Hey there! Lefty looking to have a go at a first time build

Hey guys

Came across your kits when searching google and I've been hovering over the "buy now" on the TL-1L kit for a few hours. A quick search on the forum finds nothing on that kit though, and I'm interested to know what others have done with this kit.

I've never built or modified a guitar before, so this will be a new experience.

I have been playing guitar for about 2 1/2 years, still feel like a noob though :) If you're interested, check out my music (I write a bit, also recorded a few instrumentals and jam vids) here: https://www.facebook.com/HopeIsHereArtist/

So I guess this post is a bit more of a question than an intro... but I'm looking to see what others have done with the Lefty Tele kit, what it sounds like and any tips you could give on a first time build (links to other posts etc).

Thanks!

Hi Dan.

The vast majority of us had never attempted any sort of build before we started here, don't let that hold you back.

The TL-1L is quite literally a mirror of the TL-1, so check out the photo gallery for some ideas.

Jump in, have fun and ask questions.

hi mate, I'm another lefty, I'm fortunate enough to have a Fender Tele, so no experience with this kit...

However, this and the ST would have to be one of the most suitable beginner kits, with the edge going to the tele for the simplicity of two single coil pickups.

if you are thinking of doing this , then the tele would be an excellent choice, many have been built here and lots of help from awesome people

one thing to consider would be making sure you are getting lefty pots etc, or you wind them backwards to get sound and tone and the wiring is mirrored, i just buy lefty stuff separately

good luck and enjoy - just jump in go slowly and you cant go too far wrong

You never know until you try Dan! You've taken the gutsy leap to put your musicianship out there for others to see (nice work on your FB videos!), so I figure making your own guitar is certainly in you!! I'm in the process of doing my first Pit Bull build with a TL-1 and I've made a couple of early mods to the body shape, and the possibilities with what you can do are pretty wide open - as you can see from the array of very talented folks on the forum. Go for it.

Thanks guys :)

It just so happens that I happen to have expensive hobbies... playing guitar and making movies! It comes down to which one robs me of my rent money on any given week. Got a few gigs coming up that might offset the purchase of the tele, so once I pounce on that I'll start bombarding the forums with all my questions.

My biggest question is... how do the stock pickups sound? Are they something I'll want to replace in the future?

Hi Dan welcome to the forum. lefty Tele build sounds like a great place to start. The stock pups aren't too bad. I'd say down the track when you save some coin you will probably end up upgrading them. The Toneriders are really good value about $100 a set.
Start a build diary when the kit arrives and ask any questions you have.
Best of luck

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Originally Posted by wokkaboy

The stock pups aren't too bad. I'd say down the track when you save some coin you will probably end up upgrading them. The Toneriders are really good value about $100 a set.
Start a build diary when the kit arrives and ask any questions you have.
Best of luck

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Thanks Wokka! Looking at eBay I'm seeing a few of the stock Fender Tele pickups up secondhand for a pretty good price ($50 for the neck pup) so I may go down that road at some point.

My ideal plan so far is this:

- Gold hardware
- a pickup great for those clean country/blues tele tones as well as something that dirties up well for solos
- Some kind of trem system (A Tele with a floyd would be interesting... but perhaps a bigsby or similar down the line?)
- Locking tuners / grovers (If I could be picky).
- nice smooth neck for easy navigation (no gross gunky gloss coat like the Squier Affinity strats and teles I've seen)
- finished in dark woodgrain stain or black with grain coming through).

Obviously the floyd/bigsby trem is a farfetched dream, and probably won't happen on this guitar. I'll settle for a strat bridge if need be, or just stick with the stock bridge for now and mess around with an experimental tele if I catch the build bug.

I'll definitely do a build diary. Being the video-sage I am, I'll probably document it every step of the way. :)

definitely Bigsby for trem, they look cool on teles

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Originally Posted by stan

definitely Bigsby for trem, they look cool on teles

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and they stay in tune :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by LeftHandDan

Hey guys

Came across your kits when searching google and I've been hovering over the "buy now" on the TL-1L kit for a few hours. A quick search on the forum finds nothing on that kit though, and I'm interested to know what others have done with this kit.

I've never built or modified a guitar before, so this will be a new experience.

I have been playing guitar for about 2 1/2 years, still feel like a noob though :) If you're interested, check out my music (I write a bit, also recorded a few instrumentals and jam vids) here: https://www.facebook.com/HopeIsHereArtist/

So I guess this post is a bit more of a question than an intro... but I'm looking to see what others have done with the Lefty Tele kit, what it sounds like and any tips you could give on a first time build (links to other posts etc).

Thanks!

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Hey left hand Dan..Check out the build diary's for info and Mistakes....If you look at mine I use shoe Polish!!!! So go crazy....

A Tele is probably the easiest build and everyone should have a Tele in the herd.

It has to be the most versatile guitar sound wise if you learn how to find its true voice.

Teles I've had a few and love them since I have learned how to play Telecaster and not just guitar

Gday Dan! high left! good to have you with us.

Welcome Dan!