dystrust
Well-known member
Some of you may remember this partscaster Tele I bought about 3 years ago... The price was decent, I wanted the Bigsby and Hot Stack, and figured I could either keep it or at worst part it out:
Swapping the GFS mini for a SM-1 turned into completely gutting & redoing the wiring as I was honestly shocked that a guitar wired so incorrectly could produce sound at all. I honestly wonder how much of the "neck position" sounding like crap was just down to the wiring being a complete and utter clusterf***.
Next I decided to replace the neck itself because the maple mystery neck just wasn't doing it for me. I really wanted a rosewood board, 22 frets, and a not-super-skinny back shape which isn't terribly easy to find without going custom order. Luckily I found a good deal on a MIM Blacktop Tele neck on ebay and pulled the trigger.
So I swapped necks, but the new neck (that I love) just didn't gel with the body. I thought about ordering a USACG or Warmoth body, but I just couldn't bring myself to spend $300+ for a body when I honestly didn't know how much I'd play the guitar. Ebay to the rescue again as I came across a Lake Placid Blue MIM Standard Tele body that only weighs 4lbs 7oz. I've had the pieces for a month or two now, but only had time to finish the wiring this past weekend. The guitar plays nice, and really sounds great. I haven't played it too loud yet (it was kinda late when I finished) but it has a really amazing and full clean sound. I doubt it'll replace my 335 (just not a Fender guy), but this thing will probably get a lot more play time than I anticipated. I know the tuners don't match, but I had a set of Jackson-branded Gotohs in my parts bin and they fit and work great.
Enough with the back story, how about a few pics:
Close up:
Even Naami likes it:
Swapping the GFS mini for a SM-1 turned into completely gutting & redoing the wiring as I was honestly shocked that a guitar wired so incorrectly could produce sound at all. I honestly wonder how much of the "neck position" sounding like crap was just down to the wiring being a complete and utter clusterf***.
Next I decided to replace the neck itself because the maple mystery neck just wasn't doing it for me. I really wanted a rosewood board, 22 frets, and a not-super-skinny back shape which isn't terribly easy to find without going custom order. Luckily I found a good deal on a MIM Blacktop Tele neck on ebay and pulled the trigger.
So I swapped necks, but the new neck (that I love) just didn't gel with the body. I thought about ordering a USACG or Warmoth body, but I just couldn't bring myself to spend $300+ for a body when I honestly didn't know how much I'd play the guitar. Ebay to the rescue again as I came across a Lake Placid Blue MIM Standard Tele body that only weighs 4lbs 7oz. I've had the pieces for a month or two now, but only had time to finish the wiring this past weekend. The guitar plays nice, and really sounds great. I haven't played it too loud yet (it was kinda late when I finished) but it has a really amazing and full clean sound. I doubt it'll replace my 335 (just not a Fender guy), but this thing will probably get a lot more play time than I anticipated. I know the tuners don't match, but I had a set of Jackson-branded Gotohs in my parts bin and they fit and work great.
Enough with the back story, how about a few pics:
Close up:
Even Naami likes it:
