Esquire - How hard is it to bolt one together?

[Afghan Dave]

As some of you know, since our last BKP meet I've been GASing about Telecasters/Esquires so...

If I buy all the bits... How hard is it to slap em together?

Most aftermarket parts have 90% of the holes drilled but what else could go wrong if I take my time?

It's the potential for extra drilling that scares me (bridge + neck holes) These holes don't seem to be pre-drilled on the necks I've looked at!

I would really like to put one together and get her up and playing for a while at least before I take it over the Jon @ Feline to shake his head at and properly set up.  :?

 PDT_039 PDT_038

Really how hard is a first Tele/Esquire "Airfix" project?  :? :? :?

[WezV]

i would say neck alignment is most crucial thing to get right... a lot dont come with predrilled holes but i think warmoths do to match their bodies - so thats always a safe bet

[Andrew W]

My first effort seems to have gone OK: the guitar intonates and is playable.  When it's properly cosmetically finished a good set-up by someone who knows what they're doing will make it much better of course.  I did go through a moment of crisis and the board helped steady my nerves ;) but I must add that the Mexican Fender neck I had did have pre-drilled holes and I made sure that the body I bought was advertised as having a Strat neck pocket.  I had to shim the neck and I'm still not convinced I got it 100% right but I've definitely made an actual working guitar with some bits from eBay, a Leatherman and a Muji compact tool-kit. :)

[Twinfan]

I would make sure you get a "matching" neck and body if you want to make it simple.  Strat and tele neck pockets are different, so you'll need to take care.

I would suggest buying from Warmoth to ensure it all matches, or this place has caught my eye a lot of times.  Everything you need except for the electronics.....

www.mjtagedfinishes.com

[Afghan Dave]

Should you really use a press drill to ensure the neck holes are done 100% correctly?

Thanks for the tips guys... KEEP EM COMING... Please  :D

[Philly Q]

Should you really use a press drill to ensure the neck holes are done 100% correctly?

Yes, but if that's not possible: 

Fit the neck to the body, clamp it in place and fit the two E strings to make sure it's properly aligned.
Drill the neck holes using the body holes as a guide (measure the depth first!).

They may not end up 100% perfect, but close enough for rock'n'roll.


But I agree, if you can get Warmoth stuff all the important holes are already drilled, and everything will align just fine.

[Sollophonic]

Teles are the ultimate "bolt-together" guitar in my opinion. Leo Fender designed it that way. You just have to check for compatibility issues with some necks and bodies, and some bridges are not easy to fit to some teles either. But the beauty of the tele is that even these issues can be sorted.

Go for it, building a Tele from some nice quality parts can get you a guitar which will play and sound better than buying an off the shelf one.

[tomjackson]

One tip is go for Phillips screws, maple is very hard to screw into even when you have predrilled the holes.  I went for period correct slot head screws and they are a lot harder to screw in without damaging.  Also, put wax or some other lubricant on them before trying to screw them in to help them on their way.

[Afghan Dave]

Go for it, building a Tele from some nice quality parts can get you a guitar which will play and sound better than buying an off the shelf one.

That's the dream...  :)

I always remember that in the Star Wars universe a fully trained Jedi can make his own lightsabre  :?

My mind is racing now...

[Prawnik]

To answer your question:

it's easy and fun.

[Lew]

or this place has caught my eye a lot of times.  Everything you need except for the electronics.....

www.mjtagedfinishes.com

Yep, Matt and Marks work is brilliant and really really helpful. If you buy the neck and body from the same place they will match it. I was putting an Esquire together recently but it's somehow morphed into having a full custom guitar made  8)