Building a Jazz Tele

[ruger9]

That thing is gorgeous! The stain really got rid of any worries on it not not being book matched enough, IMHO. It looks fantastic.

Do you know what pickup you're going with?

[Unclegrumpy]

Lovely.

[arnie65]

That thing is gorgeous! The stain really got rid of any worries on it not not being book matched enough, IMHO. It looks fantastic.

Do you know what pickup you're going with?

I'm between 2 pickups right now, and they are both single coils. My first choice is a custom pickup that Pete Biltoft made for me before he retired; it's a DeArmond Rhythm Chief 1100 in a mini-humbucker enclosure. It was built true to the old 60's specs from DeArmond, and sounds just like an old Rhythm Chief. I have it installed right now on my Tele (Pics Included).

My second choice is a Dynasonic pickup made by Gajobo pickups in Greece (Pics included) I've already ordered the pickup from Dimitri with some extra turns in a heavier gauge wire he recommended, since I won't be playing anything else other than jazz. I will try them both and record 2 videos, and see which one is the favorite.

[Strat-itis]

Looks outstanding!

[ruger9]

I love Biltoft's stuff, I have a couple of his pickups. The Rhythm Chief "copy" just looks too cool, that's the one I'd go for (especially if it has more mids than the Dearmond, which can be quite mid-scooped: big lows and big highs. Great pickups, but for jazz I like more mids, more mini-humbucker or P90 character.)

And I think the pure chrome will look stunning against the amber and rosewood.

[jads57]

Unfortunately Peter Biltoft is now retired from making pickups. I even tried to have him repair one of his pickups for me. But he said he sold all of his tools,etc.

[ruger9]

Unfortunately Peter Biltoft is now retired from making pickups. I even tried to have him repair one of his pickups for me. But he said he sold all of his tools,etc.

yeah I know, it stinks. Happy for him that he retired, but his stuff was so customized, it's a shame you can't get his stuff anymore.

I have a set of P90s that are built into a Filtertron housing, for Gretsch guitars and Fender Cabronitas. No one made those before except him, and no one is making them now.

[arnie65]

Unfortunately Peter Biltoft is now retired from making pickups. I even tried to have him repair one of his pickups for me. But he said he sold all of his tools,etc.

It's a real shame. I have two of the "Custom Rhythm Chief 1100" pickups; he ship me the first one, and a week later I received another one, so I asked him about it, and he thought the first pickup was too shallow and would not fit quite right, so he sent a second one. However, it fit my Tele just fine. So I will be putting the second one up for sale here soon. It's an exact copy of the one in my Tele, with a DCR of 13.9K




Arnie..

[arnie65]

It's coming together, finally got some time today to install the neck, bridge, and pots....




Arnie...

[BreckerFan]

Beautiful guitar! The single pickup double f hole look is really nice, and the finish looks great as well.

Interesting choice of pickups too. I agree with what was said about the gabojo dynasonic; I had a p90 sized set in an SG for a while and just couldn't bond with them. Too scooped for me, went back to p90s. On the other hand I have a Biltoft Charlie Christian in the neck of my jazz strat that I arrived at after trying a number of different pickups, and I'll never change it. I can only imagine the rhythm chief clone sounds fantastic as well.

The good thing is you'll have both to try. Can't go wrong there.

[arnie65]

Beautiful guitar! The single pickup double f hole look is really nice, and the finish looks great as well.

Interesting choice of pickups too. I agree with what was said about the gabojo dynasonic; I had a p90 sized set in an SG for a while and just couldn't bond with them. Too scooped for me, went back to p90s. On the other hand I have a Biltoft Charlie Christian in the neck of my jazz strat that I arrived at after trying a number of different pickups, and I'll never change it. I can only imagine the rhythm chief clone sounds fantastic as well.

The good thing is you'll have both to try. Can't go wrong there.

That's reassuring, thanks!





Arnie..

[Little Jay]

I love it! I bet that will turn out to be a nice instrument!

Jazztele’s are a thing. I like that they are small and light. Here’s my Jazztele:



My next jazztele will be fully hollow, 2 f-holes and a single humbucker at the neck and again a 24.75” scale neck. Perhaps with a snakehead to keep things a bit more tele ;-)

[Bob_Ross]

Attachment 123411

Thread Drift: I wish more body manufacturers incorporated ^^^that little thumb access divot to the electronics cavity cover! I can't tell you how many ridiculous modifications I've made and/or tools I've had to carry just to be able to pull off a too-tight access hatch!

[arnie65]

Thread Drift: I wish more body manufacturers incorporated ^^^that little thumb access divot to the electronics cavity cover! I can't tell you how many ridiculous modifications I've made and/or tools I've had to carry just to be able to pull off a too-tight access hatch!

It's a European thing Bob, I've purchased 2 bodies from countries in Europe, and both have come with the thumb access requiring no screws. U.S. builders should take note. I will be installing magnets on this one for easy access...




Arnie...

[ruger9]

It's a European thing Bob, I've purchased 2 bodies from countries in Europe, and both have come with the thumb access requiring no screws. U.S. builders should take note. I will be installing magnets on this one for easy access...
Arnie...

I've seen Velcro, but recessed magnets would a better, and elegant, solution.

[AllanAllen]

I've seen Velcro, but recessed magnets would a better, and elegant, solution.

The magnets will change the tone man. (read with heavy sarcasm)

I like the guitar OP. Makes me want to delete the bridge pickup from my tele. I don't see anyone selling a full tele bridge without a route. There was a thread on TDPRI about no route bridges, but those vendors are all gone now.

[lammie200]

The magnets will change the tone man. (read with heavy sarcasm)

I like the guitar OP. Makes me want to delete the bridge pickup from my tele. I don't see anyone selling a full tele bridge without a route. There was a thread on TDPRI about no route bridges, but those vendors are all gone now.

403 Forbidden

They have a variety of finishes I think. Pricey. (The link says Forbidden, but it is Glendale guitar parts if the link doesn't work for you.)

https://www.crazyparts.de/

I got one from here, but they may not have any more. A lot less pricey than Glendales.

I also got one from Telenator, but they stopped their business a while ago.

[AllanAllen]

I wonder who makes the crazy parts ones. It would be easier to just buy a USA part in the USA.

[Hammertone]

... I don't see anyone selling a full tele bridge without a route. There was a thread on TDPRI about no route bridges, but those vendors are all gone now.

Why bother? Just use a regular tele bridge, install a cheap or dead tele bridge pickup, lower it as low as it will go, and don't wire it into the circuit.

[lammie200]

I wonder who makes the crazy parts ones. It would be easier to just buy a USA part in the USA.

There was an outfit in Ohio or Indiana (I think) that supplied that part to the others that were selling it. It is a metal and stamping plant that made a lot of things. I emailed them years ago and they never emailed me back. Probably looking for a large quantity order. But when Crazy Parts had them it was only like $45 including shipping as I recall. So it was right inline with what other Tele bridges cost. That was also shipping to California. Not sure what they have now though. Fewer parts are shown on their website, but they are also out on vacation it seems. That said, anything coming into the US is hit or miss now.

[lammie200]

Why bother? Just use a regular tele bridge, install a cheap or dead tele bridge pickup, lower it as low as it will go, and don't wire it into the circuit.

Because it is the eff-U to the Tele bridge pick up. Damn the torpedos!

[Hammertone]

Because it is the eff-U to the Tele bridge pick up. Damn the torpedos!

Sadly, I understand this completely.

[AllanAllen]

Sadly, I understand this completely.

Yeah, the ridiculousness is part of it.

[AllanAllen]

There was an outfit in Ohio or Indiana (I think) that supplied that part to the others that were selling it. It is a metal and stamping plant that made a lot of things. I emailed them years ago and they never emailed me back. Probably looking for a large quantity order. But when Crazy Parts had them it was only like $45 including shipping as I recall. So it was right inline with what other Tele bridges cost. That was also shipping to California. Not sure what they have now though. Fewer parts are shown on their website, but they are also out on vacation it seems. That said, anything coming into the US is hit or miss now.

I emailed crazy parts to see. Thanks for the help.

[Hammertone]

Yeah, the ridiculousness is part of it.

I have been known to pursue the ridiculousness...

-working on the unfinished one now. I'll most likely install a TV Jones T-armond in the neck position. This one is called the Stratrod.

-The purple one is called the Joker.