Tele copy

[dnic]

As you all know I'm not one who wants to build copies. I think Fender and Gibson are doing a stellar job copying their 65 year old designs. But I acquired an interesting piece of wood which was just right for a test idea I've been pondering.

The question is; are folks more likely to trust/buy a guitar design that they are use to seeing or more familiar with than say a custom one off guitar? Question two; is cost more or less of a factor? And can copies be made at a lower cost hence allowing the builder to sell at a lower cost? Another factor to consider in our ever increasingly PC world; is using renewable or recycled wood a strong enough draw to increase sales as a custom one off builder?

So I built a Tele copy out of a recycled (green) piece of wood and bought everything else I needed from GFS.

Here's a pic. Oh the wood came from a butcher block alder table I shorted. Obviously I kept the fall.

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[dnic]

Tru-oil finish, my first use. I wasn't going for a gloss or even a perfectly flat finish. So I rubbed it dry with each coat and steel wooled between. Did 4 or 5 coats and lightly wooled the last time. Kind if ok with me if the finish wears through quickly and gives an aged look.

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[dnic]

I missed ordering the chrome knurled knobs so the black knobs in the pic are just temps. I've always disliked the large block at the neck joint so I relieve the back. The pups on this one are active thus the battery box. All the wiring is a plug in active system from GFS.

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[dnic]

Wilkinson compensated bridge and tuners. The compensation was perfect with strings paired up I set one and the other was right there. No need for splitting the diff.

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[Deleted]

Dane, as you know I have built a lot of T-Stile guitars. My thinking was on the lines of yours. But so far I have not sold one In a long time.

Don't know if you remember one of my fist ones I did. It was a burst. Sold that one. It had an after market neck on it. The second one I sold was the first Tele that got me started in building guitars. It was yellow with flames. The 3rd one was the one I sold was the one that had the flames cut into the body. It had burst flames and black body. It too had an after market neck on it.

Since then I have not sold any. People try them out and seem to like them but no one is buying. So Now I am wondering if I should do them all the way I did the ones that I sold. Humm... makes one wonder....

I love what you have done with this one. It's just different enough that it will sell. Someone will want this... I really hope it works out for you.
EB

[dnic]

I used the GFS paddle head neck and just cut the stock Tele peg head shape. An attempt at staying familiar. I won't quote the price here but is was crazy cheap and or course needed some clean up. A little sprout but I did not level it and it plays very well. Oh and I added eco to the logo to designate the "green" aspect of the project.

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I just seen that you flipped the controls around. I do that to most of my teles. I also like how you did the back with the cut out for the neck. Cool! I'll have to try that out maybe some day.

How does she sound? I have a few of them (all maple) fold up TV tables, I keep looking at. I may use one as a top on a guitar.

My problem is I am thinking of getting out of building guitar, because of health issues I have. But I have at least an other 100 guitars in my head I would like to see done. But....

Keep up the good work Dane. This is one cool looking guitar.
EB

[dnic]

Yeh Eddie I know there is no sure fire formula. It really is a case by case issue. Those were nice Teles that you sold and prolly on the cheap so your current price point may be a factor. I know we all get to a point were we say "I can't keep givin this crap away".

I had this new at the local music store yesterday and got an interested party already but we'll have to see if it pans out.

[dnic]

Last pic, body back, full on butcher block screw holes and all.

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Cool!

The one with the carved flame sold for the most out of all of them. But I find it's hard to compete against the production prices of guitars. I know and you know that the guitars we build are not just one of a kind builds but they are builds that can not be bought from the Big factory guitar builders.

But for me at this point in time and because I have so many guitars I have built, I am thinking of doing one of two things. One is to sell them really cheap to move them out. Or take them apart and sell the body's on eBay and keep everything else for future guitars or for fixing other guitars.

I love to build guitars... but I do just as good to find guitars that are need of repairs fix them and flip them. I really don't know why some are able to sell their guitars and some like me have a hard time in selling my customs. You are right though some I sold for what the wood and parts cost me. Just so I would have enough money to build another. And some guitars I have given away. Only because those people really, really wanted a guitar and could not afford to buy one.

I have gotten more reaction on my cigar box guitars than anything thing else I have built. Go figure...

EB

[dnic]

If you can make money building cigar box guitars then that's what I would do and plan to do with copies if they sell. Then take the money from selling copies and build more of my own designs. I'll have to wait and see.

[Deleted]

I missed out on all the art fairs they have here. I would like to build 5 or 6 cigar box guitars and get in on of the art fairs to see how they do.
Although I am still waiting for payment on the Mark Twain cigar box the gut says he is planing on paying me for it. I have a guy that is wanting me to build him a custom order cigar box guitar. I told him I would need half down to start the build. The other half when completed. He seems fine with that. But again no money has come about.

Told them both, I won't ship until full payment is met. So I'm going to try and build a few more cigar boxes before winter hits. But it is really depending on how I am doing...

I have a lot of my custom builds sitting in my living room. I do this for 1 reason is to see what people gravitate too. Most of the time it's the T-stile ones. I have had at least 10 people over this month, and they all wanted to see the T-Stile guitars first.

Don't know what it is about the Tele, but it is a well liked body stile. so I think you are on the right track.
EB

[Deus Machina]

Very pretty copy, at least. And with the personal touches.
IMO, I would buy a copy as just a "personalized and set-up" piece. Meaning I could have bought the original and have it redone to my liking, or bought the copy and have it done from scratch. Same different, but I might prefer the money to go to a small builder instead of the corporation.
But if I buy a copy, I'd also want to be able to drop in, or at least only slightly alter, parts to work if I needed to.
In this case, if Fender offered that as an 'updated' version of a Telecaster, I'd definitely buy it. If I was a Tele player.

[hoz]

The tele will always be a sought after body style. Finding that buyer is the trick. I'm seeing a few small builders sell stuff. Mainly heavily influenced or outright copies of gibbos and fenders. Teles & Jazzmasters seem the most popular right now. Or at least from my vantage point.

[stratpurist]

That's really nice work there. would love to hear the pickups. my issue w/ teles has always been the bridge being too bright and the neck p/u too dark in comparison. active pickups might be the ticket. that and body contours which is why I go w/ the strat.

Back in college I worked in a woodshop in an old barn. the owner and design guru ripped up the floor boards of the barn which were made of chestnut and had pit saw marks which dated them. he designed a rustic chair using the chestnut for the seats marketing the recycled aspect and they sold like crazy - many orders were for ten and up