Telecaster Love Thread, No Archtops Allowed

[gvurrdon]

I went and got myself a similar guitar to the Tele. It's a G&L ASAT Classic. It sounds and feels so good I can't foresee myself parting with it.

I've been very happy with mine. There's an example of how it sounds, through the Vox amp shown above, here: Just the melody.

[shrews824]

Was fortunate enough to pick up another Whitfill T-Style last week. This one make number 2 for me. It has the "Micawber" setup obviously and I'm flat out loving it. That neck humbucker is so smooth and mellow for all of those great jazz tones.

[jazzloverfat]

My Teles - American Performer and Classic Vibe 50s P

[Herbie]

I feel a bit embarrassed. I have been toying with an idea of a special red bodied Telecaster with binding, archtop bridge, mahogany body and maybe humbuckers. I already have a Warmoth conversion neck for it (I prefer the Gibson scale).

I thought that I’ll buy the body from a professional, but now I am here: a couple months ago I bought an unfinished swamp ash body (1,7 kg) and asked offers for finish job from local luthiers. Damn pricey! Damn long queues!

So I asked advise from a pal who studies to be a luthier, visited a shop and started to spray butterscotch nitro on the body. Outdoor when the weather allows. Two cans of butterscotch and one can of clear coat later I am here, waiting for still a week for the lacquer to dry before the final polishing.

So why the embarrasment? From all the nice colours in the Telecaster Universe I chose the oldest, most general and maybe dullest colour: butterscotch. But at this point: I love it!

Ok ok, seeing Julian Lage on a gig helped to start this project. Although I am not making any JL Caster, but maybe a Dynasonicish neck pickup could be nice to try…

[rlrhett]

If you are going for a high gloss solid color on a slab guitar, you might want to try automotive body shops or motorcycle repair shops instead of local luthiers.


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[Little Jay]

I feel a bit embarrassed. I have been toying with an idea of a special red bodied Telecaster with binding, archtop bridge, mahogany body and maybe humbuckers. I already have a Warmoth conversion neck for it (I prefer the Gibson scale).

I thought that I’ll buy the body from a professional, but now I am here: a couple months ago I bought an unfinished swamp ash body (1,7 kg) and asked offers for finish job from local luthiers. Damn pricey! Damn long queues!

So I asked advise from a pal who studies to be a luthier, visited a shop and started to spray butterscotch nitro on the body. Outdoor when the weather allows. Two cans of butterscotch and one can of clear coat later I am here, waiting for still a week for the lacquer to dry before the final polishing.

So why the embarrasment? From all the nice colours in the Telecaster Universe I chose the oldest, most general and maybe dullest colour: butterscotch. But at this point: I love it!

Ok ok, seeing Julian Lage on a gig helped to start this project. Although I am not making any JL Caster, but maybe a Dynasonicish neck pickup could be nice to try…

Following! I think this will be an interesting tele!

[Cunamara]

My favorite Tele color.

[Herbie]

If you are going for a high gloss solid color on a slab guitar, you might want to try automotive body shops or motorcycle repair shops instead of local luthiers.


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I am not sure do they use nitrocellulose lacquers anymore. In the guitar world those old ways are still trusted substances.

I have always thought that one needs a dust free ventilated room to get a good surface. But after this painting project I am surprised to learn that if You can spray things outdoor, mostly it needs patience.

[Herbie]

Following! I think this will be an interesting tele!

I think so too! I have had an alder bodied tele (Fernandes Revival) for 40 years and I have always thought that all the teles are alike that.

This new swamp ash body weights only 1,7 kg, so it will be over a 1 kg lighter than that old one. I am very curious to feel and hear, does it make it play and sound different.

I ordered the neck pickup yesterday from Mojo Pickups UK. The Ellisonic would’ve been too pricey for me, so I wish that Mojosonic will do the thing.

Another option was TV Jones T-Armond. But they are rare in EU, and the Mojosonic beats it economically too.

The Mojo Pickups are hand wound for order, so I’ll have to wait about a month for it. Maybe I just have to test first in it the Tonerider Vintage P90 that I have spare in the locker.

Tough times for impatient people… waiting lacquer to dry and the pickups to be wound…

[Little Jay]

I am not sure do they use nitrocellulose lacquers anymore. In the guitar world those old ways are still trusted substances.

I have always thought that one needs a dust free ventilated room to get a good surface. But after this painting project I am surprised to learn that if You can spray things outdoor, mostly it needs patience.

I sprayed 4 DIY guitars with spray can nitro outside in the yard. It’s great to work with! Thin layers dry within minutes, a quick rub with a fine sanding paper to get out the dust and then the next layer can already be sprayed and it will blend in perfectly with the previous one. I spray a whole guitar in 30 minutes, doing 8-10 layers, including waiting time between the layers. Like my tele:

[rlrhett]

I am not sure do they use nitrocellulose lacquers anymore. In the guitar world those old ways are still trusted substances.

I have always thought that one needs a dust free ventilated room to get a good surface. But after this painting project I am surprised to learn that if You can spray things outdoor, mostly it needs patience.

I hate to burst your bubble, but you would be hard pressed to find a new genuine American made Fender telecaster with a nitro finish, let alone a less expensive knockoff.


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[Herbie]

I hate to burst your bubble, but you would be hard pressed to find a new genuine American made Fender telecaster with a nitro finish, let alone a less expensive knockoff.

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Yes, You are right, I should have used the term ’DIY guitar world’.

[Herbie]

I sprayed 4 DIY guitars with spray can nitro outside in the yard. It’s great to work with! Thin layers dry within minutes, a quick rub with a fine sanding paper to get out the dust and then the next layer can already be sprayed and it will blend in perfectly with the previous one. I spray a whole guitar in 30 minutes, doing 8-10 layers, including waiting time between the layers. Like my tele:

Nice tele!

Yes, it is addictive activity!

[jazzloverfat]

I hate to burst your bubble, but you would be hard pressed to find a new genuine American made Fender telecaster with a nitro finish, let alone a less expensive knockoff.

The current American Vintage II line is nitro.

[lammie200]

The current American Vintage II line is nitro.

Not sure but I think Fender was advertising nitro finishes that were nitro followed by poly topcoats. Might not be the current American Vintage II line though.

Edit: I guess that it is/was the other way around. Poly and then nitro top coats. But AV II's could be pure nitro for all I know.

[Prof Silverhair]

Those look amazing! I've been eyeing a Whitfill for a while but can't bring myself to pull the trigger. I've grown increasingly hesistant about buying a guitar I haven't handled in person....but these look soo good.

Was fortunate enough to pick up another Whitfill T-Style last week. This one make number 2 for me. It has the "Micawber" setup obviously and I'm flat out loving it. That neck humbucker is so smooth and mellow for all of those great jazz tones.

[Hammertone]

My boxes of extra bits have yielded yet another really nice Telecaster, for sale on this very forum. I'll survive with only seven teles.

Korina body, Fender Vintera Mod II '50s roasted maple neck, Cavalier pickups. Open-pore finish w/no grain filler. Maybe I'll knock it back with some steel wool - it's very shiny.

[shrews824]

Those look amazing! I've been eyeing a Whitfill for a while but can't bring myself to pull the trigger. I've grown increasingly hesistant about buying a guitar I haven't handled in person....but these look soo good.

I really appreciate the compliment. I have to admit, I'm kind of smitten on the looks of them myself.

I've been fortunate to get to know Charles a bit over the past 7-8 years. He's actually from my hometown originally. I've had the opportunity play dozens of his guitars and all have been exceptional. I totally understand the hesitation about playing one before buying however. I'm the same way. I'm just close enough to him (travel wise) to see him often enough to pick and choose if I want. However, and only because I've handled several, I would order one now without playing it. Again, only because I've had experience with his work. Plus, if something wasn't up to par he'd take care of it and make it right. That's just the kind of guy he is.

He's more than willing to talk you through a build too if you are seriously interested. I could get you in touch with him if you'd like. Just let me know. Very personable and very easy to talk to.

Cheers,
Scott

[Bazlen]

Love them. I have a Pre Vintera MIM Road Worn white guard with nitro finish and Texas Special, a steal on the second hand market, a MIJ 2024 Traditionnal Nocaster with Fender CS Nocaster and an AVII 52 with Pure Vintage. Properly sets with flats on they all play and sound good plugged in my AER Alpha + with a touch of reverb. All ash bodies, one piece maple necks and brass saddles. 7.25 radius. The Road Worn is a work horse on steroids, the japanese very well made with terrific pickups and a slighlty narrower neck perfect for small hands, chunky though, and the AVII the most period correct with an old fashioned full sized baseball bat neck.

I had an Ultra II that I sometimes regret selling. A very different beast. Alder body. Maple neck. Maple board. Very well made. Flat D shape neck that played like butter. Brass saddles. Underrated Noiseless pickups, vintage voiced and dead silents more on the Nocaster side than the Texas Specials.

[Little Jay]

I feel a bit embarrassed. I have been toying with an idea of a special red bodied Telecaster with binding, archtop bridge, mahogany body and maybe humbuckers. I already have a Warmoth conversion neck for it (I prefer the Gibson scale).

I thought that I’ll buy the body from a professional, but now I am here: a couple months ago I bought an unfinished swamp ash body (1,7 kg) and asked offers for finish job from local luthiers. Damn pricey! Damn long queues!

So I asked advise from a pal who studies to be a luthier, visited a shop and started to spray butterscotch nitro on the body. Outdoor when the weather allows. Two cans of butterscotch and one can of clear coat later I am here, waiting for still a week for the lacquer to dry before the final polishing.

So why the embarrasment? From all the nice colours in the Telecaster Universe I chose the oldest, most general and maybe dullest colour: butterscotch. But at this point: I love it!

Ok ok, seeing Julian Lage on a gig helped to start this project. Although I am not making any JL Caster, but maybe a Dynasonicish neck pickup could be nice to try…

How’s this one coming along Herbie? Is it done already? So curious!

[Cunamara]

Man, the butterscotch color is my favorite for a Telecaster. Hands-down. I have a Telecaster with an alder Warmoth body that I finished with French polish and amber shellac, which lands squarely in the aged butterscotch category. Not the most skillful French polish you've ever seen, but what a wonderful process.

[arnie65]

My Jazz Tele...


Arnie..

[Sleeko]

I hate the "Roasted Maple and Butterscotch nomenclature. Always makes me hungry!

[Calvoi]

This is my tele, finally got a p90 in it - went with an Oil city Jazz watch and it is lovely. Balances with the Monty's broadcaster bridge perfectly (although I'm 95% on the neck pickup anyway). No one seems to make a bakelite style p90 guard, so I had to modify a standard one, and then of course paint in nitro, because they look cooler. This 70s tele is one of the light ones and it is a single piece of ash.

[Herbie]

How’s this one coming along Herbie? Is it done already? So curious!

Hey, Jay, thanks for asking! And sorry, I seem to have watched elsewhere when You sent this question.

In a way the guitar is ready. It has all the pieces together and it stays in tune and so on. ABM bridge, three brass saddles. Some basic Seymour Duncan bridge pu. Gotoh vintage tuners. CTS pots. Schaller strap locks. Thomastik Swing .011s.

But in a way it is not ready yet. I am not sure if the .011 flats are best choice for it, normally I play jazz with .013 flats and other genres with .010 roundwounds and this feels too thin and spongy for jazz and too damped for rock.

Then the Mojosonic pickup. It is trebly as ... as... as any Dynasonic pickup clone! Maybe it is a good thing, but when I try to play my jazz with it I think, is this good? Now I see how used to get my jazz sound from humbuckers and P90s.

So I am very confused about the guitar – but in a way it has been my goal! A way to learn something new about playing.

Now it is with my tech in a fret leveling job, the second hand Warmoth neck didn't play all that even as I have thought.

After it comes from there I'll put .013 flats on it and test the jazz thing once more. If it feels too trebly, I'll try the Antiquity P90 to the neck position (yes, I already bought one... second hand).

And if it does not speak jazz to me, I'll test the .010 roundwounds route. And finally either keep or sell it part by part.

But here she is! Looks good and feels too! In the end I am a bit f***g proud of it!