Micawber Telecaster Inspired Project
Micawber is the name Keith Richards gave one of his modified 1953 Fender Telecasters. Keefer’s Telecaster sound and vibe was the inspiration for this project.
Keith Richards playing Micawber
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George Harrison “Rocky” Stratocaster Tribute
The real George Harrison “Rocky” Stratocaster
George Harrison “Rocky” Stratocaster Tribute project is just getting started. Ordering parts and will be getting a custom paint job to pay tribute to one of my biggest guitar heros, George Harrison. This is probably one of the most copied Stratocasters. There are some places were you can order this guitar already painted on a Squier, Fender MIM or American Stratocaster. The Fender Custom Shop has also made a version of this guitar. I even saw a company the sells a vinyl “Rocky” decal that you can apply to your Strat!
Black Korina Stratocaster Project
This Stratocaster project has been in the planning for long time and some of the parts were acquired quite awhile ago. I just finally purchased the body from Warmoth. I must have used their custom build website tool a hundred times trying to decide what I wanted. I investigated several other sources as well. Today I was on the Warmoth site checking out the Strat bodies and one popped up in their pre-built showcase bodies that was just what I wanted and at a bit lower price than a custom order.
Chambered Black Korina Strat body by Warmoth
Esquire Whiteguard Tribute Project
Luther Perkins with 1955 Esquire
I am building a custom “partscaster” that is based on a 1955 Fender Esquire. This is a bit of a tribute to Luther Perkins who provided Johnny Cash with his “boom-chicka-boom” sound with his iconic whiteguard Fender Esquire so many years ago.
Luther was a member of Cash’s original Tennessee Two (eventually the Tennessee Three when they added drummer W.S. “Fluke” Holland). Even though his Fender guitar only featured one pickup, he became an important figure in what would become known as rockabilly. He was inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.
With Johnny Cash singing in a low baritone and playing rhythm guitar Perkins and Marshall Grant on standup bass, devised a back up sound that was new and different. Luther used palm muting to deaden the three bass strings and cross picked the bass line with each chord change like Merle Travis. By playing the same notes as Marshall’s bass runs the “boom-chicka” style was born and would become synonymous with Johnny Cash’s sound. The haunting drone of Perkins’s guitar style with his signature reverb would quickly be embraced by rock-a-billy and early rock and roll guitarists.
Custom Charlie Christian Telecaster
Charlie Christian
I will be using a gorgeous Warmoth body that is chambered swamp ash with quilted high grade maple top. It is being routed for Lollar Charlie Christian Telecaster neck pickup and standard bridge that I will be using Jason Lollar’s B.S. Telecaster bridge pickup. These pickups are well matched. These pickups sound a bit like P90s with a lower output. The 4-layer pearl custom pickguard is also from Warmoth.
Buck Owens/Don Rich Sparkle Tribute Telecaster
Don and Buck having fun with their Sparkle Telecasters
Buck Owens and Don Rich may have been the original Telemasters. Back in the 1960s they were playing some Fender custom made “sparkle” Telecasters. No Fender Custom Shop in those days. The story has it that these were created with ground mirrors in the paint according to George Gruhn. They are pretty amazing looking.
Telemaster/Jazzcaster Project
I have long admired the Jazzmaster off-set style body and liked the Telemaster take on it. This project should come together quickly. I have almost all the parts in stock except body, pickguard and pickups. Mostly left over from other projects.
This is not the actual one I ordered
I have always wanted to give a Warmoth body a try for one of my partscaster builds. So I ordered a very nice Warmoth Jazzcaster body (Warmoth name for a Telemaster) from their “in-stock showcase” items. This means Warmoth already has the body complete and ready to ship. This does save time and money from a custom made order which would cost a bit more and wait time of at least a few weeks or more.
Roy Buchanan “Nancy” Tribute Telecaster Project
This guitar is FOR SALE. Contact me if interested. Contact me at chasingguitars@gmail.com
I started gathering parts to build a Roy Buchanan “Nancy” Telecaster tribute. Roy’s 1953 Blackguard Telecaster serial number 2324 was a special lady with a very unique voice and is an iconic guitar. I grew up listening to Roy Buchanan and Nancy. Roy always had a unique tone and you always know it is him playing when you hear it. Roy was sometimes known as “The Best Unknown Guitarist in the World” as most “rock stars” seek the spotlight, Roy seemed to avoid it. See Roy Buchanan – P.B.S. Greatest Unkown Guitarist in the World from 1971.
I am making an attempt to re-create Roy’s 1953 Blackguard Telecaster “Nancy” and get it as period correct as possible. I want this to be a nice tribute to the guy who was so important to the Telecaster and to music.
American Flag Carved Flames Telecaster Project
This should be a fun project. Working with Tony DeLacugo again on a sparkle finish American Flag over Carved Flames Telecaster. This one is not the standard Telecaster body that Tony has built in the past, but has arm and tummy contours and some weight relief making it even more rare. I wonder what Leo Fender would have thought about this guitar?
Great for 4th of July Party!
Mary Kaye Stratocaster Project
One of my favorite Fender guitars has always been the Mary Kaye Stratocaster. Mary Kaye was a female guitarist and performer that was quite popular in the 40s, 50s and 60s. Called by some the “First Lady of Rock and Roll.” The Mary Kaye Trio was a very popular Las Vegas lounge act.
Mary Kaye was photographed in a 1956 Fender promotional advertisement featuring a new blonde ash translucent Stratocaster with a maple neck and gold hardware. Since then this guitar became popularly known as “The Mary Kaye Strat.” Funny thing is she never got to keep this guitar as Fender had other ideas for this new model.