Just finished designing my next Tele!
- Thread starter ItsaBass
- Start date
ItsaBass
New member
Re: Just finished designing my next Tele!
There will be plenty of meat for the control plate screw to bite into. I am not gonna just lazily extend the control cavity rout under the pickguard; I'm going to chisel a little passageway for the four switch wires. Easy peasy. Another option, if I wanted to be lazy, is to simply use a thin (1/8") straight router bit, and go around the location of the screw.
I'm not gonna buy a bridge like that. I'm gonna cut down a regular vintage-style bridge. But even if I wasn't gonna do that, there are several chopped vintage-style Tele bridges on the market.
Hitting switches by accident has never been an issue for me. But not being able to get to them quickly enough has been. Again, if I try it and don't like it, it's an easy situation to remedy.
Stacked pots are definitely not the way I want to go for this. The black and white knobs will look a whole lot better, and I prefer the three-in-line controls to stacked controls.
It's basically just a decision between maple or ebony, really. Everything else was well thought out, and pretty solidly decided upon.
There will be plenty of meat for the control plate screw to bite into. I am not gonna just lazily extend the control cavity rout under the pickguard; I'm going to chisel a little passageway for the four switch wires. Easy peasy. Another option, if I wanted to be lazy, is to simply use a thin (1/8") straight router bit, and go around the location of the screw.
I'm not gonna buy a bridge like that. I'm gonna cut down a regular vintage-style bridge. But even if I wasn't gonna do that, there are several chopped vintage-style Tele bridges on the market.
Hitting switches by accident has never been an issue for me. But not being able to get to them quickly enough has been. Again, if I try it and don't like it, it's an easy situation to remedy.
Stacked pots are definitely not the way I want to go for this. The black and white knobs will look a whole lot better, and I prefer the three-in-line controls to stacked controls.
It's basically just a decision between maple or ebony, really. Everything else was well thought out, and pretty solidly decided upon.
Last edited:
ParameterMan
New member
DreX
New member
Re: Just finished designing my next Tele!
I didn't even notice that. I've bought two of these and a black ash tray style, and I see that all have the little holes, now that you mention it. Is there a performance benefit or drawback from doing top loading?
I didn't even notice that. I've bought two of these and a black ash tray style, and I see that all have the little holes, now that you mention it. Is there a performance benefit or drawback from doing top loading?
ItsaBass
New member
Re: Just finished designing my next Tele!
I've made the decision. I'm going with ebony with dots.
I've ordered the pickups. Black/white reverse zebra.
I also ordered the body from Marc Rutters. I went with 1-1/2" pine.
Paint will be courtesy of Rustoleum acrylic enamels, which I can get locally.
Neck will be ordered later, as it is the most expensive part. It will be from Musikraft.
I've ordered the pickups. Black/white reverse zebra.
I also ordered the body from Marc Rutters. I went with 1-1/2" pine.
Paint will be courtesy of Rustoleum acrylic enamels, which I can get locally.
Neck will be ordered later, as it is the most expensive part. It will be from Musikraft.
ExplorersRock
X-Files Duckbucker
Re: Just finished designing my next Tele!
I'm gonna have to give you a big 'ole one of these ->:fing2:
I think this looks flippin' sweet. That color combo is Mmmm-Mmmm-good! I must beg thee to post pics once this Tele is up and running! Can't wait to see it.
I've made the decision. I'm going with ebony with dots.
I've ordered the pickups. Black/white reverse zebra.
I also ordered the body from Marc Rutters. I went with 1-1/2" pine.
Paint will be courtesy of Rustoleum acrylic enamels, which I can get locally.
Neck will be ordered later, as it is the most expensive part. It will be from Musikraft.
I'm gonna have to give you a big 'ole one of these ->:fing2:
I think this looks flippin' sweet. That color combo is Mmmm-Mmmm-good! I must beg thee to post pics once this Tele is up and running! Can't wait to see it.
Last edited:
ExplorersRock
X-Files Duckbucker
Re: Just finished designing my next Tele!
One more thought... the reverse zebra pickups are really doing it for me! :bigok:
One more thought... the reverse zebra pickups are really doing it for me! :bigok:
ItsaBass
New member
Re: Just finished designing my next Tele!
Thanks. I agree. I think that a reverse zebra neck pickup works much better than zebra when you have black mounting rings and a dark fretboard. And in this case, reverse zebra also works much better on the bridge pickup, as the white bobbin flows more smoothly with the white pickguard, and the black bobbin matches better with the green body.
The pickups should be here by the 17th. They had to be custom ordered from DiMarzio, as I didn't find what I wanted in stock at my usual pickup retailers. I went with a matching EJ Custom set.
Thanks. I agree. I think that a reverse zebra neck pickup works much better than zebra when you have black mounting rings and a dark fretboard. And in this case, reverse zebra also works much better on the bridge pickup, as the white bobbin flows more smoothly with the white pickguard, and the black bobbin matches better with the green body.
The pickups should be here by the 17th. They had to be custom ordered from DiMarzio, as I didn't find what I wanted in stock at my usual pickup retailers. I went with a matching EJ Custom set.
beaubrummels
Well-known member
Re: Just finished designing my next Tele!
It's possible to get three knobs and a Gibson 3-way switch into a Tele cavity and solve the issues you cited, like volume too far back. It's tight, but it can work fine. I was doing a different wiring setup than you (I wanted all the Tele, Broadcaster and Esquire tones in one guitar), but getting the switch and volume on the plate would be the same, if this is helpful.
Here's how I did it in mine:
It's possible to get three knobs and a Gibson 3-way switch into a Tele cavity and solve the issues you cited, like volume too far back. It's tight, but it can work fine. I was doing a different wiring setup than you (I wanted all the Tele, Broadcaster and Esquire tones in one guitar), but getting the switch and volume on the plate would be the same, if this is helpful.
Here's how I did it in mine:
Agileguy_101
Master of his Domain
Re: Just finished designing my next Tele!
I'll admit I'm too lazy to read through the rest of this thread again, but I just want to throw this out there - have you thought about putting the toggle on the lower bout a la the Nuno N4/EBMM EVH? I just think it looks a bit odd so close to the plate.
I'll admit I'm too lazy to read through the rest of this thread again, but I just want to throw this out there - have you thought about putting the toggle on the lower bout a la the Nuno N4/EBMM EVH? I just think it looks a bit odd so close to the plate.
DarkMatter
Unprofessional Toneologist
Re: Just finished designing my next Tele!
Nice choice with the ebony. Maple had a nice contrast and is more "tele" but you probably already have one with a maple board anyways.
Nice choice with the ebony. Maple had a nice contrast and is more "tele" but you probably already have one with a maple board anyways.
ItsaBass
New member
Re: Just finished designing my next Tele!
Believe it or not, I am actually gearing up for this build, nearly 4 and a half years later. I'm in discussion with Marc Rutters about an alder body (I used the pine one for another build). Already got the pickups. Readying my neck order...but now I am considering a Gibson scale conversion neck. Tossed around the idea of belly cut and/or forearm contour, but decided against them in the end (the thin body kind of does the same thing that they do).
Believe it or not, I am actually gearing up for this build, nearly 4 and a half years later. I'm in discussion with Marc Rutters about an alder body (I used the pine one for another build). Already got the pickups. Readying my neck order...but now I am considering a Gibson scale conversion neck. Tossed around the idea of belly cut and/or forearm contour, but decided against them in the end (the thin body kind of does the same thing that they do).
ItsaBass
New member
Re: Just finished designing my next Tele!
OK, the body is ordered from Marc. It's gonna be "interesting" if nothing else. Might be a failed experiment, and might be super cool.
Specs:
Alder
Ultra thin slab-type (i.e. no contours) - 1-1/4" thick . Approx. 30% weight reduction from a full thickness Tele, plus ergonomic advantages, can be achieved this way.
Slightly rounder than normal edge round-over (3/16" vs. the typical 1/8" used on '50's Teles) - ergonomic advantage without going as far as a Strat round-over.
Built-in 2 degree neck angle with a deepened pocket (to allow the neck angle to work with an ashtray bridge)
I will rout for the 'buckers, wire channels, truss rod access, and switch cavity myself.
Marc is building the control plate, flat jack plate (Les Paul-esque, but only 1" square), and string ferrules for me as well - all out of polished aluminum.
Neck will be by Musikraft. Not yet sure whether I'm going to use Fender scale or Gibson scale.
OK, the body is ordered from Marc. It's gonna be "interesting" if nothing else. Might be a failed experiment, and might be super cool.
Specs:
Alder
Ultra thin slab-type (i.e. no contours) - 1-1/4" thick . Approx. 30% weight reduction from a full thickness Tele, plus ergonomic advantages, can be achieved this way.
Slightly rounder than normal edge round-over (3/16" vs. the typical 1/8" used on '50's Teles) - ergonomic advantage without going as far as a Strat round-over.
Built-in 2 degree neck angle with a deepened pocket (to allow the neck angle to work with an ashtray bridge)
I will rout for the 'buckers, wire channels, truss rod access, and switch cavity myself.
Marc is building the control plate, flat jack plate (Les Paul-esque, but only 1" square), and string ferrules for me as well - all out of polished aluminum.
Neck will be by Musikraft. Not yet sure whether I'm going to use Fender scale or Gibson scale.
