“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.
