The NoSquire Stealth Tele

[Tele-Bob]

DISCLAIMER:: This is NOT a sales pitch. None of the parts in the video are for sale. Telenator ceased production in 2018. I'm just sharing one of my designs so others might benefit from it.

A few years back when Telenator was still producing pickups, we made what I call a "NoSquire." At one point we even sold the parts so you could build one yourself.

It was a fun project that actually worked like no other stealth guitar before.
The secret was in the neck pocket. Other stealth guitars had deeper neck pockets to get the strings lower to the hidden pickup. But that made the strings so low at the bridge that you have no picking depth.
I designed the NoSquire with a 1 1/2 degree rake in the neck pocket creating an angle that required the bridge saddles to be raised. The strings stay low at the neck joint, but then angle higher at the bridge. It's the best of both worlds and it sounds like this!

[OldStrummer]

That is really awesome! The look is so simple and pristine, and the sound is out of this world! Too bad that's history and not present.

[Tele-Bob]

That is really awesome! The look is so simple and pristine, and the sound is out of this world! Too bad that's history and not present.

It can still be done by anyone with a good router and a steady hand! Worth the effort!

[OldStrummer]

It can still be done by anyone with a good router and a steady hand! Worth the effort!

That leaves me out. LOL!

[Elrathia]

Sounds intriguing, could you share specs and a picture?

[Tele-Bob]

It's essentially a standard Tele body with a 1 1/2 degree rake angle routed routed into the neck pocket.

The pickup is mounted on springs to get the adjustment height set, and it touches the underside of the guard. Photos are in the video.

I'm supersized someone didn't figure it out sooner. This little rake trick makes a stealth Esquire, (NoSquire) actually work! No compromise!

[Elrathia]

Thanks. Great looking gits.

[Don]

That's awesome! Do you have more pics?

[Tele-Bob]

That's awesome! Do you have more pics?

Nothing additional to the the ones in the video.
We made a WRHB with the plate upside down so the springs would fit and be usable for height adjustment.

The strings are almost touching the pickguard at the neck joint, but the picking depth is good toward the bridge because of the the rake angle. Best sounding stealth guitar I've ever played.

Kirk McKim and Pat Travers loved it. Kirk opened the show with it and played the first 5 songs with it. Sounded killer on stage!

[OldStrummer]

Kind of begs the question, doesn't it? Why don't you start making and marketing them again?

[Tele-Bob]

Kind of begs the question, doesn't it? Why don't you start making and marketing them again?

We sold a few kits, but it was expensive and there just isn't a big enough market for it. Many great ideas are received very well until it's time to "buy in." Sometimes, it just defies logic! LOL