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Very Cool Steven. So how does it feel? How does it play? How does it sound? Is it very light?
Give us the deets.
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| A difficult way to build a Telecaster http://mowrystrings.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10123&t=36486 |
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| Author: | StevenWheeler [ Tue May 15, 2012 7:34 am ] |
| Post subject: | A difficult way to build a Telecaster |
I thought I'd show you guys a few pics of my latest build. It's a neck thru Telecaster that was my entry on the Telecaster forum's annual build challange. This is an idea that I've been hashing about for a few years and finally decided to give it a try. Specs: Three layer laminated Ipe neck thru with three layer Birdseye Maple body wings. Ipe fret board Ipe control knobs and switch cap (Thanks Filippo for the how to on that) Birdseye Maple control plate. Gotoh tuners and bridge. GFS bridge pickup. 7k ohms with A5 magnets and 43 gauge wire. Resurected Teisco gold foil neck pickup in a wood cover to match the body. Fully shielded with copper foil. |
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| Author: | StevenWheeler [ Tue May 15, 2012 7:39 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: A difficult way to build a Telecaster |
The finish is catalyzed urethane. A bit of a learning curve as with any finish. That learning curve is why my long tennon double cut is not complete yet. |
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| Author: | John Killin [ Tue May 15, 2012 7:44 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: A difficult way to build a Telecaster |
| Very Cool Steven. So how does it feel? How does it play? How does it sound? Is it very light? Give us the deets.
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| Author: | StevenWheeler [ Tue May 15, 2012 8:00 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: A difficult way to build a Telecaster |
I have to work something out with the pickups. The rebuilding of the gold foil removed some of the raunchiness that is so endearing of the original design. It sounds great though and I would prefer not to change it. The bridge pickup sounds fabulous to and has that typical Tele twang but the two sound very similar and I would like a bit more variation in the sounds available. I've got some other bridge pickups to try and will be getting around to some testing soon. Here's a short video we made (a requirement of the contest) featuring some of my friends. They're abilities range from beginner to pretty darn good. |
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| Author: | StevenWheeler [ Tue May 15, 2012 8:08 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: A difficult way to build a Telecaster |
John Killin wrote: [:Y:] Very Cool Steven. So how does it feel? How does it play? How does it sound? Is it very light? Give us the deets. Hi John, I just posted a video for you to watch which will answer a couple of you Q's. You'll be able to see in the video that Steve (speed metal boy) approves of the action and fret work and Jon digs the sustain. It is not very light at all. Ipe is extremely dense. In fact it will sink in water. The total assembled weight is 9lbs.3oz. Steve |
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| Author: | Chris Ensor [ Tue May 15, 2012 9:58 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: A difficult way to build a Telecaster |
Maybe it's just my eyes, but it looks like there is finish on the inside surfaces of those wings!!!! Is that correct? Did you attach the wings before or after finish? And are they glued in, bolted, or what? VERY impressive work. |
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| Author: | alan stassforth [ Tue May 15, 2012 10:15 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: A difficult way to build a Telecaster |
WOW! That is completely out of this world! How'd you think that up? Deco city! |
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| Author: | Mike Dotson [ Tue May 15, 2012 12:43 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: A difficult way to build a Telecaster |
The rebuilding of the gold foil removed some of the raunchiness that is so endearing of the original design. Did you lose the steel baseplate along with the cover (brass or German silver)? That's going to cause some changes right there. |
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| Author: | cactus [ Tue May 15, 2012 12:56 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: A difficult way to build a Telecaster |
I'm loving these inspired new Teles!! Toone has a similar creation: 
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| Author: | RogerC108 [ Tue May 15, 2012 4:34 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: A difficult way to build a Telecaster |
Steven, your eye for design is just off the charts. I hope you had as much fun during the challenge as I did because I'm dying to see what you do next year 
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| Author: | StevenWheeler [ Tue May 15, 2012 4:54 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: A difficult way to build a Telecaster |
Chris Ensor wrote: Maybe it's just my eyes, but it looks like there is finish on the inside surfaces of those wings!!!! Is that correct? Did you attach the wings before or after finish? And are they glued in, bolted, or what? VERY impressive work. Hi Chris, It is completly finished inside and out. The wings were assembled in layers and then finished. The layers were laminated after buffing. The center was glued using LMI white. Next the wings were spread and gel CA used to adhere the spacers. Here are some shots of the assembled layers. Attachment: 2012 CTele 011.JPG Attachment: 2012 CTele 009.JPG The polising on the inside is not as good as the outside as you can imagine. It did turn out rather well and I'm happy with the results. This design worked rather well at removing compound from the buffing wheels when trying to polish the interior. Here is a link to the build thread at the other forum. http://www.tdpri.com/forum/2012-tdpri-tele-build-challenge/318180-wheelies-2012-challange-build-thread-completed.html |
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| Author: | StevenWheeler [ Tue May 15, 2012 4:57 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: A difficult way to build a Telecaster |
alan stassforth wrote: WOW! That is completely out of this world! How'd you think that up? Deco city! Thanks Alan, How did I think that up? No comment 
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| Author: | StevenWheeler [ Tue May 15, 2012 5:13 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: A difficult way to build a Telecaster |
Mike Dotson wrote: The rebuilding of the gold foil removed some of the raunchiness that is so endearing of the original design. Did you lose the steel baseplate along with the cover (brass or German silver)? That's going to cause some changes right there. Yep. They were complete junk as well as the magnets and the pole screws. All I was able to salvage was the steel core and the coil. Availlable choices for magnets in that size are quite limited and the replacments are quite a bit stronger than the originals. C5 vs C1 (best guess of some pickup builders as to original material). I did use copper foil on the inside of the wood cover and in the cavity. Figured it couldn't hurt. Reminds me of a Stephen Wright joke. I have George Washington's hatchet. I had to replace the handel as it was rotted and the head because it was cracked, but it still holds the same place in the universe. |
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| Author: | StevenWheeler [ Tue May 15, 2012 5:29 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: A difficult way to build a Telecaster |
cactus wrote: I'm loving these inspired new Teles!! Toone has a similar creation: I really like Rick Toone's work and have a lot of respect for his innovations in ergonomics and such. There was another similar design in the contest from a guy in Belgium. I think my and Stinjn's versions of the theme are better. The way Rick did the neck there is pretty darn cool, that would have simplified a lot of things on my build. |
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| Author: | StevenWheeler [ Tue May 15, 2012 5:33 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: A difficult way to build a Telecaster |
RogerC108 wrote: Steven, your eye for design is just off the charts. I hope you had as much fun during the challenge as I did because I'm dying to see what you do next year Hey Roger, Thanks, it was a lot of fun. I think for next year I'll do anything that doesn't involve polishing the inside of a guitar. |
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| Author: | Gabby Losch [ Tue May 15, 2012 9:20 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: A difficult way to build a Telecaster |
I think the best way I can relate my feelings on this guitar is to document my reactions to your pictures, in the order in which I saw them (top to bottom): 1. Oh ok, a neck-through Telecaster. Sure, looks like a nice job, I guess I'll scroll down and keep looking. Something weird about that arm contour... 2. What the hell? Is that a strap hanging off the side? What am I looking at? 3. Holy... 4. ...freaking... 5. ...CRAP!!! And from there I was speechless. Really clever design. Shame it doesn't make it super light, but other than that, it looks killer! And judging from the youtube clip, it doesn't sound half bad either! Nice work! |
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| Author: | cactus [ Wed May 16, 2012 12:39 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: A difficult way to build a Telecaster |
Yeah, Toone's was an detailed experiment, but your's is superior in its practical appointments! The contours make all the difference. Pickups, too.. But let me say the cleverest thing on this to me is the carve by the heel - my palm bottoms out at the back side of the cutaway LONG before the top side. It really baffles me when I see carves on the top side of the guitar there. I have never needed more room there. So kudos to that appointment as well!
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| Author: | StevenWheeler [ Wed May 16, 2012 9:37 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: A difficult way to build a Telecaster |
cactus wrote: Yeah, Toone's was an detailed experiment, Thank goodness, I was a bit disturbed at the notion that Mr. Toone had lost his mind. cactus wrote: But let me say the cleverest thing on this to me is the carve by the heel - my palm bottoms out at the back side of the cutaway LONG before the top side. It really baffles me when I see carves on the top side of the guitar there. I have never needed more room there. So kudos to that appointment as well! Thanks, I saw that detail on a Suhr last summer. I picked up that guitar and had a  moment. Then I realized that's what Ken Parker was doing in the '90's.
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| Author: | Shaw [ Wed May 16, 2012 11:49 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: A difficult way to build a Telecaster |
Awesome looking guitar. Great job!
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| Author: | JRessler [ Thu May 17, 2012 6:26 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: A difficult way to build a Telecaster |
I saw this guitar before finish - very clever and awesome balanced design. It weighs like a brick - you might need a back support to play it. Looks even better with the finish Steve - way to go! |
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