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Post subject: Customizing my Telecaster, Phase II
Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2014 8:01 pm
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I have always loved the looks of mother-of-pearl (or mother-of-toilet-seat, whichever you prefer :P ), tortoise shell and other vintage-looking-but-non-"solid" patterned pickguards...it might have something to do with the fact of when I started playing, many of the players in Austin were customizing their instruments with pickguards like I described (how's that for understanding your internal motivations?).

I started out with an hecho-en-Mexico 1995 Fender Special Tele, which originally it had a phase-tapped humbucker in the neck position, a five-way switch.

Phase I was mostly electronic in nature...it went through a couple of incarnations and I experimented what I wanted it to sound like.

I set it up as an Esquire for a while (removed the humbucker and installed a 3-way switch) and later turned it into what it is now--a P-90 in the neck position, four-way Tele switching, and a Fender No-Load Tone Pot...


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I also installed a customized neck plate, with my band's logo and nickname of the guitar etched on it (thanks, Greasy Groove!)...

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Anyway, I have decided to move on with Phase II of customizing my Telecaster--I'm going to make this baby look as cool as it sounds!

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Screamin' Armadillos
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Last edited by Screamin' Armadillo on Tue Jan 21, 2014 8:38 pm, edited 2 times in total.

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Post subject: Re: Customizing my Telecaster, Phase II (and a Herd Picture!
Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2014 8:04 pm
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I ordered a faux tortoise-shell Esquire pickguard from Guitar Fetish; I had to order an Esquire plate because the P-90 I installed is further away from the neck than a standard neck pickup on a Tele; it’s even a little closer to the bridge than most pickguards routed out for a P-90. I purposely installed that pickup there, because it keeps that P-90 from becoming too boomy or bassy…however, this makes it to where I have to rout it out myself. I don’t have any decent tools and I have shaky hands (as can be seen with the first [black] Esquire pickguard shown here)…
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…so, Dremel tool it is!

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Post subject: Re: Customizing my Telecaster, Phase II (and a Herd Picture!
Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2014 8:06 pm
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After removing the black pickguard, my sweet baby had a similar look to Billy Gibbon’s Big Tex…

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But I have different plans for this one…

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Next? Phase III…Pinstripes!!

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Post subject: Re: Customizing my Telecaster, Phase II
Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2014 8:50 pm
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Pretty cool, a Telecaster with a P-90.


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Post subject: Re: Customizing my Telecaster, Phase II
Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2014 9:15 pm
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Where's the herd shot???


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Post subject: Re: Customizing my Telecaster, Phase II
Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2014 9:28 pm
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Highline wrote:
Where's the herd shot???

Put it on a separate thread...

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Post subject: Re: Customizing my Telecaster, Phase II
Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2014 10:41 pm
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Less is more.

Ditch the pinstripes, SA.

The stand-alone change to tortoise-shell is outstanding!

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Customizing my Telecaster, Phase II
Posted: Wed Jan 22, 2014 1:11 am
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Cool photos Matt! Nice pickguard!

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Post subject: Re: Customizing my Telecaster, Phase II
Posted: Wed Jan 22, 2014 3:16 am
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Bet the P90 is a killer... !!

Have to admit being partial to a nice looking Tele w/ a Tortoise Pickguard... :lol: :lol: :lol:

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cheers!

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Post subject: Re: Customizing my Telecaster, Phase II
Posted: Wed Jan 22, 2014 3:11 pm
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SA...Me Likey!

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Post subject: Re: Customizing my Telecaster, Phase II
Posted: Wed Jan 22, 2014 8:52 pm
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SKcoppertele wrote:
Very nice SA. 8) I recently put custom made Tele sized/shaped p90's in my Tele. They sound great. I now have the habit of calling it the Telepaul, Because you would swear it was a Gibson if you weren't looking at it.

Yep, those P-90s sure fatten up your tone, but you still get the sparkle, spank and twang you expect from a Fender...I have Pete Biltoft Vintage Vibe SP-90's in my Strat, and they're HEAVY...

Who made your pups?

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Post subject: Re: Customizing my Telecaster, Phase II
Posted: Wed Jan 22, 2014 8:52 pm
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SKcoppertele wrote:
Very nice SA. 8) I recently put custom made Tele sized/shaped p90's in my Tele. They sound great. I now have the habit of calling it the Telepaul, Because you would swear it was a Gibson if you weren't looking at it.

Yep, those P-90s sure fatten up your tone, but you still get the sparkle, spank and twang you expect from a Fender...I have Pete Biltoft Vintage Vibe SP-90's in my Strat, and they're HEAVY...

Who made your pups?

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Good Vibes To Y'all!

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Screamin' Armadillos
Texas Roadhouse Music
Guitar/Slide Guitar/Harp/Vocals


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