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Post subject: Opinions wanted on American Special Tele
Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2011 7:18 pm
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Roadie
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I have an American Special Tele.......it's been modded just a bit but not much. It's sunburst and I switched the black pickguard for a white one and changed the vintage style 3 saddle bridge for a modern 6 saddle bridge, but the pickups and electronics are stock. My question mainly concerns the pickups. The stock pickups are Texas Specials and they're perhaps a bit overwound for my taste. How do other Tele players compare the Texas Specials with other Tele pickups?

I'm a Strat guy really. I have 4 Strats and 1 Tele and I may eventually go for another Tele. Possibly an American Vintage '52 or something. Maybe even a Tele Custom with a humbucker in the neck. I've been able to get a pretty good sound out of these Texas Special pickups but I think I'd prefer a more vintage type sound. Any suggestions?


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Post subject: Re: Opinions wanted on American Special Tele
Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2011 7:27 pm
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Midniterambler wrote:
I have an American Special Tele.......it's been modded just a bit but not much. It's sunburst and I switched the black pickguard for a white one and changed the vintage style 3 saddle bridge for a modern 6 saddle bridge, but the pickups and electronics are stock. My question mainly concerns the pickups. The stock pickups are Texas Specials and they're perhaps a bit overwound for my taste. How do other Tele players compare the Texas Specials with other Tele pickups?

I'm a Strat guy really. I have 4 Strats and 1 Tele and I may eventually go for another Tele. Possibly an American Vintage '52 or something. Maybe even a Tele Custom with a humbucker in the neck. I've been able to get a pretty good sound out of these Texas Special pickups but I think I'd prefer a more vintage type sound. Any suggestions?


Welcome.

Actually, to cool down the Texas Specials and expand their range to that of a more 'traditional' Tele tonality, you might want to consider changing the pots or at least the volume pot to a 500K one first; it is cheap and it is reversible. Further, if you ultimately do decide on a full sized HB in the neck, you'll be needing that 500K pot any way.

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Post subject: Re: Opinions wanted on American Special Tele
Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2011 8:57 pm
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Thanks.

I keep reading online about people upgrading their electronics. Some say upgrading pots and such are just as important as the pickups. While I'm fairly familiar with several different pickup models, especially for Strats, I don't know much about the rest of the electronics and wiring. I'd love to upgrade some of my stuff, but don't know what to go for with the pots and capacitors and stuff.


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Post subject: Re: Opinions wanted on American Special Tele
Posted: Sun Mar 27, 2011 6:06 am
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Midniterambler wrote:
Thanks.

I keep reading online about people upgrading their electronics. Some say upgrading pots and such are just as important as the pickups. While I'm fairly familiar with several different pickup models, especially for Strats, I don't know much about the rest of the electronics and wiring. I'd love to upgrade some of my stuff, but don't know what to go for with the pots and capacitors and stuff.


You're welcome.

Actually, all you'd have to do is buy a Fender solid shaft 500K audio pot, two if you want to replace your tone pot as well. These pots are readily available. Your capacitor does not have to be changed. These new pots would be wired into your circuit exactly as the 250Ks (the ones you currently have in there) are wired now. That's all.

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Post subject: Re: Opinions wanted on American Special Tele
Posted: Sun Mar 27, 2011 6:46 am
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Teles are addicting. I`ve had 6 Teles and 3 Strats and I always go back to the Tele. If you prefer the vintage sound you might want to try playing a 52 RI and see how you like it. Personally I don`t like that the neck pick up is not wired to the tone control and I don`t like the vintage saddles for intonation reasons. But both can be changed if you request it. The 52 Hot Rod might be my next Tele.

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Post subject: Re: Opinions wanted on American Special Tele
Posted: Sun Mar 27, 2011 8:58 am
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Martian wrote:
Midniterambler wrote:
Thanks.

I keep reading online about people upgrading their electronics. Some say upgrading pots and such are just as important as the pickups. While I'm fairly familiar with several different pickup models, especially for Strats, I don't know much about the rest of the electronics and wiring. I'd love to upgrade some of my stuff, but don't know what to go for with the pots and capacitors and stuff.


You're welcome.

Actually, all you'd have to do is buy a Fender solid shaft 500K audio pot, two if you want to replace your tone pot as well. These pots are readily available. Your capacitor does not have to be changed. These new pots would be wired into your circuit exactly as the 250Ks (the ones you currently have in there) are wired now. That's all.



Cool. Thanks for the info.


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Post subject: Re: Opinions wanted on American Special Tele
Posted: Sun Mar 27, 2011 9:17 am
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Midniterambler wrote:
Martian wrote:
Midniterambler wrote:
Thanks.

I keep reading online about people upgrading their electronics. Some say upgrading pots and such are just as important as the pickups. While I'm fairly familiar with several different pickup models, especially for Strats, I don't know much about the rest of the electronics and wiring. I'd love to upgrade some of my stuff, but don't know what to go for with the pots and capacitors and stuff.


You're welcome.

Actually, all you'd have to do is buy a Fender solid shaft 500K audio pot, two if you want to replace your tone pot as well. These pots are readily available. Your capacitor does not have to be changed. These new pots would be wired into your circuit exactly as the 250Ks (the ones you currently have in there) are wired now. That's all.



Cool. Thanks for the info.


Any time.

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Post subject: Re: Opinions wanted on American Special Tele
Posted: Sun Mar 27, 2011 9:27 am
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Joined: Tue Mar 22, 2011 2:07 pm
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JPD wrote:
Teles are addicting. I`ve had 6 Teles and 3 Strats and I always go back to the Tele. If you prefer the vintage sound you might want to try playing a 52 RI and see how you like it. Personally I don`t like that the neck pick up is not wired to the tone control and I don`t like the vintage saddles for intonation reasons. But both can be changed if you request it. The 52 Hot Rod might be my next Tele.



I was leaning in that direction actually. I played a couple AV '52 RI's and quite liked them. I'm waiting on an AV '57 Strat RI that I ordered......Fender is apparently really backed up. But anyway I was either going to trade the Tele in for the '57 Strat RI or keep it and mod it. But I'm not crazy about the jumbo frets on the Tele. Medium jumbo or 6105's are plenty big enough for me. If I traded it in I was gonna buy another Tele later on and the '52 RI would be my first choice but we'll see.


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