Minimalist Telecaster Build: Part 4 - Controls

Building a minimalist telecaster. In this video I finish the controls, control plate and control cover. The guitar is all ready for final finishing and assembly.
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Arran Adair
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Made to be informative and entertaining.
Filmed on an iPhone.

[@fatpotanga]

You wouldn’t believe how much I’ve learnt from this video alone. Brilliant, just brilliant

[@adairguitars]

I’ve still got a lot to learn, but I’ve worked out a few processes that seem to work for me and are giving me consistent results. It is really cool getting comments like this. Maybe my day job as a teacher is finding its way into my videos!

[@MarkGutierrez]

That control plate is perfection.

[@adairguitars]

Thanks Mark. I’d love to do some computer and cnc designs like you one day, but so far it’s mostly pen and paper with a bit of trial and error.

[@michaelanthony1537]

Hand down the absolute greatest guitar build idea ever! ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@adairguitars]

Why thank you!

[@scottbrower9052]

That dowel trick is ingenious.

[@adairguitars]

Thanks, an easy solution to a difficult task. I did have to change the sandpaper quite often though.

[@bevo65]

The algorithm is working overtime today! Subbed!

[@adairguitars]

Excellent! 👍

[@franknicastri9201]

Great work. Great to see a fellow Aussie. I also love the music that accompanies your videos.

[@adairguitars]

Thanks mate. The music from this video was from an original band I played in about 20 years ago. 👍

[@chuckdriver8269]

This build is fantastic! I owned a Gibson Chet Atkins SST and it had roller knobs on the upper bout . Volume, bass and treble if my memory isn’t mistaken. Anyway, I’m a Tele fan and I absolutely love this guitar. I want one!🎸🇺🇸

[@adairguitars]

Thanks, glad you like it! Should be finished soon. 👍

[@Gyrokosher]

I like you're doing a maths and an English lit. Guitar at the same time! If Dr Who is science then you've all your core subjects!

[@adairguitars]

I think I’ve got all bases covered from my day job! We will be able to hear it sing sweetly pretty soon Jonathan! 👍

[@calbrockocat8728]

So damned surgical I hope for a little gaffe, but no. Really exceptional and precision work. Love those controls!

[@adairguitars]

Thank you! 👍

[@SimonDuffy2]

So many guitars are so bells and whistles as a selling point nowadays. This is a fabulous antidote to that. Looking forwards to see how you finish it.

[@adairguitars]

Thanks, it shouldn’t be too much longer now. 👍

[@rayrayokmusic]

Neat trick locating the magnet location with a permanent marker.

[@adairguitars]

Borrowed that idea from King Hattan!

[@rayrayokmusic]

@@adairguitars I am sure Chris does not mind! Eventually we will all be doing it.

[@stevepethel6843]

Genius idea perfect completion.

[@adairguitars]

Thank you!

[@robertr4193]

Neat design and execution. Looking good.

[@adairguitars]

Thanks Robert. 👍

[@briw4647]

nice idea. i would get some knurling on those potts myself to aid adjustments. also, id stick them out more

[@adairguitars]

Thanks. 👍 Some knurling will be in the next step and I’ve got a bit of room to adjust them when I do the final assembly and set up.

[@luthiferbuilds]

what a satisfying watch! i love how you did everything! looking clean AF good work man

[@adairguitars]

Thanks Brett! Shouldn’t be too long until it’s finished now.

[@bskbishop]

Those controls are absolutely amazing! I'm a huge fan of keeping things tucked away and hidden like that!

[@adairguitars]

I’m very happy with how they have turned out.👍

[@tpguitars]

Love it. Flawless execution

[@adairguitars]

Thanks, there were a few nervous moments!

[@paulwaldrop]

Dude, I've built a ton of teles, and that control setup is awesome. It really shows how much attention goes into hand building things. Very nice job.

[@adairguitars]

Thanks! It took a bit of planning to get everything aligned. 👍

[@ant1sokolow]

Nice build. The control cavity cover wood grain continuity seems to have been part of the design from the beginning, but it's an afterthought devised along the way. It's very interresting to see how ideas came from the work instead of leading it.

[@adairguitars]

Thanks. It is cool when things fall into place in an unplanned way. 👍

[@WillKellyHardKnocksGtrs]

Respect! I can appreciate the out of the box approach here. Keep on looking at refinements that enhance the playing experience, and not just because something's "different". Great job~!

[@adairguitars]

Thanks Will. It’s always good to try new ideas. 👍

[@shockthefox]

Beautiful… as always!

[@adairguitars]

Thanks Tye!

[@sergmo4979]

This was amazing to watch !

[@adairguitars]

Thanks!

[@saulgoodeguitars]

Loving how this build looks so clean

[@adairguitars]

Cheers, fingers crossed it stays like that! 🤞👍

[@fluidalchemist68]

Great work mate.

[@adairguitars]

Cheers! 👍

[@ken46120]

I was in the process of planning the same with a 5 string headless bass. My buddy already laminated the neck.

[@adairguitars]

That sounds like a cool project. 👍

[@jurgenzoller4407]

loving this build and the videos. you ahow a lot of your ingenuity in your builds. you're one heck of a clever guy mate.

[@adairguitars]

Thanks Jurgen. I’ve enjoyed trying a few different things. I think I would get bored doing the same each time!

[@ciucinciu]

Just had this idea of a clean guitar with all the controls on the sides so i can do illustration / painting /different designs on it. but your design choice for the knobs are past borderline genius, i am very envious of you but i am way more proud of what you did

[@adairguitars]

Thanks for your comments! 👍 That would be a great idea to leave a clean canvas for some painting or designs.

[@jonnybeck6723]

Great build

[@adairguitars]

Thanks!

[@Doug_Seidlitz]

Consider this flattery, I'll be stealing your controls design! Subscribed

[@adairguitars]

Go for it, always happy to share ideas. 👍

[@borgonianevolution]

That came out awesome. I thought about doing something similar on my Explorer build but opted to torcher myself and carve a fully internal control cavity using no cover plates on the build at all. DON"T try that at home kiddies.

[@adairguitars]

Thanks! That sounds like an ambitious task! 👍

[@borgonianevolution]

@@adairguitars Oh it most certainly was. I just tonight tunneled deep enough to get the electronics in and test fit. Got some clean up and dust removal then its on to final sanding, grain filling and hopefully it will be in primer by end of the weekend.

[@BoneheadGuitars]

Awesome. I really wanted to do something like that for the ice cream machine, but I wasn't prepared to engineer something like that. I'm probably still not. lol

[@adairguitars]

Thanks Scott. It took a bit of thinking to get it all right. Very happy with the outcome.

[@ChrisFranklyn]

That could so easily have been an horrific mess. Looks really neat.

[@adairguitars]

Thanks Chris. I can tell you there have been quite a few nervous moments! Mistakes would be very hard to hide on this guitar.

[@Furtheronmusic]

Really brilliant work Love the up cycling for the knurled pot shaft bit. Another option look at all parts they do brass inserts to go on pot shafts if you're using tele style knobs

[@adairguitars]

Thanks Graham. Yes, I would have used something like that if I was able to fasten it with a grub screw. There was a bit of ‘back and forth’ between metric and imperial drill bits to get the right fit as well!

[@realitystudioscustomshop]

very neat!

[@adairguitars]

Cheers!

[@andrewmundenandcadfellmast4624]

What a cool idea, and very neatly done. I like it a lot!!

[@adairguitars]

Thanks! Not long to go for it to be finished now.

[@Yosser70]

Thats some great work there mate. Been thinking of doing something like this but realised watching this, it’s not really that practical. With normal controls, it’s one move to go from full volume to off in a split second but with this setup, it’d take 3 or 4 moves to do the same. Live players are doing it all the time so could be a bit of a pain. Doesn’t take away from the nice work though and would suit some people I’m sure.

[@adairguitars]

Thanks Dave. Yes it will take a bit more to adjust in a live situation. This one will be mostly played in a home and recording environment. 👍

[@Neal73]

Amazing work....looking forward to seeing how this continues. Did you ever consider doing away with pickups and just having a piezo system to have a completely flat look? Or is there a clever way of hiding pickups you're going to reveal?!!

[@adairguitars]

Thanks! It will be quite the opposite. The pickups will be the feature - have some nice fralin split blades to go in.

[@lyreofthecrossroads]

perfect

[@adairguitars]

Thanks!

[@LisaHarsh]

That is cool

[@adairguitars]

Thanks, I think so too! 👍

[@BBGuitars]

So good! Even if it is just an over engineered German tank ;) ;) Where did you manage to find those Gotoh pots though? I havnt been able to get on to those for ages now....

[@adairguitars]

Thanks! 😂 I’m pretty sure I got them from luthiersupplies.com.au

[@Ricobass0]

Interesting. Do let us know how the controls feel in actual use. First thought I had was that they are not easily accessible and the jack plug would stick into your thigh (when seated)

[@adairguitars]

The next video will have it all finished, so I’ll definitely know by then how it feels. The jack plug should be fine as it’s in the regular telecaster placement and the idea of the hidden controls is so they are out if the way, where they don’t need to be as accessible for the person I’m building it for. 👍

[@bhartissimo]

Version two (with the 3mm aluminium?) looks a look more sturdy than version one.

[@adairguitars]

Both were actually quite study and yes version 2 was 3mm. I realised the initial wooded block that it was screwed to, needed to be in a slightly different position and shape. Version 1 would have worked but I would have had to drill new screw holes and it wouldn’t have fully covered the wooden block. The 3mm one is more sturdy though!

[@ghosthawk65]

Fantastic work. Could I use jazzmaster turning knobs on the pots if I did a similar control setup?

[@adairguitars]

Not familiar with the size of those knobs. The slots on the side would obviously need to be larger, so it would depend if there is enough room. It might be tricky to fit a normal sized control knob like this.

[@timhallas4275]

Hide the pickups under the surface, or just go with a piezo pickup under the bridge and this will have nothing on top but a bridge..

[@adairguitars]

That could work nicely. Have already got the pickups as a feature however. I’ve got some fralin split blades, and did the inlays on the fretboard to match the design of the pickup. 👍

[@ytgibbo]

I’m totally new to this channel. Think it’s great. However, I think it’d benefit from less is more, in terms of music. I think just the sounds of the tools and the wood as you work would be a good approach. Maybe with a bit of music here and there. Anyway, I’m not here to tell you how to run your channel, keep up the good work sir. 👍🏻

[@adairguitars]

Thanks mate. I’ve played with some videos not having as much music. I usually try to mix it up so different series have a different feel. Always good to hear what people like though. 👍

[@martitrasmonte9851]

why to put the controls where you put them instead of their (IMHO) "natural" position under the lower part of the body ?

[@adairguitars]

The idea for this guitar is to have the controls hidden and out of the way. This is the best position so they’re not accidental knocked as well. 👍

[@Moremetal..]

Why all 3 audio pots? 3 Volumes?

[@adairguitars]

It will be two volumes and one tone. Will be able to blend the two pickups with the volume controls.

[@endofanera1]

I speak only for myself, but would have enjoyed this video more with no music. Kind of an ASMR type of thing.

[@adairguitars]

I think I’ve done that on a couple of videos. Will keep it in mind if people like it. 👍

[@martinlouden9005]

Beautiful workmanship but highly irritating music!

[@adairguitars]

I’m glad you like the woodwork at least.

[@TonyLondonUk]

I must I really like this having the dials hidden, it would amazing once refinished can’t wait to see the end, I wouldn’t even mind sending 1 over it would cost £50,000 by post tho lol great work wtg!!! Gonna follow on insta!!

[@adairguitars]

Thanks, it’s getting closer to being finished now. 👍