Fixing everything WRONG with a Telecaster (Dream Nashville Tele build part 1)

Starting out with my Zebrawood Tele style DIY kit from Bad Cat Instruments, I decided I would take the time to fix everything I hate about the boring old telecaster design. This kit was definitely worth building, but I wasn't super excited to have another plain tele, so I decided to convert it to a Nashville Tele design (tele/strat hybrid) for more tonal options, as well as added comfort carves to save some weight and make this thing more comfortable to play. Lastly, I experiment with some dyes, stains, and finishes to see what this Bakelite zebra wood alternative can handle. The results are pretty stinking good! Here are the parts I used for this build (so far):
Badcat Zebrawood tele kit: amzn.to/3IQHQvt
chrome tele pickup ring: amzn.to/3DIuZHS
middle single size humbucker pickup: amzn.to/3GBYvk6
middle pickup ring: amzn.to/31QwKpd
tele bridge humbucker pickup: amzn.to/3dHM4XS
5 way selector switch: amzn.to/3dGiFx9
my sanding flap disc (for carving with grinder): amzn.to/3DE5h7i
Zinser Bullseye Shellac: amzn.to/3pHXCA3
Birchwood Casey Tru Oil: amzn.to/3DpKfJk
Check out part 2 here! • Build Your DREAM Zebra...
*Prices mentioned in this video are subject to change without notice, please check the links for current pricing.
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[@GunsandGuitars]

Hey guys! you can see this guitar finished here! kzbin.info/www/bejne/iGini4Z3brmGi6c

[@jhayes1189]

Literally the best electric players in the world play teles because when it’s all in your fingers and technique, tele’s can actually be the most versatile guitars there are. You should watch some Danny Gatton guitar videos

[@misterknightowlandco]

Dye it orange and call it the “I got a tiger by the tele”. Lol

[@jonahhumfleet472]

I'm dying that was amazing

[@onevoiceinc]

Cleverly done, sir. Funny. :D

[@bldallas]

To each his own, but to me, the Tele is the perfect electric guitar. Love them. Have three of them; used to have 5. This is a cool mod, but you’re starting with an already cool guitar.

[@RedDawnFury]

Definitely agree that Tele's can end up very similar, the same could be said about the strat, yes it has contours, but when every strat has contours then they aren't very unique. What matters is not being tied down to a brand or type, there are so many actual Tele's with humbuckers, p90s etc and t type guitars not made by fender that are awesome and should get the love they deserve.

[@IKilledTheDodo]

The lack of comfort carves is my biggest gripe with Fenders teles. There are a lot of companies, like ESP, that make more comfortable and more versatile versions. Nice job on this one!

[@troythompson1621]

Squier and Chinese Fender both did contoured versions, and the Chinese Players Series has 3 pups.

[@IKilledTheDodo]

@@troythompson1621 True, but I find those models lacking in other areas. Probably fixable with some modding though.

[@gitarboi6760]

I adore my telecaster The sound and feel are perfect for me. Glad you found a solution that suits you. No right or wrong answer here, just what works best for each individual

[@jray5363]

I’ve got two Squire Affinity Teles. I put comfort carves on one, and left the other one stock. It’s quite the difference when played back to back. Really kinda nice! May pull the sander back out and take more off.

[@IKilledTheDodo]

@@jray5363 What did you do with the finish on the one you carved out?

[@miguelangelvacaheredia8230]

You are totally right with the improvements over that TELE.... amazing job!

[@JBirdCustoms]

The color you got almost has a rosewood look to it! Looks great!

[@rickc2102]

Exactly what I thought. Looks just like my rosewood dining table.

[@ericholton1346]

The thing I enjoy most about guitars is how different everyone’s preference is. I personally love the simplicity of the tele’s slab body and don’t prefer arm/belly carves on any guitar, however I realize that’s a make or break feature for some people. I feel like the reason we have so many great options to chose from is because of how different peoples preferences can be. Love the build keep up the great work.

[@BackToTheBlues]

I don't like comfort contours - I prefer to feel a guitar under my arm and against my body, and that's something I love about my Tele. I had an SG once, and the contouring of the dressed away sides took ages to get used to. The same as the Hofner 4575 I've recently bought. That has a semi acoustic body of a similar depth (and shape) to a 335, but is only just over an inch deep around the edge. Getting used to not feeling a slab under my arm has been a learning, er, curve!

[@2AChef-n-BBQ]

I really enjoy watching your enthusiasm. 40 years of building guitars, I can hardly step in my shop anymore. But I did get a 4001 blueprint from LMI and am planning a build video for something different. You did inspire that👍🏼🇺🇸🍻

[@jameslewis2635]

While I can't get behind 3 pickups on a Tele (it just looks wrong) I can appreciate that the finish is starting to look really good by the end of the video. The alternating finish types really seems to work quite well and I can see the comfort carves making it a lot nicer to play. Then it's just fret-work and whatever wacky wiring gets put into this one. At this stage you have about the same chances trying to guess one of Dan's wiring concepts as you do of winning the national lottery.

[@GunsandGuitars]

Thanks I’ll take that as a compliment!

[@russoloco1662]

Totally agree on the contours needed on a tele. After that and some pickup changes they are awesome guitars.

[@richardfinney3169]

Totally love the color you have got from the rit dye combo! And really like the comfort carves too. Thx for sharing this video looking forward to the next on this build

[@Ryan_F.]

Love the color and the shaping you did on the body!

[@therewasascene]

Love the depth of that finish. Thanks, other viewers, for your clear coat input!

[@jonw8694]

I just ordered a tele kit last week and had the same thoughts in mind as far as adding contours. Nice timing on the video, as it confirms that it would end up with the shape I am aiming for.

[@MrGwg11]

These Video's that leave me hanging.... DAN you're driving me up the wall! ...Love the work Brother.

[@Jenisonc]

Great finish. Huge upgrade with the double whammy you've got going.

[@bearcorn949]

It looks beautiful already!!

[@CrossroadsCustomGuitars]

in the video it gives off a rosewood tele vibe which i am loving! hope it looks the same in person. looking forward to part 2!

[@MilesMcNallyLuthierie]

Using the truoil on top was the right move. The zissner is great, unlike a traditional finish that is layer on layer the zissner melts into itself to essentially creat one thick layer. I soak the first coat but go light on the next proceeding coats 2-3 thin coats. It reduces how much you need to buff back and then top with finish of choice essentially making it a kind of sanding sealer for to speak. That zebrawood looks killer with dye I may have to snag one of those kits and play with color. Nice one man!

[@stevesstrings5243]

I'm really digging that finish!

[@karmacharmskittens]

Holy crap im impressed with your freehand skill with those power tools. No jigs required...mad skills sir! Cant wait to see it finished and played😻

[@oldmantwofour5561]

I just want to make this clear... THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG WITH TELECASTERS! Except Nashville Teles. Hate those with a passion. Don't make a Tele a Strat. If you want a Strat, buy a Strat... or, in your case, build one. Love your videos. This one gave me heart palpitations. 😋

[@GunsandGuitars]

Haha yeah I knew it would ruffle some feathers, and I agree, like I mentioned in the video, I wished they had sent me the strat kit.

[@smokepeddler]

Agree

[@tolvajakos]

Yeah the nashville tele never did it for me. Go with HH, a high output stacked tele bridge, or pick anything for the neck, p90, filtertron, jazzmaster... So many routes to go. But the additional single coil in the middle does not do much for me either. But everyone should do with their own guitars whatever makes them happier.

[@edgelite]

I agree with you that Nashville's suck lol. Which is what I made mine like. And now 15 years later I wish hadn't made it that way. But I've since deleted the middle pup and made this tele just be a tele ( with body contours ). From now on I'm going to let my Strats make the Strat sounds. I did recently build an HH though and it was great. And I'd like to build and HH but with gretch pups and semi hollow. I just think the tele it a great platform and I love the look. I will also build one with a whammy some day.

[@RARenfield]

This should've been titled "Fixing everything that's wrong with a Strat." You'll never hit the switch by mistake now mid-song, and you hard-tailed it. Good job.

[@74dartman13]

It looks incredible, Dan. I'm looking forward to seeing the finished guitar!👍😎🎸🎶

[@breezytango3472]

Looks beautiful so far

[@joewalsh8217]

That wood came out looking so cool!

[@randyhaney5767]

Never a disappointment, Cool stuff as always Thanks Dan.

[@bwdc8532]

Another great one, Dan!

[@TheCozyCodi]

LOVE the Zebra stripping finish, I would have gone with 1/4 cap of the black for a more robust crimson, but this is great, Thanks for sharing like all your videos on both channels

[@paulcantrell1615]

I built a parts caster from a bare pine and spalted maple top. Used shellac as sealer then Tru oil finish. Love the way it feels.

[@BradAngove]

That is a sick intro man.

[@pdbordelon]

Wow that guitar rules, great work!

[@frontmanguitars8276]

Really digging the zebra wood!

[@robertr4193]

I must say that you are making that guitar look great. The carve and the stain look fantastic. It makes it look less like an engineered wood and more like a natural wood with a dark reddish brown color with great grain..

[@shooter4473]

I am not a fan of three pickups on Tele's but I do love the comfort cuts. I am a Tele fan and own quite a few of them, traditional and not, but for me the comfort cuts are always an improvement both in comfort and appearance over the plain, blocky, slab of wood appearance and feel. As usual Dan, another interesting and fun to watch video. Guns, Guitars, Beer and the Great USA FOREVER! FYI I still have the guitar riff from "THE BEST BUDGET TUBE AMP SHOOTOUT" stuck in my head!

[@jeffyoung8726]

So far, so good Dan. Really excited to see how it turns out! Hope you & the family are well? Happy Holidays brother...

[@unktopia]

I've got a cheap tele that I'm gonna do my first customization on and want to do some comfort cutouts. This was very helpful.

[@VTRAddict]

I'm in the process of building a guitar at the moment. It's a tele. I'll be doing my own shape for the headstock though, as well as a bit of carving on the body shape... I love that finished colour. I liked the specs and the price on that kit when you showed it before, but I hated that raw finish out of the box. It looked like plasticine... This looks so much better already!

[@lone-wolf-1]

Great color! Well done!👌🏼 Yeah, a Telly with comfort carves, including on the heel, is something else! A third pickup adds some tonal variety too!🙌🏼 My avatar is made out of a cheap telly kit, but heavily customized

[@mattdoliver1984]

Oh man, I love telecasters ye I agree they’re so so, but everyone should have at least one in they’re collection. The Jim Root signature Telecaster is an animal of a guitar in my humble opinion

[@technofeeliak]

Looking forward to the completion.

[@caleb9360]

Yeah first thing I did when I built my first tele was put a mini Humbucker and hot rails, love it

[@TerminusVox]

I'm going to have to re-watch this video. I'm drawn to the "simplicity" of a tele style guitar but I like the ergonomic touches of the comfort contours of a strat.

[@TheCozyCodi]

Love this look, deep rich and slightly exotic

[@coryburns13]

Dude! Nice work!!!

[@leesbassment6393]

That looks GREAT! Almost looks like the solid rosewood teles they did.

[@joewalsh8217]

I have a kit tele and am planning on doing those carves too! You are a master with an angle grinder

[@GunsandGuitars]

The orbital sander covers a multitude of sins too!

[@malcolmhardwick4258]

Gotta say It looks killer !

[@acexxxoasis]

Dan my dude this reminds me SOOOO MUCH of my Nashville style tele Doris. With the exception I used rit royal and navy blue to do a sunburst style finish even down to the arm and belly contours! It's like they're opposite twins lol

[@oldrrocr]

great video! I was planning on doing this same build - thanks for showing how great it can look. Hope you're going to play it for us, and tell us all about it.

[@RubyRoks]

Glad to see the engineered wood takes to woodworking and dying/staining well. I really wish they did a "zebrawood" V, but i have some cool ideas for their Les Paul kit

[@123Ir0nman]

Is great to know that wood takes dye fairly well! I wasn't really a huge fan of the synthetic look of the wood

[@Mlee1877]

It sounds to me like what you're wanting is one of the older Fender Modern Player Telecasters. Props on you for taking the guitar to task to make it exactly what you wanted.

[@nathanmclauchlan5148]

Loving the mods to this Tele so far

[@CrushingAxes]

Dude, same here, I hate telecasters. Hope to see this one finished soon!

[@MrNamePerson]

I'm jealous of your energy and routing skills... no clamp on the guitar. Looks like you may have missed an opportunity to flip around the switch/knob plate. 🤨😆. Great stuff so far!

[@danielsgrunge]

Wow, I usually don't like zebrawood but that thing looks insane already

[@stevenalley9708]

Love the name of the site. Just started watching. Looking Good!

[@rvburbank1]

The dye job reminds me of Bolivian rosewood aka pau ferro or Morado. Looks great!

[@robertorodriguez8021]

Hey Dan,,, that zebra wood looks amazing... I did a kit bass using the Sedona red on the front and a gun stock on the back.

[@justinmcwilliams6759]

Interesting enough, the tele I found next to the dumpster at our apartment back in 2016 has a second body pickup but not one in the bridge. I modified the body shape, custom painted it, lined all the recesses with shielding tape. I messed up the headstock though, so I'm waiting for when I have the funds to get a replacement neck. When I say reshaped the body, I mean cut off points, added bevel, etc.

[@edgelite]

I made a tele from scratch carved the body and neck from blocks of wood. But I did exactly what you did with the body and pups. I also made it out of bass wood so it would be lighter. My old US tele I had back in the late 80s was too heavy. But I don't share your hate for tele's. I love them. Stock or all kitted out.

[@GreatWhiteLionSnake]

Nice color. I recommend using a tried and true finish called a french polish. Furniture makers use it and you can get a great finish which is perfect for a guitar without sanding. It isnt easy to learn, but sooooo worth it.

[@lowstringc]

My go-to is water soluble aniline dye (I mix my own in small batches for use and keep the powders for easy storage), clear danish oil (usually two coats and then let it dry/cure for a week or so), and then several coats of shellac via French polishing (I also buy this in dry blonde flake and mix batches when I need it). It’s a really nice finish.

[@SethPlaysBass]

love the guitar, was never really a fan of the red and black, but still looks really cool.

[@hextray]

The finish is really cool ! Would've just let the fretboard look super red for some contrast with the body, but this still looks amazing !

[@peterchamplin8767]

Looks great.

[@clarkbabin9799]

A Telecaster is just one of many guitars I own. The only duplicates I have are SGs and Ibanezs. Each is a different variation. I think as of the SG I just got from Trogley I have a total of 15. Mostly electrics. I love what your doing with that tele. There was this guitar I saw that this guy I met had close to 1980 . It was a Les Paul that looked black but you got close and could see it was a dark blue. But shine a light at it and it glowed an awsome dark blue. The owner said it had finely ground silver or silver dust which made it glow like that.

[@untitleduser666]

I thought that zebrawood looked ridiculous in the 1st video, but the contouring and finish makes it look stellar. Can't wait to see and hear the final build!

[@JonathanWhoever]

I thought the same thing kinda gimmicky. But it'll flipping cool now.

[@davedupuis2069]

I'm impressed with your freehand routing technique. I'd want to use a template mostly out of fear lol

[@GunsandGuitars]

That reminds me, I’ve been meaning to do a video on freehand routing. More than a few have requested it. Thanks for the reminder!

[@gergemall]

Great job .

[@j-bird6563]

Best diy guitar or bass kit guitar 💯

[@MrDaveKC]

I think the finish looks great Dan. One of the guys I share the office with is a big Tele fan, and gigs with a country band. He got a Nashville style and showed it to me, as wasn't aware of them before then. It looks good, and there's a temptation to get a Les Paul kit from BadCat of the Zebra wood style. But since I'm a couple of kits behind already, that may have to wait for awhile!

[@GunsandGuitars]

Bro, get on that ric kit before I come take it from you!

[@MrDaveKC]

@@GunsandGuitars That's the next kit once I finish what I started now. Since I've got to get all the hardware for the ric kit. I've not most of it, but not all yet.

[@smokepeddler]

Most New or novice guitar players have little interest or don't understand the tele. It took me 20 years to figure out it is the most versital perfect guitar design there is. Wish I would have figured this out a long time ago. Leo got it right the first time.

[@jawn1568]

I don't necessarily agree with your opinion since a singular telecaster is all I own, but man did that body and neck turn out good. I cant wait for the final result.

[@LePuntano22]

nice finish

[@Aphoticka]

that thing is beautiful my man damn

[@andreaslundell7807]

Very Nice, I would've liked to see Fender have a line of teles wirh those features.

[@buck7477]

I liked the red man!

[@freebass87]

Looks great Dan. You know what you need to try, spraymax 2k glamour clear. It's a 2 part modified urethane gloss. Pop the can, shake it, spray it, buff it, polish it, and enjoy your perfect, mirrored, factory finish. I use shellac as well, to seal, and protect my color before finish. But, that 2k clear coat is pretty insane. Just like hitting it with a conventional set up, but 25 bucks a job.

[@GunsandGuitars]

Yeah I’ve had my eye on that 2k stuff. I need to figure out a solution to have a portable spray booth!

[@freebass87]

@@GunsandGuitars yup. That's my problem. I just shoot them outside, and carefully shove them in my dresser drawers to keep bugs and dust out while they dry. Hahahahaha. It works

[@jamesg7811]

That is one beautiful looking guitar. I love my tele but agree it's a bit of a slab.

[@jackoszuscik6669]

Addons yo! Fender Super 5-way pickup selector w/DPDT, the Kill Switch twins Tap and Toggle, finally scallop the fretboard yo 😂, awesome build ja!

[@adrian_V99]

No reason it should remain as it was 70 plus years ago. Leo built a slab to save money not because of aesthetic appeal. Curves and contours are always good. Well-done!

[@buaidhnobas1ify]

I absolutely love Zebrawood. I learned about the wood from my Grandmother's upright piano that I hated moving as a kid after she died. One day I visit my sisters, who ended up with that ugly chocolate brown piano I hated for Christmas. I looked over and see this beautiful upright in the frontroom. I'm like " Where did you get that amazing piano." Sis was like "That's grandmas." So I can't wait to see your guitar in action.

[@buaidhnobas1ify]

Oh, are you going to replace the switch plate with the one that makes the switch slide differently?

[@ClemsonJohnson]

I want to build a sss Tele and I think this is the winner. Thanks

[@dugbert5]

Beautiful, now it looks like a guitar but I gotta laugh. I did the same mods to a JB Player Tele, belly cut, arm comfort cut and Nashville conversion. I ended up selling it and getting a standard Tele. I love the simplicity.

[@troythompson1621]

It's ok Dan, I won't hold that opinion against you 😁 If you fine sand and/or polish between coats, you can put a mirror finish on. I did on an oak project.

[@edwardgold8097]

I had to re- subscribe for the second time in two years. Why do I keep getting un-subbed? The tele looks and sounds awesome.

[@jhowe5571]

Just a suggestion. Shellac is the stuff used in a finishing technique called French polishing. It might interest you to do some research on it. One of the advantages of it is the ability to reactivate the Shellac and put more coats on, or fix some problems with it that may have occurred in a previous coat. 😁

[@thethesaxman23]

Beautiful body so far Dan!! It’s funny because your list of reasons you hate Teles is the same as my list of reasons I love Teles!! There’s definitely guitars out there for everyone!

[@GunsandGuitars]

Exactly, I’ll be first to say that one man’s trash is another persons treasure!

[@zaz4667]

You hate Telecasters and think they are boring? This is my kind of KZbin channel! If you want to fix a Telecaster all you have to do is change it into a Stratocaster!

[@tolvajakos]

My way of fixing the tele: 4-way switch, firebird pickup in the neck and a p90ish (in tone cliser to a p90) tele bridge pickup.

[@edwinstovall3334]

Dan, I don't believe it's taken me this long to realize ... that you're left-handed! I'm a lefty, too, and I have not only that in common with you -- but I'm a WEIRD lefty that plays guitar righty! There are more of us that you OR I think, and it looks like you're one of us! This is, of course, I good thing for us, since we can play pretty much any guitar built. I have yet to hear of any guitar built for lefties only!

[@GuitarInformer]

me too, well, I play both ways

[@edwinstovall3334]

@@GuitarInformer I learned from an interview he did that my original guitar hero, Ernie Isley of the Isley Brothers, learned to play right- and left-handed after having a dream of Jimi Hendrix doing the same thing. Me, I'm just glad I can play at all.

[@jray5363]

I was in Guitar Center yesterday, and I overheard a salesman telling a young couple in search of their first guitar, that they just need to forget about lefties and learn to play righty. The same guitar center has an 8 foot poster of a left handed guitarist on the front of their building. If I had a left handed guitar with me, I would have given it to them on the spot, just to piss him off. I learned my first few chords on a right handed guitar, which I am eternally grateful for, it never felt right till I got a lefty. Still can’t play, but at least it feels right. Someone needs to re-examine the statistics for left handed people, because I think the numbers are way off. I run into lefties everywhere nowadays. Incidentally, I left the guitar center, went straight home, and ordered everything I had gone there for from Sweetwater. OK, rant over.

[@edwinstovall3334]

@@jray5363 I have never had anyone tell me to play or do anything else in a hand-orientation that wasn't natural to me. The closest I ever got to that was having an elementary school teacher misread my handedness as righty. She handed me a paper towel core tube and told me to look at something. I did what she asked, but I'm a bit ambidextrous, so I took the core from her (right) hand with MY right hand because it seemed easier -- you know, like with a handshake. Then she told me that I was right-handed. Not EVEN right!‼️ Still, it was harmless; I knew what I was well enough to ignore her mistake rather than being misled by it.

[@jamestunedflat8942]

I like the red, but I think a burst into the black would have been awesome

[@daleturner3507]

As someone who works with wood the shellac will seal the grain and not allow the tru oil to do its job. I use tung oil over the shellac. Also the spray shellac is better since it is de-waxed. You could use a product called seal coat it’s by the same manufacturer and works well.

[@magnusliamkarlsson6465]

Love your work! Just hade an ide for you! U should make a guitar body, then shoot at it and then finish it into an wasome guitar!

[@RR-ho5ek]

Not having comfort cuts should bother me, but it never has, probably because I don't do a lot of long arm stroke rhythm playing. I like middle pickups, two of my own have them, but they can get in the way of some hybrid picking. Boring is a matter of opinion, but the reason so many discover, and rediscover the telecaster is that it is a versatile workhorse.

[@driverbass1554]

She's a beaut! Reminds me of the George Harrison Rosewood Tele. Definitely agree, the arm carve and round overan excellent idea and something I wasn't fond of them typically lacking. Any special filter needed for the sawdust on this composite type body material? Definitely want to get one of these kits and stain it similarly. Nice work as always! Can't wait to see you finish it up!

[@GunsandGuitars]

I just wore a dust mask and the dust didn’t bother me. Kinda smells like poo when running the router though.

[@saulgoodeguitars]

@@GunsandGuitars 😳

[@latioswarrior]

@@GunsandGuitars I know it’s a bit late but I have a couple of questions. What sandpaper did you use to sand it down in general not when doing the carves. I got a zebra wood lp kit laying around and I’m not sure what sandpaper to use to sand out the roughness or if the sandpaper grit matters. Also when you buff it out are you using a microfiber rag or steel wool. Sorry a bit new to this but thank you

[@michaeleastham3868]

Excepting of course that this isn't a telecaster...

[@Charles-Darwin]

Shellac is 👍 works over any oily sub-finish if you make a mistake before lacquer topcoats

[@mikedenkinger9570]

John Suhr already fixed everything wrong with Telecasters. But this is a great build!