Just finished designing my next Tele!

[ItsaBass]

I used a virtual Tele builder to "sketch" out what I had in my mind. I've got the basic idea, and many of the specifics, but I can't decide between a classic looking two-piece maple veneer neck with black dots, or an ebony board, either with or without dots. The former would make it look like a "vintage modified" mid-'60's Tele. The latter would make it an obvious custom build. This would be my first "Tele Gib," and I've wanted one for a while, so I'm very excited, even though it's a fairly straight-ahead idea.

For pickups, I am thinking a matched set of PGs in white/black (not cream/black), or maybe AIIPs. I'd love to use Seths, but they are not available with white bobbins, and I think cream would look weird with the white guard. Control plate would be unplated steel with three pots (V/T/T) with black Gibson speed knobs, or maybe black bell knobs. I'd add a three-way toggle just forward of the plate. (The toggle tip would be black, but that was not an option in the builder program.)

Also, they were not available in the virtual builder program, but I intended for the pickguard to be three-ply, eight-hole W/B/W, and for the saddles to be of the threaded steel variety. I want the larger 3/16" roundover, as opposed to the blackguard-style 1/8" one. Also, there was no option for a 21-fret neck in the builder program, but I do intend for it to be 21 frets.

I was thinking a clear pine body and translucent green finish at first, but I am liking the solid British racing green color that the builder program gave me! I may go with that instead. I will more than likely use my preferred body thickness, which is 1/4 inch thinner than a standard Tele.

Option 1:

Option 2:

Option 3:

 

[phred]

Re: Just finished designing my next Tele!

I like both.

 

[ParameterMan]

Re: Just finished designing my next Tele!

I think the rosewood really sets off the green and white.

 

[J E C]

Re: Just finished designing my next Tele!

I agree with a W/B/W PG. It would be a nice detail that would make the Ebony FB work by tying it in with every thing else if you went that way. My preference would be the Bell knobs. I think they have a slicker more refined look to them. I like both mockups.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Just finished designing my next Tele!

Love the one with the ebony board. Awesome!

 

[crusty philtrum]

Re: Just finished designing my next Tele!

Having the pickup selector switch like that is going to make for some messy wiring, assuming two of the knobs will be volume controls. (a longer, custom plate that contained the switch might be more practical).

I prefer the maple neck version, but why would you use a two-piece maple neck when a one-piece would sound so much better ?

 

[bluesbend]

Re: Just finished designing my next Tele!

My vote goes for the maple fretboard.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Just finished designing my next Tele!

I also vote 1-piece maple board. The green is a little too dark for my tastes as well.

 

[elelpe]

Re: Just finished designing my next Tele!

^ Me too. Love the green color. Not using this?



I just had my telegib finished, btw. Good luck with your project.

 

[King IzzO)))]

Re: Just finished designing my next Tele!

Maple neck, use metal knobs instead of speed knobs, and put the toggle in the LP spot.

...but I'm a fan of old Butnut's beater tele gib.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Just finished designing my next Tele!

Having the pickup selector switch like that is going to make for some messy wiring, assuming two of the knobs will be volume controls. (a longer, custom plate that contained the switch might be more practical).

I prefer the maple neck version, but why would you use a two-piece maple neck when a one-piece would sound so much better ?

I thought about the longer plate as well, but it didn't look good in my head. The pots will go V/T/T front to back. The wiring might be a bit busy, but not too bad. With V/T/T, each pickup's hot lead and switch wire connect to the same lug on each tone pot, then the switch's output goes to the volume pot's input.

I like two-piece maple necks. No skunk stripe or truss rod plug makes 'em nice and clean looking. I don't think they sound any different in general. I may go for a one-piece neck if one that I like comes my way.

I did think about the Les Paul switch position, and also the Explorer switch position. Both look good, but I don't like their locations when it comes to actually playing the thing.

As for the knobs...I just think that black knobs with white lettering fit the black/white trim better than metal knobs.

Thanks for the input. It's really a tough call. I'm no closer to picking a fretboard now than I was yesterday...though I think I was leaning slightly toward ebony yesterday, and now I'm leaning slightly toward maple. Maybe ebony, but I'll go ahead and use white dots....

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Just finished designing my next Tele!

I like the overall effect the ebony has on the look. Plus I love the feel of ebony.

That toggle position would drive me bonkers though.

Get 'er built!

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: Just finished designing my next Tele!

I love the feel of ebony, but I don't like the look of ebony (or rosewood) on a Fender style guitar with a maple headstock.

 

[Chris of Arabia]

Re: Just finished designing my next Tele!

I like the green and I'm edging towards the ebony board too. The controls are one where I'd be inclined to go with a rear route and do a layout that isn't in a straight line. I'd still do the scratchplate, but find one without the notch for the control plate.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Just finished designing my next Tele!

I have thought over many different switch positions since hearing so many complaints about the one I put up in the OP. However, I can't seem to find a better position. That control setup solves all three of my only gripes about the standard Tele controls:

Gripe 1) There's a master tone control, instead of a tone control for each pickup. If you ever want to turn down the treble on the bridge pickup, it's gonna bring the neck pickup along with it...or vice versa. This is the main reason that I highly prefer Esquires over Telecasters. I prefer having a "dark" setting (position 3 - extreme high filter), a "bright" setting (position 1 - no tone filter), and a "medium/adjustable" setting (position 2 - adjustable filter, which I use as a preset). I prefer individual tone controls and a master volume.

Gripe 2) The standard Tele switch is about an inch or two too far rearward for my taste, and the blade moves front to rear, not laterally. The Gibson switch moved up a bit handles those two issues.

Gripe 3) The standard volume knob is also about an inch or two too far rearward for me (and flipping the plate puts the switch in an incredibly awkward-to-use location).

These aren't enormous gripes, but they are minor things that my planned control layout address.

Worst case scenario, I try it, I don't like it, and I just have to fill up a hole in my pickguard and buy a few more parts to set it up a different way.

P.S. I have added a picture of ebony with white dots to the OP.

 

[DreX]

Re: Just finished designing my next Tele!

Gripe 2) The standard Tele switch is about an inch or two too far rearward for my taste, and the blade moves front to rear, not laterally. The Gibson switch moved up a bit handles those two issues.

One thing to watch out for is that if you have an up/down oriented witch in the area where you strum up and down, you're liable to switch pickups unintentionally as you strum, especially if you're playing live and too focused on other things to avoid bumping into it.

 

[tonechaser]

Re: Just finished designing my next Tele!

Try it and see if you like it. You could also use dual concentrics to handle the tone issues. As far as the wiring goes you should be fine, my avatar guitar has all that inside a standard Tele control rout and it has far more going on in there. The 1/4" thinner may take the concentrics out of the equation though because of lack of depth. With tidy well thought through wiring you can fit a lot of things in there. There's also the option of the slanted pickup selection slot which may or may not help with what your trying to accomplish. Best of luck whichever way you decide to go. And keep the white dots it ties it together better IMO.

 

[ParameterMan]

Re: Just finished designing my next Tele!

Maybe you've got a plan but how are you going to screw your control plate down? The body of the switch will overlap the area the screw needs to be solid unless you get tricky with the cavity.

Ok, maybe one of these combined with a deep thread nut so you can leave a bunch of wood.

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Just finished designing my next Tele!

Maybe you've got a plan but how are you going to screw your control plate down? The body of the switch will overlap the area the screw needs to be solid unless you get tricky with the cavity.

Ok, maybe one of these combined with a deep thread nut so you can leave a bunch of wood.

He will be custom drilling the control plate regardless (three knobs, no switch), so he could just move the screw position to one side.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Just finished designing my next Tele!

You can't actually buy a bridge like that. The existing tele humbucker bridges look a lot less cool. Sawing off a better one might also have optical issues.