Newbie - First Build Tele

**Archer** · 11th October 2007, 02:04 PM

Hi all,

New to the instrument section. Thought I would say hello and post a couple of pics of my first project. Im a geologist in Adelaide and do wood work and renovating on the weekends.

This one is a tele style with one piece rock maple neck. The body is West Aussie Karri. Not sure how it will sound, but found the piece of timber in a salvage yard and was full of curly grain figure, so thought I would experiment and see if it sounds any good. If it doesn't only $10 lost and will have gained valuable experience anyway, especially on the finishing of curly grain wood.

cheers
Archer

**Sebastiaan56** · 11th October 2007, 03:15 PM

Looks nice Archer, I will be interested in your comments on sound. Ray (Old Picker) is the Tele master on the list, he has neat hardware as well.

Betcha the rock maple didnt cost $10

Sebastiaan

**black_labb** · 11th October 2007, 03:46 PM

looks great. do you have the hardware yet? what colour was it going to be?

your photos almost look like a cad image, i cant pick why though.

**Archer** · 11th October 2007, 06:07 PM

Could be the lighting - small fluro globe.

Been experimenting with ubeaut wood dyes to try and get some grain contrast happening. Originally i wanted to go for the blonde vintage colour as I have a black scratch plate, but it will probably end up red as the timber is more red to start with.

I have all of the hardware. Just using gotoh stuff mainly, including a U-channel truss rod. That's why the skunk stripe is so wide. Next time it will be a single rod with only a 6mm wide channel.

It will be interesting to see how it sounds with such a heavy dense wood. I have no idea if its going to work or not, but there's only one way to find out for sure.....

cheers
archer

**old_picker** · 11th October 2007, 06:15 PM

love it a new tele on the farm
what pickups??

**Archer** · 11th October 2007, 09:07 PM

Not sure what pickups they are, they are generic ones from the local parts / repair shop in the city (adelaide). Just says tele bridge pickup and tele neck pickup on the bar code, so would be cheap imports my guess. If it works out might be looking at some decent pickups so will search through the tele info in here and see what the go is.

cheers
archer

**oz tradie** · 11th October 2007, 10:14 PM

Very nice Archer. Keep posting this one's progress.
It'll be interesting to hear how Karri works out.

I'm gearing up to make a tele soon, although I gotta work out the do's and don'ts in the etiquette department when it comes to 'real' tele enthusiasts like Ray. (Who's teaching me the finer points of teles)
Don't want to build too far outside the box, if you know what I mean.

cheers, Stu

**black_labb** · 12th October 2007, 02:41 AM

Originally Posted by oz tradie

Very nice Archer. Keep posting this one's progress.
It'll be interesting to hear how Karri works out.

I'm gearing up to make a tele soon, although I gotta work out the do's and don'ts in the etiquette department when it comes to 'real' tele enthusiasts like Ray. (Who's teaching me the finer points of teles)
Don't want to build too far outside the box, if you know what I mean.

cheers, Stu

would a floyd rose and emg actives be on the do list along with a obnoxious death metal inlays and finish?

ive always thought it would be nice to do a tele or a strat, but at the end of the day id rather do my designs. one day i think ill do a tele though, their so simple yet so elegant.

have you considered winding your own pups? ive been doing that, i havent actually completed any of the builds to test them properly, but they should sound good. not to expensive once you get some magnet wire, and you can do alot in the design if you are building your own guitars, as size and dimensions arent an issue, aslong as they fit the cavity you make for them

**deepsouth** · 12th October 2007, 08:39 AM

Originally Posted by black_labb

would a floyd rose and emg actives be on the do list along with a obnoxious death metal inlays and finish?

ive always thought it would be nice to do a tele or a strat, but at the end of the day id rather do my designs. one day i think ill do a tele though, their so simple yet so elegant.

have you considered winding your own pups? ive been doing that, i havent actually completed any of the builds to test them properly, but they should sound good. not to expensive once you get some magnet wire, and you can do alot in the design if you are building your own guitars, as size and dimensions arent an issue, aslong as they fit the cavity you make for them

What kind of winding gizmo have you rigged up? Any chance of pic's?

**againstthegrain** · 12th October 2007, 08:53 AM

Good looking pieces of wood and craftsmanship. Like the others, I'm looking forward to seeing (and maybe hearing) the final product.

**old_picker** · 12th October 2007, 09:36 AM

theres a lot of voodoo about making a good tele
it is actually a very simple guitar to build
designed 60 years ago by the henry ford of guitars
the design has not really changed since then

its the ultimate kiss principle guitar

i dont reckon the wood matters too much but i prefer something very light
currently i am building teles out of plantation hoop pine and southern myrtle, another plantation timber [i think]

leo used what was cheap and available near the factory - first it was pine then swamp ash and later alder - maple necks always - later with rosewood boards.

the most important part of the tele sound is the pickups
that decision is personal and you might use duncan invaders to antiquities depending wether you are into hardcore metal or hickabilly

the tele design will make that bridge pickup cut like a knife through any mix no matter what pickup you choose.

Personally I reckon that is why the tele is one of the all time players fave guitars

**Hammered** · 12th October 2007, 01:51 PM

Originally Posted by black_labb

would a floyd rose and emg actives be on the do list along with a obnoxious death metal inlays and finish?

Hehe, Kramer used to make something slightly like this. The Floyd Rose anyway...

http://www.vintagekramer.com/company47.htm

I reckon they look alright, but then I'm parcial to the Floyd Rose on just about anything (if its done well).

I'm with you, I'd prefer to do my own designs (which are mostly based on others anyway, but I enjoy drawing it up to however I want it, rather than to clone the exact shape and demensions of the original).

**mattylinn688** · 12th October 2007, 04:36 PM

Looks fantastic Archer!!!!! Can't wait to see it when you have finished!! Nothing like a good tele

**RGM** · 13th October 2007, 06:42 PM

Originally Posted by mattylinn688

Looks fantastic Archer!!!!! Can't wait to see it when you have finished!! Nothing like a good tele

Looking good Archer, should look great once finished.

mattylinn688, you live just up the road from me!

**Archer** · 13th October 2007, 06:57 PM

Quick update on the Karri Tele. Did a first assembly a couple of nights ago. Just put on the neck, bridge, sat the nut in the slot and installed the tuning machines. Then put some old strings in it just to check it was all lining up ok. I guess all first timers get nervous at this point, I certainly did! Thankfully it seemed to line up perfectly but the neck felt a little fat. I then took it all apart and carved the neck some more. Installed the side dots and sanded the neck. Its now ready for finishing.

The body has also had a good sand up to 400 grit. Needs some tidying up on the edges still though. Have tested the wood dyes on some scrap and starting to get the hang of it. Next job is to dye the body and hopefully bring out some of that nice grain figure. Will put some more pics up then.

Thanks for the good wishes, I cant wait to play this thing!

Cheers
Archer

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