Rat Bait Guitars

Humbucker Telecaster For Sale

One-Off Barnwood Guitar – Salvaged, Rewired, Reborn

This is no factory clone. It’s a one-off resurrection: a Telecaster silhouette with guts, built from salvaged roofing timber, an Ikea bookcase panel, and even a strip of painted skirting board. A true Rat Bait Guitars creation—raw, unrepeatable, and full of soul.

Specs & Features

Body: Tele-style, hand-built from reclaimed barnwood and salvaged materials
Neck: 22-fret maple, old-school profile, lightly nitro-finished for a broken-in vintage feel
Electronics: Tele bridge pickup (Fender Squier) + neck humbucker, 3-way switch, tortoise shell scratchplate
Hardware: Brand new 10mm machine heads, strap buttons
Dimensions:
- Scale length: 25.5″
- Nut width: 42mm (1.656″)
- Body thickness: approx. 44mm (±0.5mm)

Build Notes

Hand-assembled from recycled timber and new old stock parts
Mid-range pickups that punch above their weight—expect vintage twang with grit, not sterile polish
Natural barnwood finish: imperfect, honest, and full of character
Traces of old paintwork and light nitrocellulose highlights for added texture
Built for players who value soul over symmetry

Who’s Played Telecasters with Humbuckers?

The neck humbucker Tele isn’t just a mod—it’s a movement. Since the 1970s, this configuration has attracted players who crave warmth without sacrificing bite. Here are a few legends who’ve made it sing:

Keith Richards: Famously wielded a Telecaster Custom with a neck humbucker, using it to drive the Rolling Stones’ swaggering rhythm tone.
Jim Root (Slipknot): His signature Fender Telecaster features dual humbuckers, built for heavy riffing and brutal clarity.
John 5: Known for his eclectic style, John 5’s signature Telecasters often include humbuckers to handle everything from country twang to metal shred.
Andy Summers (The Police): While best known for his modified Telecaster with effects built in, Summers also explored humbucker configurations for added tonal depth.

This setup bridges the gap between classic Tele twang and the fuller, rounder tones of a humbucker—ideal for players who want expressive dynamics without switching guitars.

Handbuilt in North Devon | Tele-Strat Hybrid | Raw Tone & Rebellion

Telecaster Type Body – Barnwood Guitar

Telecaster Guitar Body – Routed for Standard Tele Hardware

Handcrafted by Rat Bait Guitars | October 2025 | North Devon

This isn’t just a guitar body—it’s a relic with attitude. Built from salvaged materials and shaped in a rat-infested shed in North Devon, this Rat Bait original channels the spirit of 1960s–70s Woolworths guitars: quirky, Japanese-made and unapologetically budget-born. Now reborn as a one-off Telecaster-style body, it’s ready to carry your build with soul and scars intact.

Please note: Hardware shown in photos (pickups, neck, etc.) is for example only and not included. This listing is for the body alone.

Materials & Origin

1970s Austrian furniture
Old roofing timber
Sections of an Ikea bookcase
Part of the Rat Bait shed
All reclaimed and reimagined in the UK
Finished with a slight nitrocellulose tint

Specifications

Telecaster-style body
Routed for standard Tele neck pickup and Tele bridge pickup
Approximate thickness: 43mm
Neck pocket width: 56mm
Weight: 2.39kg
Finish: Beeswax and oil – ready for your fettling and final touches

Condition & Character

This body wears its past proudly. Expect visible dents, scratches, nail holes, and even flush-set nail heads—each mark a chapter in its reclaimed story. It’s raw, rugged, and intentionally imperfect. See photos for close-up texture and detail. All measurements are approximate.

Why Choose This Body?

This isn’t a sterile factory blank—it’s a piece of reclaimed history with bite. Ideal for a Partscaster build that values sustainability, individuality, and punk and Barncaster ethos over polish. Whether you’re a luthier or a player chasing tone with character, this body offers a versatile, hardware-ready canvas with grit, soul, and a story to tell.

Humbuckers in Telecasters

“Here is one I began a few months ago, still need to finish it off as a complete, finished, guitar. Nails and nail holes – proper barnwood tele, having several bits from my shed in its DNA.”

Telecasters Reimagined: From Humbucker Hybrids to Exmoor Spruce Originals

Few guitars have worn as many disguises as the Fender Telecaster. Born in the early 1950s as a no-nonsense workhorse, the Tele has since been reinterpreted in countless ways—each variation adding a new voice to its already versatile character.

One of the most enduring twists is the Telecaster with a humbucker in the neck position. This configuration, popularised in the 1970s with models like the Fender Telecaster Custom, gave players the best of both worlds: the Tele’s trademark bite from the bridge single-coil, paired with the warmth and fullness of a humbucker at the neck. Keith Richards famously wielded such a setup, using it to drive the Rolling Stones’ swaggering rhythm sound. The combination has since become a staple for players who want grit and clarity in equal measure.

But the Telecaster’s story doesn’t stop with factory models. A thriving sub genre has emerged—independent, reclaimed, and reimagined Tele-style builds that carry as much history in their wood as they do in their tone.

The Exmoor Spruce Example

Take the recent Rat Bait Guitars Telecaster-style bodies, crafted in North Devon from salvaged materials and finished in natural beeswax. Among the timbers used is Exmoor Spruce, a native softwood shaped by the harsh uplands of Exmoor National Park. Its tight grain and wild tonal character make it a striking alternative to the more predictable commercial spruces.

These bodies aren’t polished showroom pieces—they’re raw artefacts of survival and reinvention. Each carries scars and stories, transformed into instruments that embody the spirit of punk, blues, and DIY rock. They nod to the quirky Woolworths imports of the 1960s and ’70s, guitars once dismissed as cheap knock-offs but now celebrated as cult classics.

Why Collectors Should Pay Attention

For serious players and collectors, this sub-genre of reclaimed Telecasters is more than a curiosity. They represent:

Authenticity – Every scratch and knot in the wood is part of its history.
Defiance – Built outside the factory system, they reject sterile perfection.
Cultural Continuity – They echo the DIY ethos that has always fuelled music at the margins.
Unique Tonality – Woods like Exmoor Spruce bring a voice you won’t find in mass-produced instruments.

A Must-Have Sub-Genre

Just as the Telecaster Custom with its neck humbucker carved out a permanent place in rock history, these reclaimed builds demand recognition as a category in their own right. They’re not just guitars they’re statements. To own one is to hold a piece of rebellion, resilience, and reinvention in your hands.

For collectors looking to expand beyond the predictable, adding an Rat Bait Guitars Tele-style body to the lineup isn’t just desirable—it’s essential.

Our Feedback – Rat Bait Guitars

Rat Bait Guitars: Why Feedback Fuels Craft and Community

In the world of independent makers, feedback isn’t just a courtesy—it’s oxygen. For a company like ours, Rat Bait Guitars, every review is more than a pat on the back; it’s a compass that guides craft, customer experience, and creative
evolution.

Unlike mass-produced instruments, each Rat Bait Guitar or body carries a story of reclamation, rebellion, and artistry. That story doesn’t end when the guitar leaves the workshop—it continues in the hands of the player. Feedback closes that loop, reminding the maker that their work resonates, inspires, and endures.

Validation of Craft: Independent builders thrive on knowing their work meets (and exceeds) expectations.
Trust Building: In a crowded marketplace, authentic customer voices cut through the noise.
Continuous Improvement: Honest reflections highlight what’s working and where refinements can be made.
Community Creation: Reviews aren’t just about products—they’re about shared values, passion, and connection.

At Rat Bait Guitars, feedback is not filed away—it’s celebrated, learned from, and woven back into the creative process.

Here’s a snapshot of our recent feedback, that reflects the voice of the Rat Bait community:

“Totally excellent from start to finish. No rats were included.”
“Another great, unique, handcrafted guitar from an excellent creator. Professional packaging and shipping—delighted again ??.”
“Item was very well packed, exactly as described, and arrived quickly. Excellent communication all round. Very happy—thanks!”
“Once again, a great buying experience. I’ve bought several guitar bodies from this seller, and they always exceed expectations. This
Tele body is the perfect base for my next project. Five-star service from a five-star chap. Huge thanks.”
“Lovely Telecaster copy in scavenged wood—looks great and plays beautifully! Rat Bait are great luthiers.”
“Arrived on time—very good guitar, the best I’ve ever had. Deep sound, perfectly set up.”
“A really nice guitar, unique and obviously made with great care. Exceptional value and a great addition to my collection.”
“Awesome—I would deal with Rat Bait again. Lovely looking guitar, leaving it to settle and looking forward to playing it.”
“Perfect little Telecaster body.”

Closing Thoughts

Feedback is more than a review—it’s a dialogue. For Rat Bait Guitars, it’s proof that reclaimed wood and rebellious design can become
instruments of joy, inspiration, and loyalty. Every comment, whether playful or profound, strengthens the bond between maker and
musician.

A Skip + Rat Bait Guitars

Build a Partscaster – from a Skip, Rat Bait Guitar: Reclaimed, Rebellious, Real

Looking to build a guitar that’s more than just a clone? Skip the sterile factory vibe and dive into the world of skip sourced material —where every body tells a story, and every scratch means something.

Why build from a Skip? Rat Bait Guitar?

A skip Rat Bait Guitar is built from salvaged materials—wood rescued from skips, old furniture, fence posts, roof beams, and floorboards. It’s not just recycling; it’s reclamation. These guitars carry the scars of their past lives, reimagined into instruments with soul.

At Rat Bait Guitars, each body is shaped in a rat-infested shed in North Devon, using whatever the world throws away. It’s punk, it’s raw, and it’s good for the planet.

Rat Bait Guitars

Building a partscaster can indeed be a rewarding and enjoyable experience! Here are some key benefits and considerations:

Benefits of Building a Partscaster

Customisation: You can tailor your guitar to fit your playing style, tone, and aesthetics. Choose from a variety of parts like neck shape, pickups, body wood, fretboard radius, and hardware. Mix and match different models and brands to create a unique combination.
Cost Savings: If you’re looking for a high-quality guitar with specific features that are either unavailable or too expensive in the market, building a partscaster can be more economical. You can also use parts you already have or find second-hand parts at a lower cost.
Learning Experience: Building a partscaster can be a fun and educational process. It helps you understand how a guitar works and how to adjust it to your liking. The hands-on experience can be very satisfying and give you a sense of accomplishment.

Difficulty Levels

From Scratch: This is the most challenging and time-consuming method. It involves sourcing all materials, cutting and shaping them, assembling and wiring parts, finishing and painting, and setting up the action and intonation. This can take months or even years.
From a Kit: The easiest method, as kits provide all the parts needed to assemble a guitar, with some pre-made or pre-fitted. Tasks include finishing the body and neck, soldering electronics, attaching hardware and strings, and adjusting the setup. This can take a few hours to a weekend.
From Parts: This method offers more customisation and flexibility but requires more skill and knowledge in fitting parts together. Tasks include selecting and ordering compatible parts, drilling holes, routing cavities, soldering electronics, attaching hardware and strings, and adjusting the setup. This can take a few days to a few weeks.

Rat Bait Guitars, based in Devon, UK, makes hand-built guitars from recycled materials like salvaged wood and furniture. They also sell new and used guitar parts, tested for quality and functionality. Their online shop offers a variety of parts for vintage, relic, or partscaster guitars, with free UK shipping and international shipping on request.

Rat Bait Guitars

Why Build Your Own? A Recap

🛠️ Custom Fit: Choose your own neck, pickups, and hardware.
🌍 Eco-Friendly: Reuse waste wood instead of buying new.
🎸 Authentic Vibe: Every dent and grain tells a story.
💥 Skip – Rat Bait Spirit: It’s DIY with attitude—perfect for players who want something real.

How to Start

Find a Body: Look for reclaimed wood or check out Rat Bait’s bodies.
Choose Your Parts: Neck, bridge, pickups—make it yours.
Assemble & Adjust: Bolt it together, tweak the action, and plug in.

Rat Guitars: Built to Mean Something

If you want an instrument that’s more than just polished wood and chrome, consider Rat Bait Guitars. Bodies made from recycled timber, shaped with care and chaos in equal measure. These aren’t just guitars—they’re statements.