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Fender Telecaster Bass Idea...

R

rollingminority

Nov 25, 2007
29
0
#1
I really like the Fender Telecaster (Guitar). But I play bass. I like the Tele Bass...just not the body. What I really would like to do is get the Tele guitar body, bolt a bass neck on, and call it a day. I don't think that's possible though...any help? Should I just make the body, buy a tele bass neck? or can I buy a Tele Guitar body, rout the neck pocket into a bass size neck or is this project just way to...ridiculous. :hmm: I really have no experience in building basses, or vintage instruments...sorry for my ignorance, I'm reading up on all this. Just some help with experience would be great!
Thanks,
Rodrigo
 
#2
Short scale maybe (the guitar body might be too short for medium/long scale) but you would have to route the pickups too. The pickups won't be in optimal position though so the tone will probably suffer. If you have access to the necessary tools (router, band saw etc.) I'd strongly suggest making the entire body yourself. Shouldn't be too difficult even for a beginner. I'd definitely do it that way. Gives you more street cred too :D
 
#6
I really like the idea of using a guitar body, pick guard and controls. I just love the way it looks, just with a bass neck and pick-ups. I think I'm gonna buy a tele guitar body, a tele bass neck, and im not sure what kind of pickups and rout the pick ups and the neck pocket.
 
#7
if you can route a neck pocket, you can make a body. trace the body onto a mdf board, make that into the body shape template. if you have a band saw, rough cut out the shape. secure the template to the body, and router with a bit that follows the template. if if doesn't reach the full length of the body, get a bit with the follower bearring at the bottom, and fip the body, and route, using the already routed other half as the guide to be followed. round the edges, route a neck pocket, pickups (i assume you will just do the same system as tele bass), control space, and drill for the bridge (use a drill press for accuracy). then shape the contours you want (or you could do binding easily if you don't contour. should look sweet on a tele bass), and finish it. remember to draw and use the centerline
 
#8
I am doing the same kind of project for my first build. I had loved the idea of a Telecaster guitar shaped body bass, then I got my inspiration to actually build it. A friend of mine goes out regularly on the night everyone puts out their trash, looking for "treasures". He found a Telecaster body that someone had started, but didn't complete. It was glued together and band sawed to shape, but that was about it. It is now on my bench, and after some sanding and hand shaping, and it really looks fantastic! I have all the required parts and pieces, so I'm well on my way. I will post my build thread soon. Please let me know how you are making out, and I'll do the same. :hyper:
 
#9
You could go this way and get the proportions a bit closer. Body by A&D(or you can use a Warmoth as posted), neck by AllParts. The body is stretched a bit to allow a 34" scale. If you're going to try a full-scale neck on a normal guitar body, measure to make sure you can get the bridge onto the body(17" from 12th fret to extended saddles). Might be REALLY close and work or you wasted yer shop time. Here's a shot of mine:
Josh

Telebear3s.gif
 
#12
J.D.B. said:
You could go this way and get the proportions a bit closer. Body by A&D(or you can use a Warmoth as posted), neck by AllParts. The body is stretched a bit to allow a 34" scale. If you're going to try a full-scale neck on a normal guitar body, measure to make sure you can get the bridge onto the body(17" from 12th fret to extended saddles). Might be REALLY close and work or you wasted yer shop time. Here's a shot of mine:
Josh

Telebear3s.gif
Click to expand...

Looks really nice!! I am leaning towards a P/J setup, too. I've done some measuring on mine, and I'm in good shape there. Thanks for the tip.
 
#18
I'm almost positive im gonna go with the guitar body and buy/build a neck, I know someone who has experience with this so I'm going to ask him. But anyway, I play a lot of RHCP(red hot chili peppers), funk, and reggae, and I was just wondering what type of electronics are good for this (in terms of keeping it relative to the tele-style pickups)? I didn't wanna make a new thread in the pickups forum so I thought I'd ask here. Thanks =)
 
#20
Great idea.
I have a shorty SX PJ with Dimarzio pups. I just ordered a Tele Guitar body from Rondo.
The neck should fit perfectly and I can put the P pup closer to the neck for deeper tone. Also, as it is now, the poles on the pups do not line up since the string spacing is narrow on the PJ. I can angle them to line up nice. I am wondering how close to the neck I should go with the P pickup. I think right up to the neck like the mudbucket Tele bass would be good. Yes?
 

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