Grizzly Tele Kit! WARNING! Image intensive!!

[Mach Twang]

Look what my lovely lady presented me with this xmas! A Telecaster kit from Grizzly.com! I don't know if anyone here has ever purchased one of their kits, so I figured that I would take a gaggle of pics and give you my personal review of the parts and package.

First off the packaging was top notch, well packed to the point of overkill. The neck and body both inside their own box, all parts bagged and a well laid out manual.

The alder body is great for the price, there are a few dings on the back but they were given a cursory fill with some filler/sealer. The routing is pretty clean and there appears to be ample room in the pockets.








The maple neck has a nice walnut fretboard with nice clean fret work. The headstock has a nice paddle for roughing in your own shape. Anyone got a 50's style tele template?









The pickups, electronics and other parts are of good to decent quality, although as time goes by I am sure I'll refit everything with better odd and ends, the tuners will be the first to go. I do like the bridge and the control plates, nice thick chrome plate and clean machining. The electronics are very neat and well soldered. I am seriously considering adding a Varitone switch which would require some additional routing, further research is required. Anyone have any thoughts on them?











I have to state I am really impressed with the quality and overall 'bang for the buck' of this kit. Well done Grizz!

In closing, here are some finish ideas I kicked around whilst lazing on a Sunday afternoon...

'Baccer Burst

Gnarly Green

Dried Blood Burst

Oliver Queen Special


Any input would be greedily accepted!

[Deleted]

WOW so cool! At one time I thought about one of there kits. I kind of like the green black one. Only because there's not too many dark green guitars done.

You have to let us know how it plays when you get it all done.

Hummmm... Walnut fret board I have been thinking of doing a walnut fret board too. You have got my attention on this build. Please don't keep us hanging!

[donovan]

Hey thanks for making this it's own thread! Now I can keep up with it better! Those dings look a little nasty but they seem to be taken care of quite well! I would totally change those tuners out. I have open back tuners and I think they just are plain bad because they don't last and if you want to clean them you have to take them all apart and everything!

I like all of your finish options though! I especially dig the Gnarly Green and the Oliver Queen Burst!

Awesome project Machtwang!

[dnic]

I've been seeing those kits on Griz for a long time. It's looks better then I would have thought it would.

I'm sure you know a quality set of tuners can be had fairly cheap at Stew Mac.www.stewmac.com/shop/Tuners/Guitar,_solid_peghead_tuners/Grover_Tuners/Grover_Mini_Rotomatics_6-In-Line.htmlWell, almost cheap they went up about ten bucks since the last time I used them.

To bad they filled the dents you maybe could have steamed them out. Oh well, on opaque no one knows anyway.

I like the mean green or sea foam. It will let you use the white pick guard. That virtual guitar site is a lot of fun.

d

[niels]

I would say go for Gnarly Green or Oliver queen special. You made those guitars with Kiskea or something in that direction isn't it? Could you post a link of the site I can't find it anymore.

Good luck with the project!!!

[Mach Twang]

www.yajimastringworks.com/tct/yswtct-kisekae-e.asp

there ya go

[Deleted]

hey thanks for the link! Hope to see you get started soon on this build!

[niels]

Thanks mach Very usefull link!!!

[Mach Twang]

OK, I think I am really leaning toward the Oliver Queen Special myself. I'm just debating over a painted headstock. What do you guys think?




I would really like to paint this myself as I also got this DVD and think I could handle it. My only problem being is Behlen doesn't offer the colors I need. More investigation is required.

[niels]

I don't like painted headstocks BUT on the picture it doesn't look bad at all! I should go for what you want yourself. I think this time I would go for the painted.

[dnic]

Twanger, that natural color peghead in the simulation is gruesome. The real maple color wouldn't look bad at all but I like the painted look as well. And for Behlen not having the right colors, www.stewmac.com/shop/Finishing_supplies/Colors,_tints,_and_stains/ColorTone_Liquid_Pigment_for_Lacquer.html it is possible to mix your own. I'm still on my first set of tints. I didn't buy every one and not at the same time either. They last a long time too.

d

[donovan]

Hey Twang, I dig the painted headstock but I have a couple ideas to throw at you. If I was going to do the oliver queen special, I would lighten up the green just so it pops a little more. Also, if you are going to do the painted headstock, why not do the same green/black burst on it? It's not uncommon for builders to do that.

Just some ideas! You can take em or leave em!

[Mach Twang]

Dnic: What do you use to spray with? I have zero spray equipment and the Behlen stuff appeals to me as it's all in spray bomb/can form. The natural colored head stock in tinted with 'vintage maple', that nice butterscotch amber color.

Dono: The color may look dark on your monitor due settings or the calibration. There is a 50% increase in the dark/light balance between the black edge and the brightest green in the center. I am considering the same kind of burst on the head stock, but the modeling engine doesn't have that feature and I'll have to mock it up in Photoshop.

Keep the ideas coming!

[dnic]

Twang, I spray with a small cup gun. So I can mix my own colors. Have you checked out reranch? They will mix and can your colors for you. Very popular site.

d

[Deleted]

I like the painted head stock. I also like the dark green. My next guitar I think is going to be in a dark green. I really like the shade in the picture.