ChasingGuitars

Buck Owens and the Buckaroos made a huge impression on me even though I grew up in New York City. The twangy guitars, honest driving songs and pure talent influenced many guitar players in many genres, not just country. This project was a tribute to Buck and Don.

Fender created sparkle Telecasters for Buck Owens and Don Rich in the 1960’s and forever do we guitar lovers covert owning one. You can tell from this site that I have a place in my heart for sparkle Telecasters.

This project was custom built using the talents of Tony DeLacugo who fabricated the 60s vintage style Alder Telecaster and did the fabulous silver sparkle paint job. See the entire build process here.

Brilliant silver metal-flake with just a trace of holographic flakes in the final metal-flake coat to give it another visual dimension without overpowering the silver color. The black bindings and checkerboard are simulated as they are painted on. The top binding is checkered black/white like the Don Rich and Marty Stuart Teles. This checkerboard is painted one at a time then it is given the final Polyester clear coat. Once finished it is almost impossible to tell the faux bindings and checkerboard from real binding and purfling and is just as time consuming to build.

Buck Owens and Don Rich Tribute Guitar

No expense was spared on this guitar. Only top shelf parts and craftsmanship. The idea id to build something that even the Fender Custom Shop would be happy to put their name on.

Silver sparkle looks different under daylight

I used O.C. Duff “Buckaroo” pickups that Owen winds by hand. The 4-way switch this gives this guitar more versatile sounds by adding a fat sound.

The 4-way switch wiring allows for:
Position 1: Bridge only
Position 2: Bridge and Neck in Parallel (like a standard Tele – both pickups)
Position 3: Neck only
Position 4: Fat Sound – Bridge and Neck in Series for fatter tone (more output than 1, 2 & 3)

Owen Duff website says The “Buckaroo” pickups pay homage to the big, bold, clean Telecaster sounds that emanated from Bakersfield in the 1960’s. Players like Roy Nichols and Don Rich gifted us not only some of the twangiest Tele licks, but also some of the snappiest, clearest chickin’ pickin’ heard west of Muskogee. The “Buckaroo’s” are dead on replica’s of the best of the 60’s, for that clanky, clean Tele sound. Roll back the volume for that smooth, snappy tone. Turn up the heat, and withhold those big, juicy cleans ever Tele player dreams of.

I can tell you they sound awful good for Rock and Blues too!

High quality parts being used for this project:
• Fender SELECT highly flamed maple neck with pearloid inlays, modern “C” Shape, compound radius 9.5″-14″ with 22 Medium Jumbo Frets and 1.685″ Width at Nut. Nitrocellulose finish with a satin back
• Fender/Schaller locking tuners
• Rutters Angled Selector Switch Control Plate
• Rutters early 60s Tele knobs
• Callaham CTS Pot 250k Solid Shaft – These pots are de-greased and the spring pressure is reduced which makes the pots very smooth which is great volume swells
• ElectroSocket Jackplate
• Callaham Steel vintage style compensated bridge saddles for modern intonation
• Vintage style cloth covered wiring
• 4-Ply White Pearl Pickguard
• Fender Telecaster Bridge (modified – notched)
• .47 Capacitor from actual 1960’s Fender Telecaster
• Custom engraved neck plate
• Custom made leather guitar strap
• Dunlop Strap Locks

After the headstock was painted to match body, the Fender waterslide and Buck Owens signature decals were added. Clear coat was applied and the headstock is perfectly smooth. This is a genuine Fender SELECT neck so adding the restoration decal is fine with Fender.

Fender restoration decal for 1960’s and added Buck Owens signature to headstock

Opted for the Pearl pickguard (like the Fender Custom Shop Marty Stuart Signature Telecaster) instead of the white ones on the Buck Owens and Don Rich original ones.

Pearl pickguard

Faux binding look great

Buck ‘Em was the name of Buck Owens biography. Good book by the way.

Custom neck plate

The Fender SELECT neck is highly flamed and has an awesome feel. In my opinion these are the best necks Fender produces for any of its production guitars. This is a modern neck on a vintage tribute Telecaster with locking Fender tuners!

Highly flamed Fender SELECT neck

Custom made strap

Fender bridge has been notched and polished for easier playability

Fender/Schaller locking tuners

This is a great playing Telecaster. Already one of my favorites.

Special guitar deserved a special case. Purchased this Fender G&G case new from vendor on eBay. Nice tooled western theme.

Buck Owens Fender Telecaster once owned by Buck.

Fender has produced the Buck Owens Telecaster and its a great looking Telecaster that is Red, White and Blue sparkle. I have my own version of this guitar. Fender should have made a Don Rich tribute as Don sold many Telecasters with his inspired playing. The twang will live on forever.

My Buck Inspired Telecasters

Buck inspired sparkle Telecasters

Telecasters I build using Tony DeLacugo Bodies

Don Rich

Buck and Don – Act Naturally

My Heart Skips a Beat

Foolin’ Around

Tiger by the Tail

Buck Owens – “Buck’s Polka”

Marty Stuart and Sparkle Telecaster honors Buck Owens and Buckaroos

Dierks’ Fender® Silver Sparkle Telecaster® guitar!

Brad Paisley At: Guitar Center “G-Bender” Sparkle Telecaster

Fender Custom Shop Senior Master builder Mark Kendrick disassembles Buck Owens original 64 Gold Sparkle Tele.

Dwight Yoakam got Buck performing again, and in ’88, their revival of Buck’s 1971 single “Streets of Bakersfield” returned Buck to #1 one last time.

Before hitting the road with Dwight and his band, including Pete Anderson, Buck reached out to his past. “I called Don’s wife Marlene up in Reno and asked her to send me his old guitar that he played with me all those years and in memory of Don.” That old silver-sparkle Tele became a talisman, one symbolic way of maintaining Don’s presence amid a revival he never expected.

Great article on Buck Owens and the Buckaroos is a must read on Vintage Guitar.