“The Fender Telecaster, colloquially known as the Tele /ˈtɛli/, is the world’s first commercially successful solid-body electric guitar. Its simple yet effective design and revolutionary sound broke ground and set trends in electric guitar manufacturing and popular music.” Wikipedia

This is not a Fender Tele. This is a Walsh ‘Telepath’ custom ‘tele style’ solid body two-pickup electric built by local Rocklin luthier Forrest Walsh. The butcher block method was inspired by surfboard construction according to Forrest and was his eighth build.

Originally called the Broadcaster, legal action from the Gretsch company over their existing ‘Broadkaster’ drums forced Fender to rename it: Telecaster, a stroke of luck for Fender.

The builder of this ‘butcher block’ Tele says he bought bridge, tuners (Gotoh style 14:1), and pickups at guitarfetish.com/.

Here’s Forrest on the guitar’s neck:

“The neck is pre-built from KMise. I buy their stuff on EBay. I’ve used them in several builds and have only had to send one neck back. When I get the necks I sand off the factory finish and refinish with Behlen’s Stringed Instrument Lacquer.”

 

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“I also do a fret level and dressing. The frets are in place but are pretty sharp along the edges and are never level. But I had the same problem with a Warmoth and a couple of Fender-licensed Mighty Mite necks so I think that’s just part of what you have to expect when you buy them. Not a big deal to level and dress. I put on a movie and go to work.”

“The volume/tone pots are CTS and the switch is a GuitarFetish 3-way. The capacitor is a polyester “gum drop”. The pickup and electronic cavities are all shielded with copper foil. Doesn’t completely eliminate the hum in the single coil pickups but does help.”

This Tele-style guitar possesses the bright, clear, twanging tones of the original Fender Telecaster. Leo Fender’s outfit never built a Tele like this one though. Thanks Mr. Walsh.

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