Uploaded February 2023 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Building a partscaster is a great way to get the customized guitar you've always dreamed of, and learn essential lutherie skills along the way. In this video, our guest Dan Petrzelka shows how to build a custom t-style partscaster, step-by-step, so you can follow along at home.
0:00 Gathering Parts
3:09 Body and Neck Considerations
6:11 The Truss Rod
7:08 Choosing Tuners
9:33 Installing Tuners
17:47 String Ferrules
19:53 Strap Buttons
21:56 Body & Neck Alignment
25:06 The Bridge
26:56 The Bridge Pickup
30:27 Approximating Intonation
31:29 The Neck Pickup
33:52 Control Plate Selection
37:41 Wiring the Control Plate
44:06 Installing the Pickguard
50:15 The Output Jack
52:28 Final Wiring
54:59 Knobs and Switch Tips
57:07 Fret Buffing and Fretboard Cleaning
57:42 Final Alignment
58:15 The String Tree
59:00 Setup
1:05:51 Pickup Height
1:07:00 Sound Demo
Photos used with permission from Getty Images and Nina Raj (@ninaraj).
Check out Dan's article on our website, with even more information about building partscasters: stewmac.com/video-and-ideas/online-resources/learn-about-building-instruments-and-kits/how-to-build-a-partscaster
Parts and tools featured in this video include:
Fender Deluxe Telecaster Body
stewmac.com/item/6576-B
Fender Classic Series 50s Telecaster Neck
stewmac.com/item/5931-M
Kluson 6-In-Line Deluxe Series Tuners
stewmac.com/item/5177-N
Vintage-style Tuner Bushings
stewmac.com/item/3461
Luthier's Digital Caliper
stewmac.com/item/0447
StewMac Shop Rule
stewmac.com/item/4905
Tuner Bushing Press
stewmac.com/item/0460
Depth-stop Drill Bits
stewmac.com/item/1710
GuitarSlinger Aged Strap Buttons
stewmac.com/item/100825
Fender 3-Saddle American Vintage Telecaster Bridge with Brass Saddles
stewmac.com/item/3228-C
Compensated Bridge Saddles for Tele
stewmac.com/item/5167
Saddlematic
stewmac.com/item/4462
TV Jones Classic Pickup
stewmac.com/item/6536
Golden Age Pre-wired Harness for Telecaster
stewmac.com/item/1931
CTS Control Pots
stewmac.com/item/0116
CRL Lever Switch
stewmac.com/item/2000
Fender Vintage Tele Control Plate
stewmac.com/item/10087
Tele Pickguard
stewmac.com/item/0061
Electrosocket Jack Mount
stewmac.com/item/4284
GuitarSlinger Aged String Tree
stewmac.com/item/100823
Digital Nut Slotting Gauge
stewmac.com/item/12203
String Action Gauge
stewmac.com/item/0670
Neck Relief Gauge
stewmac.com/item/2004
Gauged Nut Slotting Files
stewmac.com/item/0821
- - - - - - - - - - - -
StewMac has everything you need to repair, build or maintain your guitars.
Everything we sell is backed by our Lifetime Promise, and we offer fast worldwide shipping.
Shop StewMac: stewmac.com
Instagram: @StewMac_Guitar
Facebook: facebook.com/StewMac
Building a partscaster is a great way to get the customized guitar you've always dreamed of, and learn essential lutherie skills along the way. In this video, our guest Dan Petrzelka shows how to build a custom t-style partscaster, step-by-step, so you can follow along at home.
0:00 Gathering Parts
3:09 Body and Neck Considerations
6:11 The Truss Rod
7:08 Choosing Tuners
9:33 Installing Tuners
17:47 String Ferrules
19:53 Strap Buttons
21:56 Body & Neck Alignment
25:06 The Bridge
26:56 The Bridge Pickup
30:27 Approximating Intonation
31:29 The Neck Pickup
33:52 Control Plate Selection
37:41 Wiring the Control Plate
44:06 Installing the Pickguard
50:15 The Output Jack
52:28 Final Wiring
54:59 Knobs and Switch Tips
57:07 Fret Buffing and Fretboard Cleaning
57:42 Final Alignment
58:15 The String Tree
59:00 Setup
1:05:51 Pickup Height
1:07:00 Sound Demo
Photos used with permission from Getty Images and Nina Raj (@ninaraj).
Check out Dan's article on our website, with even more information about building partscasters: stewmac.com/video-and-ideas/online-resources/learn-about-building-instruments-and-kits/how-to-build-a-partscaster
Parts and tools featured in this video include:
Fender Deluxe Telecaster Body
stewmac.com/item/6576-B
Fender Classic Series 50s Telecaster Neck
stewmac.com/item/5931-M
Kluson 6-In-Line Deluxe Series Tuners
stewmac.com/item/5177-N
Vintage-style Tuner Bushings
stewmac.com/item/3461
Luthier's Digital Caliper
stewmac.com/item/0447
StewMac Shop Rule
stewmac.com/item/4905
Tuner Bushing Press
stewmac.com/item/0460
Depth-stop Drill Bits
stewmac.com/item/1710
GuitarSlinger Aged Strap Buttons
stewmac.com/item/100825
Fender 3-Saddle American Vintage Telecaster Bridge with Brass Saddles
stewmac.com/item/3228-C
Compensated Bridge Saddles for Tele
stewmac.com/item/5167
Saddlematic
stewmac.com/item/4462
TV Jones Classic Pickup
stewmac.com/item/6536
Golden Age Pre-wired Harness for Telecaster
stewmac.com/item/1931
CTS Control Pots
stewmac.com/item/0116
CRL Lever Switch
stewmac.com/item/2000
Fender Vintage Tele Control Plate
stewmac.com/item/10087
Tele Pickguard
stewmac.com/item/0061
Electrosocket Jack Mount
stewmac.com/item/4284
GuitarSlinger Aged String Tree
stewmac.com/item/100823
Digital Nut Slotting Gauge
stewmac.com/item/12203
String Action Gauge
stewmac.com/item/0670
Neck Relief Gauge
stewmac.com/item/2004
Gauged Nut Slotting Files
stewmac.com/item/0821
- - - - - - - - - - - -
StewMac has everything you need to repair, build or maintain your guitars.
Everything we sell is backed by our Lifetime Promise, and we offer fast worldwide shipping.
Shop StewMac: stewmac.com
Instagram: @StewMac_Guitar
Facebook: facebook.com/StewMac
