Orange Amps Forum

Hey guys,

I finished a Telecaster parts build that I started ordering parts for around September. I finished before xmas actually, but I've been travelling a bit and playing the damn thing instead of sitting around drooling on it.

Anyways, here's some specs:

-2006 American Standard Neck, 9.5" radius
-MJT aged finished body (body built by Wildwood manufacturing), sonic blue
-The body came routed for SD style mini-hum so I had to dremel it slightly, but I did a surprisingly good job and still looks professionaly routed.
-Fender bridge with compensated saddles
-Curtis Novak matched handwound pickups
-Neck: Gibson style Firebird
-Bridge: Vintage styled humcancelling telecaster bridge pickup
-500k volume, 250k tone pot, .047uF Orange drop tone cap
-Standard telecaster 3-way switching (for now)

-I bought the hardware/knobs new, but did some slight aging on them (lightly sanding and leaving chrome outside for 4 weeks, occasionally wetting). Knobs were soaked in tea/coffee.

It plays GREAT and sounds awesome. No hum, but sounds just like a telecaster should. Maybe a bit fatter overall, but it's hard to tell. This guitar feels like I've owned it for years and years, but it's practically brand new!

Besides the feel and sound, the finish is great. Just the right amount of roughness around the edges so that I don't have to worry about keeping it pristine. Also, the color is pretty versatile and gets more/less green based on the lighting. It is also very thin but still quite glossy/reflective. Very happy overall!

Pics or it didn't happen:
















Obligatory pic with my Rocker 30:

She's a beaut Clark

It looks great. I'm still trying to figure out what I think of the knobs though.

Thanks! I agree the knobs may look slightly out of place on a tele, but I'm a sucker for white witch hats.

Very nice! The knobs were the first thing I saw. I like them, gives it some personality.

I like the look of the guitar with the knobs on it

i'm not sure what to think of the knobs. i think i'd like them better if they were normal sized (maybe strat) knobs, but the creamy white color definitely adds character. other than that, love it!

Whoa! That is one nice looking job you did! I'd love to hear what that thing sounds like!

Played it with a full band for the first time yesterday. It gets suuuper twangy on the bridge, but also beefs up nicely in the middle position. The neck pickup clean is great. I've been keeping the tone at ~7 overall, sometimes 10 on the neck.

I had to turn my micro amp from 9 o'clock to noon to compensate for the difference between it and my Jazzmaster with WHRB/PAFs. For some reason the amp seems to have more headroom too, but could be how I sit in the mix. The other guitarist has a strat and sg both with p90s.

Not too fond of the blue, but that's just me - it looks a fun guitar to play that!

Was the neck branded fender or did you put it yourself?

One of the absolute best solid colors on that Tele, nice work!

How are you getting along with the mini HB and Tele bridge?

I had a similar setup and I fought that match indefinitely. I always felt a great tone setting on the neck was way off on the bridge and vice-versa. I would have probably resulted in a dual concentric 500k/250k tone pot setup if I kept that configuration.

The neck is a Fender American Standard.

I like the pickups quite a bit. It still sounds like a (great) telecaster but has a special, slightly more aggressive quality to it too.

Nice! I love the color.

Very very cool machine! Love the knobs, and I really love the idea of a Firebird neck pickup! That is a pretty awesome build.

The color is fantastic, not one I would put on my tele as I personally like darker colors, but I do love a baby blue tele!


You did great work here. Keeps inspiring me to actually get on and do a build myself.


sound clips?

Why'd you soak the knobs in tea/coffee? But I love this, is anyone else very jealous of the two tele ngd's or is that just me?

GAS