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Post subject: Advice Regarding Ongoing Upgrades To My First Telecaster
Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2014 9:11 pm
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I am just starting to learn how to play the guitar.

I had the opportunity to pick up a 2nd hand barely used Affinity Tele for next to nothing. The aim is that this will be a stepping stone to a bigboy Telecaster down the road.

I like to take things apart and put them back together, so any upgrades would be done by me.

Common consensus is that I should upgrade tuners, pups, pots and switches. I can do that when the time is right, but I want to do upgrades that are reasonable, cost effective, and truly an upgrade.

I have the opportunity to purchase pickups, switch, and pots taken from a new 50's Classic Vibes Tele for $50. Is this a suitable upgrade or would I just be wasting $50?

Thanks for any advice and I'll be keeping this thread active for any future questions about upgrades on this specific Tele.


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Post subject: Re: Advice Regarding Ongoing Upgrades To My First Telecaster
Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2014 2:29 am
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If you starting to learn guitar , keep it this guitar original , learn to play first.

In my opinion unless you have some skill in electronic and soldering , don't mod it . No skill = bad soldering = guitar may not work .

It is a $50 waist too


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Post subject: Re: Advice Regarding Ongoing Upgrades To My First Telecaster
Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2014 3:21 am
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Learn to play it first. You'll sound exactly the same as a beginner, even if you bought yourself a Custom Shop.

Playing guitars and modding them are also two separate hobbies.


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Post subject: Re: Advice Regarding Ongoing Upgrades To My First Telecaster
Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2014 5:11 am
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Thanks for your response.

I have a little experience with electronics. I've recapped vintage radios and they sound great so I'm optimistic about replacing a couple of guitar pickups.

Drubbing wrote:
Playing guitars and modding them are also two separate hobbies.


Yeah, I get that. So, would it be fair to assume that questions posed in a thread about a technical aspect of guitar modifications won't be answered in the context of how inexperienced a guitar player I am?

Joe90 wrote:
Common consensus is that I should upgrade tuners, pups, pots and switches. I can do that when the time is right, but I want to do upgrades that are reasonable, cost effective, and truly an upgrade.


Any relative, constructive input would be appreciated.


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Post subject: Re: Advice Regarding Ongoing Upgrades To My First Telecaster
Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2014 5:46 am
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No call for snide.

It really doesn't matter what pups you throw in there - as an inexperienced player you won't hear any real world difference. So what would be the point? Do it when you know what you're putting in there and why, and what difference it'll make to the sound you're getting already.


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Post subject: Re: Advice Regarding Ongoing Upgrades To My First Telecaster
Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2014 6:59 am
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Drubbing wrote:
No call for snide.

It really doesn't matter what pups you throw in there - as an inexperienced player you won't hear any real world difference. So what would be the point? Do it when you know what you're putting in there and why, and what difference it'll make to the sound you're getting already.

Snide? I thought that we Canadians were polite to a fault. 8)

I'll rephrase my OP for anybody who wants to share their experience.

Would an experienced guitarist notice a difference in sound between the electronics that come on an Affinity and a Classic Vibe?

Considering that there are many people who feel that the wood composition of Telecaster guitars doesn't affect their sound, would an upgrade on an Affinity to Classic Vibe components, for what basically amounts to pocket change, be a practical exercise or are the components really that close in sound and quality to bother with? If so, any suggestions on other components that might be suitable for my plans to tinker?

If I can get a great price on some suitable components that I can install on this project guitar -- when the time is right -- should I consider purchasing them now for a future project?

I have been advised by people on this forum -- and above posts echo this advice -- that the best way for me to understand what model of Telecaster is right for me is to play some and get a feel for their differences. Experimenting with modifying a guitar that would cost less than $150 with the above mentioned upgrades is one of my ways of acquiring that kind of experience, and Education. I'm comfortable with that because the instruments I can play I am hands on when it comes to set up, maintenance, and modification.


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Post subject: Re: Advice Regarding Ongoing Upgrades To My First Telecaster
Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2014 11:54 am
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Joe90 wrote:
[
If I can get a great price on some suitable components that I can install on this project guitar -- when the time is right -- should I consider purchasing them now for a future project?

.


This guitar do not worth a upgrading . Play it until you feel you are ready to a American standard or a good Made in Mexico .


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Post subject: Re: Advice Regarding Ongoing Upgrades To My First Telecaster
Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2014 12:42 pm
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stratele52 wrote:
Joe90 wrote:
If I can get a great price on some suitable components that I can install on this project guitar -- when the time is right -- should I consider purchasing them now for a future project?



This guitar do not worth a upgrading . Play it until you feel you are ready to a American standard or a good Made in Mexico .


+1!!!

If anything, take it to a competent luthier and have him perform a decent set-up to make it play the best it can. You'll find it more comfortable to play as you polish your chops and hence, play it more often. Once you become acclimated with the instrument, you'll then be more familiar with its shortcomings and decide what features are important for your next guitar.

Don't waste $$$ polishing a turd.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Advice Regarding Ongoing Upgrades To My First Telecaster
Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2014 12:48 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:


If anything, take it to a competent luthier and have him perform a decent set-up to make it play the best it can. You'll find it more comfortable to play as you polish your chops and hence, play it more often. Once you become acclimated with the instrument, you'll then be more familiar with its shortcomings and decide what features are important for your next guitar.

Don't waste $$$ polishing a turd.

Arjay



+1


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Post subject: Re: Advice Regarding Upgrades To My Turdercaster
Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2014 2:11 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
If anything, take it to a competent luthier and have him perform a decent set-up to make it play the best it can. You'll find it more comfortable to play as you polish your chops and hence, play it more often. Once you become acclimated with the instrument, you'll then be more familiar with its shortcomings and decide what features are important for your next guitar.

This makes perfect sense to me. Thanks!

Retroverbial wrote:
Don't waste $$$ polishing a turd.

Arjay

I love that image! It's so very fertile -- pun intended. :wink:

Where's that from? Karate Kid? No, the quote I'm thinking of is "Wax on. Wax off." I love the idea that benefit can be derived from an activity that might appear to be a waste of time. :)

Here's a sincere question -- with no snideness attached: what makes an Affinity body and neck such a turd? Are there any luthiers -- or Fender techs -- here who can educate me on their shortcomings. A short lesson in scatology, if you will.


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Post subject: Re: Advice Regarding Ongoing Upgrades To My First Telecaster
Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2014 4:51 pm
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I don't think Affinities are turds. They're perfectly good and playable guars for their price point. Plenty of people do mod them, changing pickups and electronics. But they do it knowing why, and what the sonic result will likely be.

I wouldn't be expecting any Fender rep here to come on and tell you anything different, or even suggest they had shortcomings.


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Post subject: Re: Advice Regarding Ongoing Upgrades To My First Telecaster
Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2014 12:05 am
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Drubbing wrote:
I don't think Affinities are turds. They're perfectly good and playable guars for their price point. Plenty of people do mod them, changing pickups and electronics. But they do it knowing why, and what the sonic result will likely be.

Interesting comment. Actually condescending. Am I meant to infer that you believe I do not know what sonic outcome I'm hoping to achieve? I gather that's a bad thing in your view.

You read my very first post after I introduced myself on this forum. I know that because you took it upon yourself to contradict me in a rather condescending way. You seem to have developed a passive-aggressive pattern with that. I freely admit when it comes to guitars it's plain I don't have your knowledge, so I'm an easy target, if somewhat bemused about it all.

Perhaps you know me from another Forum/Hobby? I use the same name online. Your writing pattern and mannerisms remind me of a guy from Australia named Fletch.

Anyway, my very first thread after I introduced myself was inquiring about the classic 50's Telecaster sound, and I talked about researching models that I suspected had that sound. So that's the sonic outcome I'd like to have in a Telecaster. Really, if I choose to spend my money blindly modding a guitar I'm not sure why you feel the need to editorialize about what I don't know. But hey, I won't spoil your fun: if, for whatever reason, you feel the need to be the Sonic Police around me then -- to use an Oz expression -- "Have a go, Mate!"

.


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Post subject: Re: Advice Regarding Ongoing Upgrades To My First Telecaster
Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2014 12:22 am
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Joe90 wrote:
Drubbing wrote:
I don't think Affinities are turds. They're perfectly good and playable guars for their price point. Plenty of people do mod them, changing pickups and electronics. But they do it knowing why, and what the sonic result will likely be.

Interesting comment. Actually condescending. Am I meant to infer that you believe I do not know what sonic outcome I'm hoping to achieve? I gather that's a bad thing in your view.

You read my very first post after I introduced myself on this forum. I know that because you took it upon yourself to contradict me in a rather condescending way. You seem to have developed a passive-aggressive pattern with that. I freely admit when it comes to guitars it's plain I don't have your knowledge, so I'm an easy target, if somewhat bemused about it all.

Perhaps you know me from another Forum/Hobby? I use the same name online. Your writing pattern and mannerisms remind me of a guy from Australia named Fletch.

Anyway, my very first thread after I introduced myself was inquiring about the classic 50's Telecaster sound, and I talked about researching models that I suspected had that sound. So that's the sonic outcome I'd like to have in a Telecaster. Really, if I choose to spend my money blindly modding a guitar I'm not sure why you feel the need to editorialize about what I don't know. But hey, I won't spoil your fun: if, for whatever reason, you feel the need to be the Sonic Police around me then -- to use an Oz expression -- "Have a go, Mate!"

.


Never heard of him, perhaps you're simply unused to Australians who tend to get to the bloody point.

I wasn't being condescending at all, you chose to take it that way. I still can't tell differences between many pickups, simply because I might not be playing the sorts of things that highlight their respective strengths and weakness, but hey, don't let that stop you getting sniffy and thinking that I'm bagging a beginner.

You seem more interested in tinkering than learning to play, and just want validation for doing that. No one has really given you any reasons why you should, but knock yourself out, have a go at the post you like the sound of least.

Go for it, I've wasted enough time offering my thoughts.


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Post subject: Re: Advice Regarding Ongoing Upgrades To My First Telecaster
Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2014 1:41 am
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Joe90 wrote:
Anyway, my very first thread after I introduced myself was inquiring about the classic 50's Telecaster sound, and I talked about researching models that I suspected had that sound. So that's the sonic outcome I'd like to have in a Telecaster.


If the "classic 50's Telecaster sound" be your objective, I'd still proffer my initial caveats re the Affinity guitar. However, once your playing has progressed beyond the rudiments I'd recommend you take a look at the Squier JV line of Telecasters. They're built pretty close to vintage specs, use quality hardware throughout, are offered in a variety of finishes, and they're modestly priced. If they've any shortcomings at all it would be in the pickups-and-electronics department -- both of those areas easily upgradeable by swapping out the original parts with MIA equivalents. With a good set-up I'd easily regard the instrument the equal of a MIM or even some MIA Telecasters in terms of playability and tone. Get yourself a decent amp and I believe you'd be set up for quite some time.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Advice Regarding Ongoing Upgrades To My First Telecaster
Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2014 8:09 am
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Drubbing wrote:
Never heard of him, perhaps you're simply unused to Australians who tend to get to the bloody point.

Don’t kid yourself. I’m unused to Australians (with the exception of the guy I mentioned earlier) who make such erroneous presumptions.

Drubbing wrote:
You seem more interested in tinkering than learning to play, and just want validation for doing that.

And you got that information from where?

This is a Fender Forum. Why would I come on here and talk about my Seagull Entourage – the guitar that I’m learning to play on – or my Epiphone Dot? Who would be interested in my thoughts of how I thought I had adequate finger dexterity but my Seagull has proven me wrong? Who wants to hear about my instructor? Probably nobody.

I’m here to learn about an iconic guitar, and listen to chat about the amp I bought for my Epiphone, a Mustang II. I have a love of tinkering with vintage radios, and I believe that there are transferable skills there that would come useful for modifying guitars. I make no apologies for that showing up in my posts. Am I interested in tinkering before I buy a bigboy Fender? Yeah, so what? If you want to fixate on that then who am I to deprive you of what makes you happy?
.


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