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Author Topic: Looking to beef up a Telecaster  (Read 4452 times)

Sancho

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Looking to beef up a Telecaster
« on: January 06, 2012, 06:11:23 PM »
I love my American Standard Tele. It's a great playing, very resonant guitar.
But I'm not a single coil kind of guy...
I don't need a lot of output. I'll probably put a Little 59 in the bridge position.
Which BKP would give me smooth tones from the neck position?
The guitar has an ash body and a maple neck and fingerboard, so she's plenty bright.

Mule?
Covered VHII could be interesting I think.
Hey Nonny Nonny mylord!

Philly Q

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Re: Looking to beef up a Telecaster
« Reply #1 on: January 06, 2012, 06:25:00 PM »
Stormy Monday?

I think that's what I'd pick for the neck position in a Tele.  Maybe Mule, but nothing more "modern".

BKPs I've Got:  RR, BKP-91, ITs, VHII, CS set, Emeralds
BKPs I Had:  RY+Abraxas, Crawlers, BD+SM

juansolo

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Re: Looking to beef up a Telecaster
« Reply #2 on: January 06, 2012, 07:55:09 PM »
Get a HB bridge, rout a hole in it and stick a pair of mules in it. That's what I'd do if I was bumhucking a Tele.
When you´re racing, it's life. Anything that happens before or after is just pies.

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Ian Price

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Re: Looking to beef up a Telecaster
« Reply #3 on: January 06, 2012, 08:11:38 PM »
Jeez - don't get me started with butchering teles! This is giving me unholy thoughts about my Baja!

If it were mine I would leave the bridge the same as it is (BG flat 50) and would probably go for a mule neck.
I think I hate being indecisive.

juansolo

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Re: Looking to beef up a Telecaster
« Reply #4 on: January 06, 2012, 08:32:21 PM »
Jeez - don't get me started with butchering teles! This is giving me unholy thoughts about my Baja!

If it were mine I would leave the bridge the same as it is (BG flat 50) and would probably go for a mule neck.
...let's try and imagine what that'd look like...

*rubs chin*

 :D



Though it's got domed knobs on it now for the more vintagy look ;)
« Last Edit: January 06, 2012, 08:47:46 PM by juansolo »
When you´re racing, it's life. Anything that happens before or after is just pies.

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BigB

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Re: Looking to beef up a Telecaster
« Reply #5 on: January 06, 2012, 08:44:40 PM »
I love my American Standard Tele. It's a great playing, very resonant guitar.
But I'm not a single coil kind of guy...
I don't need a lot of output. I'll probably put a Little 59 in the bridge position.

I'm definitly a 'bucker guy, but the BGF52 bridge is already a $%&#ing piece of rock'n'roll heaven - it has enough output and guts to match the Crawlers so I don't even bother messing with my settings - and the new BGF50 is obviously even meatier.


Which BKP would give me smooth tones from the neck position?
The guitar has an ash body and a maple neck and fingerboard, so she's plenty bright.

Mule?
Covered VHII could be interesting I think.

The Mule neck is at once fat and smooth, and while not labeled as "hot" it's able to balance well with a ABomb bridge. If I had a SH Tele, I'd very probably go for a BFG50 bridge / Mule neck.
Have: Crawlers, BGF 50/52s, Mules, ABomb, RiffRaff
Had : Slowhands (n&m), Trilogy (b)

Ian Price

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Re: Looking to beef up a Telecaster
« Reply #6 on: January 06, 2012, 08:50:05 PM »

...let's try and imagine what that'd look like...

*rubs chin*

 :D



Though it's got domed knobs on it now for the more vintagy look ;)

That looks really rather good. And vintage knobs too!!! Right up my alley.
I think I hate being indecisive.

Sancho

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Re: Looking to beef up a Telecaster
« Reply #7 on: January 06, 2012, 09:17:19 PM »
There's a set of Dimarzio Area T's in there for now. Good pickups by all means.
But not really my cup of tea, overall...

I'm not routing out the body for a HB. I want this mod to be as painless as possible. There's plenty of single coil sized humbuckers out there.

juansolo, that's a sweet Tele!
Hey Nonny Nonny mylord!

Ian Price

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Re: Looking to beef up a Telecaster
« Reply #8 on: January 06, 2012, 11:11:17 PM »
Last time I asked Tim had no plans to do single coil sized humbuckers. A real shame as I wanted one for my tele that was similar to the Seymour Duncan BG-1400. This is a great pickup in its own right - just ask Dave!
I think I hate being indecisive.

Telerocker

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Re: Looking to beef up a Telecaster
« Reply #9 on: January 07, 2012, 12:41:11 AM »
If was my tele: BG50 bridge and Mule-neck. I have a calibrated Mules-set in a Saint Blues, which is a bolt-on all mahogany tele/LP hybrid (it has a veneer top, but I think it's rather thin) and the neckpickup is just great. Articulate, round, great depth and with enough crisp to keep it vivid.
Mules, VHII, Crawler, MM's, IT's, BG50's.

Andrew W

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Re: Looking to beef up a Telecaster
« Reply #10 on: January 07, 2012, 08:48:31 AM »
Have you considered a Mississippi Queen for the neck? Really thick sound but still keeps some single coil qualities. I paired it with a Piledriver in the bridge and they work pretty well together. Very fat sounding, not very Tele like guitar:


The routing was utterly painless so I wouldn't worry too much about that. Honest. ;)
« Last Edit: January 07, 2012, 08:50:36 AM by Andrew W »

Sancho

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Re: Looking to beef up a Telecaster
« Reply #11 on: January 07, 2012, 01:43:28 PM »
Not interested in P90s man. I hate hum ;)

Looks like the Mule is a given for neck position. I might just add a Mule to start off with and leave the current bridge unit.
Hey Nonny Nonny mylord!

juansolo

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Re: Looking to beef up a Telecaster
« Reply #12 on: January 07, 2012, 09:51:23 PM »
The routing was utterly painless so I wouldn't worry too much about that. Honest. ;)

Routed the Telemaster today, it's now a TVMaster ;) Piccage to follow...
When you´re racing, it's life. Anything that happens before or after is just pies.

http://stompage.juansolo.co.uk

Ian Price

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Re: Looking to beef up a Telecaster
« Reply #13 on: January 07, 2012, 11:00:35 PM »
Seriously, can everyone stop the routing nonsense please. My router is currently in the garage waiting for its first use of 2012!
I think I hate being indecisive.

Andrew W

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Re: Looking to beef up a Telecaster
« Reply #14 on: January 08, 2012, 12:47:09 AM »
The routing was utterly painless so I wouldn't worry too much about that. Honest. ;)

Routed the Telemaster today, it's now a TVMaster ;) Piccage to follow...
Ooh, exciting!