oh this is interestingā¦ plenty of templates out there
With a bit searching, you can probably find the template for any guitar, along with sources for premade routing templates.
If you want to do some reading up about guitar building in general, try and get a copy of Make Your Own Electric Guitar by Melvyn Hiscock - Itās Here! | Melvyn Hiscock
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That does look worth a read!
Hello mate. Iāve also built my own guitar (offset Tele), which probably cost about Ā£1000GBP, maybe more. I was thinking what I could have bought for that money but then it wouldnāt be unique or mean as much to me. 
I saw a Limited Edition Fender Tele based on a 52 but with a roasted ash body/roasted maple neck and couldnāt afford one, so thought Iād try and build my own, thought it would be fun. I tried to use as many Fender parts as I could, to try and closely match the guitar that inspired me.
Anyway, Iām glad I took it to a luthier to do the final setup as a neck I had fitted had maxed-out on the truss rod so had to be returned. Iāve had so many issues with this build, usually down to parts suppliers or the parts themselves, so Iāll be glad to finally get it back and play it!
I apologise for the blabberingā¦
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I guess thatās the downside with building a parts caster, can be expensive and no guarantee of a good result.
Looks great though
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That is the big risk.
Most of the risk can be mitigated by doing lots of research, and asking the right people, the right questions.
Thankfully when I built mine, I made use of the extensive knowledge of various TheFretboard members, to ensure everything I bought was suitable for what I wanted it do. Plus they provided help when I wasnāt sure about anything.
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So a Roasted swamp ash tele body and a roasted flame maple neck from warmoth looks nice, not ā¦ not cheapā¦
$225 for the body, $489 for the neck (w/t stainless frets, vintage style tuner holes, graphtech nut
I think once wire wool/brushed with true oil , black? pick guard and some brass fittings should look nice!
Nothing ordered yet
So was in Rockshop today trying out a bunch of Teleās , all made in USA, not so impressed with some but that was setup I think.
This one was the best, super light, the wood looked gorgeous but well over blingād for me, its also $9k ahah
Figured out I want a body cut on the inside, probably a sloped heel and possibly an elbow cut too but not 100% on that.
Was ok with the ashtray bridge but imo its not the best solution to a bridge. Have to thinkā¦ but still I think plan on a kit.
This looks intersting
or go for a whole parts cheapie for practice?
Iād vote for the kit but it states āAll challenging wood cutting, drilling and shaping has already been professionally done, as well as fret leveling and dressing.ā
Soā¦ Itās just assembling a bunch of parts again. And finishing.
For my personal preferences, this is not ery stimulating.
Yeah I known what you mean, Iām sure there will be some fangling but not so much actual making rather than assembly
From Iāve read online on various groups, I infer that finishing is by no means an easy task.
I enrolled on a guitar building course, starting September. Iāll let you know in a yearās time or so 
The amount of effort required for the finish largely depends on what kind of finish you do.
Something like an oil finish, it should be fairly simple, as all you need to do is apply the finish and rub it in with a cloth, repeating until you get the shade youād like.
If you want to go for a high gloss finish, then there is a lot more effort required.
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Iām not sure yet!
So far I am thinking either a swampcaster like this - roasted swamp ash, some work with wire wool and brushes, some tru oil, perhaps some stain.
Or something spalted maple veneered, not sure what I would do with the finish on this, nothing too high gloss I think.
I think Iāve realized to get a tele (in NZ) in the style I want I would have to order from a small maker, buy a fender custom shop like guitar for mega bucks or make it myself.
Theres obviously a risk making it myselfā¦
Itās a Tele you want to make. You could use a couple rough sawn scaffold planks, and itāll likely still work 
Yeah right! Its supposed to be a cheap piece of wood with a neck and pickup yet MIA ones here are $5-9k? ?
Just make sure you count 10 fingers by the end of it 
yep very
here is the build thread
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Thanks!