Addendum: I mentioned 3-bolt Teles, which is not entirely correct. Only the Deluxe and Custom went to three bolts. It's weird, but I've worked on far more of those than standard 70's Telecasters.
Hi ted! :D I've had these 3 bolt guitars and basses on my bench. The problem in my modest view is the sloppy pocket. I've shimmed most of them, first alighning the neck with the pickups and then shimming the sides. Its not on par with your work but it works a treat!
Hahaha…, I was going to point that out. Standard Telecasters never had these three bolt constructions. Most seventies Telecasters did have a wrong body shape. This one seems to sit in this short transitional period where the body shape is somewhere between correct and incorrect. Once you see it you cannot unsee it.
On both of those Telecasters, I've got Leo Fender in my head saying "just replace the neck! It's modular! Just replace it!" Oh, how times have changed.
Yeah, I remember reading that this was his explicit reason for the bolt-on necks. He saw his instruments as appliances for people to make music and wanted them to be easily repaired.
In 1984 I went to the guitar shop in the town next to my village to buy a Fender Telecaster, I had been saving up for the whole of my life (I was 14 years old), I had 2 newspaper rounds and saved my pocket money towards this guitar, when I got to the shop they had 3 Telecasters in stock but all 3 of them had manufacturing issues, the salesman kept knocking money off the price every time I spotted a fault but I wanted a perfect guitar. I was about to leave the shop and get a bus to the city where there were a multitude of guitar shops when he brought me a Squier Telecaster to try, I had never even heard of Squier and he told me that's what Fender were called in Japan, the guitar was perfect and sounded perfect also, it was much cheaper also, at first I thought they had made a mistake with the price. I bought the guitar and a selection of pedals also, I still have this guitar today and would put it up against any Fender USA or MIM, I have lost count of the musical friends who have asked for first shout should I ever want to sell my Telecaster, I will never sell this guitar, it feels like an extension of my body.
Around 1990/1 I bought a Japanese Squier for £100 from a junk shop, it turned out to be stolen and belonged to a Gordon Gowdie, he has TH-cam videos and tours with bands as a guitarist and last time I spoke to him he was off in a day or two for an American tour with Simple Minds. I got my money back, Gordy got his guitar back. Gordon still has that guitar which his father bought him and he says it’s great.
Good to hear a story of someone coming across the Made in Japan Squier in the wild, when it was still new and still having it to this day. I have a MIJ Squier Strat with a floyd rose and the nicest flamed maple, quartersawn neck, I've ever seen in my life. The FR was stock, which I later learned, is something that would have been only available in Japan and not for import/export. They still do that at Fender Japan... Anyway, it was an amazing guitar but unfortunately, it broke where the bridge post goes into the body, so, I have to repair it.
The darkening of the 60's Tele was beautiful, hoping to get a quick completed shot of it later. Its always a good day when a new video comes out. Thanks for sharing your craftsmanship.
An original 63 neck with a reproduction decal, a shit ton of cracks, an overlay of wood added on the side to help not make the already shit ton of cracking worse? That original 63 neck? You see the year and automatically assume it’s valuable. You’re a vintage guitar markets dream.
If it were mine, I would suggest doing the repair on the back to preserve the original face of the head stock. I realize the veneer would be edge more noticeable, but it would be on the back anyway. The cracks on the front would be mostly cosmetic, but natural looking for an old guitar.
@@JoshuaC923 I'm not sure I understand your question. Fender headstocks didn't come from the factory with a veneer like Gibson's did. The necks were solid maple.
Having butchered my first (and only so far) “drive the frets out sideways” job I now will do much better thank you Ted. Second the headstock work on “old cracky” was masterful. All of us were glued to our screens. I love it when you tackle the impossible with your Bosch Colt.
Looking at the direction them cracks are going looks like someone has hammered bushings in there that are too big maple is hard but drilled holes are vulnerable.. great job on fixing up that headstock
I remember the first refret job I did back in the late 80s. It was a 1978 Univox Les Paul copy. the frets must have been pushed in from the side like they did on the Fenders. When I pulled straight up on them using my fret pullers, big chunks of rosewood came off the fingerboard. It was so bad I had to replace the entire fingerboard plus the refret job! I didn't have to deal with an irate customer because it was mine thank goodness!
The host deserves an award for being so good at his job. Not only his guitar work...but also for his camera work and narration. By far and away, he is the best guy on youtube.
Dude! That headstock job on the ‘63 is a seriously impressive repair. Love the way you used the upper fret area as a radius block for the nut on the ‘71 as well. Kudos!
While that headstock repair probably was not very complicated on Ted's scale compared to neck resets or body damage etc., I was still amazed by the cleanness of the result.
I absolutely love your work. I don't trust any shops around here for my vintage instruments. Alas trying to absorb as much as I can to do the jobs myself. Thanks
WOW ! Thank you for this...what an incredible education. I have a tremendous amount of respect for a luthier who truly knows what he/she is doing. Wish you were in the U.S....namely, New England.
When you FIRST showed the veneer on the top of the headstock, I thought it would be hiding BIG brass screws, so when it turned out to be tiny steel brads, I was like "What were they holding?"
The machinest in you shows thru when you talk about the headstock taper of .010" I find myself getting to Precision when building guitars for the same reason of being a mech. Insp for 35 years. 😀
My first guitar was in1977 a Telecaster, the last guitar I bought 2023 was ... a Telecaster and several in between. That 71 is gorgeous. Great Channel and always brilliant when I see a new video is up..
My dad worked for Fender doing the spray jobs and he confirmed that yes, he was the one spraying the lacquer on so thick on the neck. And no he isn't sorry, ya whiney babies, he was drunk most of the time.
I make resonators mandolins and ukuleles and when I use maple for a fretboard and have to lacquer it, fretting and dressing into pre-lacquered maple is one of the harder jobs I do. Spraying over the dressed frets is so much easier. Practically impossible to get a great finish using that method but mass produced guitars aren't necessarily finished to the highest standards.
Teles....Most beautiful plank....I love 'em!...I have a '76 all original Tele...Needed to remorgage the house for a '50s or '60s one so went for affordable 70's one bought in '92 in Cardiff, UK for £300 ($400)...The shop was closing and had 3 x 70's Teles...I should have bought all 3 but was strapped for money so bought the one that was all original...Black (actually very dark green in strong lighting) body and rosewood fretboard...Still have it...Since then I went for the '76 trend and got a '76 Twin Reverb Silver face (I checked the pots for date) and a 76' natural Strat all original...Now I just need to learn to play!.. ;o)
He don't muck about do he.. I've dabbled in luterising since it was all fields round here and I love guitars and always have, but Twooford is above and beyond. Pure skills. Pure love of the work. Ta.
2 questions for my education please. Why Titebond over hyde glue on the Telecaster plug? Superb tight fit laterally on the Telecaster plug reasoning for tightness as applied to glue surface on edges, which is greatly limited; I would bet big big money you have an excellent reason, what is it? My guess is for your answer is that you want it to float some during changes. The entire channel is fascinating. One thing though Ted. You want us to find a luthier like you in our local area is a funny one😂 Your one in a million. When I heard your reasoning and observed how you remove frets and why, and I am thinking to myself I have never seen this technique ever explained or used anywhere, even some of the most famous shops. I knew then I am following this man not only for the content, but your reasoing skills I am in par with. Have a good one in Canada.
Amazing professional work especially the case with the cracked neck. The repair with the tile implanted was flawless and extremely precise. Can you please give some details about the router you used? Thanks a lot
I own a 1963 Jaguar. My neck date is March. The peg head is shallow. In fact, when I got the guitar I thought it had been fiddled with. The nut width is narrow even though it is marked as a “B”. It measures just under 1 5/8”. The string spacing cut into the nut is the same as my newish custom shop Fender, but there is more material removed on either side which makes it feel narrower. After a lot of internet research I discovered many Fenders from spring ‘63 have these identical neck features. I concluded there must have been a particular employee who was shaping necks in this way.
I like Teles bc the electronic control arrangement. Something Laikland does w at least one of their Bass models. Thats mostly why. I also love Fender’s necks. I’ve never even touched one so idk how they feel but they look so nice.
The poly on my '93 American Standard Tele's neck is a brittle as crystalized sugar. I can only image the challenge you had in not shattering that stuff.
Addendum: I mentioned 3-bolt Teles, which is not entirely correct. Only the Deluxe and Custom went to three bolts. It's weird, but I've worked on far more of those than standard 70's Telecasters.
Your videos rock!
Does this one also have a loose neck pocket or did you just say that some of them do?
I suspect that you’ve worked on more of those because of the bad quality control and the poorly thought out neck change.
Hi ted! :D
I've had these 3 bolt guitars and basses on my bench.
The problem in my modest view is the sloppy pocket.
I've shimmed most of them, first alighning the neck with the pickups and then shimming the sides.
Its not on par with your work but it works a treat!
Hahaha…, I was going to point that out. Standard Telecasters never had these three bolt constructions. Most seventies Telecasters did have a wrong body shape. This one seems to sit in this short transitional period where the body shape is somewhere between correct and incorrect. Once you see it you cannot unsee it.
As a 58 year old man Its embarrassing how excited I get when a new Ted video pops up.
Don't feel embarrassed I'm 40 and get auper excited myself bro!!!
I’m glad I’m not the only person
52, 1971 vintage like one of the guitars so I am extra excited!
I'm 63 here, and I'm right there with you.
I’m 66. I get excited too. Lol
Congratulations!! I caught myself saying "polishing, polishing, . . . polishing" during that dead air.
Pavlov would be proud.
"Ring, ring , goes the bell..me too.
Me too
Same here!
So did I, kinda disappointed he didn't say it actually
@@jamesunderhill1603 I'm guessing it's because he already said "planing, planing, planing."
. . . or maybe it was a test.
On both of those Telecasters, I've got Leo Fender in my head saying "just replace the neck! It's modular! Just replace it!"
Oh, how times have changed.
Is that where he left off to?
Vintagey weigh more than the initial functional design. Leo gonna roll in his grave
Yeah, I remember reading that this was his explicit reason for the bolt-on necks. He saw his instruments as appliances for people to make music and wanted them to be easily repaired.
Sounds like a selling point of that day vs Gibson.
I think you are correct ;)
In 1984 I went to the guitar shop in the town next to my village to buy a Fender Telecaster, I had been saving up for the whole of my life (I was 14 years old), I had 2 newspaper rounds and saved my pocket money towards this guitar, when I got to the shop they had 3 Telecasters in stock but all 3 of them had manufacturing issues, the salesman kept knocking money off the price every time I spotted a fault but I wanted a perfect guitar.
I was about to leave the shop and get a bus to the city where there were a multitude of guitar shops when he brought me a Squier Telecaster to try, I had never even heard of Squier and he told me that's what Fender were called in Japan, the guitar was perfect and sounded perfect also, it was much cheaper also, at first I thought they had made a mistake with the price.
I bought the guitar and a selection of pedals also, I still have this guitar today and would put it up against any Fender USA or MIM, I have lost count of the musical friends who have asked for first shout should I ever want to sell my Telecaster, I will never sell this guitar, it feels like an extension of my body.
Around 1990/1 I bought a Japanese Squier for £100 from a junk shop, it turned out to be stolen and belonged to a Gordon Gowdie, he has TH-cam videos and tours with bands as a guitarist and last time I spoke to him he was off in a day or two for an American tour with Simple Minds. I got my money back, Gordy got his guitar back. Gordon still has that guitar which his father bought him and he says it’s great.
Good to hear a story of someone coming across the Made in Japan Squier in the wild, when it was still new and still having it to this day. I have a MIJ Squier Strat with a floyd rose and the nicest flamed maple, quartersawn neck, I've ever seen in my life. The FR was stock, which I later learned, is something that would have been only available in Japan and not for import/export. They still do that at Fender Japan... Anyway, it was an amazing guitar but unfortunately, it broke where the bridge post goes into the body, so, I have to repair it.
You sir are the Bob Ross of stringed instruments. I applaud your diligence, patience and calm demeanor
The darkening of the 60's Tele was beautiful, hoping to get a quick completed shot of it later. Its always a good day when a new video comes out. Thanks for sharing your craftsmanship.
The amount of care, precision, and attention to detail you apply to your work is something we all should aspire to apply to our own lives!
I can’t imagine myself ever having the confidence to take a router to the headstock of an original ‘63 neck. Bravo.
It's just a tool and a piece of wood. Be a man.
An original 63 neck with a reproduction decal, a shit ton of cracks, an overlay of wood added on the side to help not make the already shit ton of cracking worse? That original 63 neck? You see the year and automatically assume it’s valuable. You’re a vintage guitar markets dream.
If it were mine, I would suggest doing the repair on the back to preserve the original face of the head stock. I realize the veneer would be edge more noticeable, but it would be on the back anyway. The cracks on the front would be mostly cosmetic, but natural looking for an old guitar.
@@qua7771but the front itself is a replacement veneer right?
@@JoshuaC923 I'm not sure I understand your question. Fender headstocks didn't come from the factory with a veneer like Gibson's did. The necks were solid maple.
Having butchered my first (and only so far) “drive the frets out sideways” job I now will do much better thank you Ted. Second the headstock work on “old cracky” was masterful. All of us were glued to our screens. I love it when you tackle the impossible with your Bosch Colt.
The work on that Tele headstock is brilliant. I thoroughly enjoyed watching that.
Seamless transitions between the '60s Telecaster, the '70s Telecaster, and the '80s Steinberger prototype. 🤓
In all seriousness, lovely as usual. 👍
Having a Woodford repair on one of instruments would be like a merit badge. "Here’s where it’s stronger than it was before it broke."
I think you could probably drop off a bag of sawdust and when you picked it back up it would be a perfectly set up guitar
The Fender Telecaster, in my humble opinion, is the greatest electric guitar ever made! It's the Wheel! Thanks, Uncle Leo! 😀👍🏻🎸🎶🎶🎶✌️
Wow, I haven't to date seen a headstock repair like that one. It looks amazing. Thank you for posting this.
This brother takes pride in his work. Commendable!
Looking at the direction them cracks are going looks like someone has hammered bushings in there that are too big maple is hard but drilled holes are vulnerable.. great job on fixing up that headstock
I laughed, I cried, I said "Polishing, polishing, polishing" on cue.
This one checked all the boxes. Thanks Ted.
I remember the first refret job I did back in the late 80s. It was a 1978 Univox Les Paul copy. the frets must have been pushed in from the side like they did on the Fenders. When I pulled straight up on them using my fret pullers, big chunks of rosewood came off the fingerboard. It was so bad I had to replace the entire fingerboard plus the refret job! I didn't have to deal with an irate customer because it was mine thank goodness!
Your reaction to the cut screen was perfect. “No!”
The transitions are comedic gold 😂 thanks for the awesome video Ted. And hello from BC!
Fun watching the repairs, thanks
You are a beast! The ultimate compliment given to a tradesman in spanish is to be called “Maistro” and you sir are a true Maistro
The host deserves an award for being so good at his job. Not only his guitar work...but also for his camera work and narration. By far and away, he is the best guy on youtube.
The level and depth of knowledge, skill, and history is breath taking. What a master.
Your expertise is only exceeded by the soothing tones of your voice, Ted!🙂
Beautiful work Doctor!
Dude! That headstock job on the ‘63 is a seriously impressive repair. Love the way you used the upper fret area as a radius block for the nut on the ‘71 as well. Kudos!
After having attempted some minor fret work, I really appreciate Ted’s handy work! It’s not easy to make fret work look so easy!
Oh noooo! TRANSITION!!
lol
Great video, I greatly appreciate your teachings, and your humor.
Greetings from Tennessee...
My God. That headstock plug is the mightiest show of bravery I have seen in a long time. Bravo, sir.
While that headstock repair probably was not very complicated on Ted's scale compared to neck resets or body damage etc., I was still amazed by the cleanness of the result.
Thank you I enjoyed todays video as always and learned something new.
Your master of your craft sir. Keep up the amazing work. I do enjoy the videos.
There will always be an audience for watching something expertly done.
Taping sandpaper to the fretboard to radius the bottom of the nut is genius. Still get little nuggets even after all this time.
Just make sure it's a constant radius fingerboard. :)
I have learned a lot from your videos. Thanks for making them. I am 70 years old, and built my first acoustic guitar (Stew-Mac kit) two years ago.
Once again Ted I’m blown away with your work and I love teles so double wow great 👍🏻
Such beautiful work!
Enjoyed your playing at the end
Love the new transitions
Well done!....another enjoyable repair video 😊
I absolutely love your work. I don't trust any shops around here for my vintage instruments. Alas trying to absorb as much as I can to do the jobs myself. Thanks
I am forever a fan! Every time I watch you I learn something new…
Just really do like your approaches to all situations! Be well.
WOW ! Thank you for this...what an incredible education. I have a tremendous amount of respect for a luthier who truly knows what he/she is doing. Wish you were in the U.S....namely, New England.
Great video! I’ve got a 74 Tele with a rosewood board that needs a refret, I’m desperately seeking somebody in the UK who’ll take as much care.
When you FIRST showed the veneer on the top of the headstock, I thought it would be hiding BIG brass screws, so when it turned out to be tiny steel brads, I was like "What were they holding?"
The machinest in you shows thru when you talk about the headstock taper of .010"
I find myself getting to Precision when building guitars for the same reason of being a mech. Insp for 35 years. 😀
Nice repair,liked the veneer overlay,nice picking!you make my big toe jump up in my boot!LOL
Like the Scorses-esque pause and voice over explaining the pool noodle on the fret press.
Well done Ian; a nicely balanced set of arguments on a potentially, very emotive issue.
Still flabbergasted at only 120k subs…why not 1 million plus? 🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️
Another awesome job. I'm such a big fan of your work. I learned so much from your videos. Thanks for all the content.
Thanks for the heart attack, I just screamed at the thumbnail WTF HAVE YOU DONE
Amazing job!!! This was one of my favourite videos you have posted. Incredible work all around!
That’s a dream tele. Love everything about it
We've got a J Torres!
How cool is that, dude made so many guitars.. all those songs written on guitars he made, isn't that awesome
Beautifully done as always Ted, thanks so much for sharing!
Best job of this I've ever seen!
So many people forget about the sideways loading…
My first guitar was in1977 a Telecaster, the last guitar I bought 2023 was ... a Telecaster and several in between. That 71 is gorgeous. Great Channel and always brilliant when I see a new video is up..
Remarkable craftsmanship! Always fascinating, always look forward to watch your tlc. Thanks Ted!
Love all Ted's videos but this is a particularly good one. Love the inlay and veneer on the Tele headstock. Wonderful stuff!
Top notch T! Very top notch work!
beautifull work!
I HEARD IT!! EVEN THOUGH HE DIDN'T SAY IT... I ACTUALLY HEARD IT!!! 🤪 24:42
Poli…..?
As usual, more successful resurrections. These guitars will live on and meet their future!
Its such a privilege and a pleasure to watch you work.
My dad worked for Fender doing the spray jobs and he confirmed that yes, he was the one spraying the lacquer on so thick on the neck. And no he isn't sorry, ya whiney babies, he was drunk most of the time.
Those fumes will do that
That transition fix for the jaws is GENIUS and I am stealing it.
Teller's are way ahead of Strats!!! Love mine!!
What an amazing repair!
I never thought of using sandpaper on the fingerboard to shape the nut. Thank you.
As usual, an absolutely masterful job given the issues with both instruments. Bravo!
On these necks, I heat up the frets and remove the lacquer dam with a sharp chisel. Prevents the chipping.
24:48 “And that’s how you do frets!” Sounds easy!
Top work. Well done.
Unbelieveble nice jobs! 💥
My 75 tele is a 4 bolt sunburst lefty and it’s absolutely beautiful! Has an original WRHB in there too!
This might be the greatest video you've ever produced.
Very well done friend!!!
I was disappointed at not finally getting to see that 63 finished.
There is absolutely no logic for the overwhelming affinity I feel for the shape of a Tele headstock. So damn beautiful...
I make resonators mandolins and ukuleles and when I use maple for a fretboard and have to lacquer it, fretting and dressing into pre-lacquered maple is one of the harder jobs I do. Spraying over the dressed frets is so much easier. Practically impossible to get a great finish using that method but mass produced guitars aren't necessarily finished to the highest standards.
Switching back and forth between guitars was like reading a good book with multiple protagonists.
Teles....Most beautiful plank....I love 'em!...I have a '76 all original Tele...Needed to remorgage the house for a '50s or '60s one so went for affordable 70's one bought in '92 in Cardiff, UK for £300 ($400)...The shop was closing and had 3 x 70's Teles...I should have bought all 3 but was strapped for money so bought the one that was all original...Black (actually very dark green in strong lighting) body and rosewood fretboard...Still have it...Since then I went for the '76 trend and got a '76 Twin Reverb Silver face (I checked the pots for date) and a 76' natural Strat all original...Now I just need to learn to play!.. ;o)
I love the new transition screen! haha.
Always a pleassure seeing your videos. Excellent work.
Thank you Ted!
As a somewhat older than 58 years man i was impressed by your repairs 😂👍
He don't muck about do he.. I've dabbled in luterising since it was all fields round here and I love guitars and always have, but Twooford is above and beyond.
Pure skills. Pure love of the work.
Ta.
Thank you Ted 👍👍👍🎸
2 questions for my education please. Why Titebond over hyde glue on the Telecaster plug? Superb tight fit laterally on the Telecaster plug reasoning for tightness as applied to glue surface on edges, which is greatly limited; I would bet big big money you have an excellent reason, what is it? My guess is for your answer is that you want it to float some during changes. The entire channel is fascinating. One thing though Ted. You want us to find a luthier like you in our local area is a funny one😂 Your one in a million. When I heard your reasoning and observed how you remove frets and why, and I am thinking to myself I have never seen this technique ever explained or used anywhere, even some of the most famous shops. I knew then I am following this man not only for the content, but your reasoing skills I am in par with. Have a good one in Canada.
Amazing professional work especially the case with the cracked neck. The repair with the tile implanted was flawless and extremely precise. Can you please give some details about the router you used? Thanks a lot
I own a 1963 Jaguar. My neck date is March. The peg head is shallow. In fact, when I got the guitar I thought it had been fiddled with. The nut width is narrow even though it is marked as a “B”. It measures just under 1 5/8”. The string spacing cut into the nut is the same as my newish custom shop Fender, but there is more material removed on either side which makes it feel narrower. After a lot of internet research I discovered many Fenders from spring ‘63 have these identical neck features. I concluded there must have been a particular employee who was shaping necks in this way.
Man, that fretboard would end up being nice vintage firewood if I tried to push those old frets out like that. Respect.
I like Teles bc the electronic control arrangement. Something Laikland does w at least one of their Bass models. Thats mostly why. I also love Fender’s necks. I’ve never even touched one so idk how they feel but they look so nice.
Great episode. I dig the electric stuff.
The poly on my '93 American Standard Tele's neck is a brittle as crystalized sugar. I can only image the challenge you had in not shattering that stuff.
good stuff... that 63 is gonna play/tune/sound/look so much better. wicked nice refret on the other...kudos!!
That repair was a masterpiece! Thanks for sharing!