Author Topic: Messing with vintage guitars (Read 3199 times)

Ian Price · « **on:** April 13, 2008, 12:35:05 AM »

I've been thinking of maybe putting a BKP neck humbucker in my telecaster. The guitar in question is from 1975 and hasn't been messed with in any way (other than getting the bridge pick up wax potted). Getting a humbucker in would require routing and a new scratch plate.

What do people think of this? Is it a good idea or should I get my partner to hide the guitar from me until I stop having urges to butcher it?

Something that could save it is maybe a stacked humbucker - does Tim do such a thing?

Cheers!

Philly Q · « **Reply #1 on:** April 13, 2008, 12:42:43 AM »

Quote from: Ian Price

Something that could save it is maybe a stacked humbucker - does Tim do such a thing?

No, he doesn't. A stacked humbucker wouldn't sound like a humbucker anyway, it'd sound like a noiseless single-coil, so I don't think that would solve your problem.

As for routing the guitar, I wouldn't do it if it was mine. I don't mind carving up a new guitar, but if a guitar's been around for 30-odd years without modifications I feel like it's developed its own little soul :roll: :oops: . Which is why I don't buy vintage guitars.

But it's your guitar, your decision.

Jonny · « **Reply #2 on:** April 13, 2008, 12:45:59 AM »

I wouldn't. Vintage is vintage. Leave it alone.

Ian Price · « **Reply #3 on:** April 13, 2008, 12:47:48 AM »

Cheers Phil. The comment about the guitar being around for 30 years and developing it's own soul has bought about a moment of clarity :)

I am now thinking that whoever owned it before me would probably be extremely annoyed* to find out that a guitar they had once loved was being ripped open for no good reason.

*assuming they are still alive.

ilÿti · « **Reply #4 on:** April 13, 2008, 12:48:07 AM »

Do it! Death to single coils :shock:

Ian Price · « **Reply #5 on:** April 13, 2008, 12:53:44 AM »

Quote from: ilyti

Do it! Death to single coils :shock:

This doesn't help me (or my guitar). In fact the guitar made a rather loud screeching noise when I read this thread.

7thSon · « **Reply #6 on:** April 13, 2008, 01:16:04 AM »

Unless it's an investment piece that you plan to sell on one day....then do it, the Vintage guitar thing is bullshitee anyways, who cares...the guitar is to be played not collected. Plus previous owners could have messed with stuff that you will never know about.

Ian Price · « **Reply #7 on:** April 13, 2008, 01:20:32 AM »

Quote from: 7thSon

Unless it's an investment piece that you plan to sell on one day....then do it, the Vintage guitar thing is bullshiteee anyways, who cares...the guitar is to be played not collected. Plus previous owners could have messed with stuff that you will never know about.

It's not an investment piece. I bought the guitar for the simple reason that it was made in the year I was born and that it was a telecaster. I'm very certain that the previous owner hadn't changed anything on it - I took the guitar apart when I got it and checked all of the date stamps out!

I will probably leave it as it is and buy a guitar that I will be more comfrotable messing around with.

FernandoDuarte · « **Reply #8 on:** April 13, 2008, 01:37:03 AM »

Change it or sell the guitar and, with the money, buy a hand made Tele looking old with bare knuckles at all 8) (and save a little more money for your next PRS)

Twinfan · « **Reply #9 on:** April 13, 2008, 10:06:35 AM »

I'd get a Japanese or Mexican Tele cheap second hand and pimp that 8)

Philly Q · « **Reply #10 on:** April 13, 2008, 10:22:25 AM »

Quote from: Twinfan

I'd get a Japanese or Mexican Tele cheap second hand and pimp that 8)

Agreed, never hurts to have an extra Tele (or two). If it's viable cost-wise.

Just wondering what sort of tones you're after, Ian? If you were to get a neck HB it would need to be pretty low output so as not to swamp the bridge pickup. Stormy Monday probably (not that I'm trying to tell you what to buy!

). Maybe a more powerful Tele neck pickup might get you at least halfway there?

MrBump · « **Reply #11 on:** April 13, 2008, 10:23:03 AM »

Quote from: Twinfan

I'd get a Japanese or Mexican Tele cheap second hand and pimp that 8)

+1. Cheap playability + BKP = 8)

AndyR · « **Reply #12 on:** April 13, 2008, 11:13:06 AM »

Quote from: Philly Q

Quote from: Twinfan
I'd get a Japanese or Mexican Tele cheap second hand and pimp that 8)

Agreed, never hurts to have an extra Tele (or two). If it's viable cost-wise.

Just wondering what sort of tones you're after, Ian? If you were to get a neck HB it would need to be pretty low output so as not to swamp the bridge pickup. Stormy Monday probably (not that I'm trying to tell you what to buy! ). Maybe a more powerful Tele neck pickup might get you at least halfway there?

I'd agree with that - what tone are you after? I ended buying a new Baja Tele recently while I was in the middle of trying to restore an old Squier Tele that I'd put a neck humbucker in some years back (non BKP). I was still playing live at the time, and the minute I'd put the humbucker in, the guitar wasn't really usable for the job it had been doing up until then - the neck and bridge just wouldn't work through the same amp settings! So I switched to an Epi SG and LP as my main guitars.

I was trying to put the Squier back to it's original state a month or two back (considering BKPs etc), having awful trouble getting a replacement pickguard that actually fitted (I'd cut the original for the humbucker), and so on... I kinda gave up when I tried a Baja... (the Squier "project" is on the back-burner now).

The only other thing I'd say on hacking your 75 - you said "I bought the guitar for the simple reason that it was made in the year I was born and that it was a telecaster." - I think you might regret it later on if you change it and then that "year I was born" bit becomes important again...

Ian Price · « **Reply #13 on:** April 13, 2008, 12:00:00 PM »

Andy - cheers. I think you're right - messing with a guitar that I bought for the very reason of it being made in my year of birth would be a bad thing to do.

Also thanks to all those who asked what tone I am after - I'm looking for a nice warm humbucking tone. I have another thread (PRS GAS alert) that sort of explains the origins of this need. Modifying the tele was my naively cheap way of getting someway towards the sound I heard!

Philly Q · « **Reply #14 on:** April 13, 2008, 12:18:12 PM »

Just a thought - and apologies for non-BKP pickup content - but have you ever tried the Fender/Bill Lawrence Samarium Cobalt Noiseless neck pickup (as found on the current USA Deluxe Tele)?

It's fairly high output and produces quite a smooth, warm tone. With distortion it sings in an almost humbuckerish kind of way - reminds me a bit of Clapton's mid-boosted EC Strat tone.

It doesn't sound very much like a "true" Tele neck pickup, not twangy or rootsy at all - it makes me think of a slick, overproduced, 1980s American FM-radio, soft-rock kind of sound (if that's not too ludicrous an analogy :roll: ). But in fact, I like it a lot.