Was It Worth It? | Texas Guitar Project Finale

Was it worth it? That’s the question at the end of this Texas Guitar Project as Ol’ Tex finally comes together. What started as a $102 budget Tele-style guitar turned into a full custom build with upgraded hardware, electronics, fretwork, and setup. In this finale, we walk through everything: what was changed, how it plays, how it sounds, and what it actually cost to get here. From reshaping the headstock and installing locking tuners to leveling frets, upgrading pickups, and dialing in tone—this project covers the real work behind budget guitar mods. You’ll also hear tone samples, get a full playability review, and see whether this kind of project makes sense compared to buying something ready-made. If you’ve ever wondered whether a cheap guitar can become a great player—or if modding is really worth the time and money—this is the video for you. Ol’ Tex Parts Fojill Vintage Aged Heavy Relic https://amzn.to/3ODUoxS SAPHUE Guitar Locking Tuners 1:18 https://amzn.to/3QQHptw Fender Style String Trees https://amzn.to/48LS3YE Guyker Red Bone Nut https://amzn.to/3P5rhDT Artec Big Pole (Neck pickup) https://amzn.to/4d1zOks Gotoh Brass Compensated Saddles https://amzn.to/3OWLPyq KAISH Guitar Bridge String Thru Body Plate https://amzn.to/4dx6Qce Guyker Rust Control Plate https://amzn.to/3R2yXY2 Alnicov Guitar 3 Way Switch https://amzn.to/42W9i5Z Dopro 250k Pots https://amzn.to/4tvjsFJ Orange Drop Capacitor .047uf https://amzn.to/4daGifv Pure Tone Output Jack https://amzn.to/4uDUdlh Texas-Flag Tele Pickguard by Carmedon a gift from CD Nelson https://carmedon.com/products/texas-flag-tele-pickguard?srsltid=AfmBOopmUOENREBQzPL9Yc4pNqgnNF08OO2ogv4q5jpF-zgsFWq7XurS Disclaimer: This video is not sponsored. Some links are affiliate links. If you buy something I may make a small commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Fojill FTL-60 Telecaster https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXZO1p8EvFE&list=PLMhTW3lOIKQ2NyqSwIKydwJBFFNFCX-J-&pp=gAQBiAQB Fojill FTL-20 Telecaster ($89 Amazon Guitar) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJpFiMaTy2U&list=PLMhTW3lOIKQ3B0wdj8zC5VctfnDnkvrN3&pp=gAQBiAQB Firefly FFTL Relic Telecaster Playlist https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMhTW3lOIKQ38vwRZbpIEtmww_wSaEKvL Timestamps 0:00 The Finale – Was It Worth It? 0:12 What Ol’ Tex Is All About 0:29 Where the Project Started ($102 Guitar) 1:23 Why a Texas-Themed Build 1:31 Headstock Reshape + Finish 1:54 Locking Tuners + String Trees 2:20 Neck Finish and Details 3:02 Bone Nut Install 3:18 Fret Level, Crown, and Polish 4:06 Body Hardware + String-Through Mod 4:38 Pickguard + Relic Work 5:34 Pickup Setup (Neck + Bridge) 6:14 Bridge Plate + Relic Approach 7:10 Brass Saddles Upgrade 7:35 Control Plate + Electronics 8:05 Wiring Overview (.047 Cap, 250K Pots) 8:43 Routing the Pickup Cavity 9:32 Output Jack + Body Specs 9:57 Weight and Wood Type 10:37 Tone Demo 20:59 Playability Review 21:05 Pickup Performance 22:06 Wiring Fixes and Lessons Learned 23:01 Feel, Balance, and Comfort 24:06 Fretwork Results 24:31 Issues and Tweaks Needed 25:28 Solving the D String Problem 26:09 Future Upgrades 27:17 Cost Breakdown 29:48 Total Investment ($300) 31:05 Final Verdict – Worth It? 32:34 Value vs Buying New 33:11 Should You Try This? 33:32 Closing Thoughts ____ Shoutouts: @CDNelson87 (CD) @2Yards (Yard) @SmokeEaterGuitars (Jon) @j-mansgearcave (Jay) @TonJager (Brant) @sparkyguitars971 (Sparky) @WickedFesterTR (TR) @TeaseGuitars (Torsten) @Roy_Gaber @Timmy70 (Timmay) @AOsAreaofOperations (Aaron) Checkout our playlist page for more series and journeys https://www.youtube.com/@TedTalksGuitars/playlists Special Thanks to our channel members "The Jacks" Want to support the channel? Feel free to explore Channel membership options: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBr6kaWeOvldTHvntB3tnMg/join Ted Talks Guitars & Life Merch Store: https://tedtalksguitars-shop.fourthwall.com/ Amazon Affiliate Link: https://amzn.to/3W3PZox *If you click on this link to shop at Amazon the channel will receive a modest financial commission from your purchases. Disclaimer: This video is not sponsored. Some links are affiliate links. If you buy something I may make a small commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Guyker Referral Link: https://www.guyker.com/?ref=tedtalksguitars If you use the link you will save 15% at Guyker Use the coupon code: TEDSMITH #WasItWorthIt #GuitarBuild #Telecaster #BudgetGuitar #GuitarMods #DIYGuitar #GuitarProject #GuitarSetup #ElectricGuitar #GuitarTone