Hot-rodding a Tele (maybe)

[Andrew W]

As I've never owned a Telecaster before I've decided to dip my toe into the waters and see if I like it.  To that end I've just bought a used Mexican made Tele on evilBay for about two hundred quid.  I plan on playing it as-is for a little while to see how I find it. 

If I cannot resist my desire to fiddle with it, and I seldom can, then there are a couple of options already open to me.  I have, knocking around at home, a Mississippi Queen and a VH2 that were bought years ago for a project that died on the vine.  Has anyone here had any experience of trying these pickups in a Tele and if so what are your thoughts?  My initial idea is that I put the VH2 in the bridge and the Mississippi Queen in the neck.  Does this seem like madness? I quite fancy the idea of a very grunty Tele and the Cabronita Especiale and Twinfan's recreation thereof have pushed me over the edge.

Thanks for any input.

[Philly Q]

It doesn't sound like madness, but bear in mind there's no going back if you do it, since the humbucker cavity will be wider than a standard Tele bridge.

[Andrew W]

It doesn't sound like madness, but bear in mind there's no going back if you do it, since the humbucker cavity will be wider than a standard Tele bridge.

That's a good point.  I'm guessing that the neck will already be routed for humbucker sized pickups but I'd have to do some digging at the bridge.  All the more reason to play it for a while before making any butchery decisions. 

[badgermark]

Finally, my chance to shine. Meet Gloria, my number one.



MIM tele with a holydiver in the bridge and a bit of a carousel in the neck position. In the picture it's a MQ which now resides in my Les Paul.

As for the routing, the neck position is humbucker sized, so no issues there. The bridge is another story. You will need a bridge plate for a humbucker, Gotoh do one for about £20 i think. Then get your router out. I used  a hand drill, and it is a bit scr@ppy.

Needless to say, it's a unique guitar to have, I love the feel of it and the control plate layout is ideal for me. Sound wise, it sounds like a massive fat strat. The Holydiver used to be in a MIM strat, and sounds bigger somehow in the tele.

Oh and Philly is dead on, if you decide to do it there's no going back. Especially if you do a redneck routing job with a hand drill.

[Andrew W]

Thanks badgermark, that's all good info and your description of the sound is exactly what I'm after.  Hmm, I fear a hand drill or Dremel purchase may be in my near future...

[badgermark]

Thanks badgermark, that's all good info and your description of the sound is exactly what I'm after.  Hmm, I fear a hand drill or Dremel purchase may be in my near future...

Really wouldn't recommend the hand drill approach. Took me about 2 hours and was sloppy as hell, the pickup barely fit in the 'route'. A dremel is the way to go. Or get a router and a template for a proper job.

[MrBump]

... I tried to route an oak guitar with my Dremel.

RIP Dremel...

But "YAY" to joining the Tele club!!!

And Mark - that guitar is pure awesomeness... 

[Afghan Dave]

What's wrong with a chisel, taking it slow and using elbow grease?

I might try it that way.

[badgermark]

Chisel would work i guess, what's more manly? Powertools or using only a sharp piece of metal and a hammer?

Thanks Mr Bump, I'm considering a neck BKP for it, got the stock tele single in it right now, and it's not cutting it.

[Afghan Dave]

Chisel would work i guess, what's more manly? Powertools or using only a sharp piece of metal and a hammer?

Thanks Mr Bump, I'm considering a neck BKP for it, got the stock tele single in it right now, and it's not cutting it.

Catch a big black rat, starve it for 2 days, strap it to your hand with plastic cable ties - direct it's ravenous jaws to enlarge the cavity to humbucker size....  BITE HEAD OFF RAT & dispose of considerately.

That's manly!  :P :?

[Will]

Powertools + chisel = Jackhamer?

DIY with powertools is total post modern man, hand tools are rugged and caveman-like :D

[38thBeatle]

I reckon a couple of sticks of dynamite ought to do it and Homebase have a 3 for 2 offer on at the moment...or did I dream that?

[Philly Q]

A router is a great purchase (if you think you'll ever use it again).

I'm a bit scared of powertools - I hate electric drills and screwdrivers - but my trusty router has prevented me from messing up loads of guitars (or helped mess them up, depending on your point of view).

[Andrew W]

I don't see me buying a router, they terrify me.  I think a Dremel would be the limit of my tool buying.  I could behave like a grown up and get someone who knows what they're doing to sort the woodwork but that seems to lessen the fun (and challenge) a bit.  Hmmm, decisions, decisions.

[AndyR]

Sharpened screw-driver and a brick, that's all you need :lol:

I dug out a humbucker hole with a chisel and a hammer once (a squier tele - made of some sort of plywood under the thick finish) - never again!! :lol: