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Post subject: Upgrading MIM Tele
Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 12:29 pm
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So my very first guitar was a MIM Tele, that I've decided to go ahead and upgrade (after 12 years) but I'm not sure what exactly needs to be upgraded to make this guitar great.

I do know that I am for sure going to replace the stock pups with some Fender Noisless, and upgrade the volume and tone pots to an RS Guitar Works kit.

What else would you all recommend to be upgraded on this guitar?


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Post subject:
Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2009 12:53 pm
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Before you buy FN pups check out Bill Lawrence.
His keystones rock. I have them in my MIM.
I don't know what type of music you play but if you
want to keep the brighter side of the tele I would keep
250 pots in the control plate. 500 pots tend to "darken"
the guitar.
Depends on how much you have already done, but you
might also think about a 3 barrel brass bridge.
Callaham has some nice parts.


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Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2009 1:29 pm
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What are the advantages of a 3 saddle bridge? I have heard that there's more intonation problems with a 3 saddle compared to the 6.


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Post subject:
Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2009 3:18 pm
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They are brass and that lends to the vintage sound.
I use either a 3 barrel or a 6 saddle, either one is cool.
There are some very interesting mods that can be done to a
tele.
If you aren't already a member, TDPRI is a solely tele
website and attracts players like Brent Mason, Red Volkaert
and a ton of builders.
Check it out.
You might enjoy it there too.


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Post subject:
Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2009 12:21 pm
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I think i'm gonna stick with the 6-saddle bridges from now on. My first electric guitars were MiM Strats that all had 6 saddle bridges, and then my first Tele was a 50's reissue that drove me crazy because i could hear either the b string or g string whose intonation was never dead on....at the same time i wanted to keep it authentic so i didn't replace the bridge. I ended up parting it out on Ebay after a while.

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Post subject:
Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2009 12:31 pm
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Yeah, I have 6 saddle bridges on both my work teles. They are easier to inotnate. Hope it works out for you.
I would take a look at the Keystones by Bill Lawrence and check out
the TDPRI site.
It is a must for tele players. Later.


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Post subject: Re: Upgrading MIM Tele
Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2009 1:17 pm
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gray5547 wrote:
So my very first guitar was a MIM Tele, that I've decided to go ahead and upgrade (after 12 years) but I'm not sure what exactly needs to be upgraded to make this guitar great.

I do know that I am for sure going to replace the stock pups with some Fender Noisless, and upgrade the volume and tone pots to an RS Guitar Works kit.

What else would you all recommend to be upgraded on this guitar?


Fender Vintage Noiseless are very nice... there certainly are many choice available today. If I were you, I'd get some Lace Sensor or EMGs in there.


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Post subject:
Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2009 7:30 am
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to answer anyone fears about the 3 saddle bridge I always direct them here.

http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/ch ... e_up_your/

Ido this to mine and love the results. In fact I now find myself not being able to play a Tele with a 6 saddle bridge. I know it sounds weird but that's just the way it is.


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Post subject: Re: Upgrading MIM Tele
Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2009 11:12 pm
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Strataholic wrote:
gray5547 wrote:
So my very first guitar was a MIM Tele, that I've decided to go ahead and upgrade (after 12 years) but I'm not sure what exactly needs to be upgraded to make this guitar great.

I do know that I am for sure going to replace the stock pups with some Fender Noisless, and upgrade the volume and tone pots to an RS Guitar Works kit.

What else would you all recommend to be upgraded on this guitar?


Fender Vintage Noiseless are very nice... there certainly are many choice available today. If I were you, I'd get some Lace Sensor or EMGs in there.


With regard to "upgrading" pickups, it's essential that you know exactly what you're getting into. More expensive pickups, or those generally regarded as "better than stock" may not deliver a sound that pleases you. It's not worth spending a couple of hundred bucks on pickups that don't do what you want them to do. The essence of what I'm saying is don't upgrade for the sake of upgrading; by all means have something in mind and do it, but beware of gratuitous pickup upgrades.


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Post subject:
Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 4:47 pm
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how would you compare the Vintage Noiseless to the Bill Lawrence Keystones. I can't really find any good video of either. So what characteristics are in each set?


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Post subject:
Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 5:52 pm
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I agree with the idea don't makes mods for the sake of change unless you're not happy with something specific. For example. I bought a 2009 Tele and like it just the way it is. I like the pups, neck etc. The only change I made was installing locking tuners for convenience.


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Post subject:
Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 6:08 pm
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oh I'm definitely not modding it just for the heck of it. It doesn't play quite like I'd want. It's somewhat muddy, and I'd like some clarity and some brightness (not full of attack though), mostly just clarity.

The pots are very hissy and noisy, and I'm thinking of getting an RS Guitarworks kit in it, to give more tonal characteristics with my controls as well as improve the overall tone of the guitar.

The bridge and pickups are definitely getting swapped though. And thats the first place I'm starting.

So my questions are, what pickups would be best for that type of tone; Bill Lawrence Keystones or Fender Vintage Noiseless?

What are some good bridge choices, preferably that wouldn't require any other mods, that would just fit in place. I'm ok with 3 saddle, as long as it's a model that keeps great intonation.

Also, is the RS Guitarworks kit a good idea, or are there better options for MIM teles as far as new pots go, cause I know right away it's not gonna fit immediately and I'll have to make several mods to make it fit.

Any other advice on upgrades would be great. Input jacks? Switches? Tuners? (I've looked into the Fender Schaller Locking Tuners, but I absolutely hate the brushed chrome look. Wouldn't match anything)


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Post subject:
Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 6:41 pm
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I installed Sperzel locking tuners which work great. The tuning knobs look like stock Fender tuners in a high chrome finish. In fact a buddy of mine ordered these same tuners from Fender which have the Fender logo, if that matters. Good luck!


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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2010 9:04 pm
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I put in some 54' nocaster custom shop pups and love them. Great vintage sound and actually more versatile than I thought. I also put some pearl sperzel locking tuners on it with a mother of pear pickguard. My MIM tele is a nice sunburst with the maple neck. Gotta love teles!

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Post subject:
Posted: Sat Mar 27, 2010 2:19 pm
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So I went ahead and ordered the Bill Lawrence Keystone's after hearing a track on youtube with them, and reading numerous favorable reviews. I think they're just what I'm looking for. I also ordered a a Wilkinson 3 saddle bridge which is going to be awesome!

Moving on, has anyone replaced pots in a MIM tele? I'm looking at an RS Guitarworks fully wired kit, but I don't know if this is the best route to go, or if there is something better out there for it. I know I want to keep the tone on the brighter side of things, but have mostly clarity. What exactly would have to be done to replace the pots, being that MIM and MIA have different units of measurement?

Finally, are Sperzel locking tuners direct replacements for the original tuners? I wouldn't have to make any additional mods to the head? And, I read about some Fender Replacement Parts Sperzel locking tuners, which were just the regular Sperzel's with the Fender "F" logo on them, but I can't find them, or a Fender Replacement Parts site or store anywhere? Anyone have details on those??

Thanks for all the great info so far!


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