Tele mods

Re: Tele mods

I have G&L split shaft tuners fitted which are cool, and a Wilkinson bridge with compensated brass saddles.
 
Re: Tele mods

4-way switch is a must for me. It's a completely invisible mod and it's cheap. I've never seen it used on a Strat so I can't comment but on a Tele it creates a beefed up setting that's a bit more humbucker-like. I use it all the time for solos and/or songs where I want a thicker sound.

Other than that, pickups mainly. I find the no-load tone pot is good especially if you drop a humbucker into the neck position. Also the SM-1 mini HB is possibly the best Tele neck pickup out there.

Saddles are another good one. For 3-saddle vintage type bridges I really like the Callaham compensated saddles. Also any Tele of mine with modern style tuners I've replaced them with the Fender locking tuners. They're drop in replacements and they make string changes so incredibly easy.

Oh and last thing is copper shielding the pickup and control cavities.
 
Re: Tele mods

Powdered Toast Man said:
Saddles are another good one. For 3-saddle vintage type bridges I really like the Callaham compensated saddles. Also any Tele of mine with modern style tuners I've replaced them with the Fender locking tuners. They're drop in replacements and they make string changes so incredibly easy.
Click to expand...

Do you have any experience with switching out only one saddle for a different material? I know there are some guys that only put a steel saddle under the E and A, while leaving the rest brass to get more presence under the bass strings.
 
Re: Tele mods

i think youve mentioned the things i would do but...

flip the plate, master volume, bridge tone, 4 way switch to get series option, and replace the neck pup with a ssl2 or firebird style pup. i like a three big brass saddle bridge as well
 
Re: Tele mods

SM-1 neck or at least take the cover of the stock neck pickup (I hate "normal" tele neck pickups), steel bridge plate, and strap locks. Thass it.
 
Re: Tele mods

I know this is probably beyond the scope of your request -but it's cheap to do if you do it yourself.

For Tele shredding -6130s

b8530c5eb0f6b4548741da9656c0dd2f.jpg
 
Re: Tele mods

If you like the ashtray bridge, ones with one or both lips filled down is awesome

Have you ever gone to pick the e string, either one, and found yourself picking the bridge lip?

Still happens to me sometimes, I see now why flat plates are good.

Also big factor for me in tele sound is bridge plate thickness. If you want a loud sound with lots of mids and bass, find a thick bridge plate. In general the thin ones have a more bright, less sustaining plucky sound.

Sent from my SM-G930U using Tapatalk
 
Re: Tele mods

NegativeEase said:
I know this is probably beyond the scope of your request -but it's cheap to do if you do it yourself.

For Tele shredding -6130s

b8530c5eb0f6b4548741da9656c0dd2f.jpg
Click to expand...
After having two highway one telecaster, I gotta say I just know I don't like 6105, I think those has that. My inept fingers make intonation more off than it already is on a tele with tall frets.
6130 looks like a good balance!
Will keep that in mind if I own this thing long enough to need a refret!

Sent from my SM-G930U using Tapatalk
 
Re: Tele mods

I've always been intrigued by the JD 5-way Tele wiring but I haven't tried it so I can't offer a real opinion. The mod that's helped me most on my teles has been replacing the neck pickup.

Twisted Tele neck brings it a much more Stratlike character. (Mine's paired with a Zhangbucker Paul Bunyan bridge that still sounds Tele-like, just bigger. Great pickup) RioGrande Muy Grande neck is mighty nice too.

I have another with the Duncan QuarterPound Tele set. Very beefy - great for rock yet has less of the iconic Tele sound.

A fourth Tele has a P90 at the neck and a Lil59 bridge. Wonderful, rocking axe. But in terms of character this one has stepped even further away from classic Tele tone territory.
 
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Re: Tele mods

eclecticsynergy said:
I've always been intrigued by the JD 5-way Tele wiring but I haven't tried it so I can't offer a real opinion. The mod that's helped me most on my teles has been replacing the neck pickup. Twisted Tele neck brings it a much more Stratlike character. (Mine's paired with a Zhangbucker Paul Bunyan bridge that still sounds Tele-like, just bigger. Great pickup) RioGrande Muy Grande neck is mighty nice too.
Click to expand...

This one that Bill Lawrence came up with?

Fig1_WEB.jpg

I think that it's a pretty neat idea. I've never tried it myself, but I find that half out of phase is a pretty good option if you want to get your Tele to sound like a passable Strat.
 
Re: Tele mods

I replaced the tone knob on mine with a varitone style rotary switch by Stellartone.

I also have the 4-way switch mod. The both-in-series sound isn't life changing, but it's useable and worth having in my opinion.

I also have a treble bleed mod too.
 
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Re: Tele mods

Chistopher said:
This one that Bill Lawrence came up with?

View attachment 94956

I think that it's a pretty neat idea. I've never tried it myself, but I find that half out of phase is a pretty good option if you want to get your Tele to sound like a passable Strat.
Click to expand...

I think the Fender JD wiring is:
1) bridge
2) bridge & neck half-out-of-phase
3) bridge & neck
4) neck with tone control
5) neck with tone bypassed

But Bill L's neck-with-cap-for-low-cut could be great especially if you have a fat sounding amp.
 
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Re: Tele mods

All mentioned but I’d do:
-New nut (graphtech/tusq) slotted for your preferred string gauge
-Compensated brass saddles
-4 Way switch
-Flip the Plate if that’s your preference
 
Re: Tele mods

Just unplugged the iron and got done test driving. No major upgrades yet, but I flipped the plate and set the neck pickup to bypass the tone control. This brought a little familiarity from my Strat, being able to dial the amp in fairly bright for a clear neck pickup sound, then take the edge off the bridge with the tone control. It also works out great for having the plate reversed. I love the Danny Gatton/Roy Buchanan fake wah trick, and the switch in the bridge position leaves plenty of clearance.

Considering both are essentially a slab of wood with a piece of maple bolted on, and a few single coil pickups, it's knocking me over how different Strats and Teles are.
 
Re: Tele mods

forgot the easiest of all Mods JB

#10 or 1/4" Rubber O Ring under both Tele Knobs. just slide them down the shaft to the bottom and retighten knobs against them. Makes the pots only turn when you intentionally want to -they won't turn if you bump them.

gives resistance that feels much better
 
Re: Tele mods

Define “upgrade”?

The stamped bridge plate is part of the Tele twang. I personally lap the bottom dead flat so they don’t feedback and you might want to trim down the sides if they get in the way of finger picking.

Grab a set of the Gotoh In Tune saddles. Sound correct and intonate
 
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