This is not the first partscaster I’ve built but it is the first Telecaster-styled partscaster I’ve attempted. I have learned the following lessons:

  • Neck was bought from a no-name brand on Amazon for about $50 bucks - it’s actually quite nice. 14 inch radius, two-way truss rod adjusted from the heel. looks like Indian rosewood. if you are willing to put in the fret work and want to save money, a cheap neck with a two way truss rod is the way to go. you can fix almost any kind of neck with a two way truss rod and get it dead straight.
  • Body was bought from aeguitars.com. Allegedly it’s alder but it seems a bit too light and soft for alder. I suspect it’s poplar? The body shipped quickly to me but had a lot of off-gassing smell for a few days. The finish looks nice but the neck pocket is NOT tight.
  • pickups are the EMG-T set. the neck pickup did not fit into the pickguard (also a cheap no-name brand from amazon, I picked it for the pattern). Cheap parts are nice but be prepared to get work with a file or Dremel.
  • A telecaster is (counterintuitively) harder to build than a Strat. It’s a very nerve wracking process to position the bridge.
  • If you’re used to building Strats, don’t forget the a Telecaster has a SINGLE cutaway body. Don’t drill the strap button hole on the horn… ask me how I know.
  • @rugburn
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    22 months ago

    Nice! Keep us posted. My GF got me a “Leo Jaymz” tele kit for Christmas, mahogany body and maple neck, excited to get to work on it once the weather here permits finishing. Will be quite the departure from my CBG’s, even though it’s a ready-made kit