BLADE RH4

I agree with exafro. I would be suprised if this wasn't the major factor in the sound change. Floyd's are famous for dulling the sound out, and now that it's gone you get more tone whether you like it or not. In this case not.... I hope you can sort it somehow.

That's one very nice cabinet. Did you make it yourself? What type of amp is in there? I've been contemplating doing one of the ceriatone 18watt kits myself.

Thanks. I'm unsure of who made the body, I got it from ebay (AUS) and it's made from ash, already finished in the blonde colour. The neck is an Allparts 1 peice vintage 'C' finished in Nitro. Machines are Sperzel locking. Pickups are EMG T set (pots, switch, output jack and wiring also). The control plate, bridge (Std. USA), output hardware and neck plate are genuine fender parts I also got from ebay (US). Pickguard is a cheap single ply by allparts (needed modifying to fit EMG neck pickup). It cost me around approx. $AUD1000. I've always liked vintage tele's, so when I found the body on ebay it just had to be done. This has to be close to the best sounding Tele I've played and yes it does suprise me because I wasn't thinking EMG's are all that great. I thought I'd try the EMG's only because I got them so cheap, worked out well in the end. I was initially going to go for Kinman p'ups. I should also say a thankyou to all you guys who helped out with questions I had asked here.

This my first guitar, that I've assembled from parts. I'm still waiting for the switch tip to arrive. I must say that I'm incredibly impressed with how it plays and even more so with the sound. It's turned out much better than I expected. Next I'll try to do a 'start from scratch' project.... Maybe a timber Talbo.

I'd just get the sperzels. they're a cinch to fit even if you do have to ream the holes.

I think that 99.9% of the time it doesn't matter where a part or complete product is made, especially now. I think there are many parts for guitars that are made in asia and to be honest I don't think anyone would even know the difference unless you were told. Some of the guitar bodies and necks I've seen come out of asia look every bit as good as the US made ones, whether they're using cheaper alder, ash, maple or mahogany or whatever I'm not sure.

OMG that is incredible. That is awesome work. I'm not a fan of PRS type guitars, but that ones got me thinking I could be a fan..... Seriously impressed (picking my jaw up off the ground).

Thanks for your help guys. The string thru holes didn't line up against the Fender Am Std bridge properly so I got a local luthier to do this part. He also levelled the frets and cut the nut for me. He did a 100% pro job on it, so I'm pretty happy. I do want to learn this stuff for myself, I got to get some of the right tools.

I have the EMG pickups already (installed them this afternoon and they sound awesome) but the reason why I ask is because I have a pickguard from a cheap Tele copy (no longer have this guitar) and I noticed that the EMG neck pickup doesn't fit this one. I was going to go for a Fender '52 bakelite pickguard but I'm not sure now because I don't want to have to modify a good pickguard, I'd rather modify a cheap single ply one if that is what's needed. I'm not sure if the pickup from the Tele copy was the same size as a Fender or not, so that's why I ask. thanks guys

OK then..... Does anyone have the dimensions (LxW at the top where it goes thru the pickguard) of a genuine Fender Telecaster neck pickup? I've googled for this info and there doesn't seem to be any measurements which i find strange simply because I would have though that there were people out there making their own pickguards.

Hi all, I'm thinking of putting EMG pickups in my first project Tele and am interested to know if the standard Fender type pickguard needs to be modified to accomadate the EMG neck pickup because as most of you would know the EMG neck pickup for Tele's is not a chrome covered lipstick style that fender use. Thanks in advance.

Thanks for that Matt.

Thanks guys for the advice. it's much appreciated. I'll see if I can get myself a laser level from the hardware store tommorow.

How do you guys go about aligning the neck and bridge or the the bridge to the neck? I already know (almost certain anyway) that the scale length of 25.5" (Tele copy) isn't a problem, but there isn't anything to square the bridge up to as I don't think I'm going to trust the string through holes and I don't think I should trust the neck pocket either to get the neck right.... Should I be getting a luthier to fix the neck and bridge for me? Thanks in advance

Depends on how much you want to spend.... I think the necks on the Levinson Blade guitars are better than anything out there..... As are the guitars.

I have considered getting one of the cheaper alternatives but they're not easy to get in some places in Australia, alot like trying to get my hands on a Tokai Talbo....

Hi all, just interested to know if anyone knows of a manufacturer who makes Gretsch Duo Jet style bodies and necks? Thanks in advance.

Have you seen this: EMG wiring (pdf) Sorry if you've already seen this....

I ended up going with bone.

Thanks. I will try that out.... I thought there might have been specific drill bit sizes.

What type of nut material did they use in the 50's on Telecasters? I'm thinking of going brass, but I want the guitar to look the part if you know what I mean.

Hi all, I've been searching this site for some time and still cannot find the information I need. I'm sorry as i'm sure this has been asked before. I'm about to assemble my first guitar (Telecaster copy) and I need to know what size drill bits to use for the neck screws and bridge screws. I'm using a 3 hole Fender Am Std 6 saddle bridge and a Fender 'F' 4 hole neck plate and screws. I don't want to use a small bit and crack the timber and I also don't want to use a large bit that'll take too much screw biting timber away. Thanks in advance. Steve