Home› Musicians and Gearheads

telecaster 4.0

exhaustedexhausted Posts: 6,638
edited February 2005 in Musicians and Gearheads
http://minorlith.net/visual/tele3.jpg
http://minorlith.net/visual/tele4.jpg

it's finally done after waiting weeks for the parts. i highly recommend the 4-way switch if you have a tele. the sound of the two pickups in series is brilliant. i love it. it's darker than the other 3 with extra output so it's great for a bluesier, overdriven sound. best cheap mod around.

so, what have i done to this thing now. i've changed this guitar so many times.

-graphtech saddles
-neck from a 1995 stratocaster, the rest of the guitar is 1996.
-duncan vintage stacks
-4-way switch
-new CTS pots and an orange drop 473 cap. i've wired them right handed so that they actually work now. fender is nice enough to wire their left-handed guitars in "reverse" but they don't bother to use reverse taper pots so nothing works properly. my gibsons are wired right handed anyway so i'm used to this. now the numbers mean something too.
-fender amp knobs
-new parchment pickguard
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • MadHatterMadHatter Posts: 15
    Can you comment at all on the differences (tuning or tone) you find with the graphtech saddles?
  • MadHatterMadHatter Posts: 15
    Oh, btw. Beautiful guitar...for a lefty that is :)
  • WiLL75WiLL75 Posts: 415
    I was going to ask the same thing about the saddles. Is it a softer sound?
    7-9-03 New York(MSG II baby!)
    9-4-05 Calgary (10c Tix!)
    8-8-09 Calgary
    9-21-12 Calgary (10c Tix! Row 12!!)
    My URL
    http://www.myspace.com/thehuskytruckers

    http://www.facebook.com
  • Pacomc79Pacomc79 Posts: 9,404
    exhausted wrote:
    http://minorlith.net/visual/tele3.jpg
    http://minorlith.net/visual/tele4.jpg

    it's finally done after waiting weeks for the parts. i highly recommend the 4-way switch if you have a tele. the sound of the two pickups in series is brilliant. i love it. it's darker than the other 3 with extra output so it's great for a bluesier, overdriven sound. best cheap mod around.

    so, what have i done to this thing now. i've changed this guitar so many times.

    -graphtech saddles
    -neck from a 1995 stratocaster, the rest of the guitar is 1996.
    -duncan vintage stacks
    -4-way switch
    -new CTS pots and an orange drop 473 cap. i've wired them right handed so that they actually work now. fender is nice enough to wire their left-handed guitars in "reverse" but they don't bother to use reverse taper pots so nothing works properly. my gibsons are wired right handed anyway so i'm used to this. now the numbers mean something too.
    -fender amp knobs
    -new parchment pickguard


    After extensively throttling the S-1 system and the SCN's in a strat I whole heartedly agree. The sound of two or more single coils in series is lovely.

    It looks great ex, the amp knobs are perfect, Muddy would approve.

    How are the saddles?
    My Girlfriend said to me..."How many guitars do you need?" and I replied...."How many pairs of shoes do you need?" She got really quiet.
  • exhaustedexhausted Posts: 6,638
    i find the saddles make the guitar a bit more middy and there is a bit less harshness in the bridge pickup now.
  • exhaustedexhausted Posts: 6,638
    and a note. with the 4-way switch, the neck pickup needs to have an isolated ground for the pickup cover. the actual coil ground is wired to the switch while the pickup cover is grounded to a pot.

    otherwise, the guitar will hum like a bitch when you touch the neck pickup cover.
  • WiLL75WiLL75 Posts: 415
    exhausted wrote:
    i find the saddles make the guitar a bit more middy and there is a bit less harshness in the bridge pickup now.

    That's the thing I LOVE about my tele. The bridge pickup can be really harsh when I want it to be. : ) Love that growl.
    7-9-03 New York(MSG II baby!)
    9-4-05 Calgary (10c Tix!)
    8-8-09 Calgary
    9-21-12 Calgary (10c Tix! Row 12!!)
    My URL
    http://www.myspace.com/thehuskytruckers

    http://www.facebook.com
  • exhaustedexhausted Posts: 6,638
    the growl is still there but the useless high high frequencies that make my ears bleed are gone. switching to the duncan pickups helped some of that and now the saddles have made it a bit better still.

    the saddle material makes a big difference so it's nice being able to really pin down the sound you want by changing things.
  • WiLL75WiLL75 Posts: 415
    That's cool. It's always satisfying when you find and achieve the sound you want out of a guitar.

    The project I'm putting off is my old mustang. After many years, I finally found TWO set screws so I don't have to replace the bridge anymore. Now I just need to get two new pickup switches, tone and volume pots, tone and volume knobs.
    7-9-03 New York(MSG II baby!)
    9-4-05 Calgary (10c Tix!)
    8-8-09 Calgary
    9-21-12 Calgary (10c Tix! Row 12!!)
    My URL
    http://www.myspace.com/thehuskytruckers

    http://www.facebook.com
  • mccreadyisgodmccreadyisgod Posts: 6,395
    I love the mods...

    When can I send you my next Tele for work?
    ...and if you don't like it, you can suck on an egg.
  • exhaustedexhausted Posts: 6,638
    mccreadyisgod wrote:
    I love the mods...

    When can I send you my next Tele for work?


    you don't want me anywhere near it. trial and error is great when it's your own instrument.

    my next project. perhaps.

    http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7300015213
  • mccreadyisgodmccreadyisgod Posts: 6,395
    exhausted wrote:
    you don't want me anywhere near it. trial and error is great when it's your own instrument.

    my next project. perhaps.

    http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7300015213


    I like the looks of that one, yes...

    My next tele will be easy. This guy:

    http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=guitar/search/detail/base_pid/515207/

    Swap in a Fralin open-zebra PAF in the bridge and a Gibson Nickel Classic 57 in the neck. Replace the push-pull tone, have two volumes (one for each pup). Maybe graphite saddles. But I'll probably have my local guy do all the work... shipping it to you and back might cost a little much.
    ...and if you don't like it, you can suck on an egg.
  • exhaustedexhausted Posts: 6,638
    you showed that one to me before and i think it's a great idea.

    if this body stays low, i'm going to grab it. i'll route the neck for a full size HB as well and then just slowly gather parts. it had a full size tele bridge on it before. i'd much rather have a hardtail strat type bridge like the thinline but i'll burn that bridge when i get to it.
  • mccreadyisgodmccreadyisgod Posts: 6,395
    exhausted wrote:
    you showed that one to me before and i think it's a great idea.

    if this body stays low, i'm going to grab it. i'll route the neck for a full size HB as well and then just slowly gather parts. it had a full size tele bridge on it before. i'd much rather have a hardtail strat type bridge like the thinline but i'll burn that bridge when i get to it.


    How about a Tune-o-Matic and Stop tailpiece?

    And a Fender Wide-Range Humbucker in the neck?

    And a Harmonic Design Super 90 in the bridge?
    ...and if you don't like it, you can suck on an egg.
  • Pacomc79Pacomc79 Posts: 9,404
    mccreadyisgod wrote:
    How about a Tune-o-Matic and Stop tailpiece?

    And a Fender Wide-Range Humbucker in the neck?

    And a Harmonic Design Super 90 in the bridge?


    yes, excellent. Love the Super 90 although why not go with the new Lindy Fralin split coil version of the Fender FR?

    http://www.fralinpickups.com/humbuckers.asp#p92 yoink.
    My Girlfriend said to me..."How many guitars do you need?" and I replied...."How many pairs of shoes do you need?" She got really quiet.
  • mccreadyisgodmccreadyisgod Posts: 6,395
    Pacomc79 wrote:
    yes, excellent. Love the Super 90 although why not go with the new Lindy Fralin split coil version of the Fender FR?

    http://www.fralinpickups.com/humbuckers.asp#p92 yoink.


    I do love the Fralin's...

    Eh, subjective judgement there.
    ...and if you don't like it, you can suck on an egg.
  • Pacomc79Pacomc79 Posts: 9,404
    mccreadyisgod wrote:
    I do love the Fralin's...

    Eh, subjective judgement there.


    potato potAto
    My Girlfriend said to me..."How many guitars do you need?" and I replied...."How many pairs of shoes do you need?" She got really quiet.
  • exhaustedexhausted Posts: 6,638
    mccreadyisgod wrote:
    How about a Tune-o-Matic and Stop tailpiece?

    And a Fender Wide-Range Humbucker in the neck?

    And a Harmonic Design Super 90 in the bridge?

    it's already drilled etc. for a fender type bridge.
  • trappedinmyradiotrappedinmyradio Posts: 1,189
    dude, that thing looks so sweet. from the guitar tones you always seem to get i am sure that this thing sounds so damn sweet. WOW! that's a beautiful instrument, FOR SURE!
    exhausted wrote:
    http://minorlith.net/visual/tele3.jpg
    http://minorlith.net/visual/tele4.jpg

    it's finally done after waiting weeks for the parts. i highly recommend the 4-way switch if you have a tele. the sound of the two pickups in series is brilliant. i love it. it's darker than the other 3 with extra output so it's great for a bluesier, overdriven sound. best cheap mod around.

    so, what have i done to this thing now. i've changed this guitar so many times.

    -graphtech saddles
    -neck from a 1995 stratocaster, the rest of the guitar is 1996.
    -duncan vintage stacks
    -4-way switch
    -new CTS pots and an orange drop 473 cap. i've wired them right handed so that they actually work now. fender is nice enough to wire their left-handed guitars in "reverse" but they don't bother to use reverse taper pots so nothing works properly. my gibsons are wired right handed anyway so i'm used to this. now the numbers mean something too.
    -fender amp knobs
    -new parchment pickguard
    I'll dig a tunnel
    from my window to yours
  • mccreadyisgodmccreadyisgod Posts: 6,395
    exhausted wrote:
    it's already drilled etc. for a fender type bridge.


    You could still Gibson-ify it with a T-o-M and stop tailpiece. You'd have to drill it different, but it could be done.

    I just prefer the T-o-M...
    ...and if you don't like it, you can suck on an egg.
  • exhaustedexhausted Posts: 6,638
    mccreadyisgod wrote:
    You could still Gibson-ify it with a T-o-M and stop tailpiece. You'd have to drill it different, but it could be done.

    I just prefer the T-o-M...


    since the strings have to run parallel to the body (since the neck isn't angled back), i wonder how it could be made lower enough to do that.
  • mccreadyisgodmccreadyisgod Posts: 6,395
    exhausted wrote:
    since the strings have to run parallel to the body (since the neck isn't angled back), i wonder how it could be made lower enough to do that.


    Good question...

    A friend of mine has a T-o-M on his Jazzmaster that he had retrofitted, so I know it CAN be done. Lord knows how much work it would take. They have to have some sort of low-profile bridge for Fender retrofits.

    It's the only thing I'd change about my current (and future) Tele. I don't like the one-piece bridge/tail, and I HATE string-thru.

    BTW, I love the amp knobs... I'm wondering if those would look decent on my future Tele. They look great on my current Deluxe Tele.
    ...and if you don't like it, you can suck on an egg.
  • exhaustedexhausted Posts: 6,638
    something like this i guess.

    http://www.fender.com/products/show.php?partno=0114700

    this is still my prefered bridge though.
    http://www.fender.com/products/show.php?partno=0101680
  • Pacomc79Pacomc79 Posts: 9,404
    exhausted wrote:
    something like this i guess.

    http://www.fender.com/products/show.php?partno=0114700

    this is still my prefered bridge though.
    http://www.fender.com/products/show.php?partno=0101680


    what about tone pros (through body design) no tailpiece just the bridge?
    My Girlfriend said to me..."How many guitars do you need?" and I replied...."How many pairs of shoes do you need?" She got really quiet.
  • mccreadyisgodmccreadyisgod Posts: 6,395
    exhausted wrote:
    something like this i guess.

    http://www.fender.com/products/show.php?partno=0114700

    this is still my prefered bridge though.
    http://www.fender.com/products/show.php?partno=0101680


    That first one, the Strat-O-Sonic, is similar to the bridge I had on my Telesonic... pretty nice, it's like a one-piece T-o-M that strings thru and over. Still kind of a pain to string up, though.

    Anyways... what about those pickup choices for that Tele? I really want someone here to try a Super 90 in a Tele bridge...
    ...and if you don't like it, you can suck on an egg.
  • WiLL75WiLL75 Posts: 415
    mccreadyisgod wrote:
    Anyways... what about those pickup choices for that Tele? I really want someone here to try a Super 90 in a Tele bridge...

    I checked out that site. P-90 Sound in a single coil that will just fit right in.
    It's very tempting...but I do like the sound I get from the stock pups...
    7-9-03 New York(MSG II baby!)
    9-4-05 Calgary (10c Tix!)
    8-8-09 Calgary
    9-21-12 Calgary (10c Tix! Row 12!!)
    My URL
    http://www.myspace.com/thehuskytruckers

    http://www.facebook.com
Sign In or Register to comment.