Mickguard Posted June 22, 2005 Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 I'm getting around to modifying my telecaster body. Turns out to be quite pretty wood, so I'll probably leave that exposed. But I need to lessen the weight of the guitar to make it playable for me. Originally I intended to turn it into a thinline. But I've been playing a strat a lot lately, and I kind of like the contours now...but telecasters are way prettier. (edit: oh yeah, that's right, I WILL be keeping the original pickguard) So I'm thinking of contouring the BACK of the telecaster (the front will still look like a traditional telecaster. What's your preference? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter Posted June 22, 2005 Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 Thinline, but ONLY if you put a Thinline pickguard on it. If you're gonna put a normal tele pickguard, do the strat contour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedoctor Posted June 22, 2005 Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 I am interested in the outcome of this poll, as well, because my next project is a Tele complete redo and I am trying to decide how much to lighten and contour it. With that thought in mind, I shall not vote. Don't want to muddy the waters, so to speak. Ughh, even though I love Muddy Waters. Don't get me wrong! BTW I will NOT be using a pickgaurd. Hate em, hate em, hate em! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickguard Posted June 22, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sepultura999 Posted June 23, 2005 Report Share Posted June 23, 2005 whats wrong with things being naked? as long as you think it's hot, let it be naked! haha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tirapop Posted June 23, 2005 Report Share Posted June 23, 2005 I love the look of the standard Tele. Contouring the back would help get rid of that callous on your ribs from playing seated. In addition to the tummy cut, you might also scoop the back, under the bridge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickguard Posted June 23, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 23, 2005 . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frank falbo Posted June 24, 2005 Report Share Posted June 24, 2005 I'd say use a regular tele pickguard, and hollow out the majority of the pickguard area. Then put your tummy cut in there, too. You'll have weight reduction on both the treble and bass sides. The original Ibanez Talmans were hollowed out under the guard, much like what you'd have if you did under the tele guard, up into the cutaway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VanKirk Posted June 24, 2005 Report Share Posted June 24, 2005 Ughh, even though I love Muddy Waters. Don't get me wrong! ← I absolutely HATE makin muddy waters. I cramp up and can spend hours on the toilet making horrible, embarrassing noises. Oh wait! My bad I love Muddy Waters too! I voted for the contours because going with a thinline will alter the tone alot not just lighten the weight of it. Unless you want the thinline tone, that is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tirapop Posted June 24, 2005 Report Share Posted June 24, 2005 What do you mean by the scoop under the bridge--do you have photos? ← Within the last couple weeks, someone posted a link to a builder who made a concave, hemispherical carve on the back of the guitar. The ferrules for the string thru, were at the top (bottom?) of the "cavity". It looks like there's a little bit of that in Topper's guitar. http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b202/jimkelly/back2.jpg http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b202/jimkelly/guitar5.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickguard Posted July 9, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 9, 2005 Just to close the thread.... The winner is.....contours! But on the back only. I'm keeping the front nice n' flat that way a tele should be. It just seemed like it'd be more fun carving up the guitar, that's all... It was, that is, yesterday I went to it with the surform...I used my strat to give me a template of the carve I wanted to make... But I'm not done yet...since I want this guitar to lose weight, I'm wondering what else I can carve...heh heh...maybe I'll continue the carve around the bottom?... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thegarehanman Posted July 9, 2005 Report Share Posted July 9, 2005 why not route out everything under the pickguard? That should drop a few pounds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickguard Posted July 9, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 9, 2005 . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thegarehanman Posted July 9, 2005 Report Share Posted July 9, 2005 We can definitely say it will effect the tone less than if you made it into a thinline. I image it wouldn't negatively impact the tone too much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tirapop Posted July 9, 2005 Report Share Posted July 9, 2005 Everything under the pickguard sounds kind of like the swimming pool rout on a Strat, which a number of folks sneer at. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickguard Posted July 9, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 9, 2005 . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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