By Ed Malaker
Posted 07/08/2012
If you are embarking on a project that involves upgrading or building a Tele, these links might help you find some of the Telecaster guitar parts you need. All of these companies offer some pretty good stuff at fairly reasonable prices. Warmoth, for example, is probably best and offers the most options for bodies and necks, but of course, they are the most expensive. In each case, though, be sure to explore all the options for Telecaster guitar parts that the company offers, and don’t be afraid to call them if you have any questions before you place your order.
With regard to the body, pay extra attention to the wood that you choose, keeping in mind that there will be some variations in sound between the different types. For example, maple has a brighter tone, whereas mahogany is a bit mellower. If you do choose maple, consider paying the extra cost for “quarter sawn;” most often, it is a much better cut of wood. Some companies such as Warmoth also offer options for binding. While this is purely aesthetic and will have no effect either way on your tone, it can contribute to a very classy look, depending on your taste.
Another option worth considering is a chambered body. When a body is “chambered,” it has several cavities and this offers a kind of “best of both worlds” scenario as you get the interesting qualities of a hollow body guitar, but without the headaches of feedback, since the majority of the body is solid.
Now, some Tele players may dream of a Telecaster with a vibrato arm. Well, no problem, since Warmoth offers you the option of having the Telecaster body routed for a standard Stratocaster bridge. In this case, there will be the standard thru-body tremolo construction, complete with trem claw and springs. There certainly are many other options to choose from, which means that you can go pretty crazy. But, whatever your dream Tele may be, I hope the links below will point you in the right direction for great Telecaster guitar parts.
Telecaster Guitar Parts
Finished Telecaster Bodies
USA Custom Guitars (un-finished)
Telecaster Hardware
Here are links for great places to get your hardware online: