Beat to Crap Telecaster Project Finished!

For guitars of the straight waisted variety (or reverse offset).
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HNB
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Beat to Crap Telecaster Project Finished!

Post by HNB » Thu Sep 24, 2020 2:46 pm

I saw this for pretty cheap in a local pawn shop. Looks to be an older MIM tele that someone tried to "relic" in a way that makes most of us cringe. I figured I could mess with it and tone it down some and get it working better since it also has a shitty wiring job and their shitty relic work rusted the saddle adjustment screws. The neck is nice (aside from the shitty relic job) and the tuners are good. The body is pretty solid even if it is beat to hell. Getting it worked out should be pretty easy. Here are pics of how it was. (The tone pot is just hanging under the plate...)

ImageIMG_20200924_134347 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr

ImageIMG_20200924_134400 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr

I got the neck off and sanded it to make it more even looking.

ImageIMG_20200924_144911 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr

ImageIMG_20200924_145145 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr

I cleaned off the black crud on the fretboard as best as I can and wiped some poly on it. I think it was sanded/dremeled to get those lines.

I took the body off and got the tape and shit off of it. I gave it a wipe down and a light sanding. I am going to give it a fresh spray of white to kind of brighten it up. Not thick or anything. Probably two coats. After that, I will probably wipe on some poly to help protect it a little.

It needs pickups, a new bridge, and strap buttons. The pots are probably fine as is the switch. I might change it anyways depending on the pickups I go with.
Last edited by HNB on Tue Oct 06, 2020 10:15 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Beat to Crap Telecaster Project

Post by HNB » Thu Sep 24, 2020 3:02 pm

The body freshened up a bit. I will wipe on some stain tomorrow so it makes the dents and dings look a little dirty. Not as extreme as before where it looked like someone played it with a sander on their crotch and arm.

ImageIMG_20200924_155621 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr

ImageIMG_20200924_155640 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr
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Re: Beat to Crap Telecaster Project

Post by Shadoweclipse13 » Thu Sep 24, 2020 8:37 pm

I love a good Tele. I wonder how it would look with the competition stripes on the front. That might be a good look for a classic-styled Tele...
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http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=104282&p=1438384#p1438384

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Re: Beat to Crap Telecaster Project

Post by HNB » Sat Sep 26, 2020 5:55 pm

Body is coming along. I painted over the white I sprayed with matte white and then rubbed stain over the body to tint it and darken the scratches and dings to make it dirty looking. It looks much more beat up verses attacked with a sander.

ImageIMG_20200926_184600 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr

ImageIMG_20200926_184609 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr

ImageIMG_20200926_184616 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr
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Re: Beat to Crap Telecaster Project

Post by HNB » Sun Sep 27, 2020 11:59 am

All set! Just needs to dry. I need pickups and pots still also. :)

ImageIMG_20200927_125749 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr

ImageIMG_20200927_125754 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr
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Re: Beat to Crap Telecaster Project

Post by jthomas » Sun Sep 27, 2020 12:55 pm

?

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Re: Beat to Crap Telecaster Project

Post by HNB » Sun Sep 27, 2020 1:02 pm

I replaced the rusted out screws and saddles with some Fender stamped ones I had. :)

ImageIMG_20200927_132739 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr
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Re: Beat to Crap Telecaster Project

Post by Veitchy » Sun Sep 27, 2020 4:18 pm

I'm on board for this. Should come up nicely.

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Re: Beat to Crap Telecaster Project

Post by HNB » Sun Sep 27, 2020 5:31 pm

Thanks! Pickups and guard are ordered. :)
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Re: Beat to Crap Telecaster Project

Post by HNB » Mon Sep 28, 2020 8:53 am

Neck on and started doing shielding paint. :) (If the "?" post meant what is up with the black paint, it is inspired by Tom Delonge's Gibson's that he spray paints. I like the look of it personally. Of course like anything, it is up to personal taste.)

ImageIMG_20200927_193934 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

ImageIMG_20200927_194013 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr
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Re: Beat to Crap Telecaster Project

Post by jthomas » Mon Sep 28, 2020 3:27 pm

Yea... I didn't get the black spray paint... maybe because I didn't know about Delong. Thanks for the explanation. I do think that you've done a great job on the rescue.

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Re: Beat to Crap Telecaster Project

Post by HNB » Mon Sep 28, 2020 5:20 pm

Thanks!
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Re: Beat to Crap Telecaster Project Finished!

Post by HNB » Tue Oct 06, 2020 10:17 am

Pickups came in and the new pickguard. I got it wired up today. I like the bridge pickup a lot. The neck is ok. It is a little bassy for my tastes, but probably would be good with a fuzz because of that. (Good for solos I suppose.) :) I am really happy with how it looks and plays. :)

ImageIMG_20201006_111416 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr

ImageIMG_20201006_111423 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr

ImageIMG_20201006_111440 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr
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