The "Chunk-E-Caster" - Parts by Warmoth

[DocNrock]

Having never been a tele fan, I had no tele in my collection. I'm not a twanger and I never liked the tele pickguard. After discovering Warmoth and all the permutations one can conceptualize in a custom guitar, I decided to build my kind of tele. I wanted to stay somewhat true to the original, but modernized.

I got the body from the clearance section. It is alder with a flame maple top finished in a tangerine burst. The neck is AAA birdseye maple with a kingwood fingerboard, corian nut, MOP dots, and 6100 frets.

The tuners are Schaller locking minis, the bridge a Gotoh tele bridge, and the electronics are RS guitarworks 500k pots, 0.022uf cap, CRL 3-way switch, and a Planet Waves jack.

Picking up the string vibrations are a Tone Zone-T in the bridge and a Seymour Hot Rails in the neck (I had the neck pup slot routed for a strat-sized pup). The neck pup ring I found at Stew-Mac. This was key for the build, as it allowed me to obviate the pickguard, to which the neck pup is mounted on the original telecaster.

I still need to install the string tree for the E and B strings, and put the logo on the headstock, but here it is:










Whadda ya think?

[sonicsamurai]

outstanding!! very sleek and modern with a sort of pro muso studio vibe

[Bengal65]

Awesome! Nice choice of woods for your build. Look like you have a nice combo. It's fun building, then to see what it sounds like.

[nhspike]

Wow Doc...
You really out-did yourself on that.
I think it's just perfect.
I bet she just screams!
A+

[chrisolson]

More tele-love. Rock on!!

[DocNrock]

Thanks for all the kind words, guys! Nnspike, this thing friggen rocks! Chunk all the way...hence the name, of course. Ain't no twang in that thang. At high gain....this thing just wails.

Here's an afterthought I had looking at the guitar for a few days. I'm wondering if chrome hardware might have been a better match. It can still be done. Thoughts?

[SEEGERMANY]

We're gonna have to see about getting Doc a Warmoth endorsement.

Nice Tele!

[DocNrock]

We're gonna have to see about getting Doc a Warmoth endorsement.

:ROTF:

If only I knew how to play.

Seriously, I really love building these customs! I've got three more cookin', and two more planned but not ordered. I can't afford (nor do I really value) vintage instruments. It takes two years to get a custom shop axe from most suppliers (I might be dead by then). Further, the cost is a lot less than a custom shop axe, just as good if not better, and I think there are more choices. My collection is growing, and, love 'em or hate 'em, they're unique.

[SEEGERMANY]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, my Warmoth Strat is as nice if not better than any custom shop axe I've owned. On top of that, it was a fraction of the cost. Hey, as far as I'm concerned, you seem to be on the right track.

[nhspike]

I'm wondering if chrome hardware might have been a better match. It can still be done. Thoughts?

I think it's perfect as is.

[chrisolson]

Black is beautiful - leave it just like it is.

[SEEGERMANY]

I pissed away an opportunity to build a cool Warmoth Les Paul. I'm sure it wouldn't appeal to everyone, but the mahogany body had a checkerboard pattern and I found a mahogany neck with an ebony fretboard with matching checkerboard headstock. It would have been a cool project and I may still look for something similar to fuck with this coming Winter.

[DocNrock]

I pissed away an opportunity to build a cool Warmoth Les Paul. I'm sure it wouldn't appeal to everyone, but the mahogany body had a checkerboard pattern and I found a mahogany neck with an ebony fretboard with matching checkerboard headstock. It would have been a cool project and I may still look for something similar to fuck with this coming Winter.

I've seen something like that on their site. Not for me, but that is beauty of W...make your dream axe.

[DocNrock]

I pissed away an opportunity to build a cool Warmoth Les Paul. I'm sure it wouldn't appeal to everyone, but the mahogany body had a checkerboard pattern and I found a mahogany neck with an ebony fretboard with matching checkerboard headstock. It would have been a cool project and I may still look for something similar to fuck with this coming Winter.

SG, here's a sneak peak of my spalted flame maple "soloist." In Jackson, parlance, this would be a dinky. Mahogany body.

[thetroy]

Looks cool. I'm surprised you like the hotrails though, most people say they are way too muddy as a neck pickup. I guess it works better in a bolt-on than in a Soloist, though.