Common Telecaster modifications:

[Texas Blues]

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.

Why not just flip the pots rather than the whole works?

Too much or not enough wire?

Oh and Happy New Year ya' stinkin' Aussie bastige! eace2

 

[Wilko]

still not as close as with the switch out of the way.

And on trimming the ashtray, there's the full monty like GE smith. He then mounts the pickup to the body wood:

 

[Red Baron]

flipping the plate is in the original post!

I read it but completely missed it :##

 

[Red Baron]

Oh and Happy New Year ya' stinkin' Aussie bastige! eace2

Right back at ya Tex eace2 :salude

 

[Big Al]

For me it has been simple. Duncan Broadcaster pickups, the larger brass saddles and dome knobs. After a good set up, I'm good to go.

 

[Cogswell]

I read it but completely missed it :##

That's cool. It's nice to have a photographic example.
btw- killer Telecaster!

 

[Red Baron]

Thanks Cogs, it's actually an LSL T-Bone. I've recently replaced the saddles with Gotoh In-Tune compensated saddles - these are really good saddles.
http://www.g-gotoh.com/international/?btp_product=in-tune-bs

 

[J T]

Filing down the ashtray is a great mod. How many times have I been plucking that ashtray instead of the E string? Plenty.

 

[S. Cane]

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.

What exactly does that do?

 

[J T]

Harmonic Design Pickups, Wlkinson compensated Bridge with brass saddles, RS pots and switch, Dunlop strap locks, Eldorado strap to complete the package

 

[Don]

What exactly does that do?

It allows the butt end of the neck to make harder contact with the body longitudinally. I'm not absolutely sure if it improves tone, but it's free, only takes a moment and won't hurt anything if done correctly.

 

[Don]

Why not just flip the pots rather than the whole works?

Too much or not enough wire?

Oh and Happy New Year ya' stinkin' Aussie bastige! eace2

TB- the idea is to move the volume and tone controls closer to the picking area for manipulation while playing and to also move the switch out of the way. I didn't care for it when I did it to my guitar.

 

[renderit]

I have a Grosh I bought used that is flipped. I think I'll flip it back.

 

[Texas Blues]

TB- the idea is to move the volume and tone controls closer to the picking area for manipulation while playing and to also move the switch out of the way. I didn't care for it when I did it to my guitar.

Duh! Me so stupid.

I knew that but wasn't thinking.

I reckon I brain farted that as I actually use the switch more going back and forth

from the middle mellow down easy to neck lead tone.

 

[Red Baron]

Yeah I gotta admit that I prefer the selector switch in the original factory position. I find it pretty difficult to flick it from the neck position back to the bridge when its tucked in behind the tone knob, but I do like having the volume knob at the front, so it's a trade-off.

 

[sonar]

I'm a fan of the flip.

I have a love/hate relationship with the neck pu on a Tele, so I tend to prefer playing the bridge PU and roll off with the tone control. The Tele selector gets the least amount of use compared to all my other multi pickup guitars and the flip helps get it out of the way. I also prefer to use the tone control for swells and the flip makes that much easier.

 

[Don]

I like the neck pickup a lot and found it hard to manipulate the tone control while the neck pickup was selected when the control plate was flipped. That was my concern with flipping the plate.

 

[TT100]

'84 USA Tele bought used in '85. Was Sienna burst. After 20+ years w/o a case the finish was beat so stripped beat up poly and made a forearm contour. Sprayed it with amber tinted lacquer.

The Seymour Duncan stacked HB was in it when purchased.

Added the split HB tap and phase switching. (it was the '80s after all)

Stove type knobs

Now I want a Bigsby but don't know if the contour job will allow it.

This is a nasty sounding top-loader T.

Then my son claimed it.

TT

 

[yeti]

has anybody mentioned Joe Bardens PU's yet? Danny Gatton and Bill Kirchen come to mind

 

[Cogswell]

I like the neck pickup a lot and found it hard to manipulate the tone control while the neck pickup was selected when the control plate was flipped. That was my concern with flipping the plate.

I didn't think about it but technically I do a double flip. The control plate is flipped, & then the switch is flipped as well to keep the positions of the switch in the same relation.