My new Tele build

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WhiteStrat

WhiteStrat

Don't stare at the eye.
A few weeks ago I posted about my first Frankenstrat (on the left in the photo). Well after finishing a grueling recording and mixing project (it's in new jersey being pressed right now!) I rewarded myself by getting around to putting together the tele parts I'd been acquiring for the past few weeks.

I bought the Strat body from some outfit that must resell parts (e.g. bodies) when something else about the guitar is no good (e.g. the necks?). The strat body was light (I'm okay with that--I'm getting old) and cheap. I upgraded the pickups and spent some real money on the Fender reissue vintage neck. (I know the body matters, but I'm all about the necks when it comes to my guits). Anyway these same folks had a tele body in the same natural wood/white plastic color scheme and I thought it would be cool to have a matching set.

When I did the Strat, the only problem was putting the neck on. Since the neck and body had both been parts of guitars already, they were both already drilled. And the holes didn't line up perfectly. I took my time and made it work, and it plays great. But I thought it might be cool to start with a brand new neck and drill it myself.

So that's what I did with this tele. It's a Mighty Mite that I got from a guy name Bob Logan who builds mostly custom tele style guits. Why not get the neck right from Mighty Mite you ask? He finished it in a touch of vintage amber, leveled and dressed the frets and installed the tuners. Okay, I could've done the tuners--but he did a really sweet job with the rest.

I just assembled it and set it up tonight. I had a hard time putting it down to post this.

BTW--I didn't take the time to set up the tripod and do a more "pro" photo, just shot with the flash. And the flash really picked up on the change in wood colors on the tele. I'm really picky about that kind of stuff, and even as cheap as the body was, I insisted on picking the most consistently colored of the three they had. It really looks smoother than the photo indicates.
 

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Oops...just realized maybe I shoulda put this down in DIY. Mea culpa...
 
nice one!

I really want a tele but I cant play the guits Ive got lol
 
I've got a 50th ann. Strat in black and I'd like to strip the lacquer off. Does it ruin the guitar or diminish the value doing that?
 
I've got a 50th ann. Strat in black and I'd like to strip the lacquer off. Does it ruin the guitar or diminish the value doing that?

I would think so. But I'm guessing that if you want to strip the thing, you're not really looking at it as an investment.
 
Hey-that looks really nice Bob! If you are like me, you will start using the Tele constantly-you will be a Tele-fanatic-I haven't gigged with my Strats in probably a year now.
You might check out one of the 4 way switches for it too, it gives you a series as well as the parallel coils in the middle switch settings.
 
Looks great - nice job! I like maple fretboards, but I only have one guitar that has one.

Makes me really want a tele!
 
I want to get a strat body only routed for a neck and bridge...to put the electronics from my Line6 variax into...I guess if I cant get that Ill have to settle for a blank pickguard without any holes.
 
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