JW Guitarworks: Telecaster Project

Build in Progress- finished November 24, 2013

Hey- find yourself either a
twenty something year old blonde
model or a blonde telecaster

Telecasters are the low end Fenders that typically come with 2 single coil pickups. Price range is $600 to $2500 from Fender. Knock offs and the Fender Squire line are cheaper. I think approximately the same workforce is building these things North or South of Tijuana and the quality is essentially the same. The US made guitars come from Corona, CA and are the more expensive instruments compared to the Squire line coming from Mexico or Asia.

The Fender custom shop builds expensive tweaked versions for $5000 or more and other builders do the same at less $$ than the custom shop but more than the normal production models. Players swear by these as great guitars but really 7 times the cost of the lower end models??

The project will be to build a nice twangy telecaster for country beer drinking songs using high quality fender top end parts.

The guitar will based on specs from the expensive Fender Custom Shop listed at the bottom of this post and boutique models (Nash, Campilongo, McLouchin or KLH Custom Relics)
We only have 2 pickup spots and 3 control knobs to work with but this should be wired to get a bunch of tones.
American made bodies and necks using vintage woods- ash or alder body with maple neck and rosewood fret board.
Finish should be nitrocellulose lacquer like the vintage and top line guitars.
Parts are not that expensive except for the neck so 2 guitars will be built.

Next step is to get some parts and come up with the circuits. Here are some nice models to target (the finished guitars at bottom of page were very close to these but had better pickups than the Nash, better circuits and sound at a fraction of the cost):

From Nash Guitars

From Fender Custom Shop 59' Relic Nocaster $5300

Step 1- Circuits

Schematic from tele forum from contributor 'Fast Eddie' who is very
generous with his work

The most flexible circuit Fender offers is a single push- pull and 4 position switch for neck, neck+bridge series, bridge,neck +bridge parallel and the push-pull lets the bridge and neck go out of phase (6 tone options). Almost the same can be accomplished with a 5 position switch dropping the parallel out-of-phase.

The Custom Shop also offers a greasebucket circuit which uses a setup so the tone works as a high and low filter rather than just a high filter so this probably sounds like a mid-boost. It may be warmer than then the vintage tele twang. The circuit is 'always on' so the second variation to work in would be a push-pull switch that turns off the circuit or the low filter.

This is the schematic and the output is in parallel to the tone and volume pot.

The third variation to consider is to use a push-pull switch to kick in a different tone caps as high filters.

So we will start with the 5 tone switch circuit then see if the greasebucket low end filter can be added on a push pull switch. In addition we will try adding 2 tone caps on a a second push pull switch. This willl give 20 tone options for 2 single coil pickups. Much better than the 6 tone options offered on the Custom Shop Telecasters. The tough part will be fitting it all into the narrow cavity in the Tele body but lets see how it goes.

Step 2- Circuit Mockup

This combination of circuits is not easy or straightforward- nothing I could find like it on the internet. I will document the steps to test the circuit so it is clear how to figure it out.

With 2 push pulls there can only be 2 circuit changes with each switch so we need to figure out how this will work. The greasebucket is a little bit of a mystery but I think:

1. The 0.02uF cap and 4.7K resistor is the high filter. Typically this is just the 0.02uF cap and all the resistor does is not let it go to ground but 'almost ground' so it is not muddy when the pot is turned all the way.

2. The 0.10uF is the low filter.

The mockup will have one push-pull switching between a 0.022uF cap and a 0.047uF cap. The second push- pull will switch the 0.10uF cap in and out of the circuit (low filter or grease on and off).

Parts are on order and searching for low cost Fender parts on eBay including Custom Shop pickups, bodies, necks and vintage style bridges. This phase usually takes 1 month or more so no posts for a while.

Mockup 1

Set up a guitar with a bridge pickup and a couple strings. The switch portion of the circuit has been figured out already so the tricky part is to figure out the tone and volume controls.

First try but tone control only worked when
pushed in. Something was wrong so needed to change something.

Mockup 2

This worked fine. When the volume pot was pushed in and out
this switched between 2 caps. When the tone pot was pushed
in and out the greasebucket low filter turned on and off.
\

Mock up connected to guitar

This circuit was setup, tested and the result was:

Different values of the caps were checked. 0.047 and 0.01uF or lower gave differences worth having in the circuit
There was no noticeable difference with the resistor in or out of the circuit- so will keep it in the final circuit
Tone difference with the low filter on or off - noticeable with low tones

Overall there was not a lot of difference between the greasebucket and normal tone circuit so decided to only use the greasebucket in the final circuit since it was less muddy on the low end.Since this removed one of the variations we need something else to throw in. Tried a full bypass of the tone pot and it was sharp and loud. This was a pretty dramatic difference compared to having the tone pot in the circuit so will have this as a variation.

Final Circuit

Based on the test the final will give 15 tone options. 5 with the 0.047 uF cap, 5 with the 0.010uF cap and 5 bypassing the tone pot.

Note: There is a typo in the diagram capacitor B should be 0.010uF

Step 3- Bodies and Necks

New bodies from Fender are $400 so buying used on Ebay was the way to go. Also very few are available nitro coated and these are expensive. After watching a few weeks online I found a few US Fender bodies that were no to beat up.

Decided to overspray black or red nitro. The nitro is important because the Fender Custom Shop does it and I want to temperature stress the finish to age it and this only works well with a nitro top finish.

Necks were another story- expensive, hard to find good Fender originals and almost none with nitro finish. There are 3 companies that make Fender licensed necks- Mighty Mite (considered lower quality), Allparts and Warmoth. Warmoth are considered highest quality and made in USA. Since this is a prototype project I decided to get one from each company and a fender neck and see the difference.

Left to right Fender, Mighty Mite, Allparts, Warmoth
shot with amber nitrocellulose

Personal preference but the Allparts and Warmoth necks were nicer. Better grain and you can get a custom radius instead of the vintage 7.25" radius or newer 9.5" Fender radius. A big Custom Shop feature is the necks come with a flat 10" radius. Allparts comes with a 9.5" radius and Warmoth necks are available with a flatter radius starting at 10" by the nut and flattens to 16" at the body. This helps with string bending on a flatter surface, not having the strings slip off the neck and more comfortable bar chords.

Here is a link to Warmoth with an explanation of neck options. They offer a higher priced quartersawn maple neck like the Custon Shop but I passed on it for this build. This is one of the few Custom Shop features the guitars will not have. http://www.warmoth.com/Guitar/necks/tele_vintagemodern.aspx

Step 4- Hardware and Assembly

Volume on Left & Tone on Right

Alpha push-pull pots and orange drop capacitors from Stewmac. Wiring was not to crowded when put on the plate. The height of the pots and switch just fit in the telecaster body control slot after the ground wire was soldered to the top.

Close up of tone pot with greasebucket cap
on the bottom and 2 larger orange drop
caps that can be selected by pulling or pushing
the knob stem

Switch on the plate

Parts pile looking for mojo
Body and electronics is a 90s tele.
Decided to add a 3rd guitar as a relic
that got a 90s upgrade. Nocaster 51
neck pickup, Seymore Duncan APLT-1 bridge
and greasebucket only circuit upgrade

Baja body setup Twisted tele neck
and 51 Nocaster Bridge. Old bakelite pickguard
will be added

Blackie setup

5 position switch connected to pots on the mounting
plate. Checking if it all fits in the body.

Fender american deluxe body microtilt red oversprayed
black with twisted tele neck pickup and a
seympore duncan noisless DP418

Full circuit with reliced vintage bridge.
Needed to change the bridge screw holes and
slight reroute string through holes to go from modern
vintage bridge to keep it in right position with
the pickguard.

Left- Custom Shop Replica - light relic
Middle- Custom Shop Replica- medium relic black over red
Right- 90s upgrade relic

Complete November 24, 2013 -

Will add final specs and sound test. The sound on these is just great. Crisp twangy like early springsteen and most country stuff you expect. The Greasebucket lets you push the distortion. Just a lot of fun and different than strats or anything Gibson on the high end. It all crosses over on the low end (tone rolled off).

Necks are the big difference and I like the flat radius on the custom necks (blonde and black).

All Fender except the cricuit mods and the Fender logo is on the necks, neck plates and bridge plate except the modern bridge plate on the red. The red bridge plate is original relic from play and wear so I did not want to change it and it is a Fender bridge.

Final Specs

#1 Blonde

Specs from $5,000+ Fender Custom Shop Telecasters- 2013 compared to project

Brand: Toneworks
Model: Fender Replica Nocaster
Type: Nocaster
Year: 50's rather than 1951
Aging: Closet Kept to Very Light Relic
Finish Type: Nitrocellulose Lacquer over Poly rather than Nirtocellulose
Body Wood: Lightweight Ash
Neck Wood: Maple rather than Quarter Sawn Maple
Neck Shape: Soft V instead of Nocaster "U"
Fingerboard: Rosewood rather than Maple

Fingerboard Radius: 9.5" Radius rather than Exclusive Wildwood Custom "10" Radius
Inlays: Dots
Scale Length: 25.5"
Width at Nut: 1.650"
Nut Material: Corian rather than Bone
Frets: Dunlop 6105
Pickups: Fender Custom Shop Twisted Tele Neck, Nocaster Bridge
Controls: 5-Way Switch with Tone & Volume Push Pull including Greasebucket Circuit with 15 tone options rather than Fender 3-Way Switch & Modern Wiring with 3 tone options
Hardware : Nickel/Chrome
Bridge: 50's rather than '51 Nocaster
Tuners: Vintage Nickel Tuning Keys
Pickguard: Black Bakelite 5 Screw Hole

Note: Body is on heavy end of Fender specs. Total weight 8.5 lbs

#2 Black over Red

Specs from $5,000+ Fender Custom Shop Telecasters- 2013 compared to project

Brand: Toneworks
Model: Fender Replica 50's
Year: 50's rather than 1951
Aging: Medium Relic
Finish Type: Nitrocellulose
Body Wood: Lightweight Ash
Neck Wood: Maple rather than Quarter Sawn Maple
Neck Shape: Oval C rather than "U"
Fingerboard: Rosewood 22 Fret rather than Maple

Fingerboard Radius: 9.5" Radius rather than Exclusive Wildwood Custom "10" Radius
Inlays: Dots
Scale Length: 25.5"
Width at Nut: 1.650"
Nut Material: Corian rather than Bone
Frets: Dunlop 6105
Pickups: Twisted Tele Neck, Noisless DP418 Seymore Duncan Tele Bridge
Controls: 5-Way Switch with Tone & Volume Push Pull including Greasebucket Circuit with 15 tone options rather than Fender 3-Way Switch & Modern Wiring with 3 tone options
Hardware : Nickel/Chrome
Bridge: 50's rather than '51 Nocaster
Tuners: Vintage Nickel Tuning Keys
Pickguard: Mint Green

Note: Body is on light end of Fender specs. Total weight 6.6 lbs

weather checking gave nice deep cracks

#3 Red

Specs from $5,000+ Fender Custom Shop Telecasters- 2013 compared to project

Brand: Toneworks
Model: Fender Replica 50's with 70s Upgrade
Year: 50's & 70s
Aging: Relic
Finish Type: Weather Checked Nitrocellulose Lacquer over Poly rather than Nirtocellulose
Body Wood: Lightweight Ash
Neck Wood: Maple rather than Quarter Sawn Maple
Neck Shape: Nocaster "U"
Fingerboard: Rosewood 22 Fret rather than Maple

Fingerboard Radius: 9.5" Radius rather than Exclusive Wildwood Custom "10" Radius

Inlays: Dots
Scale Length: 25.5"
Width at Nut: 1.650"
Nut Material: Corian rather than Bone
Frets: Dunlop 6105
Pickups: Twisted Tele Neck, Seymore Duncan APLT-1 Tele Bridge
Controls: 4-Way Switch with Tone & Volume including Greasebucket Circuit with 4 tone options rather than Fender 3-Way Switch & Modern Wiring with 3 tone options
Hardware : Nickel/Chrome
Bridge: 70's Modified for Through Body Strings
Tuners: Vintage Nickel Tuning Keys
Pickguard: White 3 ply 2000 natural relic

Note: Body is in middle of Fender specs. Total weight 6.7 lbs

Hard to see
Nice weather checking in the old
red finish and over coat,

_____________________________

Telecaster Fender Specs Info and Notes

Side note-1959 was the only year Fender produced string through BRIDGE and not BODY.

Links to boutique suppliers:

http://mjtagedfinishes.com/guitar_necks.html

http://www.themusiczoo.com/blog/2010/pre-order-the-59-fender-jim-campilongo-top-loader-telecaster/

https://www.fender.com/custom-shop/guitars/telecaster/masterbuilt-limited-wildwood-10s-1959-telecaster-relic-rosewood-fretboard-fiesta-red-over-black/

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/resources/article/Telecaster-Guitar-Buying-Guide/m710116

Specs from $5,000+ Fender Custom Shop Telecasters- 2013

Brand: Fender Custom Shop
Model: Dealer Select Wildwood "10" '51 Nocaster
Type: Nocaster
Year: 1951
Aging: Relic
Finish Type: Nitrocellulose Lacquer
Body Wood: Lightweight Ash
Neck Wood: Quarter Sawn Maple
Neck Shape: Nocaster "U"
Fingerboard: Maple
Fingerboard Radius: Exclusive Wildwood Custom "10" Radius
Inlays: Dots
Scale Length: 25.5"
Width at Nut: 1.650"
Nut Material: Bone
Frets: Dunlop 6105
Pickups: Twisted Tele Neck, Twisted Tele Bridge
Controls: Volume, Tone, 3-Way Switch, Modern Wiring
Hardware : Nickel/Chrome
Bridge: '51 Nocaster
Tuners: Vintage Nickel Tuning Keys
Pickguard: Black

Model Name: Limited Wildwood "10" 1959 Relic® Telecaster®, Rosewood Fretboard, Faded Dakota Red
Model Number: 9232000158
Series: Dealer Select
MSRP: $5200.00
Color: Faded Dakota Red
Body Material: Lightweight Alder
Body Finish: Thin Nitrocellulose Lacquer
Body Shape: Telecaster®
Neck Material: Quartersawn Maple
Neck Finish: Tinted Nitrocellulose Lacquer
Neck Shape: Custom "C"
Scale Length: 25.5" (64.8 cm)
Fingerboard: Brazilian Rosewood
Fingerboard Radius: 10" (254 mm)
Number of Frets: 21
Fret Size: Narrow Jumbo
String Nut: Bone
Nut Width: 1.6875" (42.8 mm)
Position Inlays: White Dot
Neck Plate: 4-Bolt Vintage-Style
Bridge Pickup: Custom Shop Hot Single-Coil Nocaster®
Neck Pickup: Custom Shop Single-Coil "Twisted" Tele®
Controls: Master Volume, Master Tone
Pickup Switching: 3-Position Blade: Position 1: Neck Pickup, Position 2: Neck and Bridge Pickup, Position 3: Bridge Pickup
Pickup Configuration:SS
Bridge: 3-Saddle American Vintage Strings-Through-Body Telecaster® with Threaded Steel Barrel Saddles
Hardware Finish: Nickel/Chrome
Tuning Machines: 6-in-Line American Vintage
Pickguard: 3-Ply Mint Green
Control Knobs: Knurled Flat-Top

Some notes from Wikipedia

First solid body mass produced guitar starting 1950 as the Broadcaster then switched to Telecaster 1952. Over the years, many guitarists have made the Telecaster their signature instrument. In the early days, country session musicians were drawn to this instrument designed for the "working musician". Notable players through the years include:

Roy Buchanan, Buck Owens, Guthrie Thomas, Waylon Jennings and Chet Atkins (Chet played many types of guitars). Bucks guitar was a red, white & blue model with gold trim he designed in 1968 and played for years. He also gave out replicas to other artist.s

Eric Clapton used a Telecaster during his stint with The Yardbirds, and also played a custom Telecaster fitted with Brownie's neck while with Blind Faith.

Muddy Waters , Mike Bloomfield , George Harrison used a custom-built rosewood Telecaster during the recording sessions for The Beatles' Let It Be album (including the rooftop concert), Eddie Vedder has been known to use a custom black Telecaster

Joe Strummer (frontman of the punk band The Clash) used his worn and battered 1966 Telecaster.

Keith Richards composed many classic riffs on his battered "Micawber" Tele. Andy Summers of The Police. Jimmy Page used a psychedelic-colored 1958 Telecaster, (painted by Page himself, and also known as the "Dragon Telecaster") on the first Led Zeppelin albums, and also for the lead solo in the 1971 song "Stairway to Heaven". The guitar had been given to Page by his friend Jeff Beck, who had also been using the Telecaster with The Yardbirds.