First Build - Telecaster

oliverwade

oliverwade

New member
Hi Seymour Duncan forum:')
This is the first of many posts detailing my telecaster build, well, not much detail actually.
This is my first build, I had an old Fender Squier Stratocaster neck lying round so I decided to build a Tele body, I have decided on every aspect with the exception of how I am going to finish it, Nitro clear coat me thinks.

I have a mock up of what I am trying to achieve thanks to Warmoth and my poor photoshop skills..
wadecaster.jpg

Yes, I named it the WadeCaster.. anyway, here's the configuration I am expecting to use, yes, I am aiming for an affordable build:

Pieces I have
Squier Neck
African Mahogany (Utile) Body Blank - courtesy of school;-)
Indian Rosewood veneer - not the best, but good enough
Tools - yes, all of them

What I am aiming to buy soon
Wilkinson P90 (Affordable and I love the sound)
Hardtail Strat Bridge
Strap Buttons
Neck Plate
Wiring Kit, Jacks

In total I am only going to need to put about £100 into this build, which makes it a nice first build.

I also know that I will make a lot of mistakes along the way, but this is my first build, something to learn from, and anyway, I am only 14.

The beginning of the build photos will be up in a minute.
 
Re: First Build - Telecaster

Here we go, some photos..

So the wood that my school gave me wasn't quite wide enough, as such we needed to stick some on the side.

For this we cut a piece of wood from the top of the blank and used standard wood glue to fix it. Here is a photo or two of it in the drying process, we left it clamped for 22 hours.

WP_001036.jpg
WP_001037.jpg

The joint came out really well on one side but on the other the wood was slightly chipped on the blank (I didnt see this) so the joint didn't look quite as nice, I don't have a photo of this as I've now filled these.. but it wasn't great. This side is going to be the front - covered with the Rosewood veneer anyway so this didn't really matter.

Here is the good joint, my phone camera doesn't capture the colour of the wood but it shows the joint - this was after a small amount of sanding.

WP_001044.jpg

And here is a creative photo of the mahogany joint - I'm just adding this because it looks nice.. well and because it shows the joint as it is now..
SavedPicture.jpg

As I said, I do not have much experience with wood etc other than the small amount we do during school lessons.. this is a learning process for me!
 
Re: First Build - Telecaster

I've built a few teles but never for raw wood. Impressive.

One thing I do notice that may be worth pointing out. Absolutely nothing wrong with using a strat neck on a tele, but make sure you shape the neck pocket appropriately for your neck. Teles usually have squared off heels, while strats are rounded. I just want to make sure you accounted for this in your plan.

Good luck. Keep the pics coming
 
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Re: First Build - Telecaster

AniML said:
I've built a few teles but never for raw wood. Impressive.

One thing I do notice that may be worth pointing out. Absolutely nothing wrong with using a strat neck on a tele, but make sure you shape the neck pocket appropriately for your neck. Teles usually have squared off heels, while strats are rounded. I just want to make sure you accounted for this in your plan.

Good luck. Keep the pics coming
Click to expand...

Yerp, I did realise that, it's not going to be a tele really other than the outline I suppose! I will eventually make a neck for it and put my old Squier back together, but I want to use the Squier neck for now:-)
 
Re: First Build - Telecaster

Cool stuff and welcome to the forum, nice start! That wood wood looks pretty nice, just have fun and I'm sure this will be the first of many. Good luck.
 
Re: First Build - Telecaster

For the finish - as I want it to natural and semi gloss I guess I was thinking of using Tru-Oil.. what do you guys think? It's just I have no spraying equipment and aerosols are difficult to get delivered to Guernsey..
 
Re: First Build - Telecaster

So this will basically be a P-90 Esquire? Sweet!
Can't wait to see this done, but take your time. You know what they say . . . measure twice, cut once. ;)
 
Re: First Build - Telecaster

ArtieToo said:
So this will basically be a P-90 Esquire? Sweet!
Can't wait to see this done, but take your time. You know what they say . . . measure twice, cut once. ;)
Click to expand...

Pretty much, very barebopnes as it's not going to have a pickguard or anything, but I like simplistic guitars:-)

Also I am spending ages on this.. probably too long!
 
Re: First Build - Telecaster

tubecrunch said:
+1 for simple axes. Rock on.
Click to expand...

oliverwade said:
Pretty much, very barebopnes as it's not going to have a pickguard or anything, but I like simplistic guitars:-)
Click to expand...

Simplistic guitars huh.... Haha well then you guys would hate my ongoing build! :D

But good luck man! :) that African mahogany is a hard wood to work with (and I'm in Africa! I get it fresh :)) it destroyed a new router bit of mine :/
Go slow and be very patient with it and you'll see it start to come together! And most of all, enjoy the build! :)
 
Re: First Build - Telecaster

Telecaster Junior! Sweet!
Dunno if your design is final, but I'd go with chrome hardware! Think that would look better with the P90.
 
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