The $100 Tele project - You'll never think about building guitars the same way again

Discussion in 'Guitars in General' started by shark_bite, Feb 19, 2009.


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  1. Feb 19, 2009 #1
    shark_bite

    shark_bite Member

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    I'm sure a few of you have seen this already if you're over on the TDPRI, but for those who haven't, I thought I'd post this here. I don't get on there very often, but I did yesterday and noticed that they're running a really slick contest - a build-a-Tele-for-$100 contest. All the dudes doing it are doing some neat stuff, but this one really stands out:

    http://www.tdpri.com/forum/tele-home-depot/148314-%24100-telecaster-challenge-scattesquire.html

    This one in particular stands out because everything is handmade pretty much. No CNC, no sourcing of the body/neck/hardware... it's all being done in a pretty low-tech shop (no lights and only one power outlet) with a minimal set of tools and a TON of creativity. So far he's got just about everything built already except for the electronics and some of the hardware, and he's only spent a grand total of $0.72 (wood cost isn't factored in, but I doubt the slab he's using cost that much anyway). Pretty cool stuff....

    Check out some of the other builds in progress here - there are a few others doing the challenge: http://www.tdpri.com/forum/tele-home-depot/
     
    shark_bite, Feb 19, 2009
    shark_bite, Feb 19, 2009
    #1
  2. Feb 19, 2009 #2
    Polynitro

    Polynitro Member

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    gee to think all one needs to do to build a Tele for $100 is become a luthier. :bow
     
    Polynitro, Feb 19, 2009
    Polynitro, Feb 19, 2009
    #2
  3. Feb 19, 2009 #3
    Shamus

    Shamus Supporting Member

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    Awesome,,, wonderful work and creativity.

    Should rename it the..

    Recessioncaster challenge!
     
    Shamus, Feb 19, 2009
    Shamus, Feb 19, 2009
    #3
  4. Feb 19, 2009 #4
    pickaguitar

    pickaguitar 2011 TGP Silver Medalist Silver Supporting Member

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    Amazing thread!

    thx
     
    pickaguitar, Feb 19, 2009
    pickaguitar, Feb 19, 2009
    #4
  5. Feb 19, 2009 #5
    jaycee

    jaycee Member

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    Damn, the man has skills!!!!
     
    jaycee, Feb 19, 2009
    jaycee, Feb 19, 2009
    #5
  6. Feb 19, 2009 #6
    Broken Cord

    Broken Cord Member

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    Awsome! Makes one think why anyone would pay thousands of dollars for a guitar. The true wood sheding.
     
    Broken Cord, Feb 19, 2009
    Broken Cord, Feb 19, 2009
    #6
  7. Feb 19, 2009 #7
    fr8_trane

    fr8_trane Member

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    Materials $100
    Tools $10,000
    Time - weeks/months?
    Skill - More than most of us

    Calling the finished guitar a "$100" tele... PRICELESS!
     
    fr8_trane, Feb 19, 2009
    fr8_trane, Feb 19, 2009
    #7
  8. Feb 19, 2009 #8
    shark_bite

    shark_bite Member

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    Clearly you didn't read the thread... there's no way that guy is using $10k of tools, not even close. Only a couple of them are power tools. And he started building guitars 3 months ago I guess - this particular build on Friday night.

    But skill? Yes... there I'd agree. More than most of us indeed.
     
    shark_bite, Feb 19, 2009
    shark_bite, Feb 19, 2009
    #8
  9. Feb 19, 2009 #9
    fr8_trane

    fr8_trane Member

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    Ok 10k was exaggerated... I was kidding around.

    However I don't own a router, a jig saw, a circular saw, a hack saw, a vice, a dremel, all those clamps, a thread die, a workshop or a real workbench. Kind of a large outlay for me to try and duplicate his work. And even if I did own all that I couldn't have done what he did in 6 months or 6 years. Incredible job but still not a $100 guitar IMO.
     
    fr8_trane, Feb 19, 2009
    fr8_trane, Feb 19, 2009
    #9
  10. Feb 19, 2009 #10
    shark_bite

    shark_bite Member

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    Doesn't it make you want to buy all that stuff and try though? Man. I'm not kidding... 75% of my reaction is awe... the other 25% is, "I should be able to do that too, right?"
     
    shark_bite, Feb 19, 2009
    shark_bite, Feb 19, 2009
    #10
  11. Feb 19, 2009 #11
    DucRyder

    DucRyder Member

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    I agree... that's no $100 outlay, not even including time.
     
    DucRyder, Feb 19, 2009
    DucRyder, Feb 19, 2009
    #11
  12. Feb 19, 2009 #12
    drewl

    drewl Member

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    Will it intone when he's done?
    God, if I built a guitar out of planks of wood it would probably be ugliest POS you'd ever seen!
    Let alone the neck.....that takes time, and for the amount of time he's putting into it, I could buy all the parts and put one together!
     
    drewl, Feb 19, 2009
    drewl, Feb 19, 2009
    #12
  13. Feb 19, 2009 #13
    dumbell78

    dumbell78 Member

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    Thats it Im calling John Suhr and asking for a discount on my order:argue

    I agree that is some crafty work but I dont think his time and effort could be labeled as $100 worth. Way to go for such a cool idea.
     
    dumbell78, Feb 19, 2009
    dumbell78, Feb 19, 2009
    #13
  14. Feb 19, 2009 #14
    ugacrow

    ugacrow Member

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    Man, you sound like a real pleasant dude!
     
    ugacrow, Feb 19, 2009
    ugacrow, Feb 19, 2009
    #14
  15. Feb 19, 2009 #15
    PAF

    PAF Member

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    Wow! Does this dude sleep?? Amazing =)
     
    PAF, Feb 19, 2009
    PAF, Feb 19, 2009
    #15
  16. Feb 19, 2009 #16
    Steven_K

    Steven_K Member

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    Yeah, I don't think the point of the original idea was to count every hour you work at the $50 an hour or more a professional luthier would charge. I think its awesome and can't wait to see the finished guitar.
     
    Steven_K, Feb 19, 2009
    Steven_K, Feb 19, 2009
    #16
  17. Feb 19, 2009 #17
    Alligator > jam

    Alligator > jam Member

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    :eek: mad skillz, as the kids say

    wow

    love the narrative too; that guy's just plain right :)
     
    Alligator > jam, Feb 19, 2009
    Alligator > jam, Feb 19, 2009
    #17
  18. Feb 19, 2009 #18
    studiodunn

    studiodunn Member

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    That guy rules.

    All you Debbie Downers who feel the need to question the cost after reading that thread are a joke. Are you really adding up his tools and time?

    Talk about missing the point.
     
    studiodunn, Feb 19, 2009
    studiodunn, Feb 19, 2009
    #18
  19. Feb 19, 2009 #19
    Jerryr

    Jerryr Member

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    I've got most of the tools but there's no way I could dream up all those jigs and techniques he using. That's skill. It would be the equivalent me trying to play guitar like Scotty Anderson :)

    Great job man!!!!
     
    Jerryr, Feb 19, 2009
    Jerryr, Feb 19, 2009
    #19
  20. Feb 19, 2009 #20
    matte

    matte Senior Member

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    what a baddass! even his documentation is thorough.
     
    matte, Feb 19, 2009
    matte, Feb 19, 2009
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