’72 Telecaster Deluxe
A from-scratch electric guitar inspired by the 1972 Fender Telecaster Deluxe: a hand-routed poplar body, off-white enamel finish, and a 3D-printed pickguard.
OVERVIEW
The 72 Tele is a from-scratch electric guitar build inspired by the classic 1972 Fender Telecaster Deluxe. The body was hand-routed from a solid poplar blank and finished with a smooth off-white enamel coat. The maple bolt-on neck features a carefully leveled and polished fretboard for comfortable playability across the entire range.
This project combined skills across woodworking, electronics, finishing, and 3D printing. Every component, from carving the body cavities to wiring the dual humbucker pickups, was completed by hand. The result is a fully functional instrument with a look and feel that reflects the original 1970s design while incorporating modern construction techniques.
FEATURES & BUILD NOTES
Handcrafted Body
Shaped from a raw poplar blank using a router and hand chisels. All pickup, control, and neck cavities were measured and cut by hand, requiring careful layout work and iterative fitting to match standard Telecaster Deluxe dimensions.
Polished Fretboard
Each fret was individually leveled, crowned, and polished using files and progressively finer abrasives, resulting in a smooth, consistent feel and reliable intonation across all positions.
Enamel-Coated Paint
Multiple coats of off-white enamel over a wood-grain filler base, wet-sanded between coats to eliminate imperfections for a smooth, durable finish.
3D-Printed Pick Guard
Designed in Fusion 360 and printed in black PETG, modeled to match the body contour exactly with precise hole placement for the dual humbuckers and all controls.