Some questions about modding a Telecaster

[hollycez]

Hi all guys! It's my first post in this forum so please, don't be angry if I do something wrong!

I've got a project about buying a new guitar having good quality and avoiding ultra-expensive american made beauties (because they are too much expensive for my pocket money :17

So that's the idea (not really an original one): I think I'm gonna buy a 500 bucks Fender Standard Telecaster MIM.

Since I think I could spend more or less 900 for this project I've got some mods in my mind:

1. Changing Mex Std pickups (if I don't like them of course).

That's the most delicate point. I heard and enjoyed Fender CS Texas Special and I think that's more or less the "direction" where I want to guide the sound of that tele, fat, warm, not so clean but clear enough pickups.
I also heard vintage broadcasters and hot for tele from SD and Twang King from DiMarzio.
I think I will play something between blues and rock sounds, have you got any better suggestions?
I know there is an almost infinite list of custom pickups for telecaster and I know very few of 'em.

Another thing is, since I come from a Gibson SG, is the hum really something hard and annoying to handle with or the thing is just getting used to how to handle it?
Because I thought of buying humbuckers or noiseless pickups but I really enjoy the clarity and the brightness of single coil pickups, and really, the "tele" sound.

2. Changing Bridge

To a 3 brass saddle bridge. Is this thing worth it? What is a good choice of bridge?

3. Electronics

Are the pots and the caps good enough or do they eat sound?

Is there any other modifications you think is important to a Std MIM Tele?

Thanks a lot.

 

[DreX]

Re: Some questions about modding a Telecaster

I just picked up another MIM Tele recently, and I'm starting to notice they have their own feel compared to my MIJ Teles and my MIA, the MIMs have more of a raw, hand-made vibe that has really grown on me.

Regarding pickups, I've found Twang Kings to be my favorite, very rich in their "Tele" tone, and not even expensive. The Texas Specials and Nocasters are little bright and thin for my tastes. The SD Antiquity IIs are nice, but rather smooth.

Regarding the bridge, leave as is unless you are personally bothered by intonation issues.

Regarding the pots and wires, tolerances are the only real potential issue. Only change the pots if you test with a multi-meter and find that their end-to-end resistances deviates far from 250k. If, for example, the pots have a total resistance of ~225k, the pickups might then sound too dark, or if it's higher, such as ~300k, the guitar might sound too bright. Otherwise, the stock wires and pots will sufficiently get the electronic signal where it needs to go, there is not "higher quality" component that will do the job any better.

 

[El Supremo]

Re: Some questions about modding a Telecaster

Well, I only have one Tele ('52 RI) and never modded it. As far as the noise goes, it's pretty manageble with the guitar's tone control. You're gonna use the tone control anyways when you apply some gain.

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: Some questions about modding a Telecaster

Regarding the bridge, leave as is unless you are personally bothered by intonation issues.

Every player should be bothered by intonation issues on a guitar. There is nothing worse than hearing a player try to play with bad intonation.

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: Some questions about modding a Telecaster

Hi all guys! It's my first post in this forum so please, don't be angry if I do something wrong!

I've got a project about buying a new guitar having good quality and avoiding ultra-expensive american made beauties (because they are too much expensive for my pocket money :17

So that's the idea (not really an original one): I think I'm gonna buy a 500 bucks Fender Standard Telecaster MIM.

Since I think I could spend more or less 900 for this project I've got some mods in my mind:

1. Changing Mex Std pickups (if I don't like them of course).

That's the most delicate point. I heard and enjoyed Fender CS Texas Special and I think that's more or less the "direction" where I want to guide the sound of that tele, fat, warm, not so clean but clear enough pickups.
I also heard vintage broadcasters and hot for tele from SD and Twang King from DiMarzio.
I think I will play something between blues and rock sounds, have you got any better suggestions?
I know there is an almost infinite list of custom pickups for telecaster and I know very few of 'em.

Another thing is, since I come from a Gibson SG, is the hum really something hard and annoying to handle with or the thing is just getting used to how to handle it?
Because I thought of buying humbuckers or noiseless pickups but I really enjoy the clarity and the brightness of single coil pickups, and really, the "tele" sound.

2. Changing Bridge

To a 3 brass saddle bridge. Is this thing worth it? What is a good choice of bridge?

3. Electronics

Are the pots and the caps good enough or do they eat sound?

Is there any other modifications you think is important to a Std MIM Tele?

Thanks a lot.

Welcome to the forum! You can probably get away with a pretty great used MIA for under $900. I would go try out a few new MIM's and then try out a few used MIA Fender guitars if I were you. This would be the best way to get a better idea of what you personally like and dislike about the MIM's even if you do not plan on buying a used MIA.

 

[hollycez]

Re: Some questions about modding a Telecaster

Thanks everybody for the answers.
Used MIA is a good point, but this "customization" (not exaggerated though) thing is really intriguing me...
I'll let you know!

:cool3:

P.S.: Just to know, which are the MIJ series?

 

[AlexR]

Re: Some questions about modding a Telecaster

MIJ might be hard to find - they seem to be a market by themselves. International ebay is probably the best bet unless there's a local s/h seller.

The MIM I had from 2011 was pretty good. The stock electrics were all CTS/switchcraft, and the pickups were quite serviceable - the tone was fat and punchy. I would look to trying the guitar for a while and seeing if anything is not to your liking, rather than a list of mods before you get a guitar in hand.

The saddles can be altered to compensating ones, or swapped to brass if there a 6 already. Remember that any one material isn't an automatic magical tone-bullet. It might make it worse to your ear.

 

[DreX]

Re: Some questions about modding a Telecaster

P.S.: Just to know, which are the MIJ series?

Made in Japan: http://store.ishibashi.co.jp/ec/pro...wd=telecaster&searchType=0&excludeSearchWord=

 

[kilphody]

Re: Some questions about modding a Telecaster

Welcome.
Remember this instrument we call the electric guitar is only half the equation.
What amp do you plan on using?

PC

 

[hollycez]

Re: Some questions about modding a Telecaster

Oh sorry about that man, I will use my Orange Rockerverb 50 2x12 combo

 

[Securb]

Re: Some questions about modding a Telecaster

Another thing is, since I come from a Gibson SG, is the hum really something hard and annoying to handle with or the thing is just getting used to how to handle it?
Because I thought of buying humbuckers or noiseless pickups but I really enjoy the clarity and the brightness of single coil pickups, and really, the "tele" sound.

2. Changing Bridge

To a 3 brass saddle bridge. Is this thing worth it? What is a good choice of bridge?

.

One thing I found switching from my SG to my Tele I didnt like was the set screws of the Tele bridge sticking into my hand. The vintage Tele bridges are also hard to intonation. I put a Babicz bridge on my Tele and added a humbucker. Split the guitar retains a lot of the Tele vibe. Here is a write up on one of my MIM projects. If you have any questions about any of the components feel free to PM me.

http://www.tmrzoo.com/2013/47983/gu...r-is-a-sleeper-designed-to-wake-the-neighbors

 

[kilphody]

Re: Some questions about modding a Telecaster

Oh sorry about that man, I will use my Orange Rockerverb 50 2x12 combo

Very cool. My Tiny Terror's big brother.
I could get some nasty stink out of that.

PC

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Some questions about modding a Telecaster

You want a really great modified Tele with better pickups?

Try G&L. Their new Tribute ASATs run about $500-600, and come in several variations. I think these are made in Indonesia, with USA made pickups designed by Leo Fender. I like their semi-hollow Bluesboy model with the neck bucker. And you won't need to spend money upgrading electronics, or the bridge--Leo Fender already did that for you.

If you've got a little bit more money, go with a USA made G&L. They make several different versions with different pickup configurations--MFDs, P-90s HB+MFD, large MFDs, 2HB, vintage alnicos. These are beautiful guitars, and they have a ton of neck and finish options. You can actually select which options you want at your G&L dealer and they will build it for you--G&L IS a custom shop.

I used to own several vintage Fenders, but I don't even own a Fender guitar any more. The G&L line is really value packed, and I like having a guitar that's a little different than everybody else.

Bill

 

[allbutromeo]

Re: Some questions about modding a Telecaster

I would look for a Classic Player Baja Tele (Not the CP 60's Baja) it is more than what you are looking to initially spend, but has an ash body Twisted Tele neck pickup and a Broadcaster bridge pickup and comes stock with brass saddles on the bridge. And, would still cost less than your $900 project budget. (I think they're 800 new)

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: Some questions about modding a Telecaster

Shielding & Hum:
Tele's aren't as bad as Strats when it comes to hum because the bridge acts as a shield, also the control plate and neck pickup cover act as shielding. However shielding/grounding the pickup/control cavities is a good idea to remove that last bit of hum.

Pickups:
There are plenty of choices for Tele bridge pickups. I went with the Fender Vintage Noiseless, but beware because the pickup route on many baseplates is too small for that bobbin to fit through. I haven't found that problem with any other after market pickups. Neck pickups are always a compromise for Tele's. The standard neck pickup is often weak, isn't easy to adjust and doesn't balance well with the bridge. The most direct solution is to go with a strat neck pickup and a new pickguard, but it's going to be louder than the bridge. If you go with a humbucker, mini-humbucker, P90 or filtertron you may have problems balancing the tone and volume of the two positions with only one set of controls. The problem is the humbuckers and P90's want 500K volume rather than 250K volume pots.

Bridge:
If the guitar has a 6 saddle bridge I wouldn't change it. A lot of people swear by 3 saddle bridges, but even the compensated saddles drive me nuts because I am too sensitive to height and intonation. Try playing a 3 saddle bridge first to see if you can live with the intonation and height. If possible go with a string through body design rather than top loading. You get better energy transfer from a string through bridge than a top loading bridge and the angle of the string over the saddle is better. I have had two top loading bridges and the string angle on one was too shallow which caused intonation problems, while the other was a pain in the ass to string and adjust the intonation because the strings bound the intonation screws.

 

[ItsaBass]

Some questions about modding a Telecaster

If the American Standard has everything you want in your Tele, meaning that you won't feel the need to mod it, then just get a used one. It's hard to modify a Mexican Standard to match an American Standard and still come out spending less. If you are gonna try, it is essential to start with a $250 used Mexican Standard, not a $500+tax new one. To match a stock American Standard, a Mexican Standard needs at least $100 in professional luthier work on the neck and frets (unless you can do fret dressing and setup yourself). You say you want to put $80 or $100 worth of pickups in too. Skipping the bridge, tuners, and just keeping it to fret dressing setup, and pickup replacement, you're in $450–$500 plus your time, and you still don't have a case, and you still have the original hardware. I think that if an American Standard is exactly what you want, that getting one for $600 to $700 with a case is a better way to go.

That said, I think MIM Standards sound just fine with the stock pickups. The most important mods are fret work, and nut detailing or replacement. But even $3,000 and up Gibsons need that stuff (pretty pathetic).

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: Some questions about modding a Telecaster

1. My first mod on any Tele furnished without it is the replacement of the stock 3-way blade switch with a 4-way.

2. My first choice for a MIM Tele would be a used HWY 1 which in my personal experience would be superior to the current batch of Baja Teles. All it really needs in addition to the 4-way switch is a set of compensated saddles and a professional setup. The stock pups were fine if you like the neck Tele pickup sound. Otherwise, one replacement pickup in the neck position will get you where you want to go.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Some questions about modding a Telecaster

1. Changing Mex Std pickups (if I don't like them of course).

SD Vintage Broadcaster does everything a Tele needs to do. Neck, there are more choices. I'm a Vintage guy, so I like the '55 Antiquities Tele neck and that sort. Fender TexMex's aren't that bad, usually is the wiring/pots that makes them sound bad IME.

Another thing is, since I come from a Gibson SG, is the hum really something hard and annoying to handle with or the thing is just getting used to how to handle it?
Because I thought of buying humbuckers or noiseless pickups but I really enjoy the clarity and the brightness of single coil pickups, and really, the "tele" sound.

Teles are designed to reduce hum - the back plate on the bridge pickup, the bridge plate itself, the metal control plate, the cover on the neck pickup. Shield the cavities and you shouldn't have major hum issues. But if what hum remains is still too much for you, then you are probably going to need some kind of humbuckers. But don't expect the 'tele' sound anymore. The single coils are the ones that make 'that' sound.

2. Changing Bridge

To a 3 brass saddle bridge. Is this thing worth it? What is a good choice of bridge?

On a MIM I'd first see what the 6-saddle sounds like because at least with individual saddles you can get the intonation better, then try just replacing the saddles first, like with Graphtec or something, see what that sounds like, and resort to the 3-brass if the first options didn't sound good.

3. Electronics

Are the pots and the caps good enough or do they eat sound?

Some recent MIMs have been using vintage-style dished-back CTS pots that are perfectly fine. The cap only controls the corner frequency that the tone rolls off at - changing it won't improve the sound - unless you want to change the value of the cap and alter how dark the tone gets when rolled off.

Is there any other modifications you think is important to a Std MIM Tele?

Thanks a lot.

You could sheild the control and pickup cavities.

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: Some questions about modding a Telecaster

I have a MIM 60's Tele.

I replaced the stock pick ups (they actually surprised me to be honest / for what i play) with BK Black Guard Flat 50's, and Graphtech Saddle Savers, and can not be happier.

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: Some questions about modding a Telecaster

Hi all guys!

Another thing is, since I come from a Gibson SG, is the hum really something hard and annoying to handle with or the thing is just getting used to how to handle it?
Because I thought of buying humbuckers or noiseless pickups but I really enjoy the clarity and the brightness of single coil pickups, and really, the "tele" sound.

Is there any other modifications you think is important to a Std MIM Tele?

Thanks a lot.

Feedback ?

This is STOCK pick ups into a (((LOUD))) Recto . . . and it works for him !






Other mods you might want to look into : 4-way mod. I want to do that with my Tele.