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Post subject: American Tele Deluxe Question - 3rd pickup
Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 9:09 am
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I have an American Deluxe Tele from 2008. I bought it somewhat impulsively but on sale, new about two years back. I am very curious about possibly adding a middle pickup. My other guitar is a strat so I like the tonal possibilities of 3 pickups. I was wondering what might compliment the deluxe pickups well in the middle?

I play mostly country on the Tele, plus occasional rock or blues. But mainly, I am looking to maintain or enhance the twang. Also, since this guitar has the three-way switch with S-1 switching, I was wondering what switch configurations may be advisable with a middle pickup?

Thanks.


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Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 11:09 am
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The American Deluxe Teles had the middle pickup for about the first year or so of their run (from their release in 1998 until sometime in 1999); if I'm remembering correctly they used the same pickup that was used on the American Deluxe Strat for the neck and middle position. I suspect that a Fender SCN Strat pickup (for neck and middle position) would blend well with your Tele's SCN pickups. Do you consider your Tele's pickups to be hot or to be expected "Tele" in output

If you can't get an SCN then you should look for some other type of noiseless pickup from DiMarzio or Duncan with either a vintage output or a slightly overwound output (like maybe using a bridge pickup instead of the neck or middle pickup); I wouldn't think you would want a really hot Strat pickup in the middle positon.

You will have to change to a 5-way switch; I suppose you could use the S-1 to add the neck and bridge pickups together (the typical Tele position 2) if you want the 5-way position 3 to be the middle pickup by itself (the 3-pickup American Deluxes and the 1996-97 Tele Pluses had a mini-toggle that added the neck and bridge pickups together in positions 1 and 5). If you would rather have positon 3 on the the 5-way be the neck and bridge pickups combined then you could keep the S-1 function the same (changing between series and parallel wiring).


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Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 11:50 am
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The body should already be routed for a third pickup by default, correct? I have not specifically checked but I've seen it mentioned in passing that all the body designs are essentially the 'same mold' with a spot for a middle.


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Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 3:34 pm
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They used to have the route there for the middle pickup - not sure about the ash models but the alder ones with binding should have it. Of course it's pretty easy to remove the pickguard when you change strings and check it before you start ordering parts.


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