Telecaster Guitar Forum - View Single Post

superlightweigh · April 18th, 2007, 03:11 PM

I just bought my second Telecaster- a used Nashville Tele. I basically wanted it for that 'out of phase' sound with the 5-way switch.

For cosmetic reasons, I wanted to do the same thing I did to my MIM Tele, which was to put on the Pearl White Pickguard so they'd match, sort of- one Wine Red and one Black.

Got the middle pickup hole routed out okay and got everything put back together- but no neck pickup. I guess I let if flop around a little too much when I had the pick guard off.

I got out my continuity tester and found I had good signal from the two solder blobs where the leads come into the pickup back to the switch, and the switch checked out okay. I called the place where I bought it and told them what I did and they pretty much confirmed that if I broke any of those itty bitty copper wires coming off the solder blobs, then it was pretty much dead.

I can live with that, chalk it up to experience handling the delicate innards of an electric guitar. Besides, now I am fully justified in buying replacement pickups. I just don't know where to turn from here.

I LOVE the sound of my stock MIM Tele. LOVE it. I've been playing guitar over 30 years and never knew that was the tone I really wanted until I finally picked one up and tried it. Long story. Anyways, the only thing I missed was that snappy out-of-phase sound you get with a 5-way switch.

Now the Nashville Tele is supposed to have come with two Texas Tele pickups and a Texas Strat pickup in the middle, at least that's what the Fender website claims. Frankly, I never really liked the sound as much. Too bright and harsh. What I want is for it to sound EXACTLY like my stock MIM Tele, or close enough. I don't want a really noticeably different sound.

Now, places like Musician's Friend sell Vintage Noiseless Tele Pickups and Samarium Cobalt Noiseless Pickups and probably other things as well. One thing I don't see is stock replacement pickups due to damage or misuse. And if I do find stock pickups or something like that, will they sound okay blended with the middle Strat pickup? If not, how do I go about buying a single strat pickup?? What to do, what to do......

April 18th, 2007, 03:11 PM	#1 (permalink)
superlightweigh Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Schenectady, NY Age: 43 Posts: 397	Pickup Suggestions Anyone?????? I just bought my second Telecaster- a used Nashville Tele. I basically wanted it for that 'out of phase' sound with the 5-way switch. For cosmetic reasons, I wanted to do the same thing I did to my MIM Tele, which was to put on the Pearl White Pickguard so they'd match, sort of- one Wine Red and one Black. Got the middle pickup hole routed out okay and got everything put back together- but no neck pickup. I guess I let if flop around a little too much when I had the pick guard off. I got out my continuity tester and found I had good signal from the two solder blobs where the leads come into the pickup back to the switch, and the switch checked out okay. I called the place where I bought it and told them what I did and they pretty much confirmed that if I broke any of those itty bitty copper wires coming off the solder blobs, then it was pretty much dead. I can live with that, chalk it up to experience handling the delicate innards of an electric guitar. Besides, now I am fully justified in buying replacement pickups. I just don't know where to turn from here. I LOVE the sound of my stock MIM Tele. LOVE it. I've been playing guitar over 30 years and never knew that was the tone I really wanted until I finally picked one up and tried it. Long story. Anyways, the only thing I missed was that snappy out-of-phase sound you get with a 5-way switch. Now the Nashville Tele is supposed to have come with two Texas Tele pickups and a Texas Strat pickup in the middle, at least that's what the Fender website claims. Frankly, I never really liked the sound as much. Too bright and harsh. What I want is for it to sound EXACTLY like my stock MIM Tele, or close enough. I don't want a really noticeably different sound. Now, places like Musician's Friend sell Vintage Noiseless Tele Pickups and Samarium Cobalt Noiseless Pickups and probably other things as well. One thing I don't see is stock replacement pickups due to damage or misuse. And if I do find stock pickups or something like that, will they sound okay blended with the middle Strat pickup? If not, how do I go about buying a single strat pickup?? What to do, what to do......