Telecaster Piledriver set wiring.

[Fole 666]

Hi, I'm about to install in my Tele American Special a Piledriver set. Before I start I wanted to ask if leaving the wiring as it it now (modern tele wiring with greasbucket) would negatively impact the tone. Would it be better to rewire it to a classic tele wiring (maybe with the 50's mod) removing the greasebucket circuit?

For cap a 0.047 would still be good?

[Dave Sloven]

I wouldn't mess around with that circuit too much.  I'd try it as is, and see how you like it.

Alternatively you could wire it with the fairly standard Tele approach for more powerful pickups.  500K are generally recommended for Telecasters.

The setup in my Black Hawk Schecter is basically a Tele circuit and seems to be working well, although 550K might be a bit much for Piledrivers.

I have a CRL 3-way switch, 550K CTS master volume, 550K CTS master tone, a treble bleed circuit on the volume pot, 0.022uf Jensen cap, and switchcraft jack.

You could wire up a new control plate for your Tele the same way, although I would suggest maybe only 500K pots and a 0.047 cap.

If you have two complete plates you could swap them around without damaging the factory plate.

[AndyR]

Are you sure about 500K for telecaster with single coils, Dave??!

All mine are the standard tele 250K.

Must admit I don't know how hot piledrivers are... I'd be trying 250K then move up to 300K if I was lacking top-end.

I don't actually know what the greasebucket circuit is or does, but 0.022 is what I have for tones in my teles. I've tried .033 too - that works, and gives a different feel to the tone, I went back to the standard .022, though.

[Dave Sloven]

I think Jon installed 500K pots on his Piledriver Tele.

Anyway his video is up online, I don't have time to review it but it's probably worth watching

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQWdkVLI7R0

[Telerocker]

I would try it first with the 500k pots. The Greasebucket circuit rolls off anyway highs (and a bit low end) when turned down a bit. It might depend on the question how bright the natural voice of your tele is and what kind of amp. Suppose you have a Fender Deluxe I would go 250 k to keeps round tones at gigging level. But: if you by example have a darker sounding amp like some Morgans or an Orange Rockerverb you might want 500 k and tailor to taste with the toneknob.