Telerauder Project

[Rgand]

I had to make a new pickguard because the neck pickup route was not the right size. Oops.


With that mounted, I could cut out the control plate. I drilled the control holes a couple sizes under so I could just drill them to size after the plate was back from being polished.


After I got the plate back, I covered the polished side with painters' tape and drilled all the holes from the back side. All I had to do from the front side was countersink the mounting holes.


The plate done, I mounted it to the body. The next step will be to fit everything in and do the wiring. I'll also shield the cavities with copper tape.


I had a custom neck plate made.

[thatfenderguy]

Why do I want one so badly!?

[Rgand]

Why do I want one so badly!?

Maybe for the same reason I do. It incorporates my favorite qualities of several models. I'm really looking forward to finishing this one.

[lastlol]

I want one too... Great job !

[Rgand]

Thanks, lastlol. It's a fun project.

[Magnatoner]

Just finding this thread for the first time. Did a quick skim through, and wow what a journey! She's turning into a real beautiful looking piece. Forgive me if this is a dumb question, but what is the significance of the number of the neck plate (which is sick by the way) ?

[Rgand]

Thanks, Magnatoner. The neck plate has my brand on it (Bar 36). That's where the 36 comes from. The rest of the number, 005, is to signify this is my 5th build. The brand was my father's and now that he's gone, I keep it alive. Having it on the neck plate is a little nicer than heating up the branding iron and burning it into the front, although I fleetingly thought about that.

The neck plate, by the way, is machined out of aircraft titanium.

[Rgand]

Today I routed an additional 3/4" channel for the wiring so the wires don't have to pass through both pickup cavities on the way from the blade switch to the controls. That done, I deepened that and the pickup cavities an additional 3/8" to make a little more room so the pickups and wiring would fit.


The new channel is just long enough to tap into the existing wiring hole between the bridge and the control cavities. Doing all this shaved off almost another 6 ounces so the body now weighs 3 lbs 7 oz. It's now ready to get the wiring.

[Rgand]

A year in the making but it's finally done. I learned a lot on this. Hopefully the next scratch built body will take a whole lot less time. If not, I'm just repeating the same old things without learning anything.

I chose Broadcaster wiring to be different. Position 1 is the bridge pickup with a blend pot to bring in the neck pickup. Position 2 is the neck pickup only. Position 3 is the neck pickup only with a .033 cap to warm it up. There's no conventional tone control.

I noticed that when holding it in playing position, it felt like it had a very short neck. The scale is 25.5" but the neck is set into the body further than a lot of other guitars. It feels like it has a shorter neck than my Jazzmaster with a 24.75" conversion neck. No neck dive on this one.

There is still some setup to do but here's what it looks like.

[Shadoweclipse13]

That is killer!! I didn't notice before, but the Tele bridge pickup and the pickguard lines on the bridge side, are practically (if not actually) parallel, and that is VERY pleasing to the eye. You could make and sell these, and probably make a killing

[Rgand]

That is killer!! I didn't notice before, but the Tele bridge pickup and the pickguard lines on the bridge side, are practically (if not actually) parallel, and that is VERY pleasing to the eye. You could make and sell these, and probably make a killing

Thanks, Shadoweclipse13. I've always liked the angle of Tele bridge pickups and that angle is what I went by for the rear line on the pickguard.

[Shadoweclipse13]

Thanks, Shadoweclipse13. I've always liked the angle of Tele bridge pickups and that angle is what I went by for the rear line on the pickguard.

[Con-Tiki!]

Really pretty design.
I dig the contours of the guard/control plate.

[Rgand]

Thanks, again, Shadoweclipse13.

Thanks, Con-Tiki!. The control plate is the shape of the original control plate on the Type II prototype only with just two pots and the jack.

[Amon 7.L]

That is killer!! I didn't notice before, but the Tele bridge pickup and the pickguard lines on the bridge side, are practically (if not actually) parallel, and that is VERY pleasing to the eye. You could make and sell these, and probably make a killing

This +100!!
Bloody hell, Telemasters are cool but this is a -P E R F E C T- blend with such a wonderful design that it really scores!
Amazing.

Any sound sample for us?