steve- thank you.
I have some pretty nice friends but some of them
just wouldn't mention something like me having toilet
paper caught on my pants.

You're welcome Grant and I'll post my review after I give
it some more listens.

I've been thinking a little about the "Fender Pawn Shop" guitars
and I think it's kind of cool. Giving players something different
that aren't interested in messin' with stuff.
I'd sure find interest in knowing what ya'll would want in a custom
built guitar ( or bass). Naturally a Tele since that's what's happening
but if your preference was different I'd still like to hear about it.
One really can't be to detailed about them to bore me and quite the
opposite in fact...there's so much for me to learn.
An example of some of my thoughts about a Tele;
Upper cut-away taper?
Different pups?
Body contours?
Semi-hollow body?....ect.

Here's a shot of the flame maple board.
He cut it (after asking me) at his preference.
The piece on right he had already cut off the board
but sent it to me as a freebie.
Man if I only got 2 tops from this I'd feel great and
surely there's more than that...but just think...how
many one piece flame maple tops do ya see?
This board is loaded with bookmatch ( two piece).

LOL! Katie. I have to laugh at the skill part...to keep from crying.
( I am happy that I didn't let Tigger lead me wrong...Janet's can dance it seems lol)

Here's why I want to cry....making the cut around the head is tuff- I sand down close
before I attempt the routering...but blow outs..man I've had a few. Sharp bits too.

Think I'll just go ride around the yard on my "manly" mower- with seat and drink holder...even
has a cell phone holder but I'm not taking any calls today while I'm crying like at little girl.

Key holes are perfect and one side of neck and BAM it grabbed going around the head.
Well....I'll start from square one, don't pass go and pay the piper.
"Cry y y y in' over you".....Maybe I'll kick back and watch "Black & White Night"-Roy Orbison...DVD

So how did it happen? My lack of experience and I tend to question my actions first. instead of
one smooth pass around I was doing a little then re-approach...that may be the reason. Next one
I'll try for one continuous pass.
Guess my luck bucket had a hole in it but I still appreciate the kind words Katie. Thank you.

Ouch, that hurts.

Save that one for a 5 string electric banjo.


best,
mike

spacey


I've been thinking a little about the "Fender Pawn Shop" guitars
and I think it's kind of cool. Giving players something different
that aren't interested in messin' with stuff.
I'd sure find interest in knowing what ya'll would want in a custom
built guitar ( or bass). Naturally a Tele since that's what's happening
but if your preference was different I'd still like to hear about it.
One really can't be to detailed about them to bore me and quite the
opposite in fact...there's so much for me to learn.
An example of some of my thoughts about a Tele;
Upper cut-away taper?
Different pups?
Body contours?
Semi-hollow body?....ect.

 

I can say I always miss guitars/basses with no "tummy cut" contour, as otherwise they seem to poke me in the ribs.

Chambered bodies can be a nice way to both reduce weight and get a more "open" tone without losing any sustain.

If it's a slide switch, I'd always, always, always recommend a 5-way rather than a 3-way.

In term's of PU's, if you're not using "vintage" construction and woods, I don't see the point of going crazy over boutique period correct vintage-style PU's. Personally, I've never understood the people who build a guitar and make 100 changes from whatever "vintage" means, but then freak out if one component isn't "vintage" enough. To me, you're either all in or you're not. YMMV.

Having just said that, if you're building a tele because you want it to sound like a tele, I think a vintage output bridge PU makes sense. I'm one who believes that there are many different, good, and often inexpensive, options in this category. I do not believe there is any technological justification whatsoever that a PU has to be super expensive to sound "good".


Oh, and the new guitar is looking beautiful.

mike_mccue


I can say I always miss guitars/basses with no "tummy cut" contour, as otherwise they seem to poke me in the ribs.

I think I can speak for bapsi when I say "grow a moob".

He probably senses that I sense he would say that.

I only sensed that because I telepathetically sent it to you (in a pink bubble of course).

That zebra wood is absolutely gorgeous!  Wow!  The ebony...is that that long skinny rectangle piece in one of the first pictures?  If so, I had no idea any wood could be that black.

Sorry about the oops...that happens to me all the time.  Not on guitars, of course, but on everything else, it seems. I imagine you'll be able to fix it.  :)

:)  I wondered what the comment about Tigger and Janet dancing was all about, but I figured you knew what you were talking about and that was enough.  And I doubt if something like that will scare us away.  :) 

Anyway, carry on.  I love your artwork that looks AND sounds beautiful.  :)

drumstixkev


I love the shape and look of a TELE.  Do they make a gold ashtray?  Looking forward to the finished guitar.

LATER
Kev

GOLD ASHTRAY!!  Good call, that would really add something special to this guitar. 
Unfortunately if Spacey takes this idea, he'll have to buy another bridge.  The one in the pic is flush to the body...

Thanks Kev! They do make gold ashtray's and I did consider that.
The bridge I decided to go with just seems to be the best choice
for this build. I'm hoping this thing looks and performs like "new and improved". lol

Hate to sound pessimistic but the gold ashtray wouldn't be gold long.
At least not with my body chemistry. Grant may not want it and gold isn't
my first choice but I have to use what I think is right for the axe.
I have chrome and black hardware I could use but zebra and gold is just
a great match-up.
I'm trying to build Tele "style" but I'm doing a few little things that I'm thinking
will make it very special .

Speaking of gold...Kev your basement shines like it. Excellent work and design.
Very classy and comfortable appearance. That can be hard to do but you pulled it off.