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I decided to try a Tele style build for fun.
I hope the thing sounds like a Tele when it is finished.
I used local trees: Chinaberry body and neck, Pecan fretboard, and a Mesquite neck stringer.
The fretboard is 25.3" scale, 14" radius, and the neck profile is a "D" shape.
I was able to get about a 1 degree neck angle by setting the neck deep into the neck pocket.
The Chinaberry sands very easily. I sanded the neck profile by hand in about two hours.
I used a Martin truss rod and the neck is very stiff. I hope to get some neck relief when the strings are on. I made a fretboard jig and used a cheap Zona saw to cut the frets. I purchased some wide/low fretwire and will hammer them in a few days.
I want to use transtint dye on bare wood, but the Chinaberry will need grain filling, so I'll have to run some experiments to see what will work.
All of the hardware including pickups cost $60 from Guitar Fetish. The tuners will be replaced if I like the guitar.
Here are some progress pictures.
Dan

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Beautiful!

Strung it up. Plays well and sounds like a Tele should.
I used Stew Mac wide/low frets.
I spent at least 3 hours filing the nut.
The neck is thicker than I wanted, but the transition from the headstck to the neck is a bit limber, so I left it as-is.
I installed 'Lil Buckers from Guitar Fetish. I really like the sound of these pickups. The resistance is about 6K ohms.
Next step will be to tear it down and apply the finish.
Dan

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Very Nice! Are you going to show us a photo after it's finished? ...sound clip?

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Steve Sollod (pronounced sorta like "Solid")
www.swiftcreekguitars.com

Thanks Kent and Steve!
I'll post photos after finishing: may be a couple of months.
I'll see if my daughter can pu a sound clip on her you-tube account.
Dan

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That is the first time I have seen a bookmatched fretboard , cool

I finished my Tele build today.
This was my first spray finish. Many thanks to Brian H. and Mike P. for their advice and help.
I used Behlen Instrument lacquer. I added purple and red transtint to the lacquer for color.
I sprayed the burst with an airbrush. I wet sanded with 600 and 1000 and polished with Mequire's swirl remover.
It plays great and sounds pretty good.
Thanks,
Dan

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Love that sunburst!
Well done.

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Thanks Chris!
This was my number 5 and the first I am proud to display.
I spent four weekends on the finish: what a pain in the bum!
I bought a bunch of local lumber last weekend - Chinaberry, Pecan, Mesquite, and Sycamore.
Itching to start another.
Dan

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Simply stunning.

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Brian

You never know what you are capable of until you actually try.

https://www.howardguitarsdelaware.com/

That's a real gem. I love the native woods.

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David Morris

Very Nice. Breaking Tele tradition w/ a joined fretboard. Looks like a big arrowhead...! Pecan's a fairly hard wood?

Janka rating is reported to be 1820, so yes. Plenty hard. Pecan is a hickory, by the way,

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David Morris