Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Tech => Topic started by: Twinfan on August 14, 2008, 10:17:36 AM
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I fancy putting a 4-way switch in my new Tele so I ordered the genuine Fender part. It turned up yesterday and it's a bit naff. The quality is low as it's really flimsy, and the contacts are really close togther. It looks like it'll start playing up after not much use :(
Is there anybody producing a 'proper' high quality 4-way switch for a Tele?
The original 3-way on the guitar is seriously high quality and sturdy like this one, with big contact points which are clearly separated. It's a USA made CRL switch:
(http://www.fake58.co.uk/images/EP_0076-000%20CRL%205%20way%203%20way.jpg)
The one that came in the Fender pack was labelled as a Custom Shop part and made in Mexico. It looks like this one, which you can see is lesser quality and the contact points are dodgy. I think it's also a CRL switch?:
(http://www.fake58.co.uk/images/EP_4374-000%204%20way%20tele%20switch.jpg)
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Hiya mate,
I was thinking of the ' Callaham' stuff that Charlie Chandlers of London import from the USA. I once had my eye on a complete pre-wired control plate ( huge knurled knobs, cryo dipped parts - but £77 ! ) .
Also I wondered what you thought of the 'unofficial' alternatives at the foot of 'Axes 'r' Us' switches section ? way below the badged stuff on the same page . A couple look very solid indeed.
:)
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Hi Derek :)
The Chandlers site still has the Callaham parts but no picture of the actual 4-way unit. They claim it's a CRL part, but I'm not convinced. The BKP shop also lists a CRL 4-way but I think that's wrong too because after doing some more digging it seems that the Fender 4-way I bought is made by Oak/Grigsby, as are most of the Fender switches. It also seems to be the only 4-way switch available :(
The stock Fender 3-way in my Custom Shop Tele is in fact a CRL part and is much better quality.
I think I'll leave well enough alone and leave it as a traditional Tele then.....
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There's the Oak Grigsby one WD sell:
http://www.wdmusic.co.uk/product/4_WAY_LEVER_SWITCH_FOR_TELE_WDE4 (http://www.wdmusic.co.uk/product/4_WAY_LEVER_SWITCH_FOR_TELE_WDE4)
It looks identical to the Fender one, I think, and Allparts also sell the same one. I suspect CRL don't actually make 4-ways.
The Oak switches are fine anyway, IMO. I've got a couple of their 5-way superswitches and they work very well.
(Edit: You posted about the Oak switches while I was typing this, so I've not added anything to the debate!)
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The four way pic in your op looks pretty much like the one that'll be in your Baja - I nearly destroyed one of the lugs when I was trying to get the old pups out to put in the Blackguards the other week. As a switch I feel it's OK, but the lugs that you solder onto feel like you could bite through with your teeth!
BTW - have you shifted your Baja yet? I was sorely tempted :roll: - looks exactly the same as mine. But a) I don't have the money, and b) Manchester's a long way away... so luckily sanity prevails!
Now, if you'd brought it down to London the other week and arranged to meet outside V+R... I might not have been able to keep my hands in my pockets... :lol:
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there's probably some reason why this wouldn't work, but why not just stick to the 3-way and fit a push-pull to the tone knob to get you both in series? i don't know about you, but i'd prefer that to a 4-way anyway, as it's easier to select the tone you want (i know that edwards teles are like this, so i assume it can be done)...
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Andy - the Baja hasn't shipped yet but a friendly BKP poster will be sending me a cheque today ;)
Dave - I thought about using a push-pull but the cavities in the Tele aren't massively deep. Plus I didn't want to mess with the incredibly neat factory wiring TOO much :roll:
I've decided to leave the guitar as is is for now and just enjoy it. I couldn't put the flimsy Oak switch into an otherwise awesome guitar, it just doesn't seem right!
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Andy - the Baja hasn't shipped yet but a friendly BKP poster will be sending me a cheque today ;)
Indeed! :wink:
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It's still too heavy for you Philly... :lol: ...what you want is a Dano, you hardly know you're wearing it...
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No, I've checked out the weight situation thoroughly! :lol: That's what swung it, being able to get a Baja that I know in advance is a reasonable weight.
But if you're selling the Dano, Andy....
(kidding! :wink: )
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OK, I'll waste my 400th post on this...
What you really need Philly is one of these (http://www.naffgiftshop.co.uk/inflatable-guitar-433-p.asp). Pretty much a new guitar for the price of a decent set up and the BKPs that you'll want to retrofit. Only managed to find one model so far, and it's a little bit too "pointy headstock" for my tastes, but they do come in a variety of colours...
Tell you what, I'll get one, and if the Baja doesn't work out we can do a straight swap
... woohoo 400 posts! :lol:
Sorry for the hijack Twinfan, sounds like you're finished though :D
EDIT: The Dano's not for sale btw :D - I hate to admit it, but it's my favourite guitar at the moment. For a £160 geetar, there's nothing it won't do, and there's a whole bunch of things it can do that I've been wondering about ever since I started playing, but I've never played a guitar that gets me there before...
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For a £160 geetar, there's nothing it won't do, and there's a whole bunch of things it can do that I've been wondering about ever since I started playing, but I've never played a guitar that gets me there before...
Sounds like it plays itself! Maybe that's what I should be buying after all. :wink:
(I'll get back to you on the pointy yellow wind-powered one)
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Dave - I thought about using a push-pull but the cavities in the Tele aren't massively deep. Plus I didn't want to mess with the incredibly neat factory wiring TOO much :roll:
oh ok, no worries. :)
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Hi Derek :)
The Chandlers site still has the Callaham parts but no picture of the actual 4-way unit. I think I'll leave well enough alone and leave it as a traditional Tele then.....
Good move Dave, :) If I had have shelled out for the Callaham Plate assembly, I would have deliberately chosen a 3 way switch. I just love Telecasters as simple as possible. For me that is the 'magic' that is a Telecaster. I only bought my Baja for the lovely neck and 50s aesthetics - NOT the 6 way switching.
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Well done Philly. I was sorely tempted myself and had, I think, talked Mrs 38th around but everyones a winner cos she has now committed herself to the idea of my getting another guitar.
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Well done Philly. I was sorely tempted myself and had, I think, talked Mrs 38th around but everyones a winner cos she has now committed herself to the idea of my getting another guitar.
It was a bit spur of the moment, but once I'd PM'd Dave and started the process, that was it....
It'll be nice to have a vintage-styled Tele, I feel a bit "guilty" that mine are alder and have modern 6-saddle bridges, 22 frets etc (still glad the Baja has a 9.5" radius though!). I'm even going to keep the 4-way switch! :wink:
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Ha ha - you'll love it Phil. It's a great guitar.
It's just a bit redundant after buying
<--------------------- "Ruby Tuesday"
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Well done Philly. I was sorely tempted myself and had, I think, talked Mrs 38th around but everyones a winner cos she has now committed herself to the idea of my getting another guitar.
It was a bit spur of the moment, but once I'd PM'd Dave and started the process, that was it....
It'll be nice to have a vintage-styled Tele, I feel a bit "guilty" that mine are alder and have modern 6-saddle bridges, 22 frets etc (still glad the Baja has a 9.5" radius though!). I'm even going to keep the 4-way switch! :wink:
Great move Philly :)
The Bajas really are great guitars - and the ( forum ) price was very low for what you get out of one. The neck is probably my favourite profile / feel - and the fact that you can have that wider feeling neck and 9.5 " radius makes them a dream to set up and play. Even the stock pickups sound good to my ears.
Enjoy ! :D
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Hiya Dave,
Please post, e:mail or P.M some pictures of 'Ruby Tuesday' - I just love Telecasters and know you will have chosen an absolute peach !
( If you already have elsewhere, please direct me ). :)
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Ha ha - you'll love it Phil. It's a great guitar.
It's just a bit redundant after buying
<--------------------- "Ruby Tuesday"
Oh yes indeed. That red sparkle is growing on me the more I see it. :D
Great move Philly :)
The Bajas really are great guitars - and the ( forum ) price was very low for what you get out of one. The neck is probably my favourite profile / feel - and the fact that you can have that wider feeling neck and 9.5 " radius makes them a dream to set up and play. Even the stock pickups sound good to my ears.
Enjoy ! :D
:) Thanks Derek. I'm planning on keeping the stock pickups, unless I really hate them for some as-yet-unknown reason. Apart from anything else, I don't want to mess with the complexities of the S-1 switching. So this guitar will remain fairly un-tampered with, I anticipate. :wink:
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Hiya Dave,
Please post, e:mail or P.M some pictures of 'Ruby Tuesday' - I just love Telecasters and know you will have chosen an absolute peach !
( If you already have elsewhere, please direct me ). :)
+1 on that.
I missed the excitement when you first bought it (I was at the cricket for five days), and I can't seem to find a decent pic now. I'm almost certain I looked at this guitar when I was in V+R the week before, but I wasn't concentrating too hard because I'm not a big fan of candy apple red, and my mind seems to be filled with strats at the moment...
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Derek - I've PM'd you in case you miss this post, but here's the link to the pics of "Ruby Tuesday" taken by Vintage and Rare. I've posted them previously in my "non-Fender relics" thread as it went a bit off-topic :)
You may have seen this one Andy, or it may have been their rosewood 'board one?
Ruby Tuesday pics (http://www.vintageandrareguitars.com/web/our-catalogue/Fender/Electric-Guitars/item/3938)
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That is damn pretty :D (even for candy apple!)
Yep, I think it was actually one with a rosewood board that caught my eye when I was in there (that, and the lady in charge of proceedings!!)
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It's not Candy Apple mate, it's Red Sparkle ;)
And the lass is very lovely, yes :D
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As I mentioned to Dave, it reminds me ( close up ) of the well beaten axe that Wilko Johnson ( ex Dr Feelgood ) has been dragging round all these years. It's not the same colour, but the VIBE is uncannily similar... 8)