Tele project question...

[musicartrevolution]

Okay folks-

So i just got a new Amer. Standard Tele in trade. While i've always liked Tele looks, i've been more of a rocker. So i'm gonna "rockify" this Tele and i'm looking for some input.

Basically i'm torn. While it is currently in standard Tele configuration with 2 single-coils, it is routed H/S/H under the pickguard. So i'm torn between either keeping the current bridge and pickguard and doing a Hot Rails bridge and neck (maybe something else in the neck), or getting an H/H pickguard and a new bridge and doing full size humbuckers, probably something like a Custom Custom/Pearly Gates combo or along those lines.

So if this was yours, price of changes not being an issue, which way would you go and why? Which pups would you put in this? My live rig is basically an Orange Rockerverb fullstack and i use an M13 for effects. I play stuff along the lines of Failure, Queens of the Stoneage, Thrice, A Perfect Circle, etc. Sometimes heavier. Thanks in advance for throwing your opinion my way!! :friday:

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Tele project question...

Fundamental questions;
1) What body wood(s)?
2) What fingerboard wood?
3) What bridge saddles?

 

[musicartrevolution]

Re: Tele project question...

Alder body w/maple neck and rosewood board. Standard Tele bridge at the moment which has bent steel saddles and a brass plate, unless i change it to accommodate a humbucker, then i'd probably get one of the Gotoh humbucker Tele bridges. I'd accept advice on the bridge/saddles as well though, i'm open to opinions.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Tele project question...

For going HH, all that you really need is a shorter bridge baseplate. The saddles can be transferred. Make a note of the intonation settings before you unscrew anything. The bridge position humbucker would be mounted through a plastic surround like a Gibson or the legendary Tele-Gib guitar that Seymour Duncan assembled for Jeff Beck.

If you are willing to spend the price of a replacement bridge, why not simply install a Seymour Duncan Li'l '59 or Hot Rails for Telecaster pickup? A guy in my area is trying to sell a Fender USA Std Tele with exactly this mod. It sounds great for Rock and still has some Tele twang. If the owner had been asking a realistic price, I might have bought it.

 

[musicartrevolution]

Re: Tele project question...

Thanks for the response. Yes, i am looking at the Hot Rails for Tele as well, as my original post states. I'm just trying to gather opinions on going the Hot Rails route versus doing a H/H configuration for my desired purpose. So if you prefer one over the other why so, and what would you recommend? Thanks!