My custom telecaster guitar

[DACOTA]

Ok so no one probably knows but I attempted to build my own guitar, yes that's right, guitar. So I'm not going to make a mile long post of this I'll just briefly go over the construction so far and post the pics and let you ask all the questions you want. So I have spent about $650 dollars so far and have about $300 yet to spend. It a custom telecaster with the body being carved or routed from mahogany. The mahogany was a piece about 8" wide and 56" tall, I cut it in half and glued and clamped the two pieces side by side then I had my neighbor plain it for me. I used a Masonite template based on a 1956 tele and the neck is maple with a rosewood fretboard. The guitar will have humbuckers (yet to be installed). So that's roughly it and now it's time for the pics.

Any criticism, questions, and or comments welcome.
Thank you all.

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h146/DACOTA007/1.jpg
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h146/DACOTA007/7.jpg
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h146/DACOTA007/9.jpg
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h146/DACOTA007/8.jpg
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h146/DACOTA007/34.jpg
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h146/DACOTA007/30.jpg
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h146/DACOTA007/29.jpg
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h146/DACOTA007/27.jpg
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h146/DACOTA007/26.jpg
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h146/DACOTA007/20.jpg
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h146/DACOTA007/25.jpg
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h146/DACOTA007/14.jpg
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h146/DACOTA007/15.jpg

COTA' OUT

[Brackley]

Nice!

Are you going to add coil-tap switches to the 'buckers for single coil switching? :)

[DACOTA]

No, actually I'm going with a 4 position switch which will allow you to have the extra setting which is both the neck and bridge pickup in series not just in parallel, it gives you a warmer and fatter tone supposedly.

[strengthofrage]

I know nothing of guitars but i do like wood working... that is a really cool project, well done =)

[DJMoonbass]

wow nice!! nothings beats a custom hand made guitar. i love guitar allthough i am a piano player. they go good together!

[Obi-Dar Ke-Gnomie]

WOW!!!

That looks awesome! Good job!

Keep us posted.

[Brackley]

No, actually I'm going with a 4 position switch which will allow you to have the extra setting which is both the neck and bridge pickup in series not just in parallel, it gives you a warmer and fatter tone supposedly.

Sweet...they say that's what gave Peter Green his early Fleetwood Mac tone. Except that one was by accident. :mrgreen:

[beggarsoutpost]

Dude come on man....that..is out of control...you built your own guitar from scratch.....from scratch.......that is beyond super cool.....

[DACOTA]

Thanks guys. There is still alot of work on it though, primarily finishing work.

I'll keep you guys posted. I cant wait till its done and I can play it! I mean I bought the wood in June of 08'. Just crazy.

COTA' OUT

[Obi-Ben]

That's pretty awesome. It looks like all that solid wood would be heavy. Is it?

[DDanDevious]

nice work man... what kind of neck is that? What type of pups? Are you leaving it in a natural finish?

tis sweet sir.

DDD

[Phiily Manyaan]

That's incredible! I'm a bass player myself (peep my avatar) and I've always wanted to try and build my own, just don't have the tools. That turned out just awesome. I noticed the sketch on it, what do you plan for paint? keep us posted dude!

[Tradeliphine]

I noticed the sketch on it, what do you plan for paint?

woodburning imo

[DACOTA]

That's pretty awesome. It looks like all that solid wood would be heavy. Is it?


nice work man... what kind of neck is that? What type of pups? Are you leaving it in a natural finish?

tis sweet sir.

DDD


That's incredible! I'm a bass player myself (peep my avatar) and I've always wanted to try and build my own, just don't have the tools. That turned out just awesome. I noticed the sketch on it, what do you plan for paint? keep us posted dude!

The guitar weighs about 8 lbs. with the neck.

The neck is from Allparts.com but I bought it from a retailer at guitarbuildingtemplates.com. Its a maple neck with a rosewood fretboard, actually its the nicest cut of rosewood I've ever seen!

As for the "pups" they are nothing but Seymour Duncan's Hot Rodded humbucker pickup set.

I am going to spray a black star-burst edge but without the actual burst, just the black, then clear-coat the natural mahogany with aerosol lacquer from Stewmac.com. I love guitars with wood that shows!

Thanks again guys.

[DACOTA]

Ok I got my tuning keys on. They are fender shaller locking tuners, with a satin finish. I finally have all the parts mocked up on the tele, I also have a comparison pic with an actual working tele.

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h146/DACOTA007/35.jpg
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h146/DACOTA007/37.jpg
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h146/DACOTA007/38.jpg
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h146/DACOTA007/39.jpg
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h146/DACOTA007/40.jpg
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h146/DACOTA007/41-1.jpg

[Phiily Manyaan]

Wow! Thats great. I can't tell which is factory-built aside from the headstock decal. If I were you, I'd just put some tung oil on it the way it is or some very light clear laquer.

[DACOTA]

Actually I have this wolf greeting card 11"x9", oh yeah I forgot to mention its a wolf guitar.(In case the wolf bedspread didnt give away that I love wolfs.) Oh well. Anyways I am going to cut it into some oval or round type shape and adhere it to the back of the guitar so I need to lacquer it, also the black lacquered edges would make a nice frame around the wolf card.
I am also going to inlay white mother of pearl in the shape of wolf paws in the first four frets.

[FenderBender]

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q169/AJFenderBender/sigs%20and%20imgs/Thread-Crap-Wont_Die.jpg

[Kant Lavar]

http://media.techeblog.com/images/zombie_1.jpg

[sithlordfaust]

it might be a reserected thread but... I havent seen it since it was updated.

Nice Gitfiddle there. love the locking tuners FTW

Ive got Sperzels on my gretsch and wish I could get em on all my guitars.

nice work!

[DarthHideous]

Very nice guitar, but where does the saber blade come out of. :)