Seven-string tele: GO GO GO

[RandomHero]

I want one. I want one like Adam wanted Eve. Like it's a strange and alien thing, but I must have it.

Anyone ever seen one? Or know of a place that might be blasphemous enough to make me one?

[UnklMickey]

yes, but do you really, really, really want it?



apparently this guy custom made the one you see here:

www.fosterguitars.com/index1.htm

but you KNOW it ain't gonna be cheap!


unk

[Runewalker]

Go-go-go?
Oh No-no-no!

Isn't a Tele ugly enough already?

[RJB]

RW:

"Isn't a Tele ugly enough already?"

Them's fightin words


RH - Carvin has a TL60 Tele style git. They don't specifically have a seven string listed in the Customs, but it might be worth a call.

Curious, why a Tele? The look? The Sound? Remember many believe part of the sound comes from the SC pup mounted on that large metal bridge plate, and the 3 saddle bridge.

Another option is to go the partscaster route. Cheap used MIM body, Wamoth or USCG neck, Custom Glendale bridge plate, pickups of choice. For a support group you could try over a www.tdpri.com THE Telecaster website.

Ron

[UnklMickey]

Ron,

those quotes in your url target are messing things up.

you almost had it right.

try it like this:

TL60



Rune,


no, a Tele isn't ugly enough already.

that's why Leo made the Strat.


(now them's fightin' words!)

[tacobobbo]

Ugly? :oWell, if ya dont like alder, then kiss my ash!!!!!! ;D (Now, thems REAL fightin words).
Bob

[Runewalker]

Never one to light any candles, I of couse respect all religous sects, even the cult of the Tele.

Hey, I put a smiliecon on it, which I rarely do.

Unk, I know your deep affection for the Strato. As always, in awe of your restraint.

Help me understand the siren song of the Tele, its sway upon its devotees, its grip upon the chosen.

RW

[pollyshero]

Rune,

True, she seems quite plain - but put a purty dress on 'er & drink a few beers... (sorry ladies, I am, after all, just a man)

i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/theudog/t4.jpg

i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/theudog/t3.jpg

i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/theudog/t2.jpg

i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/theudog/t1.jpg

I pieced mine together from e-bay parts for around $400, so if I wound up not liking her I could file for divorce without too much guilt. And, as a matter of fact she WAS up for bid around Christmas time, but nobody bit. I suppose I was already smitten (hence the high reserve) and just didn't want to admit it. She grew on me man...

Tone? Oh my... Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, Joe Walsh, Joe Perry, James Burton, Muddy Waters, Merle Haggard... They can't ALL be wrong, can they?

True, she's only one in the harem, but definitely a favored one. Hmmm. I wonder what she'd sound like with that extra string? Dang!

How 'bout this weather? I'm waitin for the countryside to burst into flame....

[ChrisK]

Unk, I know your deep affection for the Strato. As always, in awe of your restraint.

Help me understand the siren song of the Tele, its sway upon its devotees, its grip upon the chosen.

A Strat is a semi-acoustic guitar turned inside out with built-in reverb (dem springy-thingys). It ain't a plank with a crank.

A Tele is a plank without a crank. It's simple, pure, complex, and demanding. It's just seriously cool, I don't know why. I'm a firm sufferer of wiring dementia, but I love the simplicity. If one has vibrato, humbuckers, any other wood than swamp ash (ok, maybe hard ash and alder), or any other goofy things attached, it ain't a Tele. It might look like one but it ain't proper.

That being said, I look to Tele bodies first for the improper thoughts that permeate my dementia.


?How can a guitar with just two pickups have such diversity while its sibling with three pickups sound so repetitive to me?

[ChrisK]

I want one. I want one like Adam wanted Eve. Like it's a strange and alien thing, but I must have it.

Please note that this "cry for help" has nothing to do with an actual Telecaster or any other guitar type previously mentioned as requiring seven strings.

It's just the current manifestation of a prime-seven obsessive dementia.



I wouldn't be surprised if you have seven clothes lines in your laundry and seven laces per shoe. You may even find yourself ordering pasta seven noodles at a time.


JUST SAY NO!

[UnklMickey]

OFF-TOPIC ALERT

i start almost on-topic here, but drift.

from there it goes steadily downhill.






RH,

i really don't know why any one would obsess over 7-strings or anything else, for that matter. (snicker)

why not just buy a 6-string Tele?

i had one (actually an Aims copy) once, it was a nice change of pace from Mel, and the Gibsons i had been playing.

even though it is a SC, i thought it seemed more symmetrical than a Strat.

i'd probably buy another one, but i might just have someone make me one of these:





unk

[ChrisK]

The one on the right should also have a control panel on the left.


This one can be played both right and left-handed, even at the same time (gawd, I'd give my right arm to be ambidextrous).

Also note that thru a feat of prestidigitation, this colander has 10 strings at the head, but only 9 at the bridge. This enables both drop tuning as well as lost tuning thru the use of (permanently) suspended notes.

Additionally, unlike other string counts, no fingers are left unemployed (keeps 'em outta the Devil's workshop).


Did ya ever notice how the Tele control panel always looks crooked?


What ever you do, Yogurt sez to be careful out there.

[UnklMickey]

Chris,

Yogurt looks real happy about the way you dressed him up.

if i had to guess, from the expression on his face.....


"Chris, you're having your fun right now.

tomorrow morning you'll find a special "present" in your slippers!"

[ChrisK]

Yeah, well be careful or I'll have to send Fluffy over to see you.





Why cats usually don't undress:

[UnklMickey]

Fluffy sez:

"you think I look bad?

you should see what i did, to the guy who did this to me!"

[Runewalker]

Ok, Now I understand the cult of the Tele.

Apparently its great for slide too!

However, Kitty must play Les Pauls. He/She seems unimpressed.

Thanx. -

RW

[UnklMickey]

Rune,

you MUST be using photoshop, or something much cooler than paint.

regardless, that is some fine work.

[Runewalker]

pollyshero said:

Rune,

How 'bout this weather? I'm waitin for the countryside to burst into flame....

Impossible to explain to someone not going through it. 15 min ride to work in non=ACed car = Sweat soaked sponge bob.

[UnklMickey]

okay guys, one last twist on this theme before i sign-off for the long weekend.

i decided the left one looked better than the right one.

it had less pickguard.

but it wasn't symmetrical.

so..............................................................................




now that i have that out of the way,

RH, i hope you can forgive me for hijacking your thread.

you must admit, though, it has been entertaining!


now, what was it, we were talking about?

[tacobobbo]

Can't remember unk. So, you can say to me "You have a mind like a sweat soaked sponge, Bob. You know.......the one Runewalker was talking about." ;D

[RandomHero]

But of course.

I've been gone for Labor Day, myself, at a family reunion.

Chris, I want a 7-string tele because for one, it's sacreligious. For two, I -love- the chimey clear clean sound of a tele, and three, all the songs I've written require that extra string. I can play most of them on a 6 but they sound lackluster to me.

But you're right about the obsessive dementia...

[RJB]

Ok like I mentioned earlier. A partscaster may be the best route. S.D. makes a set of pickups.
"7 String Tele Lead and Rhythm $130 each; $240 set (neck and bridge)"
You could get the specs. Might be standard size, with closer string spacing.

Edit: WD music, and Dimarzio also have pickups

Aftermarket neck (Wamoth, USAGC etc..) Cheap MIM body. And A custom bridgeplate, with
a standard set of Glendale saddles for the high 6 and a strat saddle for the that 'extra' string.
Glendale might Custom the plate for you.

Not a cheap route. The altenate would be the Carvin Tele-like guitar from the custom shop. Again 7 string not listed online, but I imagine it can be done.

[sumgai]

.....
But you're right about the obsessive dementia...

You had me at "obsessive"! ;D


sumgai

[ChrisK]

Chris, I want a 7-string tele because for one, it's sacrilegious. For two, I -love- the chimey clear clean sound of a tele, and three, all the songs I've written require that extra string. I can play most of them on a 6 but they sound lackluster to me.

But you're right about the obsessive dementia...

I know, I should have, but didn't resist the opportunity.

I just find the use of 7 strings most alien since I have enough trouble with two......


And after all, we'all wouldn't have met Yogurt and Boots (or the Chapman StickaCaster).

[ChrisK]

The issue with 7 string anything as a build is width.


Someone makes a 1 7/8" nut neck that has 1/16" of overhang on each side at the neck pocket. These will fit standard Strat bodies, they make a '72 Tele body that fits a Strat neck. A Tele body will take a Strat neck, but it will only contact the body at the center of the heel. My solution is to add two tapered shims (or 1/8" dowel) on either side.

They do offer internally routed body blanks (bridge, pickups, control cavity, neck pocket) where one can cut the body outline to suit (great - now anybody with a band saw and a router can make electric guitars - Fred Gretsch on the introduction of the Gib$on LP). Maybe they'll do a 7 string for you.


USACG makes 1 7/8" nut necks that are 2 5/16" at the heel. They will make a Tele body for this pocket size.

You'll have to get/make a narrower 7 string Tele bridge. This infers narrower saddles. Sounds like a simple math extrapolation project.

You'll have to use bar-type pickups (such as the SD Tele stack or Cool or Hot Rails) since the string spacing will be narrower (or just mount 7 string pickups at an acute(r) angle, again a simple math problem.

[RandomHero]

An idea just occurred to me that should have some time ago. I think I'll just buy a MIM Tele and put a Warmoth baritone neck on it. =D