New Telemaster project in the works (NOW FINISHED!)

[Plexi Ken]

Minty looks cool to me  :)

[AndyR]

I came in to change me vote to minty... that is what you need to get full appreciation/drooling/etc from us... but the option to change seems to have gone?

Ken - that is Mr Cropper in your avatar isn't it? That was the kinda tele look I was after to sit beside my Baja. Instead I went for a black custom. Several times I've nearly bought a 50s Roadworn, they're gorgeous to play, but that would kinda invalidate my existing Baja (and it's sister, a CIJ "52"). So I'm not in the tele market at the moment...

But if they ever do a 60s Roadworn (not a custom), in, might we suggest, white...? :lol: My credit card probably won't touch the sides as it leaves my wallet!

[Plexi Ken]

Yes, my avatar is Steve Cropper (circa 1967 Stax Volts Revue... I think) my all time favourite guitarist. I'm still not sure why I don't own a '60s custom in white  :? Count me in if they ever make a Roadworn  :)

[Andrew W]

I came in to change me vote to minty... that is what you need to get full appreciation/drooling/etc from us... but the option to change seems to have gone?

OK, I've reset the poll with the two remaining options so you can have a go again if you like :)

It's interesting that, judging on eBay alone mind you, that Tele maple necks turn up about 8-10 times more frequently than rosewood ones.  I would have expected more maple necks to get listed but probably not by that margin.  I'll be a veritable goldmine of second hand Tele parts statistics by the time this thing's done!

[shobet]

The rosewood for me, there's something that makes it standout to my eyes.

[Andrew W]

Well I did the deed.  Actually my missus did the deed as she bought me a rosewood boarded neck from Warmoth for my birthday present (she's a keeper :)).  The neck arrived yesterday and here's how it looks with the body:

The neck is a teeny smidge too wide for the pocket so I'll have to get the pocket fettled into shape.  The question now really is what to do about pickups?  For the bridge pickup it's going to be a Powertron and I think I shall opt for the TV Jones Savalas bridge with the 6 saddles rather than the classic Tele style three brass saddle one, mostly because that style of bridge is what Fender put on the Cabronita Especial and I like how that sounds.  What's up for grabs is the middle and neck positions.  I'm leaning towards BKP's '62 Strat pickups (if they can still be got) but I'm really open to suggestions.  Tonally I'm thinking SRV, Hendrix and Trower if that provides any kind of guide?

The other thing I need to figure out is pots and caps as the PowerTron will want 500K pots and the Strat single coils will want 250K.  I really don't know what the standard operating procedure for this is?  Can you install 500K pots and use 250K resistors on the single coil connections?  Would that even work?

As always, your sage words of wisdom are really appreciated!

[tomjackson]

Just an off-the-wall idea, the Blackguard neck pickup is really stratty and can SRV well.  You could have one of those in the neck since it's already routed for that or even one on the neck and middle.  They are low DC wise but not low output.

No idea what the in between sounds would be like.....

Pot wise you could go with a 250k but use a no load tone pot to get a bit of extra brightness back into the Powertron (if it lacks it)

[BigB]

The other thing I need to figure out is pots and caps as the PowerTron will want 500K pots and the Strat single coils will want 250K.  I really don't know what the standard operating procedure for this is?  Can you install 500K pots and use 250K resistors on the single coil connections?  Would that even work?

Some more knowledgeable guy will chime in, but AFAICT it should be the other way 'round : using 250K pots and adding a (serie) 250K resistor for the 'bucker.

Also and FWIW, tomjackson's suggestion is far from stupid - the (old

• ) blackguard flat 50s neck is indeed very stratty, splendid clean yet raw and powerful (for a vintage SC at least). Don't know if it would rock your boat but...
• from what I've understood it's now the BG 52s neck - check this out with Tim.

[Mr. Air]

Would it be possible to add an extra pot so that you get two volume knobs like a LP? Then you could go for 500 and 250 at the same time...

[Andrew W]

Would it be possible to add an extra pot so that you get two volume knobs like a LP? Then you could go for 500 and 250 at the same time...

That is a good thought but it will mean ditching the classic Tele control plate and since the front is already routed I couldn't do controls a la Les Paul.  I could design a big scratch plate that covers the whole area... I might give that a go.

Still really interested in how anyone else has solved the HSS layout in the past.

[Andrew W]

Would it be possible to add an extra pot so that you get two volume knobs like a LP? Then you could go for 500 and 250 at the same time...

I've put this together in a rush just to see if the idea might work and I don't hate it but I'm unconvinced thus far.  It would solve my wiring dilemma though...

Is this the sort of thing you meant?

[Philly Q]

That's not bad at all, the big scratchplate looks OK on the Jazzmaster body shape (I tried something very similar on an LP Jr shape and it looked weird).

I think you could extend it a bit further down below the bridge, maybe?  More like a Custom/Deluxe Tele.

[Andrew W]

That's not bad at all, the big scratchplate looks OK on the Jazzmaster body shape (I tried something very similar on an LP Jr shape and it looked weird).

I think you could extend it a bit further down below the bridge, maybe?  More like a Custom/Deluxe Tele.

I think this is an improvement, is this the kind of thing you meant?:

How did anyone design anything before Photoshop? :)

[Philly Q]

I agree, that's better.  :)

[AndyR]

Good grief - he's right!

I saw it earlier, before the slight extension, and I really didn't think it would make much odds...


But yeah, the magic of Photoshop (what is it by the way? :lol:)(it's ok, I know, just never seen it running), and suddenly all is clear...

Looking good.

If it was for me, you'd need to angle the blade switch more like a strat.