PGK Tele Kit Build Thread

That guitar looks absolutely killer, Syscokid! Congrats!

Well that's certainly a real nice looking Tele. And the neck seems to fit perfectly flush in the neck pocket for a better connection and tone transfer. Great job on your custom axe!


;>)/

I also would like to mention, that I really like these types of tuners. String changes are much easier with this type of design. I'm pretty sure that these are made by Gotoh.

syscokid said:

I also would like to mention, that I really like these types of tuners. String changes are much easier with this type of design. I'm pretty sure that these are made by Gotoh.

View attachment 18384

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I like those kind of tuners like I have on my 1952 AVRI Fender Tele because no string ends hang out to stab your finger tips. The string end goes right down the centre of the tuning post. I think they should make modern tuners still like the vintage style. They got it right the first time.


;>)/

Well done!
Really like the looks of that all the way round.
Glad it has come together as a good player as well.

BlackSG91 said:

I like those kind of tuners like I have on my 1952 AVRI Fender Tele because no string ends hang out to stab your finger tips.

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That's an excellent point... pardon the pun...

Back at post #168 on this thread, I stated that the pickguard fabricator, Flatt Guitars, sent me two pickguards with no finish. I eventually decided to stain the second pickguard black, and finish that one too, in a satin poly. I also ordered, yet another pickguard by Terrapin Guitars. This third pickguard is clear with a heavy gray tint or color, and 45 degree beveled edges.


Original, pickguard #1:




Pickguard #2:




And pickguard #3:




Probably should have done a poll, but I like them all... what ya'll think????

…

syscokid said:

Back at post #168 on this thread, I stated that the pickguard fabricator, Flatt Guitars, sent me two pickguards with no finish. I eventually decided to stain the second pickguard black, and finish that one too, in a satin poly. I also ordered, yet another pickguard by Terrapin Guitars. This third pickguard is clear with a heavy gray tint or color, and 45 degree beveled edges.


Original, pickguard #1:

View attachment 18678


Pickguard #2:

View attachment 18679


And pickguard #3:

View attachment 18680


Probably should have done a poll, but I like them all... what ya'll think????

…

Click to expand...

I also think they all look great, but if I was forced to choose, it would be # 3, then #1, then # 2. I think that the black, while much nicer than smooth platic, gets a bit too far away from the wood theme

syscokid said:

Back at post #168 on this thread, I stated that the pickguard fabricator, Flatt Guitars, sent me two pickguards with no finish. I eventually decided to stain the second pickguard black, and finish that one too, in a satin poly. I also ordered, yet another pickguard by Terrapin Guitars. This third pickguard is clear with a heavy gray tint or color, and 45 degree beveled edges.


Original, pickguard #1:

View attachment 18678


Pickguard #2:

View attachment 18679


And pickguard #3:

View attachment 18680


Probably should have done a poll, but I like them all... what ya'll think????

…

Click to expand...

All of the above!

syscokid said:

Back at post #168 on this thread, I stated that the pickguard fabricator, Flatt Guitars, sent me two pickguards with no finish. I eventually decided to stain the second pickguard black, and finish that one too, in a satin poly. I also ordered, yet another pickguard by Terrapin Guitars. This third pickguard is clear with a heavy gray tint or color, and 45 degree beveled edges.


Original, pickguard #1:

View attachment 18678


Pickguard #2:

View attachment 18679


And pickguard #3:

View attachment 18680


Probably should have done a poll, but I like them all... what ya'll think????

…

Click to expand...

Jeez, #1 hands down. Great wood grain to compliment the great body.

I think they all look great especially #1. You should rotate them like pitchers in baseball and keep the 2 extra in your guitar case ready to be used when the time comes. At least there's only 5 pick guard screws so it's not a whole lot of work switching PG's. BTW the guitar looks simply fabulous!


;>)/

I like them all , but I lean more towards #1. nice axe Sysco, like the tuners as well.

Original pickguard number 1 is just plain awesome on that guitar...

No.1 does look great, no doubt about it, but I like them all. Maybe rotate them, a different 'guard every string change. Great looking axe, just inspired me to play some telecaster today. Cheers

I understand how the 3rd pickguard (its clear) matches the ---or shows the guitars wood grain---but-- how is it the other two MATCHEs the guitars wood grain so perfectly Mr. Sysco?

eSGEe said:

I understand how the 3rd pickguard (its clear) matches the ---or shows the guitars wood grain---but-- how is it the other two MATCHEs the guitars wood grain so perfectly Mr. Sysco?

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Ahhhh Grasshopper... You must go back in time... Back to post #168... For it holds the treasures that you seek...


But basically, I masked off the non-pickguard area of the guitar using a downloaded pickguard template of a standard USA Tele. Took the pic as dead-on center as possible, and at a "normal" focal length. Scanned the pic, and verified that everything was at proper scale. Send the pic info to the fabricator ( Flatt Guitars ). Viola...

ivan H said:

No.1 does look great, no doubt about it, but I like them all. Maybe rotate them, a different 'guard every string change. Great looking axe, just inspired me to play some telecaster today. Cheers

Click to expand...

At least he can change the pick guard without removing the strings and there is no neck pick up which makes it easier.


;>)/

Sysco,
I think I have to pick #3 as I really like the colour combination. It's just too bad the grain doesn't show a bit more.
I like the black one the least as IMHO you might as well just have a regular black plastic pickguard installed.
The guitar looks fabulous!

6 MONTHS LATER...

This past week I've been showing some love to my "Tootsie"... I've come to the conclusion that having the controls flipped, is not working for me. I keep hitting the volume pot ever so slightly with my spastic picking hand. It doesn't help that the pot's turning resistance is on the low side, and the knurls on the knobs are brutally grippy! New Rotation Day...

BEEFOUR:


I need to rotate the volume and tone pots, but won't be rotating the 3-way switch. Purple wires are going bye-bye.



There was so much lead wire from the jack to the volume pot, that I snipped off a few inches of it and reused the short pieces to replace the old purple wires.


Kinda wished the black wire that connects from the tone pot to the 3-way switch was a bit longer. I don't have any spare push-back cloth style wiring.



I like it. I can feel the switch knob and use it as an anchoring point in my playing technique. Volume knob is still very accessible. The 3-way switch in position 1, closest to the volume pot, is now the full pickup signal with no tone control in the circuit. Position 2 is the same: The tone circuit is active. Position 3 is now the pickup in series with a cap for that cocked-wah tone, and tone circuit bypassed...

That is a sweet Tele!