New Neck Day (the continuing story of the Esquire)

[PTony]

Originally Posted by rockabilly69

Recently I built two Tele style Partscasters. The first, a Fiesta Red conventional 2 pickup style with matching Fiesta Red headstock neck...





Then I built a Fiesta Red Esquire...



But I didn't like the color, it was just to pink/orange, too bright so to say...

So I swapped the body for British racing green, and I liked that, then I added an anodized pickguard which I really liked, and then finally, I found a really good deal on a Fender Pro Tele neck. So out with the OG neck, and in with the American Pro Tele neck. And voila, I'm finally satisfied.

So although all the guts are the same, it's like a totally different guitar.

Why did I swap out necks?

I love the satin finish (and the flame) on the back of the neck, with the gloss on the face.



I really like having access to the truss-rod from the headstock



high ratio and smooth tuning



I think the white dots look great on the dark rosewood fingerboard



I love how the dark fingerboard neck blends with the green body and the anodized guard!



Funny, when I swapped the bodies there was no tone change (they were both poplar, and about the same weight), but with the new neck, the tone changed quite a bit. Fortunately, it stills sounds great! The new neck came with Kluson locking revolution tuners, which have a nice feel, look vintage from the front, and are much easier to use than the Fender/Gotoh lockers that were on the other neck. They weigh more than the other tuners, and that typically would bug me, but the guitar is fairly lightweight, and it doesn't neck dive, so I don't think it's a big deal.

Gorgeous!!! Love the color combo. You have good taste, friend. I bet they play and sound fantastic. Love the single pickup/esquire. What great guitars. Nice job!

[rockabilly69]

Originally Posted by PTony

Gorgeous!!! Love the color combo. You have good taste, friend. I bet they play and sound fantastic. Love the single pickup/esquire. What great guitars. Nice job!

Thanks my man I hope you're having fun with your new Tele!

[PTony]

Originally Posted by rockabilly69

Thanks my man I hope you're having fun with your new Tele!

No thanks necessary, friend! But, you’re welcome. I hope you’re enjoying yours as well. They’re REALLY gorgeous.

I’m loving mine. My 335 still gets a lot of my attention, but the Tele seems to get equal time as of late.

I’m almost done with the neck smoothing. It’s 99% there.

I’ve adjusted the neck relief a bit, set it up with .010’s, intonation completed (no fun on the 3 brass barrel saddles), string height tweaked/lowered, string radius tweaked a bit, pickup heights adjusted.

It’s so good. I can’t stop saying that, I know. But it truly is “special”. That “old pair of jeans” analogy is very fitting. Pardon the pun.

[rockabilly69]

Originally Posted by PTony

I’m almost done with the neck smoothing. It’s 99% there. I’ve adjusted the neck relief a bit, set it up with .010’s, intonation completed (no fun on the 3 brass barrel saddles), string height tweaked/lowered, string radius tweaked a bit, pickup heights adjusted..

That's my favorite part of building a new partscaster. And when I'm done, I love how the guitar feels. Sometime it takes a fret levelling, or cutting the nut slots a bit deeper, but whatever it takes, it sure is worth it.

[rockabilly69]

Not leaving well enough alone, I thought a fun guitar needed a fun pick-guard, and I found this one, a little Tarot card MOJO It's a little busy but looks pretty cool in person.

[Dru Edwards]

Cool. I've never seen that before. Looks like the Rider-Waite deck (at least the Temperance card does).

Originally Posted by rockabilly69

Not leaving well enough alone, I thought a fun guitar needed a fun pick-guard, and I found this one, a little Tarot card MOJO It's a little busy but looks pretty cool in person.

[Chickee]

Originally Posted by rockabilly69

Not leaving well enough alone, I thought a fun guitar needed a fun pick-guard, and I found this one, a little Tarot card MOJO It's a little busy but looks pretty cool in person.

You are an absolute trip!! Bahahaha🎶🎸🎶

[rockabilly69]

Originally Posted by Chickee

You are an absolute trip!! Bahahaha🎶🎸🎶

Good one Frank I found this pickguard in Canada through a company called Greasy Groove. https://greasygroove.com/

The quality is very nice, and I couldn't believe how quick it got to me!!! Some people gave the company bad reviews but I think that was before they got their stuff together.

[Chickee]

Originally Posted by rockabilly69

Good one Frank I found this pickguard in Canada through a company called Greasy Groove. https://greasygroove.com/

The quality is very nice, and I couldn't believe how quick it got to me!!! Some people gave the company bad reviews but I think that was before they got their stuff together.

Thanks for the contact info, Rocky!
That tele is just killer with those spooky cards on there.
Be well Dano.
fd

[SalFromChatham]

Green with envy…. I love everything about that guitar!

[rockabilly69]

Originally Posted by Chickee

Thanks for the contact info, Rocky!
That tele is just killer with those spooky cards on there.
Be well Dano.
fd

Thanks Frank, they have many cool designs. I think some of the old monster movie posters would look great on a Tele. I like this old 50ft woman poster guard...

https://greasygroove.com/50ft-woman-...ntera-50s.html


I have so many guitars that are so classic looking that I wanted something different with a little sense of humor and individuality.

And you be well yourself Frank!

[rockabilly69]

Originally Posted by SalFromChatham

Green with envy…. I love everything about that guitar!

Thanks Sal! I nicknamed it Envy.