Vintage Telecaster Electric Guitar

UPDATE I've just created a Discord server for any chat or help you may need with this build! Head on over! https://discord.gg/wznhkDrwMc

This is where it all began for me. As a young maker, all I ever wanted an early 50s Butterscotch Yellow Blackguard Telecaster.

While I still don't have that one, I do have the next best thing. One that is made by me.

This guitar is no joke. It's designed to be played and played hard.

Got the blues? Shes got you.
Need to add a little twang? She's got you.
Wanna sip a little moonshine, enjoy a little smoke and play a little Waylon, Willie and the Boys? She'll take you there!

So what do you need to get your own Black Guard Telecaster?

Start with 2.2kgs of you finest filament and pour that through your 3D printer of choice.

Then you'll need some hardware... Musiclily and Wilkinson provided all of the hardware for this build.

To make sure you get that bonefied Tele Twang from your girl, you need to start with the right pickups and bridge. Head on over to your favourite Wilkinson parts reseller or online store and get yourself the WTB Tele bridge with brass saddles. https://wilkinsondirect.com/product/wilkinson-wtb-bridge/ Thankfully, it's not too expensive, solid build quality as well. Alternatively, you can basically use any Telecaster bridge that has four mounting screws. It's a pretty standard size.

While you're there, snag yourself a pair of the Nashville Telecaster pickups made by Wilkinson as well. I was blown away the moment I plugged this thing in the first time. Without touching a knob on the amp, I was hit with pure Tele tone in any position on the switch. Of course, you absolutely do cheaper pickups! I won't judge! You can also do much more expensive ones! https://wilkinsondirect.com/collections/single-coils-tele-style/r-series-t-style-single-coils/

Last thing to get from Wilkinson is your tuners. Now technically, any set of 6 a side tuners is going to work on a Tele neck. But, I was going for the vintage look. https://www.vansonguitars.com/en-au/collections/wilkinson-tuner/products/wilkinson-deluxe-wj55-chrome-right-handed-split-post-vintage-kluson-style-tuners-machine-heads-for-fender-stratocaster-telecaster-etc-right-handed-chrome

Speaking of necks... Look, they're kind of a personal thing. But this is a Tele and at the very least, you need to get one designed for a Telecaster body. As you can see here, I've gone with a maple neck with maple fretboard. It also has a very light roast to help emulate age just a little bit. Lastly, the heel width is intended for 56mm heels... standard modern Tele.

Controls.. you don't need to go to the extent I did with CTS pots, orange drop caps and No-Caster wiring. You can quite simply pick up a preloaded Telecaster control plate, attach your pickups and output jack before screwing it down. Ideally, you'd like one that is using 250K pots, but 500K pots are going to work just fine also. Unless you're a tone snob. lol

I meantioned the output jack... Yep, it needs one of them as well. The control plate should come with the jack, but this is the link to my preferred type of mounting plate. https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/144847335997?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=705-154756-20017-0&ssspo=XMSy6g5JQuO&sssrc=2047675&ssuid=avldm4fbta2&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Oh yeah, don't forget to pick yourself up some copper tape or paint to shield the guitar, a Fender type neck mounting plate and lastly, some strap pins. (Yes, the screw holes are in the model. Here's looking at you Prusacaster)

Wait! You know what else would be a good idea? Guitar strings! Being a Tele, the general rule is to use 9-42 guage. Sure, be a sheep... Mines running 10-52 as per usual.

If you have ANY questions before purchase or after purchase, want to shop about guitars, then please don't hesitate to message me, I'm pretty fast to reply usually and happy to help!

I look forward to seeing what you make!

P.S. I've included a custom pickguard which is a little bit more of a closer fit to the parts as well as a 1mm neck shim just in case you need it.

2.4mm Walls
2.4mm Top and Bottom
25% Gyroid infill

Ironing (optional)
40% flow
30mm/s
90 degree ironing lines