My Future USACG Tele

[proxy]

Alright I decided to build a USACG tele. Can anyone offer some thoughts on the following layout and let me know if I overlooked anything?

Body:
Northen Swamp Ash
Tummy Cut
Contoured Heel

Neck:
Tele headstock but 24.75" scale
Asymmetrical Back
10" Fretboard radius.
Birdseye Maple on Brazilian Rosewood w/ Pearloid Dots
6130 Stainless Steel Frets

Pickups:
I'm going with Harmonic Design Super 90 in the bridge. Which is basically a p90 that fits in a tele bridge.
Not sure on Neck one yet.

Hardware:
Chrome
Traditional 3 Saddle Tele bridge
regular controls
Gotoh Tuners.

Finish:
Going with a butterscotch/amberish nitrocellelose from Reranch

 

[tone?]

Re: My Future USACG Tele

USACG Rocks!

had them make me a Strat. Awesome!

I would just disagree with the Stainless steel frets, cause they mess with the tone. will take some warmth out of it.
plus theneck heel i would keep traditional. alot of the vibrations pass through that slab of wood. the heel never stopped the best players play fast and great.

oh and how about the scale of the neck? it will change the sound alot. keep that in mind. will make it more middy. i would keep that standard as well.

just my 2 cents.

I got my USACG and was pleasantly surprised! great work

 

[MikeRocker]

Re: My Future USACG Tele

+1 on the heel, you don't need a contour, it'll just weaken the area. -1 on the stainless steel frets, I have 'em and they're great. And they supposedly last much longer. I hate worn down frets!

You said "Northern swamp ash" - that's an oxymoron. Southern ash is swamp ash, northern is hard and heavy. Traditional Teles are swamp ash.

Look into Callaham hardware.

Personal preference stuff, but I prefer no tummy cut, and 25.5" scale, for the classic Tele snap. But I am an admitted traditionalist.

Good luck!

 

[tone?]

Re: My Future USACG Tele

TOuche on the Stainless Frets. Yes they do last forever, i just like the sound of nickel better, but i guess they are ok.

+1 on the Scale length. like MikeRocker said the larger length will give you the traditional tele snap. if you dont want the snap it will turn into a more Les Paul kinda sound. Which i dont know if you want.

oh and Callaham Hardware is the BEST in the world! i got a vintage trem for my strat and it is amazing! awesome work. dont overlook that sucker.

 

[Artie]

Re: My Future USACG Tele

Sounds cool. The only area where I might disagree with the others is in the scale length. If you keep too many things "traditional", you might as well buy a Fender off the shelf. The whole point of a "custom" is to make it your own. If you're sure you want a 24.75 scale . . . go with a 24.75 scale.

But do keep in mind, that you'll probably impact resale value with that scale. But thats probably not a concern.

 

[proxy]

Re: My Future USACG Tele

Yea I've intentionally done a few things to take some of the top end off. For me the 24.75" is the best of both worlds as I prefer that scale and it'll take off some highs. 24.75" scales bend like butter.

This tele I for the most part want to look like a sweet 52 tele, but play and sound different, aka the rosewood and p90ish pickups.

Mike, your right my bad. Which of the two swamp ashes will be a little more full sounding? And will get me something with alot of grain, like Gearjoneser's schecter?

 

[MikeRocker]

Re: My Future USACG Tele

Mike, your right my bad. Which of the two swamp ashes will be a little more full sounding? And will get me something with alot of grain, like Gearjoneser's schecter?

Swamp ash (as opposed to Northern ash) is a great sounding wood, and the "traditional" Tele wood. Each piece will vary, but it is definitely a wood with a lot of grain. You must use a grain filler. It's very tedious, and a pain to work with, but the results are amazing. I finished two swamp ash bodies, and I used a dark brown grain filler, which really stands out under a translucent colored finish. I highly recommend it.