The Cooleycaster

[Scott Baxendale]

Mike Cooley is in the Drive-by Truckers here are some pics of the custom Telesque style guitar I designed and built for him. The body is a 1/4” maple cap over a chambered basswood body. It’s similar to a Tele Thinline but without the F hole. The chambers are blind so it looks like a solid body. This one has Lollar pickups with the Charlie Christian in the neck and a hot alnico bridge pickup. The neck is 1.75” at the nut with a soft V shape. It also has jumbo frets. This is not a partscaster, but a full custom build.

 

[dogooder]

I bought it because it was pretty!

 

[spantini]

Mike Cooley is in the Drive-by Truckers here are some pics of the custom Telesque style guitar I designed and built for him. . .

Very nice. I really like the shade of red in that burst.

 

[TalismanRich]

I bet both of those would get all kinds of headstock hate on Gearpage! It doesn't "look like a Fender"!!!

Using the Charlie Christian pickup is an interesting take, Scott.. It's been so long since I've actually heard a CC style pickup live, I can't imagine how it would sound.

 

[Scott Baxendale]

I bet both of those would get all kinds of headstock hate on Gearpage! It doesn't "look like a Fender"!!!

Using the Charlie Christian pickup is an interesting take, Scott.. It's been so long since I've actually heard a CC style pickup live, I can't imagine how it would sound.

My headstock design comes directly from a 54 Strat headstock except I eliminated the ‘nub’. The cutaway shape comes from a Danelectro cutaway.

Other than that it’s pretty much an exact Tele. I wanted to make something that looked retro/vintage but still looked unique and original. No one can confuse one of these to a parts caster.

The body is made from basswood with a 1/4” maple cap. The basswood is chambered out like a Tele Thinline but there are no holes making the chambers completely blind.

The Charlie Christian pickup combined with the Tele bridge pickup sounds like a filtertron in the middle position. It’s a very versatile guitar.

Here are a few other versions.