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Finally bit the bullet. My hands (and playing, I hope) will thank me.
Scott Tucker, of PST Guitars in (King George, VA, USA), is building a new neck for my telecaster.
1 3/4" nut width
25" scale
Roasted maple shaft, Gabon ebony board, 6150 equivalent fret wire, 12" radius, medium C carve.
I've also opted for no fret board inlay, but will have side dots, a bone nut slotted for 12's, and he's going to install some vintage style Klusons.
This neck will be going on top a circa 2004? Highway One body. And down the road a little bit, I plan to swap out the stock neck PU for either a Lollar CC or gold foil PU.
Scott has emailed a few pictures to me. Here are two.
I will post updates and a picture of the guitar once the neck is installed.
Cheers!
Ben
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02-06-2016 11:27 AM
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Nice!
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I'll be interested to see the updates. Considering a move like this myself.
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I have been keeping an eye out for quite a while for a solid body guitar with the scale and nut width. I don't see many options out there.
Danielle
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Got these (and a few others) from Scott today.
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Good luck with the new neck! Gorgeous flame!
I have had a problematic Fernandes telecaster for about 30 years now. It has always felt a bit... lousy! You know that feeling that something's wrong. Saddles on the bridge or something. But changing the bridge or a professional setup has not took the feeling of. Not even new bigger frets.
At last couple a years ago I bought an used Warmoth conversion neck for it and all that 'something's wrong' feel disappeared. I am sure it is the thickness of the neck that made the difference, not so much the shortness (conversion neck makes You tele/strat play with the Gibson scale, 24,75"). The default neck is just too thin.
After some pickup swapping I settled with Seymour Duncan Antiquity II pu's. Warm but twangy. It is not in jazz use but I am sure the neck pu would sound great with flats.
Keep us informed!
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I got an email from Scott with a new set of pictures. Here are a few of those.
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looks perfect!
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Read to ship to me. Scott will leave the nut in place, but not glue it in so that my tech can make the proper set up adjustments when he installs the neck.
final shop pics.
I will post a couple before and after guitar pics once the install and set up are done.
cheers,
Ben
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The neck is installed and I will be picking it up this afternoon! I've been without my tele for too long!
This neck swap is not without story: after carving and putting a really pretty bevel on the sides of the fret board, Scott effectively reduced the nut width closer to 1 11/16! Seems like maybe the template for cutting the blank should be greater than 1 3/4, if that's the final desired parameter. However, I decided to keep the neck rather than have him make a new one. Additionally, my guy (luthier who did the install for me) had to cut a new nut. I think he was able to get a tad more spacing without compromise. He thinks so anyway. I'll find out today!
I'll post pics sometime this week.
Cheers all,
Ben
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I think that you should replace the body, too. You could even get contour cuts if you want. Warmoth and many others (including Rondo) sell tele bodies.
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Originally Posted by thrush40
My number 1 tele mod is a top loader bridge. You can get one for like 25 bucks, it will further reduce string tension and improve playability. I'll take those every time over the little bit of tele'ness you lose in tone.
best wishes
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That's a NICE Tele. How fat is the neck behind the first fret? I like mine about 1", like Elliot Mechanic's old Mechanicland necks.
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What a looker!
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That's just like the neck I got from USAGC years ago. I did a 25" 1 23/32" (sounds like what what yours ended up as). It also has a compound radius and fatback profile. Came out almost perfect (if I had to do it over again I would have spec'd a tiny bit more taper). I have had it on several guitars since then. When I get tired of one, I just order a new loaded body.
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I don't have calipers for a proper measurement, but eye-ball with a mechanics ruler looks to be 27/32nds. Medium C carve. I don't think I could go any more thick. Originally Posted by Greentone
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I love the scale. And the board feels roomy, mainly, I think, due to the 12" radius (vs. 9.5 on the stock neck). Originally Posted by nopedals
It's set up with 12s, round wounds. I like 12s, but will experiment with 11s, which I've never tried before.
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Beauty, eh!
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Nice neck, well-told story, happy ending - congratulations, and play it in good health!
P.S. The amp in the pic is definitely the snazz. Classic 12? Does it sound as groovy as it looks? An enquiring mind (well, what's left of one) would like to know.
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The amp is Vintage Sounds (Rick Hayes) Classic 15, his Princeton clone with some modern appointments. Super groovy. He built this for me with a 10 inch speaker (he uses warehouse speakers), normally he puts a 12 in these. Sounds a bit different than my 68 weber loaded Princeton, but super groovy. Groovy is a nice word for it. Thank you. Originally Posted by citizenk74
Nice neck, well-told story, happy ending - congratulations, and play it in good health!
P.S. The amp in the pic is definitely the snazz. Classic 12? Does it sound as groovy as it looks? An enquiring mind (well, what's left of one) would like to know.
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Elliot's necks were built by Brian Monty (who is still building some mighty fine guitars). They came in a few sizes. I think you are talking about the "Ballpark" neck. Mine, in a previous iteration: Originally Posted by Greentone
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wow!! i think hank aaron hit his 702nd homerun with that neck...you could use an elston howard donut for a capo Originally Posted by Hammertone
Elliot's necks were built by Brian Monty (who is still building some mighty fine guitars). They came in a few sizes. I think you are talking about the "Ballpark" neck. Mine, in a previous iteration:
play ball!
cheers
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Oh my ___! That is extreme. I couldn't imagine playing that...or the neck dive with so much weight; although, I bet the sustain was awesome. Originally Posted by Hammertone
Elliot's necks were built by Brian Monty (who is still building some mighty fine guitars). They came in a few sizes. I think you are talking about the "Ballpark" neck. Mine, in a previous iteration:
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Excuse my ignorance, but what is roasted maple?
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