Introduction

Now that 2018 has begun and I have several projects lined up, it is time to decide where my focus will be placed for the next few months.  

I started this project for several reasons, besides being a great excuse for a new project and a way to exercise those ‘creative’ urges.  It also takes up some time working on something which could remotely be deemed ‘productive’ and have a useful output at the end.  But I must admit that I really wanted another guitar too!  Having recently purchased (and become very happy with) a new guitar, the bug was still there.  I rationalized the time and expense by going a route I’d not previously thought of nor in which I was ever really interested.  A Fender Telecaster.  Basic body design, about 60 years old; basic single coil pups, with easily sourced parts (brand name and aftermarket).  But this would be my Telecaster, so some mods were required. 

A project like this entails several entirely different components, each demanding a different skill set.  These essentially included reading and creating plans, selecting materials, woodworking, dying, painting, electronics and assembly.  Not to mention the final requirement to effectively set up the guitar so that it played and sounded like a real instrument!

One early decision was to purchase a neck already made; but I would be modifying and dying the headstock and leveling the frets, so not all the work was done.  All other parts would be fabricated or purchased individually.
Word of warning: there can be hazards associated with woodworking and other hand & power tools.  In addition to a bunch of misc cuts on my hands, I managed to drop a sheet of plywood on my shin and scrape about 4" off in the process.

Yeah, that's gonna leave a mark