Best hardware/parts for a build?

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GrangousierGrangousier Frets: 2621
If I was thinking of having a guitar put together (which I am - in this case a telecaster), I was wondering if there were any recommendations for the less important parts. 

Now, there are great makers of pickups, bodies and necks on here, but what are people's recommendations for the other bits - bridge, scratchplate, control plate, knobs, neck plate, ferrules... have I missed anything? Screws, even. That stuff. If you were to want to spec everything as high as possible, where would you go for that stuff, and what kind of difference would it make (even if it's just psychological)? Is there a perceptible difference between a cheapo control plate and the fanciest one around (even if you don't think the difference is worth paying for)? As far as I can tell, a CS strat has plastic knobs not that different from a Squier (not that anyone lets me near a CS strat). 

Firstly, my criteria are on quality and locality - so the best parts available, and most local (on the FB first, then British small companies, then larger companies). I'd let quality come before localness (for example, I've had a recommendation for Rutters for the bridge, and I see they do all the other bits too), but on the whole I'd rather support locally if I can. 

In my case, I think I'd prefer a nickel finish, or something less chrome that would patina somewhat, but that's a different question. 

(I'm assuming that tuners and internal electrics are specialised enough that you just use the best you can get.)
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Comments

  • When I've had call to get bits like that in the past I've used Axetec. They do Irongear pickups too, which I rate very highly also
    Too much gain... is just about enough \m/

    I'm probably the only member of this forum mentioned by name in Whiskey in the Jar ;)

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  • FunkfingersFunkfingers Frets: 14321
    Define best.

    There is no guarantee that the best components money can buy will, necessarily, add up the best possible electric guitar.

    The law of diminishing returns definitely applies. 
    Be seeing you.
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  • GrangousierGrangousier Frets: 2621
    I didn't put it very well... OK, so there are makers on here that I follow in the Made in the UK section and on social media and whatnot, and I'd use their stuff because I like what they do, and it would be nice to support them. Then for something like a bridge or tuners, there are some that are more solidly engineered or better made than others and it might make sense to use them.  I was wondering about all the other bits - is a control plate just a control plate or are some better than others? Or if not better do some look cheaper or more expensive than others or are they all the same? If I was going to use a GSP body or Oil City or Mojo pickups (which I personally think of as quality stuff), and look for the most highly rated bridge or tuners, where would I go for all the other bits? There might not be any point in paying more than the minimum for a set of ferrules, but then (given they're where the strings are fixed to the body), there might. 

    I thought people might have opinions, because I don't know, and it's not the sort of thing the YouTube guitar commentariat talk about as far as I can tell. 

    I do agree that the instrument is (or ought to be) more than the sum of its parts, but it was the parts I was wondering about. 
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  • I recently bought a new tailpiece, bridge, locking tuners, and strap locks from Axetec (Iron Gear's online store). I was very impressed with the quality of all - and just like the pickups - they are cheaper (but not necessarily any lower quality) than well known brands.

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  • dcgdcg Frets: 228
    edited August 2019
    Callaham are expensive, but for the 4 Teles I've built over the years, their quality is absolutely top (although dealing with Bill Callaham can be challenging); Glendale also make great bridges and saddles.  For tuners, the Gotoh Mini locking heads are great; they look vintage, but are locking - and competitively priced.  Finally for me, Porter pickups are very underrated, although Fender's own Broadcaster set takes some beating...
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  • sweepysweepy Frets: 4158
    For Fender type guitars you really can’t beat Wilkinson in the vfm stakes allied to reasonable quality 
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  • p90foolp90fool Frets: 31367
    "Best" is a tough one. For example, if you want a great guitar which gives you that archetypal Telecaster tone then straying too far from vintage spec in search of higher quality will be counter productive. 

    Bridges in particular were simple, fairly thin pressed steel, and some of the super expensive alternatives out there can lead to more of a generic single coil guitar tone than a great Tele tone IME. 

    If you can't get to hold the parts in your hands to assess their quality, then genuine Fender parts for things like screws, neckplates and control plates are a safe bet. 

    Although the Fender Custom Shop would no doubt beg to differ, there's simply a limit to how much cash you can throw at a Telecaster build before you start going backwards. 
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  • DrBobDrBob Frets: 2998
    It is easy to get wildly carried away with parts.
    For instance on my own self build Tele I ended up paying a frankly daft amount of money for a matching bridge plate, control plate & knobs all milled from a single chunk of cold rolled steel. As a piece of engineering it’s a nice detail but do I really need it when your classic Tele bridge is a thin piece of sheet metal folded & plated ? 
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  • JohnnysevenJohnnyseven Frets: 905
    edited August 2019
    I bought an Esquire harness from Six String Supplies @sixstringsupplies ;;recently which is first rate. I'd be looking there for tele wiring.
    My trading feedback can be seen here - http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/58242/
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