It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 6:52 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 11 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: American Special Telecaster
Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2013 11:19 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sun Apr 21, 2013 10:54 am
Posts: 6
I've read many posts about the hum in many models of Telecasters. I'm not really a "Telecaster" guy as I've got several Artist Series Strats. I bought this Tele Special mainly for slide. The Texas Special PUPs and the inexpensive price is what brought me to this guitar for slide. I’m putting this guitar through a Marshall Silver Tube amp. I generally use a power boost and maybe a compressor or a sonic boost. Obviously when I do not use any pedals the hum is less (but it is still too much and I don’t get the boost). I have read about shielding and that American Standards have it painted so copper shielding is not necessary. What about these Specials? I have also read that some models of Fenders like the Highway 1 just have inexpensive PUPs and/or circuitry and so that's what it is. What about this Special? I live in a relatively new home with current building codes so I don’t think it’s a grounding problem with the house nor do I have this problem with my Artist Strats (only a little hum as expected in 1,3,5 position). PUP position doesn’t matter with this Special. So I really like these Texas PUP’s but the hum makes me not want to play this guitar. Do I need shielding, upgrade circuitry, upgrade to custom Texas PUPs, or should I sell and get something else? Do you have another idea I need to consider? Thanks for your help.


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: American Special Telecaster
Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2013 3:19 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Thu Dec 31, 2009 10:34 pm
Posts: 10760
Location: Athens, Greece
Hi,

The hum likely occurs as a result of a ground wiring issue and (usually) poor soldering.

I advise you to check the ground wires first before proceeding to everything.

It's also possible the wires are soldered poorly.

Since your guitar is under warranty your local Fender dealer can fix those issues for you.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: American Special Telecaster
Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2013 3:28 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sun Apr 21, 2013 10:54 am
Posts: 6
How do I check that? Visual? or do I need some kind of testing meter? I'm the second owner of this new guitar (still has the plastic and stickers). Does Fender still warranty this?


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: American Special Telecaster
Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2013 3:51 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Thu Dec 31, 2009 10:34 pm
Posts: 10760
Location: Athens, Greece
Remove the pickguard!


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: American Special Telecaster
Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2013 4:04 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sun Apr 21, 2013 10:54 am
Posts: 6
that makes sense. I tried that once with a standard strat and found I needed to do this when I was changing the strings....... (which I had just changed) couldn't loosen the strings enough. same with a tele? and just look for a loose wire? or a bad solder?


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: American Special Telecaster
Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2013 9:44 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Thu Dec 31, 2009 10:34 pm
Posts: 10760
Location: Athens, Greece
Yep!

Removing the pickguard lets you access the circuitry.

Many of the electronic components are located in the rear side of the scratchplate while others are placed in the front side of the body, with the jack being mounted at the lower bout of the guitar.

There's no need to remove the pickguard during a string change.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: American Special Telecaster
Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2013 8:44 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sun Apr 21, 2013 10:54 am
Posts: 6
Thanks for all of your help. I'll open it up and see what things look like.

PS: I don't take off the pickguard when I change the strings. What I said was I couldn't remove the pickguard on a standard strat without changing the strings. I loosened them up all the way and I still couldn't remove the pickguard - probably because the pick-ups are screwed to the pickguard and extra clearence is needed. So, I was wondering about the front pick-up on the tele if this would be also applicable.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: American Special Telecaster
Posted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 7:37 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Wed Dec 12, 2012 7:19 pm
Posts: 17
The question I didn't hear is, have you connected the guitar, one cable direct to the amp, setting the amp to it's most clean sound... Do you still have a hum?


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: American Special Telecaster
Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 7:27 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sun Apr 21, 2013 10:54 am
Posts: 6
I can try that tonight. If I get no hum, are you saying that is just the way the guitar is? That would make it kinda undesirable in the collection. If I can’t go from one guitar to another by just unplugging one and plugging this one in, it’s not real useful fulfilling the role as a slide guitar. Changing the circuit set-up to play this one guitar when I don’t have to do that with all the others? What about eventually when on stage with mixers, loops, other feedback, monitors, and dirty power coming from the restaurant’s kitchen?


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: American Special Telecaster
Posted: Tue Apr 30, 2013 1:33 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2007 6:51 pm
Posts: 25353
Location: Witness Protection Program
Did it all get sorted out for you yet?

_________________
Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: American Special Telecaster
Posted: Wed May 01, 2013 8:06 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sun Apr 21, 2013 10:54 am
Posts: 6
OK, so I've been pretty busy since I posted this subject. Last night I went straight into the tube amp on the "clean" setting, turned it up and didn't get any pick-up hum on any of the three pup switch settings. That tells me that the guitar is properly grounded? But now I need to check out why the pedals I've been using won't produce the signal processing they are designed to do without the feedback hum. I've been using BBE pedals. Perhaps it's the effects pedal coupler? Which works best? I like the more solid couplers as opposed to the flopping cable type. Could this be the problem? I don't understand why I can have everything set up fine for the Artist Strats and then go to the Special Tele and get all the hum? Is the circuitry that much different? Thanks for everyone's help. You have all been great!!


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 11 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: