Telecaster Custom Build

Perhaps the part of the build that I'd been dreading the most was cutting the neck pocket.  This seemed to be the most critical step of all (although all parts of the build entail some degree of criticality to be sure).  If the neck was not straight then the strings were going to be hanging off the side and at best if it still worked it would look funny.  If the pocket depth was not right, the action would be too high or too low or the saddles could not be raised enough to compensate.  If too far forward or back into the body, then the saddles cannot be adjusted enough to properly intonate the strings and produce a musical instrument of any value or purpose.

Fortunately, many classic guitar body designs have been around for decades, and plans exist for download or purchase.  Fender plans were especially easy to find online.  My first concern was whether I could print to 1:1 size and trust the measurements.  A quick test print revealed that the output of my pdf plans already printed 1:1 with no changes to printer settings.  Yah! Twelve pages later I had all the 8.5x11 sheets necessary to construct my paper template.  These pages were taped together and then cut to a more manageable size, followed by careful measurement of each element to verify the scale.

Yup, the internet is a wonderful thing for locating about any scrap of info necessary for about any type of project imaginable.   A Fender Telecaster body template was quickly found, and I was happy to discover that it printed out on 12 sheets of 8.5x11 paper at 1:1 scale!   All dimensions were confirmed with careful measurement, and after some tape and scissors, I had a paper template.   Now to create a plywood template; the local lumber shop where I’d sourced my ash hardwood had a scrap piece of ½” plywood lying around which I picked up for free!   My favorite price.

Having done some research, my choices of lumber were quickly narrowed to the popular varieties of wood used to construct electric guitars, maple, ash, poplar or alder.   Stupidly, I went with the ash (more on this later, but between the density of the wood and the size of the grain pores, it was not the best choice for a first time guitar project).