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Post subject: Is it worth upgrading my Fender Telecaster Modern Player?
Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2015 1:37 pm
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Last year I purchased a Fender Telecaster Modern Player for around $400, knowing that for the money I was paying, I wasn't going to be getting a high-end telecaster, but more something that would be good to practice on.

Now that I'm looking to start playing some shows, I've been thinking about upgrading to a Fender American Special Telecaster, or something along those lines. However, I've been talking with a couple of co-workers who are musicians and some of them have told me they think that instead of buying a brand new telecaster, I may want to consider just upgrading the pickups, tuning pegs, etc on my Modern Player.

I really enjoy the look of the modern player, but I realize the picks ups, tuning pegs, etc aren't the best...which brings me to my question. Would it be worth switching out all of these things on a Modern Player telecaster, or would I be better off just buying a higher quality tele? I would imagine I would be saving a decent amount of money by switching out parts, but at the same time, I want something I can play live that I can depend on to stay in tune, and to get a nice tone out of.

Any thoughts are very much appreciated, as I am somewhat of a novice when it comes to these types of things, even though I have been playing guitar for years.

Thanks in advance!


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Post subject: Re: Is it worth upgrading my Fender Telecaster Modern Player
Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2015 2:14 pm
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What makes you think the pickups, tuning pegs etc. need to be upgraded?
From your post, I read no problems, rather just a general disappointment in... what exactly, I don't really know.
If the guitar doesn't stay in tune, I'd look for other causes before the tuning machines. And pickups - do people come after a gig and say your sound was crap?

Both of those parts, of course, can be switched to better quality, but unless the stock ones are broken, it's not mandatory. And of course, just a hunger for something different is a valid reason for modding.

But, since you asked, and sorry for being brutally honest; IMHO it sounds like you probably just need a more expensive guitar to be able to enjoy it.


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Post subject: Re: Is it worth upgrading my Fender Telecaster Modern Player
Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2015 2:23 pm
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I apologize. I should have actually explained why I felt like the Modern Player wasn't making the grade. The pickups are extremely noisy, and I have had issues keeping the guitar in tune. Seems pretty much any kind of lead guitar playing will get the tuning all out of whack. The action on the guitar is a little too low, but I know I can get that fixed by getting it set up. I do like the feel of the guitar though when I play, and really enjoy the look.


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Post subject: Re: Is it worth upgrading my Fender Telecaster Modern Player
Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2015 5:19 pm
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jmattis wrote:
What makes you think the pickups, tuning pegs etc. need to be upgraded?
From your post, I read no problems, rather just a general disappointment in... what exactly, I don't really know.
If the guitar doesn't stay in tune, I'd look for other causes before the tuning machines. And pickups - do people come after a gig and say your sound was crap?

Both of those parts, of course, can be switched to better quality, but unless the stock ones are broken, it's not mandatory. And of course, just a hunger for something different is a valid reason for modding.

But, since you asked, and sorry for being brutally honest; IMHO it sounds like you probably just need a more expensive guitar to be able to enjoy it.



+1


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Post subject: Re: Is it worth upgrading my Fender Telecaster Modern Player
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2015 2:48 am
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OK, now I'm glad I added that "brutally honest" part :wink:
So let's move ahead:

justinmayhugh wrote:
The pickups are extremely noisy, and I have had issues keeping the guitar in tune. Seems pretty much any kind of lead guitar playing will get the tuning all out of whack. The action on the guitar is a little too low, but I know I can get that fixed by getting it set up. I do like the feel of the guitar though when I play, and really enjoy the look.

On the pickup noise issue, new pickups might not help at all. This would be a good start: Tele Shielding guitarnuts
And: that's assuming it's the single coil 50/60 cycle hum...

On the tuning issues, you sorta gave the answer already: "fixed by getting it set up". Any guitar, be it an Affinity or a CustomShop, won't play right if the setup ain't right. Like I said, the tuners are not the first usual suspects. Old strings, loose string winding on peg posts, nut grooves, too loose a trussrod, loose screws/nuts somewhere; these are the first things I check on a guitar that doesn't stay in tune. Just about never it's the tuning machines themselves...

So, learn to do the setup. Or (IMHO) better yet, spend some extra money on a setup (and shielding) by a pro - it'll get the guitar ready to play in a day.


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Post subject: Re: Is it worth upgrading my Fender Telecaster Modern Player
Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2015 12:17 am
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justinmayhugh wrote:
I apologize. I should have actually explained why I felt like the Modern Player wasn't making the grade. The pickups are extremely noisy, and I have had issues keeping the guitar in tune. Seems pretty much any kind of lead guitar playing will get the tuning all out of whack. The action on the guitar is a little too low, but I know I can get that fixed by getting it set up. I do like the feel of the guitar though when I play, and really enjoy the look.

Justin, to be brutally honest, it is probably not required that you buy a more expensive guitar if you don't want one or can't afford one.
And you can do the work yourself if you want to.
If you like the feel and look of the guitar, then spend a little money and replace the pickups and line all the cavities of the guitar, including the electronics cavity and the back of the pick-guard, with copper tape to shield the guitar.
http://www.amazon.com/Copper-Foil-Shiel ... B00FV1MS0S
Make sure that you solder a ground wire from a grounding source to the copper tape.
As noted above, see: http://www.guitarnuts.com/wiring/shielding/tele.php

Replacing the pickups on a MIM guitar is usually advisable, unless it is a FSR hand comes with improved pickups that you like.
Personally, I think replacing the pickups on an American Standard Tele is advisable, as I normally don't like the sound of those pickups either.
When replacing the pickups, it is advisable that you twist the pickup wires together to make a "rope" in the runs to the switch.
It is normally believed that this also reduces interference.
It certainly can't hurt and will be a neater job.

Assuming that the bridge is properly adjusted, every now and then most guitars require a slight truss rod adjustment.
Take a 1/4 to 1/2 turn out of the truss rod (counter clockwise) using a properly fitting "allen" or "hex" key, and that should raise the action to your satisfaction.
Obviously, never use force when making a truss rod adjustment.
The truss rod should turn using moderate pressure.
Check the intonation to see if the tuning is the same as the open string at the 12th fret of each string and adjust the string length accordingly.

As for the tuners, I think that your guitar has non-Kluson, modern style, Fender/Ping tuners (MIM), of Chinese origin that are set up the same as the Fender/Schaller tuners (USA) on the American Standard Tele.
You can adjust the tuning pressure of the each tuner with the screw that holds the tuning knob on by tightening the screw.
Remember, this is an adjustment.
Try a half turn at a time tightening the screw.
On the opposite side of the tuner, you will notice the gunmetal end of the tuner shaft adjusts inward if you tighten the knob screw.
Don't over tighten.
The gunmetal end of the tuning shaft should be relatively flush with the chrome tuner housing.
Obviously you can go to Fender/Schaller tuners if you feel that it is necessary, at a relatively modest cost.
Hope this helps.


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Post subject: Re: Is it worth upgrading my Fender Telecaster Modern Player
Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2015 4:25 am
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I really appreciate your guys' opinion and input about my tele. After reading your advice and doing some more research, I think I will stick with the guitar I have now and get it properly set up as you suggested. I do like the way it plays and the way it looks so I think it would be a fun project to learn how to do all of that stuff. I have a buddy at work that works on guitars all of the time and he said he could show me how. Once again, I appreciate your guys advice. It was a big help.


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Post subject: Re: Is it worth upgrading my Fender Telecaster Modern Player
Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2015 6:25 am
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Quote:
I have a buddy at work that works on guitars all of the time and he said he could show me how.

That's the best possible situation for learning.
Two hints: do everything yourself, let him be the advisor,
and ask a lot of questions - like "why do we turn that screw" and "where does that affect".


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Post subject: Re: Is it worth upgrading my Fender Telecaster Modern Player
Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2015 7:06 am
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Yes, do some nice well done upgrades if you wish, but you have an excellent guitar as is. Mine (to me) sounds as good as my MIA, and cosmetically, it looks like the more expensive instrument.


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Post subject: Re: Is it worth upgrading my Fender Telecaster Modern Player
Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2015 9:02 pm
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justinmayhugh wrote:
I really appreciate your guys' opinion and input about my tele.......

Don't be afraid to work on your own guitar.
If you read as much as you can, take your time, and use common sense, there is very little that you can really do wrong.
That's what makes a Fender style, two piece guitar, simply one of the greatest and most timeless creations of the 20th century.
It's right up there with the small block Chevy engine and the flathead Ford.
When I decided to build a guitar in 2011, no one had ever showed me anything about building a guitar.
And, I'm certainly no "luthier," or even, a professional "guitar tech" (many people use these terms interchangeably which is NOT correct).

But after reading enough information on guitars, I decided to take on the challenge.
The result was a guitar that I simply love and plays as well, or better than anything that I could buy off the rack for $800.00, the approximate cost of the guitar.
And I have the satisfaction of knowing that I built what I think is a really cool Tele.
The guitar build can be viewed at the following link,
It may help you in learning how to service and modify your own guitar...., or build one, if you get the itch.
viewtopic.php?f=7&t=53915


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