Corey’s Chicago Telecaster

This guitar was built for my best friend, Corey — a Chicago-themed Telecaster made to reflect his favorite city and his relationship to music.

This is my second Telecaster build, and I approached it with a simple goal: make a guitar that feels familiar, durable, and personal. Something that will be played, traveled with, and worn in over time.

The body is solid walnut, milled and shaped in the shop. A dado was cut into the back to receive a maple center stripe, which carries the Chicago flag motif. The stars were cut using a Shaper Origin and inlaid in bubinga before being flushed and surfaced.

The contrast between walnut, maple, and bubinga provides separation without calling too much attention to itself.

Edges are softened, contours are subtle, and nothing is exaggerated.

The body is finished with Rubio Monocoat Oil Plus 2C Pure, followed by Rubio Shine Enhancer. The intent was a low-sheen, tactile surface that highlights the grain and feels natural in the hand rather than glossy or sealed.

A Fender Vintera Mod ’50s roasted maple neck was chosen for stability and feel. Hardware leans classic: Tele-style bridge, traditional control plate, and gold accents that play off the warmth of the walnut and the mirrored pickguard.

Fender Custom Shop ’51 Nocaster pickups handle the heavy lifting. Wired through a vintage-style 3-way harness, the guitar stays firmly in familiar Telecaster territory — clear, dynamic, and responsive.

I designed a custom neck plate to mark the build and Corey’s 40th birthday, then had it engraved through a small Etsy shop. It’s a quiet detail, but one of my favorites on the instrument.

This was about building something personal, durable, and meant to be used.