Notes, and finished specification, for a "Joe Strummer replica" Telecaster (with Fender "Baja" tone circuit)
Custom, “Joe Strummer” Fender Telecaster (#2/Baja). Finished specification.
Joe Strummer Replica Telecaster. Final adjustments to detail.
I built this Joe Strummer relic project, partly for the hell of it - but also as a gift to a close mate, and lifelong Strummer fan. I've had a good deal of fun playing the guitar in, and I'm genrally pleased with the way the build has gone. The guitar will be moving on soon - so I've got a last chance to look it over, and make any final tweaks and adjustments.
Custom, Joe Strummer Telecaster. Finished specification.
A Joe Strummer telecaster, relic project seems to be a bit of a "right of passage" for self-builders. It's somewhat liberating to be able to put a guitar together whilst having a bit of freedom to "rough up" the finish along the way. Over the last month or so, I’ve managed to finish both the Jaguar and the Strummercaster. It'll be interesting to see how they match up against each other.
Strummercaster setup.
Seems like it's setup week in Garageland. Both the Jaguar and Telecaster projects are nearing completion at the same time. With thoughts turning to possibilites for the next project, it's time to setup the Tele and see if it sounds in keeping with its' looks.
The Joe Strummer Telecaster. Pickup and control circuit wiring installation.
The Telecaster control circuit is about a basic a circuit as exists for electric guitars. There's an additional modification in this case - the addition of a treble bleed - but the circuit is simple, and ideal for a relative beginner in guitar electronics like me, to get to know how things get connected
The Strummercaster. Pickup, and final hardware installation.
The pickups need to be screwed into place so they can eventually be wired into the guitar circuit. There are a few bits and pieces of hardware to follow up as well, before I need to move on to building and connecting up the switching circuit.
Ignore Alien Orders. That’s an order…
The "Ignore Alien Orders" sticker on Strummer's guitar is iconic. Whilst I'm not out to make an exact replica - I want this crucial part of the build to look authentic.
Ageing the neck and scratchplate to match the Strummercaster body.
I figure the body is about 75% of the way done. It's a good idea to bring the whole project along to the same level - so I want to concentrate on the neck and scratchplate to bring them up to speed.
Faking it. 50 years of use and abuse, in a single day.
Having taken a brand new Telecaster body, and faked a bit of a paint job on it - I now have to find a way to convincingly reproduce 40+ years of use and abuse. Of course, I could just sit and play the guitar for 40 years - but I want faster results than that. Could I do it in a day?
Rubbing out the decal.
I didn't like this decal from the off. I'm pretty sure it isn't right for a '66 - but I don't like the look of it anyway.
Garageland 