Telecaster routing question...

M

musicartrevolution

New member
Okay, so long story short i was going to get an American Tele as i wanted to put dual humbuckers in it for a fun project. On the Fender site they say that all the standard and deluxe American Tele's are already HSH routed, but this doesn't seem to be the case unless i'm missing something. Like the body pic here: http://cgi.ebay.com/2009-American-S...emQQptZGuitar_Accessories?hash=item2eaa2c41b2

Are they referring to some other type of routing? Or am i missing something? I even had a new american standard tele this past week at my house and we checked and the routing is identical to the one pictured, which has humbucker neck routing but the bridge doesn't look like it. Any info is appreciated!
 
Re: Telecaster routing question...

You're right, the routing in that picture is not HSH. My guess is that Fender USED to rout them all HSH, and just haven't updated that info. I know Fenders all had the swimming pool rout at one point in time. I don't know for sure if they've ever had HSH on the American models. My 2000 Squier was routed for HSH, but my 2002 Fender MIM was routed HSS (if that helps at all...).
 
Re: Telecaster routing question...

It's not a huge deal to go the additional routing yourself, just get one of those guides from StewMac or make a guide yourself.
 
Re: Telecaster routing question...

My fender american standard tele came with this same S/S/H routing. I was terrifed at first as huge piece of wood was missing from the middle. Then I have decide to put a middle pickup in it. Now I have STHRb/TeleNeck/STHRn
with bridge and neck coil tapped.
Check out warmoth.com for custom pickguard routing.
 
Re: Telecaster routing question...

Like Butnut said be care with the edges because the ring DOES barely cover it. Are you going to use a hardtail or a tele style bridge (with HB route)? It would be easier with those gotoh HB tele bridge.

Here's the one I finished a week ago.
SAM_0623.jpg
 
Re: Telecaster routing question...

Awesome! I'm just starting this week actually. I got the Gotoh bridge that looks like a normal Tele one with a humbucker size slot. What did you use to do the routing? Any pointers? Thanks!
 
Re: Telecaster routing question...

Yeah, my job would have been easier with that gotoh bridge. I used a "tool"/drill bit that used for jewelry. It ate away the wood. It didn't come up pretty but you can't tell since it all covered. I've heard that others use dremels. A proper routing tool would be the best choice.
 
Re: Telecaster routing question...

Consider the RI 72 Tele Deluxe with the CBS headstock and Lover designed Atomic humbuckers…Fenders answer to LP?
 
Re: Telecaster routing question...

I do like the layout of those reissues, but for me the quality of the Amer. Standard is quite a bit ahead. Also, i already have the Amer. Standard. ;-)

The other thing with those is i would still want different pickups and with the wide range ones being bigger i would have to do some extra work anyhow. Thanks for the info though!!!
 
Re: Telecaster routing question...

Another question before i get started, if i use Duncan buckers do i need the Trembucker version or regular for a standard tele? Thanks!
 
Re: Telecaster routing question...

I haven't seen a US Tele body recently, but that looks VERY much like recent MIM bodies I've seen. I don't think that's a US body.
 
Re: Telecaster routing question...

If you're referring to the first post, that one is American, it isn't what i have though. I have the full American Standard Tele, i was just using that pic for a reference. It looks like the pic has changed since i first posted it, but most recent American Standard Tele's are routed the same as that pic.
 
Re: Telecaster routing question...

So you guys who have done this, what buckers did you end up using? I play a lot of rock, punk, post-rock kinda stuff. To give a range, think Cult of Luna, Isis, Failure, Alkaline Trio, Smashing Pumpkins, Thrice, Muse, etc. So some metal too, but nothing that requires super hot pickups. Any suggestions for this axe? I'd prefer to do passive pickups as well. I had been thinking a Custom 5 in the bridge cause i've heard good things, but i'm open to options (both bridge and neck).
 
Re: Telecaster routing question...

^^ I've gone through about 4 of p'up in that tele I posted. Duncan Custom, C8, Pearly Gates Plus, and a '78. So far, I like the '78 the most, followed by the C8 and pearly gates plus. All of those p'ups can do the styles you mentioned. What kind of amp do you have?

Err... I'm not sure about the C5. It's a very bright p'up, IMO. I'm not sure how it'll sound in a alder tele since I haven't tried it. Good news is that if you don't like it, you can swap magnets and turn it into any other custom!
 
Re: Telecaster routing question...

Hmm good to know i didn't know it was so bright. I record direct through a UX2, but for live i use an Orange Rockerverb 50 halfstack.
 
Re: Telecaster routing question...

musicartrevolution said:
Hmm good to know i didn't know it was so bright. I record direct through a UX2, but for live i use an Orange Rockerverb 50 halfstack.
Click to expand...

Just because I think it's bright doesn't mean it'll be bright for you. Plus, I thought it was bright with a 500k. A 250k will tame it. All the p'ups I'm used in the tele were played with 500k pots.
 
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