*ITS HERE!* 63 Franken-Tele

For guitars of the straight waisted variety (or reverse offset).
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JSett
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Re: *ITS HERE!* 63 Franken-Tele

Post by JSett » Mon Mar 21, 2022 8:03 am

Small update on the Doctor (which I have decided to call it now). Bridge pickup has been swapped out for a more traditional telecaster voiced one and I've abandoned the benders for the time being as I couldn't find the right trick to keep the tuning stable enough - my country chops will have to wait.

The big thing really is on the back of it. The existing original B-Bender cover was cracked as hell and barely hanging on. I toyed with cutting a piece of aluminium for it or something but then it dawned on me... I know someone who makes a product that is Legit...

Our very own Paulo_ray came to the rescue:

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Can I get a 'NEEDZ TORT!' from the congregation!!?
Silly Rabbit, don't you know scooped mids are for kids?

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surfin_bird
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Re: *ITS HERE!* 63 Franken-Tele

Post by surfin_bird » Tue Mar 22, 2022 12:10 am

This is such an excellent solution, that I may have to steal it.
I have a ‘68 precision that could be it’s brother a someone route a back access control plate for a very unknown reason… :fp:
johnnysomersett wrote:
Mon Mar 21, 2022 8:03 am
Small update on the Doctor (which I have decided to call it now). Bridge pickup has been swapped out for a more traditional telecaster voiced one and I've abandoned the benders for the time being as I couldn't find the right trick to keep the tuning stable enough - my country chops will have to wait.

The big thing really is on the back of it. The existing original B-Bender cover was cracked as hell and barely hanging on. I toyed with cutting a piece of aluminium for it or something but then it dawned on me... I know someone who makes a product that is Legit...

Our very own Paulo_ray came to the rescue:

Image

Image

Can I get a 'NEEDZ TORT!' from the congregation!!?

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postboredom
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Re: *ITS HERE!* 63 Franken-Tele

Post by postboredom » Tue Apr 05, 2022 8:03 am

this is so crazy. i get a kick out of seeing the hack job it takes to install a b bender.

If i was a tele guy, i could be persuaded to buy this, but its too bad that extra pickup is cut into the pickguard. That'd be the deal breaker for me.
the wood can be patched up... but that vintage tortoise is gone haha.

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JSett
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Re: *ITS HERE!* 63 Franken-Tele

Post by JSett » Mon May 16, 2022 3:06 am

I finally got around to doing something meaningful to this. The wiring was a total fuckocalypse and the Super Distortion SC in the neck was so wildly hotter than the bridge it was unusable really. So I decided just to make it my own and tear out all the unnecessary crap and Esquire it...

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Silly Rabbit, don't you know scooped mids are for kids?

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caples
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Re: *ITS HERE!* 63 Franken-Tele

Post by caples » Fri May 27, 2022 9:35 am

That thing is insanely cool, I can't believe that you only paid 1000 euros for it!
1969 Comp Blue Mustang, 1965 Natural Jaguar

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JSett
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Re: *ITS HERE!* 63 Franken-Tele

Post by JSett » Fri May 27, 2022 11:13 am

caples wrote:
Fri May 27, 2022 9:35 am
That thing is insanely cool, I can't believe that you only paid 1000 euros for it!
1000 GBP but almost the same thing really. Total bargain.
Silly Rabbit, don't you know scooped mids are for kids?

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Pacafeliz
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Re: *ITS HERE!* 63 Franken-Tele

Post by Pacafeliz » Fri Jul 22, 2022 8:02 am

Well since DeathJag posted an update on his Jag, I'm also sharing the status quo of this Tele here!

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I've managed to adjust the truss rod to a comfortable almost buzz free place, put the "original" middle pickup in and got a (rather rare) old DiMarzio TDS-1 for the neck, just to continue the Doc's legacy. I have an old SDS-1 in my BroncoMaster thing and adore it!
Got a 5 way switch and plan to wire it this weekend. Maybe I can also activate the switch thing for the DiMarzio, we'll see.

Tried the B bender but didn't quite get along with it so for now I'm not using it.
With all due respect, I removed the sticker from the wonderful pickguard but placed it on the backplate, just because it has to stay with/on the guitar after all.
Also put the Doc's old Fender tuners back on. I like them.

...and, quite shockingly for myself, I gave the guitar a quick wipe-down with some Clorox towels cuz I got an extremely sensitive nose and geez people, I didn't even rub but there was SO MUCH nicotine that just came off.
Oh well.

The neck is incredibly narrow/thin feeling, I'd suspect it'd be an A-width, but did they even do those in '59/'60?!

Stay tuned for more.
Still needs to meet the Crackwhore face to face. Step by step.

Loving it.
Last edited by Pacafeliz on Fri Jul 22, 2022 8:07 am, edited 1 time in total.
i love delay SO much ...that i procrastinate all the time.

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JSett
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Re: *ITS HERE!* 63 Franken-Tele

Post by JSett » Fri Jul 22, 2022 8:06 am

Pacafeliz wrote:
Fri Jul 22, 2022 8:02 am

...and, quite shockingly for myself, I gave the guitar a quick wipe-down with some Clorox towels cuz I got an extremely sensitive nose and geez people, I didn't even rub but there was SO MUCH nicotine that just came off.
Oh well.

The neck is incredibly narrow/thin feeling, I'd suspect it'd be an A-width, but did they even do those in '59/'60?!

Loving it.
To be honest, I never even thought to clean it..I just dusted it down with a cloth for fear of doing something weird to the finish.

And that is definitely not an A-neck, it's way wider than my Mustang A. I think it feels small as its slim front-to-back but it's standard JM B width at the nut for sure.
Silly Rabbit, don't you know scooped mids are for kids?

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Pacafeliz
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Re: *ITS HERE!* 63 Franken-Tele

Post by Pacafeliz » Fri Jul 22, 2022 8:13 am

Wow then I wonder why it feels so... small. But very comfortable to my little hands. Unique
Yeah, the wipe-down (it was really just once going ever so smoothly over it, again, no rubbing or so) was necessary (heh the gig bag is still outside to get rid of the stink haha) but *duh* the "offset" part of the logo got... aehm... lost. Oh well.

Also considering putting 6 saddles on it, cuz now the strings are all over the place when doing some bendings.
i love delay SO much ...that i procrastinate all the time.

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JSett
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Re: *ITS HERE!* 63 Franken-Tele

Post by JSett » Fri Jul 22, 2022 8:18 am

Pacafeliz wrote:
Fri Jul 22, 2022 8:13 am
Wow then I wonder why it feels so... small. But very comfortable to my little hands. Unique
Yeah, the wipe-down (it was really just once going ever so smoothly over it, again, no rubbing or so) was necessary (heh the gig bag is still outside to get rid of the stink haha) but *duh* the "offset" part of the logo got... aehm... lost. Oh well.

Also considering putting 6 saddles on it, cuz now the strings are all over the place when doing some bendings.
I'm not sure that gigbag will ever lose that smell if I'm honest.... I had it outside for a week, then in the attic for a few months and it still had the stink when I pulled it down.
Silly Rabbit, don't you know scooped mids are for kids?

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Pacafeliz
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Re: *ITS HERE!* 63 Franken-Tele

Post by Pacafeliz » Fri Jul 22, 2022 9:10 am

THE DOC WILL LIVE ON

*U LIVE U ALL*

(ok c'mon let's get wasted) :D
i love delay SO much ...that i procrastinate all the time.

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mcatano
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Re: *ITS HERE!* 63 Franken-Tele

Post by mcatano » Tue Aug 02, 2022 8:32 am

Gven the uber-kook status of the rest of the guitar, it seems pretty likely that whoever put it together probably reshaped the neck. I have a 63 that's definitely been messed with like that.

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