My Tele Project - Graphic Heavy

[djwilbanks]

I bought this recently on ebay and got started on it right directly.

Here's where we were:



gutted:





Partially stripped:









And how she looks tonight with a slight burst:










Once the stain/sealant sits and cures I'll add a top coat of uraethane and sand it.

For the stain, I used cherry for the lighter coat and for the dark part of the burst/back/sides I used Red Mahogany. Applied it with a rag, so the burst and everything is done by hand (which explains the crappiness of the burst :P), the two colours were not all that different so the burst is hard to make out, but it is subtle. And I like subtle.

Now if anybody has a Strat neck and some WB Pickups they'd like to donate

[Skynyrdpicker]

That's awesome man, I actually really like the looks of it in the last pictures. Looks like something you'd find in a barn. If you're really desperate for a strat neck that will fit a Tele, check out the s101 teles, I have one and the neck is a strat neck with strat headstock, and it's a great neck in terms of feel. If you can find one of those guitars for cheap used, the necks are great and the pups are actually pretty decent in them. Keep us posted!

[djwilbanks]

Yeah, I wanted that "found in a barn," beat to hell kind of look.

[djwilbanks]

woohoo! Thanks to VoodooHighway I just got a strat neck for my project! Yeow!

[Dino]

Originally Posted by djwilbanks

woohoo! Thanks to VoodooHighway I just got a strat neck for my project! Yeow!

Congrats!
Remember the heel on the strat neck won't fit the neck pocket on the tele properly. You can make it work, but there will be gaps.

You'll also have to align the neck ...
You may find this a little more difficult since the neck won't be a good fit.

First, you should plug all the existing holes in the heel of the neck with wooden dowels.
Then place the neck into the neck pocket and use a C-clamp to secure it.
Remember to use a piece of scrap wood or something to protect the frets from being damaged by the clamp.

Once the neck is clamped in place, string up the first and the sixth strings.
Then shift the neck into alignment using these two strings as your guide.
Make sure both strings are even and aligned down the legnth of the neck.

Once this is done, use a hand drill and drill pilot holes to mark the placement of the new neck screws.
Remove the neck, mark your drill bit so you don't drill through your fretboard, and finish drilling the holes on a drill press to make sure they're nice and straight.

Here's a pic that may help ...



NOTE: While the neck is clamped, I would just double check to make sure the guitar is to proper scale. Both strats and tele's are the same scale so it should be okay, but It's just best to check everything when working with mix-matched parts IMO.

Good luck.

[Dino]

BTW ... if that neck doesn't work out for you, you can always look for a tele "paddlehead" and cut your own headstock.

This way you can have a neck that fits the tele neck pocket and have the strat style headstock you wanted.

Here are a couple I found on eBay ...
MAPLE:
MAPLE GUITAR NECK UNFINISHED FOR TELE GUITAR NEW! - eBay (item 290253354207 end time Aug-21-08 12:25:05 PDT)

ROESWOOD:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ROSEWOOD-GUITAR-...QQcmdZViewItem

Be advised that while the pics in this auction show a squared heel, the description says it's rounded.
I'd maybe shoot the seller an email and ask which he has before buying it.

[djwilbanks]

yeah, I've thought about that, but i am handy with a drill and a sander, but when it comes to cutting... well... eh... yeah.

[dennistruckdriver]

Originally Posted by djwilbanks

....I wanted that "found in a barn," beat to hell kind of look.....

You have succeeded!

[djwilbanks]

but do you like it or not?

[djwilbanks]

Hey guys, I need an opinion.

I was thinking of going ahead and slapping a white overcoat on the body and sanding through some of it to make it worn out.

What do you guys think?

[captain tightpants]

I say go for it, I bet it'll look pretty cool!

[Skynyrdpicker]

Go for it man, and post pics!

[djwilbanks]

ha ha, I will, I was just thinking about that because I wanted a white one in the first place and in my experience you need to go with what you wanted in the first place our you'll end up doing it after you've done everything else.

[Skynyrdpicker]

Go for it man! My project tele is white with a rosewood board, and it's definitely a classy looking rig, despite the numerous dents and scratches!

[Dino]

Originally Posted by djwilbanks

Hey guys, I need an opinion.

I was thinking of going ahead and slapping a white overcoat on the body and sanding through some of it to make it worn out.

What do you guys think?

I think it would look good!
Try steel wool as opposed to sandpaper ...
It should give it more of a natural worn look IMO.

[djwilbanks]

I don't care much for artificial relics, but there is something about a nice beat up tele

[djwilbanks]

And now for the finish before the hardware/neck/stuff.

















The colour is Storm Grey, but it has a bit of a gold tint up close. Really nice... then I sanded the crap out of the edges and back and such for that "broken-in" look. (I couldn't find the steel wool)

Also for fun I hit it several times in the back with my keys for that belt worming look.

I think it'll look awesome with the hardware.

Now then, how do you age chrome hardware?

[dennistruckdriver]

Originally Posted by djwilbanks

but do you like it or not?

[captain tightpants]

Take a little boiled linseed oil to the spots you've sanded, it will give the bare wood an aged look, and it will protect it at the same time. Wipe off any excess that gets on the paint.

[djwilbanks]

Originally Posted by captain tightpants

Take a little boiled linseed oil to the spots you've sanded, it will give the bare wood an aged look, and it will protect it at the same time. Wipe off any excess that gets on the paint.

I hit it with a thin coat of polyuerathane because the paint is very very soft. So... I don't think that'll be required, lol.

Originally Posted by dennistruckdriver

Still mad I didn't want your baby blue tele?

[Dino]

Could use more relic'ing IMO.
Don't forget to age the neck and hardware too.

[djwilbanks]

What would you do to relic it more, dino?

and how do you relic the hardware?

[dennistruckdriver]

Originally Posted by djwilbanks

Still mad I didn't want your baby blue tele?

Never was mad. If you prefer a raggedy Telecaster copy over a pretty, REAL Telecaster at a good price, then, have at it!
Enjoy they rest of the weekend. I am going dirt bike riding tomorrow.

[djwilbanks]

Originally Posted by dennistruckdriver

Never was mad. If you prefer a raggedy Telecaster copy over a pretty, REAL Telecaster at a good price, then, have at it!
Enjoy they rest of the weekend. I am going dirt bike riding tomorrow.

Hey, I know what you mean, but I have a friend that has a Deluxe Player's Strat I was saving up for, this was a scrimp and barebones project.

I really do want your Tele, and I know its not "real" but I don't care, don't claim its a fender, never will.

Have fun riding your dirtbike