Common Telecaster modifications:

[Cogswell]

I think two very popular mods are installing a humbucker in the neck position, & flipping the control plate to put the volume knob within pinkie reach.
Any others I'm missing?

 

[Banker]

Tone cap removal on those with "old style" wiring?

 

[yeti]

contoured body was a popular one.

 

[sikoniko]

contoured body was a popular one.

I was thinking the same thing. This was pioneered by Bill Carson. I think the next most famous one was Jeff Beck's Esquire. Then there is Seymour's humbucker bridge mod that he traded to Beck for the Esquire. The Bill Carson mod is the most extreme though!

It is not a mod, but the new tele's with the TV Jones pickups seem to be pretty popular these days as well.

my work doesn't allow me access to photobucket... here is a pic of what is believed to be Bill Carson's modified Telecaster - note that this was BEFORE the strat was created. Can someone embed this image?

https://www.google.com/search?q=bil...e-production-run-stratocasters-2.html;764;600

 

[Tom Wittrock]

It took some doing [and a little help], but I got my 52 Tele conversion just the way I like it:

:hee

 

[renderit]

Did ya glue in the neck there? Like the changes though. Made it more useful. Put's fingers in ears...

 

[Texas Blues]

I had a bad switch on my Squier Tele that the repair dude talked me into going with a 4-way.

I dig it mucho.

Now I need to get him on the bat phone to find out when he can slap a Bigsby on it.

 

[Billy Porter]

I had a bad switch on my Squier Tele that the repair dude talked me into going with a 4-way.

I dig it mucho.

Now I need to get him on the bat phone to find out when he can slap a Bigsby on it.

+1

Plus Custom Shop Texas Specials and compensated saddles

 

[Ed Driscoll]

B. Bender.

 

[Wilko]

various trimming of the ashtray edges. Compensated saddles:

 

[Cogswell]

Ooo nice. I'd like to try a trimmed up ashtray. I kind of use it to hang onto, though

 

[Ed Driscoll]

my work doesn't allow me access to photobucket... here is a pic of what is believed to be Bill Carson's modified Telecaster - note that this was BEFORE the strat was created. Can someone embed this image?

What...is...it...???!!! :rofl

 

[Cogswell]

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/6nSKkwzwdW4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[DanMan]

B-Bender


Already mentioned...

 

[lpnv59]

Over at the Tele Forum, some there like to make Esquires out of their Teles. Then again, some Esquire owners will do just the opposite....like this guy did.

Some other mods & tricks I've learned over there are quite useful. One is to take the bridge plate and try to grind or sand it so it sits perfectly flat on the body. Or get a higher grade bridge plate such as a Callaham or Glendale. I like the sound of the original stamped plates myself..
Also remove the paint under the bridge plate or thin it down some. Also remove as much of the paint as possible in the neck pocket.
Pickup swapping is fun on a Tele. There are a lot of winders out there making great sounding pickups. Tapped bridge models that can make for a real versatile Tele or Esquire is also popular.
Trying out different saddles made of different metals. Sometime combining types like having brass on the top two, aluminum on the middle and steel on the lower strings..

Seating or snapping the neck in. You do this by loosening the neck screws a bit while the strings are tensioned. Often you will hear the neck snap into place. Then you tighten the screws back up and retune. Check the intonation after that trick if you hear the neck seat.

 

[Don]

Seating or snapping the neck in. You do this by loosening the neck screws a bit while the strings are tensioned. Often you will hear the neck snap into place. Then you tighten the screws back up and retune. Check the intonation after that trick if you hear the neck seat.

I do this to all of my Fender style guitars.

I like some of the more subtle mods- '67 wiring, wiring the tone pot to the volume pot like a '50s Les Paul a la Ted Greene, compensated saddles, 9.5" fretboard radius, bigger frets...

I don't think trimmed ashtray edges would work for me. Here's the 1/16" deep divot where I subconsciously hang onto the bridge with my pinky while I play (notice the CJ Tooling compensated steel broadcaster saddles and the Fralin Blues special bridge pickup with staggered magnets)!

 

[Red Baron]

Not sure how common this mod is, but I've my controls switched around with the volume knob closest to the neck... it's a nice position for volume swells.

 

[Wilko]

flipping the plate is in the original post!

 

[Wilko]

Ooo nice. I'd like to try a trimmed up ashtray. I kind of use it to hang onto, though

Yeah, that's why I mentioned "various trimming". Some guys will trim just the bass side or vice versa. Most of mine aren't trimmed, but this still has a lot of side wall.

 

[sonar]

The jack cup and bracket can sometimes be a problem. Aftermarket screw-set cups are popular replacements.