Gav's 12 String Flamed Telecaster Build

hi guys,

Thought I'd give everyone a look at my current telecaster build. It's a 12 string kit from the DIY sale, and I'm finishing it with a trans-black finish. The clear coats have finally cured and I'm in the middle of polishing. The flame cap has come up nicely, although if I had my time again trans-black might not be my first choice. Bit of a waste of such nice veneer, but I am a sucker for a nice black Tele.

What do you guys think? I'm currently debating pickguard or no pickguard. Personally, as I said, I love the classic black Tele look, but it does cover up a lot of that nice flame. Hmm decisions..

cheers,
Gav.

No pickguard vote from me thats looking awesome as is

well done Gav as I commented to you yesterday and you are clear what I think - no pickguard don't hide beautiful flame maple plus neck humbucker goodness

Ditto , parts bin the pick guard. That looks great!

That is a cracking looking axe Gav! Awesome finish! No pick guard for sure..


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

ok Gav thats 4 votes for no pickguard and add one vote for DB, if you put the pickguard on now you will be in the naughty warehouse for about 10 X LIFE I reckon DB will give you hahah

Nekkid... and maybe try a chrome ring.

Dayum both ways, they look good. I do like the classic look with the pickguard more though... :O

Mate that shine is too good to cover with a pickguard.....however, hows it going to look with pick scratches after you blast those 12 strings a few hundred times?

Thanks for the feedbaxk guys. I am considering a chrome bucker ring as you suggest wierdy, but to be honest i really love the classic tele look in black. Im still leaning towards the scratxhplate, although i may mock up a smalll mini plate and see what that looks like. If i had a nice burst on there it would be a different story!!

Cheers,
Gav.

That looks great, Gav! Please don't cover it up with a pickguard!

Hi Gav, I bought the 6 string Tele Flame Maple kit from DIY closing down sale and having the same debate inside my own head. Currently considering translucent milky white scratch plate found on eBay, or get a clear one made, or nothing at all. Only problem is I want to stick with the traditional single coil PUP at the neck and the factory standard route is way too big. Also looking into buying some maple veneer so that I can glue a few sheets together to get enough thickness to make a PUP surround to cover the rectangular hole. As Fret board is Rosewood also exploring that timber as an option too.

Agree that the flame is too good to hide.

Awesome tele Gav, +1 no pickguard

Sent from my GT-I9506 using Tapatalk

While I like the look of the guitar without the pickguard, I think that the neck single coil will probably be more useful on a 12 string.

What about a P90 at the neck?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Another super mega awesome Gav build of guitarry goodness...

Hi guys,

I actually finished this build a few months ago and I love it to death. The body already has a few dings on the back due to me throwing it around the man-cave. Here's some glamour shots of the finished body. Apologies to all the forumites who suggested losing the pickguard, but I just couldn't go past the classic black tele look and I wanted to keep the single coil pickup. The finish is a trans-black (or my rough approximation) using rubbed on Colortone black.

Ads has hinted that he may stock these kits in the new year, so here's to my next 12-string tele build when they arrive! I would totally recommend building one.

cheers,
Gav.

A couple more "in the rough" ;).

cheers,
Gav.

How do you find playing it? I love playing my 12 string Strat. Totally impractical for most of my playing situations, but I find a way to use it whenever I can.

Hey Fretty,

I love playing it even though technically I um *suck* at playing it. But the action is nice and low and very little pressure is required to fret the strings. I'm surprised how nice it sounds even in my hands. It really brings the jangle with a nice clean channel.

cheers,
Gav.

Very nice bit of work there Gav

Thanks Dave!

cheers,
Gav.

looks choice Gav, hard to see the bridge, is it easy to string up and set up ? Looks like you got a bone nut for it ?

lucky you live far enough away from the Telenapper TM haha

EDIT just saw looks like standard gauge strings are string through and lighter gauge strings ontop of the bridge rear fed ?

Yeah Wokks it's easy to string as 6 of the strings are through the body and the others from the back of the bridge. No bone nut as yet - i couldn't face filing one out just yet ;).

cheers,
Gav.

Great looking build Gav, spectacular finish! The only critique would be the headstock shape. Is that what it came with, or was it a standard paddle shape? I guess I'm used to seeing the standard Fender shaped headstock on these guitars that this looks slightly out of whack being so symmetrical.

On a different note, have you ever played around with taking some of the octave strings off? When I found my 8-string acoustic, I was actually looking for a nice 12-string, but they were all too jangly, and tinny. Having just the D&G strings doubled up with octave strings has provided such a strong and full chord compared a normal 6 string, but none of the jangly brightness associated with 12 strings.
Having said all that, I wouldn't mind having a crack at a 12 string build, just to fill the hole that I originally wanted!

Thanks Zandit. Thing about the headstock was it came as a paddle but with very little room to move at the top. I wanted a "Fenderish" look, but with both sides taken up with tuner pegs I was at a loss. In the end I settles for a simple rounding over because it was as close to the Tele rounded end as I could get. Probably more was possible, but my limited imagination couldn't get there ;).

Personally I love the full jangle so haven't experimented with losing strings here and there. Definitely something to consider int he future! (probably with the next 12 string kit :P).

cheers,
Gav.

Many years ago the guitarist in my band had a Strat that he converted to a 9 string with a second course for G, B & E strings.

Horrible thing to do to a 60s Strat but it did sound both good and unique

Very nice indeed, Gav, very classy. I do like the pickguard - there's more than enough flame showing and it sets it off nicely.

I have a replacement Tele body for a mate's cut-about Mex Tele that will be finished in a very similar colour (once I get round to it). I bought it with a pre-stained black flame top (but no binding). So it will get a black back and sides, with a very slight sunburst around the edge. I need to fit a piezo bridge to it plus the associated electronics and a battery box, but so far have chickened out of routing out the various cavities in case I make a mistake.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gavinturner

Thanks Zandit. Thing about the headstock was it came as a paddle but with very little room to move at the top. I wanted a "Fenderish" look, but with both sides taken up with tuner pegs I was at a loss. In the end I settles for a simple rounding over because it was as close to the Tele rounded end as I could get. Probably more was possible, but my limited imagination couldn't get there ;).

Personally I love the full jangle so haven't experimented with losing strings here and there. Definitely something to consider int he future! (probably with the next 12 string kit :P).

cheers,
Gav.

---

I see what you mean, it didn't give you a lot to play with! I would have thought you'd get a larger, squarer paddle like a G series head stock.

A shame it wasn't an undrilled headstock. Then it could have been made narrower, with the added benefit of straight string pulls from the nut to the tuners, plus the opportunity to make it a bit more Fendery.

Better than factory? I think so . . . I lifts me lid to the quality of your work Mr G!

Thanks Max :). That's high praise coming from your kind self.

cheers,
Gav.