BKP Humbuckers in my Telecaster? Possible?

[Copperhead]

SO I did not watch the freehand router video, but I don't believe there is any need to freehand when opening up the rout for a humbucker.
I suggest:

1) Disassemble guitar.

2) Make sure the neck is seated really good in the pocket, I mean remove the neck bolts and tap it in there good, push on it, whatever you have to do. If you have to relieve the holes in the body a tiny bit, do it. Bolt in tight.

3) Take your Gotoh 2-1/8" modern Tele HB bridge and locate it on the body using the two E strings as your guide for string alignment.  :D
If you have to patch and re-drill holes that are close but wrong  :lol:  do it!
Mark the pup mount screw holes.

4) Remove the bridge and drill the pup mount holes on your drill press.

5) Strip the bridge and put it back on. Employing a small profile trim router and a 1/4" pattern bit, use the bridge itself as your routing pattern. Go very slow, this will be a fairly deep cut to start, but at least you're not plunge cutting as there is a big hole there already...

6) Remove the bridge and using a straight guide and a plain 1/4" cutter open up the drill holes to accommodate the pup legs.

Ta-da! No freehand necessary! Neat and clean.

[AndyR]

Ah! (Copperhead, Philly) It makes some sense to me now... I Just skim-read, and then re-read the posts above... At first I was looking at the pictures posted thinking "yeah, that's normal - what's the problem?". One of the strats looked like I might loosen and re-align the neck, but the others looked acceptable to me... but it would all depend on how it played in my hands.

But, yep, Copperhead, I think you would probably "fall off" all of my strats :lol:

I deliberately (originally it was subconscious) go for 2 7/32" string spacing on strats - the "modern" one just doesn't feel right to me. When buying I automatically reject guitars with the "narrow" saddles (eg the Squier Classic Vibes, as well as skinny necks, had the thin saddles when I tried them, so I guess the narrower string spacing). It might also explain why I rejected Highway 1s a few years back? Not sure... (the extra fret had something to do with it as well).

All of my strats, even the non-Road Worns, are 50s or 60s re-issues/copies/tributes - I expect them to have 50s/60s bridges on them. I know that the later designs might be easier to do certain stuff, but I "grew up" on the older versions and it's easy to play the stuff I want to play. Once you've got used to it and learnt how to tweak the neck to do what you want, for some daft reason you'd rather have the old version!

So, if Fender did go for "narrower" spacing on future runs of the Road Worn 50s/60s strats, to "fix" the perceived problem... then me and all the members of the "I want six-screw, 2 7/32" US vintage" club will moan horribly that they've "f**cked" it, condemn them on user forums, and not buy anymore!! Poor b@stards, they can't win, can they?!  :lol:

[Philly Q]

I deliberately (originally it was subconscious) go for 2 7/32" string spacing on strats - the "modern" one just doesn't feel right to me. When buying I automatically reject guitars with the "narrow" saddles (eg the Squier Classic Vibes, as well as skinny necks, had the thin saddles when I tried them, so I guess the narrower string spacing). It might also explain why I rejected Highway 1s a few years back? Not sure... (the extra fret had something to do with it as well).

Ah, that pesky extra fret!  :lol:

No, fair play, horses for courses.  I prefer the "modern" features like flatter radius, bigger frets and narrower string spacing, if they're available on the model I want.  If they aren't, I can live with the wide spacing (but not the teeny frets).

[Copperhead]

LOL!!!
My preferences are 22 frets, 1-11/16 nut, jumbo frets and a large straight radius, I detest compounds..
I love the feel of my Mexican Players though, jumbo frets, but I'm always reaching for the fret that's not there!

The Road Worn necks do feel awesome in the hand though. I think part of my falling off experience may be because of the extra finishing of the frets as well.

No foul by me though, I would indeed replace the bridge and pups to my liking in a heart beat.
There are some great deals to be had on these.
I'm waiting for my local shop to get in a 72 Deluxe Tele, that may be the one that will push me over!

[AndyR]

I think it might be either that one or the other new tele model that young Philly has his sights on :D

[Philly Q]

Maybe. 

[Copperhead]

Q: Has anyone put pickup rings and some proper humbuckers on one of these? Will that work?

[Philly Q]

I've seen a picture of one with a regular humbucker in the bridge position - it looked like the mounting ring covered the oversized hole left by the Fender pickup.

But I'd probably get a new scratchplate if I was going to change the pickups.  I do love the look of the Fender pickups though.

[Copperhead]

Turns out these were a one run for sale to dealers at NAMM...
My guy is a huge Fender dealer, but knows the Fender guys so well they were umm... "celebrating" at NAMM in the meeting rooms at Fender and totally missed the pitch on these.
SO now he's a little aggravated and called Fender while I was there yesterday and told them to find him some... :D
Possibility they may transfer unsold units from another dealer in CA, but I guess these were real popular so we'll have to see.

I've got some thin profile brass chrome plated rings, gotta have a NB and MQ in there!
Gotoh has a 2-1/16" hardtail with these style saddles.

Then I'll have to figure out where I can hide it from Mrs. Copperhead :lol:

[FELINEGUITARS]

I see no problem or issue with making that mod - especially to a late 2000s fender which isn't likely to have that vintage value in our lifetimes
As it's not a a vintage piece and if doing that will make you love it and play it to death, then I'd say it's worth it
Take it to a luthier who uses a bench and jigs and is organised and plans ahead what they are doing

You'll be changing the bridge plate , so find one that has the right opening and will fit just right
The neck humbucker will work easily due to being in a pickguard.

[gwEm]

I think it might be either that one or the other new tele model that young Philly has his sights on :D

the Jim Root tele?

[AndyR]

I think it might be either that one or the other new tele model that young Philly has his sights on :D

the Jim Root tele?

No, there are two "new" Roadworn teles - but there seems to be some doubt as to whether they're actually available now.

A 72 deluxe and a 72 custom.

When he started telling me about new roadworns, I started getting excited thinking strats - but it's just teles at the moment.

[gwEm]

I think it might be either that one or the other new tele model that young Philly has his sights on :D

the Jim Root tele?

No, there are two "new" Roadworn teles - but there seems to be some doubt as to whether they're actually available now.

A 72 deluxe and a 72 custom.

When he started telling me about new roadworns, I started getting excited thinking strats - but it's just teles at the moment.

:lol:

the jim root comment was meant as a sort of deadpan joke ;)

[Philly Q]

I think it might be either that one or the other new tele model that young Philly has his sights on :D

the Jim Root tele?

No, there are two "new" Roadworn teles - but there seems to be some doubt as to whether they're actually available now.

A 72 deluxe and a 72 custom.

When he started telling me about new roadworns, I started getting excited thinking strats - but it's just teles at the moment.

:lol:

the jim root comment was meant as a sort of deadpan joke ;)

I realised!  :lol:  But believe it or not, I really like the look of the Jim Root Tele.  If it had a bigger neck I might buy one.

[AndyR]

Ah! That was right over my head until Philly replied :lol: