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Post subject: Upgrading Squier Tele
Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2009 10:34 am
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I have a VM Tele Thinline that I like very much. Plays great, sounds pretty good. I had issues with intonation and tuning which were greatly improved by installing a new bridge. I still have some issues with the G and B string slipping out of tune. Don't know if that's the strings themselves or what it could be. Any advice?

Also, though the sound is fairly good, has anyone upgraded pickups on your tele and if so what did you install and how much improvement did you get?

I'd love to hear from someone who's been down this road and has practical experience. I would like to keep this this guitar for the long haul, but also want to make it a better instrument.

Thanks!


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Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2009 12:01 pm
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I have the same guitar. I really like it. I was lucky in that mine came setup extremely well right out of the box -- only needed to be tuned. I did change the pickups, though. I got some used MIA Tele Std pickups off eBAy for $40. It made a big difference.

What bridge did you put on? I was thinking of changing the bridge, but I don't think I really want to go through a re-setup on it when it is already steup pretty good.

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Post subject: Joe Barden Bridge
Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2009 12:49 pm
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The guitar tech I use suggested a Joe Barden vintage model bridge. It's very nice. He had some trouble installing it because apparently the Squier isn't an exact match for the Fender tele, but he was able to compensate.

It's a three-saddle rather than a six-saddle system which limits the intonation adjustments somewhat, but seems to work just fine. I would say the tone of the guitar improved dramatically after installing this bridge. I've read that a lot of players like the vintage style three-piece saddle better. Don't know why or if that's true.

Based on your experience I may replace my pickups, too. Then I think I'm good to go! It's a marvelous little guitar, isn't it? And once it's upgraded, I think it's far superior sonically to the Fender Mexican model.


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Post subject: Re: Joe Barden Bridge
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 10:23 am
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williamegray wrote:
... It's a marvelous little guitar, isn't it?

No doubt. It plays real well. The neck on it is very nice ... nicely finished fret work, a beautiful rosewood fretboard, and even nice figuring in the maple neck. Who would expect all that on a Squier?? Also, I am sure the alder body is major ingredient to why it sounds so good. And ... as a bonus ... it comes in the beautiful shoreline Gold finish which is very upscale. I have nothing but good things to say about this thing.

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Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 5:58 pm
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I put some GFS Cool Vintage Lil Punchers in a Douglas Telecaster of mine...sort of the poormans Joe Bardens...humbucking but with Tele-twang...

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Post subject: Vintage Noiseless Pickups
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 10:34 pm
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I'm thinking about putting Fender vintage noiseless pickups in the tele. Haven't talked to my guitar tech yet. He may have a different recommendation and I'll certainly listen to whatever he says. I'm looking for some classic tele twang but nothing too radical. Maybe Tex-Mex pickups would do just as well or better?

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