Stratrat, that Partscaster is marvellous! And my favourite colour too. I usually like blonde or natural teles and light-blue strats, but that is...well...me! So what is the body made of? Can you just buy the parts and assemble it? Was the body already that beautiful baby blue colour? (and what's that called?) Srsly, love at first sight man, well done!
There is a Tele forum I have visited before. Is this it?:
your photo while gigging...please - Telecaster Guitar Forum
I liked the pictures thread (favourited it), but I was looking to find more about the Tex-Mex pickups I bought and there wasn't much on there. I should join up.
My Nashville Tele
does have that vertical hole in the Klusons, just like you said!
Here's a link to a Brisbane guy who does a few of modded Teles:
Welcome to The Guitar Repairers!
He uses wallpaper to get the pattern. Apparently it just sucks up lacquer. Interestingly, all of his Teles have gum stuff stuck on the G string right near the nut to shorten the string slightly. He reckons they all have intonation problems on that string!?
The attached thumbnail is of Jake Nickolai who cooks on his guitar. Notice 3 knobs on a Tele!? Bizarre!