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Thinking about a custom tele
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cowardm
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Join Date: 6/24/2004

I'm seriously thinking about selling all of my gear and starting fresh. One of the things I'm thinking about is a custom Tele through USA Custom Guitars. I'd appreciate any thoughts:

I already have a pickguard, which is a slight vintage off-white. I had it made by Pickguardian and it's nice.

I also already have Kinman pickups which have a control plate (chrome with knobs and everything) and output jack.

Body - Korina or swamp ash. I'm leaning toward swamp ash. I'm looking for traditional tele tone, but I wouldn't mind something like korina to thicken it up a bit. My current tele is swamp ash and I really do like the harmonics and stuff. Also planning on a contoured heel, probably not a tummy cut (thinking about though).

Body finish - I was torn between a transparent wine dark red (a la Les Paul Studio) and black, but I was thinking the oxblood (a la Jeff Beck's signature Les Paul) might be perfect.

Neck/fretboard - Maple neck with rosewood fretboard. I'll do a satin vintage tint for the finish.

Tuners - Locking is a must. Planet Waves has the auto-trim option that's pretty cool. I also like Sperzels and their satin chrome option. My reservations on Sperzel is that they are higher mass. I'm open to Gotoh as well.

Bridge - I'm leaning toward the vintage ash-tray style from Callaham. The vintage styles have that lip on them, which I think would get in the way, so I'd rather this style:



I'm open to the modern style, but I'm afraid it will interfere with that tele magic. Callaham is also really expensive, and maybe it's worth it. Anything comparable, vintage (yet lipless) that might deliver for less?

Now, my control plate is chrome, but I think I do want satin bridge and tuners. Any thoughts if that will look odd at all?



-----
Michael

Post Date: 11/3/2009 @ 12:45 pm
RE: Thinking about a custom tele
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DeathCharge2
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www.prairiecustomguitars.com.

If you order from Marty, you'll have one super sweet telecaster to play!

I would add a tummy cut (comfy!), and the less heel on a guitar the better IMHO.

Mr Saucey Cool Hand

Post Date: 11/3/2009 @ 2:13 pm

RE: Thinking about a custom tele
guitarguy3773
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I am soooo diggin' that idea. Sounds sweet. Also, the swamp ash sound like a good idea compared to the korina. BTW, that sounds very much so like my dream guitar (which hopefully will be custom made in 15 years or so)



Post Date: 11/4/2009 @ 9:01 pm

RE: Thinking about a custom tele
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cowardm
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Join Date: 6/24/2004

I've done a bit of research on tonewoods and a lighter piece of white korina sounds like the win right now. I still have to get all my gear up for sale (wherever and however) and then I'll have to really work out the details.

-----
Michael

Post Date: 11/5/2009 @ 8:50 am

RE: Thinking about a custom tele
jap strat sq
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keep in mind no matter what wood you decide on ,if you put on to much finish over that wood you might kill some of the woods natural acoustics thats why blond teles and natural finish semi transparent etc teles are so popular the woods gotta breathe a little

Post Date: 11/8/2009 @ 4:44 am

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