Inspired by Paul A Bigsby and Leo Fender!

[twangyt]

My new tele project. I decided since I could never afford a real Bigsby guitar, and I do love tele's...
http://i706.photobucket.com/albums/ww69/twangyt72/telebestcase.jpg

[nmiller]

That is the best-looking Tele I have ever seen! It's nice to see other people appreciate P.A.'s sense of style. What's the dark wood? Walnut?

[twangyt]

Thanks a million! Yes, the dark wood is walnut and the body is ash. Solid walnut neck and walnut for the pickguard and binding. I started this project and it just took off from there... I worked off and on for about 2 1/2 years on this. I love Merle Travis and wanted a tele that I could do some serious picking on! I gotta say that I am more than thrilled with the result. It even stays in tune pretty well! I was also very pleased to see the Bigsby book that was released earlier this year... it's about time the man started getting a little more recognition for his woodworking abilities!
http://i706.photobucket.com/albums/ww69/twangyt72/closeupteleagainsthouse.jpg

[twangyt]

Closer look at the binding:http://i706.photobucket.com/albums/ww69/twangyt72/telecloseside.jpg

[twangyt]

And back:
http://i706.photobucket.com/albums/ww69/twangyt72/teleback.jpg

[twangyt]

One more for gluttony!
http://i706.photobucket.com/albums/ww69/twangyt72/teleagainsthouse.jpg

[TravisE]

Love it!! That looks fantastic. I'm a huge fan of Paul Bigsby's guitars. I'd trade damn-near any of my guitars to find one of those reissued ones. They're impossible to find.

[Jahn]

you know how some Teles can get away with not being labeled a cowboy guitar? Not in this case! Ride 'em, Cowboy!

[guitarmook]

well done!

I have a bigsby RI and a few teles, and that looks GREAT!

[twangyt]

I have actually seen a couple on ebay in the last year - and, if I am not mistaken, Bigsby may still have a few more left for sale. I am thinking about the card suite inlay on the neck for this one eventually. Just like Travis'! I know what you mean, though - I saw one of the Martin/Bigsby neck Merle Travis guitars this week in Atlanta and about cried... especially when I saw the pricetag of $6400.00!!!!!!!!!

[twangyt]

Thanks for the comments you guys!

[Mcclassic]

I have to admit that I think that it's an excellent work, the guitar looks very beautiful, congratulations on an excellent job and enjoy it.

[cber1517]

:bow - nice work, brother!

:aok:drool

[lamenlovinit]

B-16 and the wood trim pieces? A thing of beauty...

[EricPeterson]

very, very cool. Definately one of the coolest teles I have ever seen.

[pfflam]

That is ulta fantastic

I like it better than a real Bigsby
Mostly cause its a labor of your love and you made it for you!!
But also cause I love B-16 Teles

How do you like the B-16?

I have one, and I tell you it is the sweetest tremelo EVAR!

So subtle and fluid, and it feels so great, the distance from the body -it took a little to get used to, but it really is my #1 now for sure, and I swear it added a lot of depth to my tone.

Your guitar is really something special, I hope it plays as sweet as it looks, and if not yet then with as few changes as possible.


You should snag one of those Merle Travis handles for the trem.

[musicofanatic5]

Wow, too cool!! A double-bound, wood binding job on a tele body is the sign of an obsessed human! I did binding on a tele body once (with a fore-arm top-bevel, no less) and still refer to it as my last attempt at that sort of foolishment.

Wasn't it Merle, and not Bigsby (re: the comment about "P.A.'s sense of style") who designed the curly-cue armrest and p.g. initially? I'm recalling Travis's personal account where he describes himself as an amateur cartoonist, and that he sketched out these cosmetic details on the back of a radio programming sheet, and had P.A. exclaiming "What the hell's them for?!?"

I played Tiny Moore's five-string mandolin once. That's the closest I've been to real Bigsbydom.

[Pa'ani]

Congratulations on a very cool looking Tele!

[Mike Duncan]

I'd buy one.

[jaydawg76]

I really like it!

How was working with walnut for the neck?

[VanR]

Wow. Nice. Very Creative.

[wingwalker]

Bad ass!!!

[twangyt]

Wow, too cool!! A double-bound, wood binding job on a tele body is the sign of an obsessed human! I did binding on a tele body once (with a fore-arm top-bevel, no less) and still refer to it as my last attempt at that sort of foolishment.

Wasn't it Merle, and not Bigsby (re: the comment about "P.A.'s sense of style") who designed the curly-cue armrest and p.g. initially? I'm recalling Travis's personal account where he describes himself as an amateur cartoonist, and that he sketched out these cosmetic details on the back of a radio programming sheet, and had P.A. exclaiming "What the hell's them for?!?"

I played Tiny Moore's five-string mandolin once. That's the closest I've been to real Bigsbydom.

Again, thanks for the comments fellas!
You are not kidding about the binding. It is not for the faint at heart by any means. When you consider that walnut is so brittle and will easily break if you look at it the wrong way, it makes for a very interesting job. Steam bending is definitley my friend now; something I had not looked into much before this.
And yes, I agree with you 100% about Merle Travis. He was basically the inspiration for this overall project for me - and, if you believe what you read, one of the main reasons that we had the electric guitar in 1954. He met Paul Bigsby through a shared love for motorcycles and western swing and the Bigsby guitar (and the vibrato) was one of the results. Paul seemed to really cherish his friendship with Merle. Merle Travis is truely an American icon and is still to this day respected as one of the best musicians, guitarists, and entertainers of all time. Not to mention a wildman!!! One of favorites for sure... Chet Atkins named his daughter after him for cryin' out loud! (as well as Doc Watson's son)

Wow... you got to actually play one of Paul Bigsby's creations?!?! That is great. I think that I have an LP of Tiny's with him holding the mondolin on the cover... that is about as close as I'll ever get!

[twangyt]

That is ulta fantastic

I like it better than a real Bigsby
Mostly cause its a labor of your love and you made it for you!!
But also cause I love B-16 Teles

How do you like the B-16?

I have one, and I tell you it is the sweetest tremelo EVAR!

So subtle and fluid, and it feels so great, the distance from the body -it took a little to get used to, but it really is my #1 now for sure, and I swear it added a lot of depth to my tone.

Your guitar is really something special, I hope it plays as sweet as it looks, and if not yet then with as few changes as possible.


You should snag one of those Merle Travis handles for the trem.

Thanks! I absolutely love the B16 on that tele. I think that the set-up is crucial when installing it, but if you get it right, and the neck angle just right, I agree - it is fantastic! I have a delrin nut on the neck so it helps keep it in tune. I am pleased to say that it does play and sound as I had hoped. The Bigsby helped to open-up the tone a little and fill it out - no too much bite (don't get me wrong, that is exactly how a tele should sound but I was going for something a little more softer).

I also like the idea of making something - it's what these guys did when they invented the dang things!!!! Hard to believe that there was a time when the stratocaster didn't exist, isn't it?!?!!

[twangyt]

I really like it!

How was working with walnut for the neck?

Thanks! I haven't had any issues with the neck to date. It is a pretty straight neck. The walnut feels great and has a very warm sound. I had never seen a solid walnut tele neck used before and it was something new. It worked out well. I finished the guitar in lacquer and the neck and pickguard in tru-oil. Tru-oil has quickly become one of my favorite neck finishes EVER!

[HRydarcik]

That is one very cool Tele...great job!

[Isaac W.]

Dude, you are most definitely channeling P.A. Those bindings are kick ass.

That's the most original tele I've ever seen. And all good ole N. American hardwood.
Real Nice!

[Quarter]

Very nice ... Good job!

[twangyt]

Very nice ... Good job!

Again, thanks to everyone for the nice words! I am really enjoying playing this one!

[Jura]

looks great!

[rogwerks]

Sweeeeeeettttt!!!!!

[IPLAYLOUD]

I just got the Bigsby Book a couple of weeks ago. Now I see THIS...and I LOVE B-16's. You did a masterful job!! Stunning.
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll92/IPLAYLOUDGUITARS/BHlookingDown.jpg

[rolltide]

Absolutely gorgeous! I'm sure Merle would have picked it up and played it in a heartbeat.

[HelloKittyHawk!]

"Inspired" is the word!

Definitely do the card suite inlays.

Did you build the body and neck from scratch and, if not, whose parts did you use?

Where's you find those knobs and the switch tip?

If you ever do another, how about a birdseye maple top (thin enough to not mess with ash's perfect Tele tone)? Anyway, Bravo!

[twangyt]

"Inspired" is the word!

Definitely do the card suite inlays.

Did you build the body and neck from scratch and, if not, whose parts did you use?

Where's you find those knobs and the switch tip?

If you ever do another, how about a birdseye maple top (thin enough to not mess with ash's perfect Tele tone)? Anyway, Bravo!


I am slowly learning the inlay process.. but the inlays are gonna happen!
I wish that I could say that this guitar was made intirely from scratch, but not the case. This project started out as an afterthought, and then quickly became an obsession from there. The body is a Warmoth that I got on clearance, and the neck is a wonderfully crafted Musikraft that I got back sometime last year when they were auctioning off some of their reserve stock. (I found Musikraft a pleasure to deal with and the neck is a great one.) The knobs, etc, were pieced together as the project went along... basically everything else was bought second-hand that went into hardware... the pickups, plates, and Bigsby all came from fellow TGP'ers. (Which I think is one of the greatest resources online for a guitarist-great deals everytime!).

It was painstaking making the templates for the walnut, but this means that I can make one again in no time... don't think that I haven't already started thinking about a semi-hollow body capped with birdseye with rear mounted controls!

I have to say that I am absolutely thrilled by the sound of this thing. The walnut neck is a thing of beauty!

Again, a BIG thanks to everyone who has chimed in with some words of encouragement!!!

Oh yeah, I NEEEEEEED to add that this weekend I became the proud new owner of a Martin/Bigsby Merle Travis D-28. It is #9 out of a run of 100, which I though was fitting considering that it was a 9lb. hammer... number 9 coal... and engine #9 that Merle sang about so well.

I don't think that this guitar will be going anywhere, anytime soon.

Does anybody think that I am a little obsessed!?! My girlfriend can even tell you where Ebenezer, KY is on a map!!!

[George Johnson]

Really (REALLY) nice. :aok