Exotic Hybrid Tele Build
 

Hi gang, this will be my first build from scratch, something I've wanted to do for a while.

In the last few years I've refinished a couple of guitars, built a 2x12 cabinet and re-housed my Bugera 6262 combo amp into a custom head that matches the 2x12, so building a guitar from scratch feels like natural progression.

On to the build, its essentially going to be a 6 string Telecaster style axe with a thinner than usual body, highly figured top, 5/7 piece neck and a hard tail bridge.

Finish wise, very simple. No binding, no abalone, no sticky shiny finishes. I want it to be a very organic feeling guitar (much like my Siggery).

Pickup wise, I will be going balls to the wall metal with the bridge pickup but (probably) keeping it standard at the neck for that Tele twang.

Probable materials at this point (all subject to change, as is my whim):

Body - Ash
Top - Macassar Ebony/Zebrano (not 100% sure yet)
Neck - Maple+Wenge+Sapelle (probably)
Fretboard - Ovangkol

Hardware:

Bridge - Schaller 3D-6
Tuners - Schaller M6
Pickups - Undecided specifics (bridge humbucker, hot Tele neck)

Here's a mock up, with a macassar ebony top, showing the overall config.



Mockup with zebrano top + scratchplate.



I expect to start this project proper after Christmas, but will be stockpiling bits and bobs on the run up.

Heres what I have so far:

Fretboard - Lovely figured piece of Ovangkol


Bridge


I hope to have the body and neck wood sourced within the next few weeks.

Thanks for reading :)

Lookin pretty hot, love the natural wood look on Teles.

This is the first time I've seen a Tele with a pickup configuration that's not SxS. The humbucker should be in the bridge position!

Other than that, it's pretty as hell.

it is in the bridge ^.

lookin awesome man! love the headstock shape.

Lookin' sweet, best of luck to you :D

Headstock ala Parker looks nice on it. Just need to be sure about the measurements on it so it wont snap off from string tension.

More like a clone of blackmachine.

I would go for not having a pickguard.
What's the point of a nice figure if you cover it up?

Where do you plan on finding maccassar that wide?

Thanks for the input fellas.



Thanks, Im growing more attached to the design each day. I shouldn't think a 5 piece neck will need to worry about string tension snapping anything.



Its actually based on a design used by Black Water guitars, look them up. Blackmachine were not the first and are not the only builder to use a minimalist headstock design so saying anything similar is a clone is a bit daft.

The pickguard will cover roughly 25% of the top at most and is by no means decided on at this point.



Here, here or here.

I wasn't trying to insult you and I used Blackmachine because they are usually associated with that headstock style.......plus they are well-known.

Got my new old stock Schaller M6 Minis in the post this morning.



The bridge and the tuners (both NOS Schaller) together have only cost me £55. More money for a top quality drop top :)

Hope to have wood sourced by next week.

I was thinking this, but I saw your link. It's also going to be expensive, reallllly expensive. If this is your first guitar I would do the zebrawood first, so you don't want to throw yourself off a balcony if you mess something up with 150$/bf (thats the price I would have to pay to get it) lumber.

Not trying to be a stick in the mud, but you know.

That's a fair point, which I would definitely be taking on board were it for the fact that my uncle will be throwing his considerable knowledge behind me and this project, so there's really very little risk.

Plus, this is purely relative of course, but I don't consider 100 quid for a pretty top a great deal of money.

Then I am very excited for this, seeing as how only about 1 out of 10 builds I look at are people that realize building your own guitar is expensive and shouldn't be done "on a budget".

I completely agree. Take a look at my cab build (in sig), if I start something, it's going to be finished properly.

Took a trip to see my uncle today to raid his wood yard.




Lots of lovely wood.

Came home with the following



From left to right, English walnut (not for anything specific, just liked it), ovangkol (fretboard, already had this), two pieces of wenge (larger piece for neck), mahogany (neck), plum (no particular reason, I just liked it.)

So just the body wood and top to source now :)

Moah wood pics.

Quick update, I now have all the wood for this build and most of the hardware (everything except the neck ferrules, pickups and pick guard, which I have decided I want for the authentic Tele look).

Body will be composed of 2 nice pieces of poplar (aka tulipwood) which I got for the bargain price of £20.

Drop top will be a thin (3.5mm) zebrano (zebrawood) bookmatched set with a lovely figure. Should be enough to veneer the headstock with this piece too.

Also picked up some purpleheart dowel to make inlays with (decided I do in fact prefer inlays over the plain fretboard look).

So, looks like it'll be:

3 piece mahagony/wenge neck (wenge centre strip)
2 piece poplar body
Bookmatched zebrano top and headstock veneer
Ovangkol fretboard with purpleheart dot inlays

Wood pics to follow in the next week or so...

Damn dude, I love Tele's this is shaping up to be a damn sexy guitar.

I'll be watching this closely.

Good luck!

Super stoked to see this one come together!

Ok, you've got my attention now. Post pics plz