NGD - Just finished a new Tele!

Hyper · 09-10-2011, 11:52 PM

This build actually started back in April/May. I found a nice Ash body on CL that came with a control plate, 3 ply white pickguard and a newer style bridge (as seen in the first picture). My original intention was to do a Natural with a Rosewood board. Shortly after I picked up this body, I bought a Natural Strat in this color scheme so I decided to go a different route. After some looking around, the 52' re-issue caught my eye so I decided to go that direction.

With that in mind, I picked up an Fender Patent Pending ash tray style bridge, black single ply 5 hole pickguard and a nice MIM neck with a maple board. I've had all this stuff along with all the finishing supplies for a few months now but I just never got inspired to try and do the finish on the guitar. It all worked out for the best though as this last week, a brand spankin' new Fender Baja Tele body came up on eBay and I grabbed it quick. This body is already finished in Butterscotch Blonde so it was a no brainer. I even sold the original body for a good bit more than I paid for it.

Anyways, the body came today so I got busy. I did a quick mock up to make sure everything fit and then made a trip to Sam Ash to pick up a pair of Fender Custom Shop Texas Specials. Damn I'm stoked now! It plays like a dream and it sounds fantastic! Check it out...

After finding a neck.

This morning after receiving the new body.

And tonight after I finished wiring it up and throwing some strings on it.

I'm in Tele love!

CheopisIV · 09-11-2011, 12:03 AM

That's a nice Tele you got there! Congrats!

gibsonguitar1988 · 09-11-2011, 12:23 AM

VERY nice! The Blackguard is where it's at for Teles. Blonde/Butterscotch finish, 3 brass saddle bridge, 50s style pickups - the works. I dislike the modern 6 saddle bridge. Just doesn't have that same beef and twang of the 3 saddle not to forget the 3 saddle feels better on the hands too. I also prefer the vintage style saddles on a Strat more than the Graphtech style modern saddles.

You might also try the Fender Nocaster pickups if you really want that early Blackguard tone - they are more of a Vintage with a bit of beef and might have a bit more twang and bite to them than the Texas Specials. I have both sets and both serve their purpose though. It's just that the Texas Specials aren't as twangy and all of the Country cats I know hate them. I don't mind them as I'm a rock player but the Nocasters seem to be "the pickups" for this type of Tele. Just a suggestion though. I'm sure the TS sound great - they do in my American Special. Just a bit thicker.

Enjoy! I'm thinking of getting a Custom Shop '53 Relic at Christmas. I've been really into Fenders lately (my LPs are feeling neglected!). You can't go wrong with a Telecaster (or Broadcaster, Nocaster, Esquire, etc.

)

Hyper · 09-11-2011, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gibsonguitar1988

VERY nice! The Blackguard is where it's at for Teles. Blonde/Butterscotch finish, 3 brass saddle bridge, 50s style pickups - the works. I dislike the modern 6 saddle bridge. Just doesn't have that same beef and twang of the 3 saddle not to forget the 3 saddle feels better on the hands too. I also prefer the vintage style saddles on a Strat more than the Graphtech style modern saddles.

You might also try the Fender Nocaster pickups if you really want that early Blackguard tone - they are more of a Vintage with a bit of beef and might have a bit more twang and bite to them than the Texas Specials. I have both sets and both serve their purpose though. It's just that the Texas Specials aren't as twangy and all of the Country cats I know hate them. I don't mind them as I'm a rock player but the Nocasters seem to be "the pickups" for this type of Tele. Just a suggestion though. I'm sure the TS sound great - they do in my American Special. Just a bit thicker.

Enjoy! I'm thinking of getting a Custom Shop '53 Relic at Christmas. I've been really into Fenders lately (my LPs are feeling neglected!). You can't go wrong with a Telecaster (or Broadcaster, Nocaster, Esquire, etc.

)

I had considered them originally but I'm not looking for "twangy" or "country" with this one. I too lean towards rock so I wanted something with a little more bite to it. I think that the Texas Specials fit the bill nicely.

calvin1 · 09-11-2011, 09:21 AM

great job thats a nice looking telecaster.

lespaul01 · 09-11-2011, 09:23 AM

looks great man, enjoy

frankthomson · 09-11-2011, 09:39 AM

sa-weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet.

teles ARE the shiznit.
...now if i could just heed my own rule of no more than 20 teles at any given moment.

and i agree w/ '1988', big ups on the nocaster pups!...(personally not a fan of TS's)

and if ur not married to the traditional look, u should try a usa G&L neck pup in there.
theys just gnarly goodness.

Leendrix · 09-11-2011, 09:59 PM

Congratulations Hyper!

Happy New Guitar Day! I'm going to admit I'm a bit jealous. I'm GASing for a Tele Deluxe.

Hyper · 09-11-2011, 10:11 PM

Thanks Leendrix! Now go get that Tele!

Pinkie · 09-11-2011, 10:44 PM

Sweet!

Hector Arcadius · 09-15-2011, 08:36 AM

Very, very nice Hyper! I love the choice of colors there.

Classic rock & blues are exactly what I would like to play on a Tele. Pickup choise noted, for future reference.

Hyper · 09-15-2011, 09:15 AM

Thanks Hector. It really did come out better than I had hoped it would.

09-10-2011, 11:52 PM	#1 (permalink)
Hyper Bartlett Retrospec Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 3,724 Thanks: 125 Thanked 95 Times in 35 Posts	NGD - Just finished a new Tele! This build actually started back in April/May. I found a nice Ash body on CL that came with a control plate, 3 ply white pickguard and a newer style bridge (as seen in the first picture). My original intention was to do a Natural with a Rosewood board. Shortly after I picked up this body, I bought a Natural Strat in this color scheme so I decided to go a different route. After some looking around, the 52' re-issue caught my eye so I decided to go that direction. With that in mind, I picked up an Fender Patent Pending ash tray style bridge, black single ply 5 hole pickguard and a nice MIM neck with a maple board. I've had all this stuff along with all the finishing supplies for a few months now but I just never got inspired to try and do the finish on the guitar. It all worked out for the best though as this last week, a brand spankin' new Fender Baja Tele body came up on eBay and I grabbed it quick. This body is already finished in Butterscotch Blonde so it was a no brainer. I even sold the original body for a good bit more than I paid for it. Anyways, the body came today so I got busy. I did a quick mock up to make sure everything fit and then made a trip to Sam Ash to pick up a pair of Fender Custom Shop Texas Specials. Damn I'm stoked now! It plays like a dream and it sounds fantastic! Check it out... After finding a neck. This morning after receiving the new body. And tonight after I finished wiring it up and throwing some strings on it. I'm in Tele love! coldsteal2, gibsonguitar1988, Leendrix and 1 others like this. __________________ "Leave me alone don't want your promises no more.... Cause rock n roll is my religion and my law"

09-11-2011, 12:03 AM	#2 (permalink)
CheopisIV Pedal Peddler Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 1,225 Thanks: 56 Thanked 18 Times in 12 Posts	Re: NGD - Just finished a new Tele! That's a nice Tele you got there! Congrats! __________________ ~Join the Facebook Page for build pics and discount codes~ ~SMP on Youtube~

09-11-2011, 12:23 AM	#3 (permalink)
gibsonguitar1988 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Central Illinois Posts: 7,816 Thanks: 30 Thanked 87 Times in 24 Posts	Re: NGD - Just finished a new Tele! VERY nice! The Blackguard is where it's at for Teles. Blonde/Butterscotch finish, 3 brass saddle bridge, 50s style pickups - the works. I dislike the modern 6 saddle bridge. Just doesn't have that same beef and twang of the 3 saddle not to forget the 3 saddle feels better on the hands too. I also prefer the vintage style saddles on a Strat more than the Graphtech style modern saddles. You might also try the Fender Nocaster pickups if you really want that early Blackguard tone - they are more of a Vintage with a bit of beef and might have a bit more twang and bite to them than the Texas Specials. I have both sets and both serve their purpose though. It's just that the Texas Specials aren't as twangy and all of the Country cats I know hate them. I don't mind them as I'm a rock player but the Nocasters seem to be "the pickups" for this type of Tele. Just a suggestion though. I'm sure the TS sound great - they do in my American Special. Just a bit thicker. Enjoy! I'm thinking of getting a Custom Shop '53 Relic at Christmas. I've been really into Fenders lately (my LPs are feeling neglected!). You can't go wrong with a Telecaster (or Broadcaster, Nocaster, Esquire, etc. ) __________________ *Resident Dirtbox Junkie and PAS Group Co-Founder* Guitars: Gibson Les Pauls, Fender Stratocasters, Fender Telecasters, Gibson SG, PRS Custom 24 and 22, Ernie Ball Music Man Benji, Carvin CT6M, Epiphone Dot, Epiphone Explorer, Epiphone G-1275 Amps: 1968 Fender Super Reverb, 1978 Fender Vibro Champ, 1955 Fender Deluxe, 1965 Fender Twin Reverb Reissue (modern amp), 65amps Ventura head Pedals: Too damn many to list. Pickups: Seymour Duncan, DiMarzio, Lindy Fralin, Wilde, Fender

09-11-2011, 09:21 AM	#5 (permalink)
calvin1 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: cambridge on. canada Posts: 1,241 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: NGD - Just finished a new Tele! great job thats a nice looking telecaster.

09-11-2011, 09:23 AM	#6 (permalink)
lespaul01 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 16,622 Thanks: 804 Thanked 147 Times in 44 Posts	Re: NGD - Just finished a new Tele! looks great man, enjoy __________________

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09-11-2011, 09:39 AM	#7 (permalink)
frankthomson Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Camelot Posts: 1,676 Thanks: 2 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: NGD - Just finished a new Tele! sa-weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet. teles ARE the shiznit. ...now if i could just heed my own rule of no more than 20 teles at any given moment. and i agree w/ '1988', big ups on the nocaster pups!...(personally not a fan of TS's) and if ur not married to the traditional look, u should try a usa G&L neck pup in there. theys just gnarly goodness. __________________ Read your Bible, son! Genesis 6:6, Isaiah 55:8, John 14:6

09-11-2011, 10:11 PM	#9 (permalink)
Hyper Bartlett Retrospec Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 3,724 Thanks: 125 Thanked 95 Times in 35 Posts	Re: NGD - Just finished a new Tele! Thanks Leendrix! Now go get that Tele! Leendrix likes this. __________________ "Leave me alone don't want your promises no more.... Cause rock n roll is my religion and my law"

09-11-2011, 10:44 PM	#10 (permalink)
Pinkie Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 5,013 Thanks: 129 Thanked 32 Times in 11 Posts	Re: NGD - Just finished a new Tele! Sweet!

09-15-2011, 08:36 AM	#11 (permalink)
Hector Arcadius Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Somewhere in the Mediterranean Posts: 5,005 Thanks: 701 Thanked 73 Times in 24 Posts	Re: NGD - Just finished a new Tele! Very, very nice Hyper! I love the choice of colors there. Classic rock & blues are exactly what I would like to play on a Tele. Pickup choise noted, for future reference. Hyper likes this.

09-15-2011, 09:15 AM	#12 (permalink)
Hyper Bartlett Retrospec Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 3,724 Thanks: 125 Thanked 95 Times in 35 Posts	Re: NGD - Just finished a new Tele! Thanks Hector. It really did come out better than I had hoped it would. __________________ "Leave me alone don't want your promises no more.... Cause rock n roll is my religion and my law"

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