It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 8:03 am

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 7 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: DIY Custom Shop
Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2018 7:31 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sat Sep 08, 2018 12:12 pm
Posts: 23
I'm keen on the idea of building a 'custom' Telecaster.

I assume it's perfectly possible and acceptable to build a Partcaster but from all new / genuine parts supplied by Fender or others.

• Genuine Fender Tele HH non-pickguard body.
• Genuine Fender Tele Neck.
• Genuine Fender hardware.
• Pickups to suit.
• Paint / oil to suit.

Anything to watch out for or remember when doing this - thinking neck body joint mainly.

Is there a reason why more people don't do this and go off the shelf - other than resale value - which I'm not bothered about.

R


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: DIY Custom Shop
Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2018 10:51 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26415
Location: Tombstone Territory
TeleRatch wrote:
Anything to watch out for or remember when doing this - thinking neck body joint mainly.


So long as both the body and neck are licensed Fender products there shouldn't be any interface anomalies, or minimum at worst (light sanding or minor work with a file). I've built over a dozen instruments and never had any insurmountable issues.

Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: DIY Custom Shop
Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2018 7:08 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Feb 13, 2018 10:28 pm
Posts: 1594
Location: SoCal, US
TeleRatch wrote:
• Genuine Fender Tele HH non-pickguard body.
• Genuine Fender Tele Neck.
• Genuine Fender hardware.
• Pickups to suit.
• Paint / oil to suit.

Is there a reason why more people don't do this and go off the shelf - other than resale value - which I'm not bothered about.
As you said... Resale value is one thing... it'll be a $400 (at most) Partscaster.

But beyond that, the initial cost will be above what you could buy one for.
For one, the only bodies that Fender sells are MiM...
https://shop.fender.com/en-US/parts/ele ... ts/bodies/
$250, standard routing, and you get black, white, or CAR.

Anything other than this will come from Allparts (licensed) for about $330 unfinished, or Warmoth (not sure if they are licensed or not) for about $240... this is the only way you're going to get a HH rear-routed (LP style controls).
You're at about $200-$250 for an MiM Fender neck, $500-$550 for MiA

Now add $200 for a pair of pickups, pots, switch, another $150-$200 for bridge and tuners....
And you haven't invested in the finish yet. The nut will need to be cut and fine-tuned during initial setup as well.

You're looking at a total investment around a top end MiM if you go budget, rattle can finish, and you'll surpass an American Professional if you farm the finish work out to a pro.
My Partscaster is probably going to end up being close to $1500 by the time I'm done with it (and I'm using a MiM neck)... just the body and paint is $600.

I don't want to be discouraging. I don't know what you want, or what your skill level is when it comes to finish.
The nice thing about a Partscaster is that it is 100% your creation and there will not be another one like it... particularly if you are applying your own custom finish.

But if you just want an HH Tele with a rear route, and don't mind one sourced from the Far East, the Special Edition FMT is very nice and under $800.

_________________
-- Rich


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: DIY Custom Shop
Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2018 11:18 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sat Sep 08, 2018 12:12 pm
Posts: 23
Appreciate the response guys.

By my possibly flawed logic, a one-off ‘bespoke’ Tele that is exactly how I want it is well worth the premium over even an MIA guitar that doesn’t look / sound how I want.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: DIY Custom Shop
Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2018 7:26 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Feb 13, 2018 10:28 pm
Posts: 1594
Location: SoCal, US
TeleRatch wrote:
By my possibly flawed logic, a one-off ‘bespoke’ Tele that is exactly how I want it is well worth the premium over even an MIA guitar that doesn’t look / sound how I want.

There ya go.
That is what you want... and honestly, if you were to take a factory axe to a highly detailed level of customization, you'd also be looking at a significantly higher cost.... though you'd be left with a box of parts that you could build a student model from for a young friend.

_________________
-- Rich


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: DIY Custom Shop
Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2018 2:43 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Thu Dec 31, 2009 10:34 pm
Posts: 10760
Location: Athens, Greece
What do you need is a backrouted Tele body with HH slots.

Backrouted Teles would look cooler with metal-covered humbuckers and Les Paul speedy knobs. :idea:


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: DIY Custom Shop
Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2018 4:00 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sat Sep 08, 2018 12:12 pm
Posts: 23
I'm all about the back-routed Teles.

Best guitar shape - more wood to gaze at.

Thanks all.


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 7 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: