Thinline Mods

Hello!

I just picked up a MIM Thinline (69 RI). I bought it with the intention of modifying weak areas. I am inexperienced when it comes to telecasters as I mainly play LPs.

I want to upgrade the pickups, maybe the electronics, and possibly the neck. Right now, I am experiencing some SERIOUS humming when I crank my bridge pickup to fully active. AND it doesn't feel like I am getting that true tele twang. Maybe this is due to the semi holo body design?

So my first question. What kind of pickups can I replace these stock pickups with and STILL maintain the classic tele look. I'd like to avoid the cutting edge NASA looking pickups. How about stock American tele pickups? Any suggestions on capturing the true tele sound and alleviating the hum?

Do I upgrade the elctronics if I upgrade the pickups?

And finally. Will a standard telecaster neck fit a thinline body? I figured I'd buy an American neck on Ebay.

Any advice would be fantastical!

Steven!

there are countless aftermarket pickups available for telecaster. you'd do well to lurk the Just Pickups page here and do some research. replacing the electronics might be prudent but keep in mind you're going to have more hum from a single coil equipped guitar than your LP's.

the necks on those thinlines are quite good from my understanding. a standard tele neck will fit but keep in mind they are generally 9.5 radius vs. 7.25 radius that thinlines have.

one mod i did on my MIJ thinline was to put compensated brass saddles on it. can't say that it changed the twang factor much but i like it better.

I'm beginning to wonder why you bought the guitar. Exactly why do you want to replace the neck with an American neck? Do you feel the need for a Bi-Flex truss rod?

First of all, WELCOME to the forum. You'll find the folks here super knowledgeable and super helpful.

I too have a '69 Thinline reissue that I modded (http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w234/joshuarosie/JMR69RITele1.jpg). I changed out the pickups, completely gutted and rewired the electronics including a LP-style switch, and changed the cosmetics some.

FIRST -- get a black pickguard. I love the look of these with a black pg. :mrgreen:

Second: Neck.

The question is, what's wrong with it that you want to change? The necks on the MIM reissues are actually very nice. The neck radius on those is 7.25" which can feel strange and/or take some getting used to if you're used to playing les pauls.

Really though, figure out WHY you would change out the neck. If it's just to say it's an 'american fender neck' then IMO it's good money after bad. But if you need/want it thinner, different radius, then maybe.


Third: Pickups.

I'm not a good enough player to be super picky, but I did notice the standard pups on the MIM reissue to be lacking in body/balls. Changing those out would be a good upgrade to make. Two suggestions:

-- GFS Pickups -- their '62 Hot Alnico Tele is a STEAL for the price. They are generally pretty highly regarded, especially for the $$.

-- My good friend also has the same guitar, and he put Lollar pickups in his, sounds great - dunno exactly what they cost, but they're not cheap.

Graphs is right that single coil pickups will hum, unless you get some of them 'noiseless' jobbies... I have no experience with them myself, although the cork-sniffing crowd will tell you that they sound different that the traditional single coils do.

Lastly: Electronics

I would recommend changing the 1 meg volume and tone pots for 250K pots.
If you don't know what that means, then get on the interwebs and read about it. Basically, it'll keep the guitar from having a shrill-and-way-too-trebly sound when crank the tone knob wide open.

Thanks for the advice! I figured that the American tele necks would be of better quality but I HAVE noticed that you guys are right. I DO like the thin neck and the quality, as compared to the American teles I've played, seems to be equal. So I am scratching the neck purchase.

MIM tele's come with 1 meg pots? You see I DIDN'T know that. That would explain the power it drags at full crank. SO I will look into the 250 K pots.

I am going to look into those pickups as well. If ANYONE knows an amazing sounding pickup I am willing to drop some coin to achieve that classic tele sound. I guess I can always buy a noise supressor pedal to get rid of the hum between songs. Any more info on some great pickups would be great.

Oh. Of course their are tuning issues as well. I haven't had it set up yet but I am assuming its the same as Epiphone tuning issues.

Thanks!

Steven!

First of all, WELCOME to the forum. You'll find the folks here super knowledgeable and super helpful.

I too have a '69 Thinline reissue that I modded (http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w234/joshuarosie/JMR69RITele1.jpg). I changed out the pickups, completely gutted and rewired the electronics including a LP-style switch, and changed the cosmetics some.

FIRST -- get a black pickguard. I love the look of these with a black pg. :mrgreen:

Second: Neck.

The question is, what's wrong with it that you want to change? The necks on the MIM reissues are actually very nice. The neck radius on those is 7.25" which can feel strange and/or take some getting used to if you're used to playing les pauls.

Really though, figure out WHY you would change out the neck. If it's just to say it's an 'american fender neck' then IMO it's good money after bad. But if you need/want it thinner, different radius, then maybe.


Third: Pickups.

I'm not a good enough player to be super picky, but I did notice the standard pups on the MIM reissue to be lacking in body/balls. Changing those out would be a good upgrade to make. Two suggestions:

-- GFS Pickups -- their '62 Hot Alnico Tele is a STEAL for the price. They are generally pretty highly regarded, especially for the $$.

-- My good friend also has the same guitar, and he put Lollar pickups in his, sounds great - dunno exactly what they cost, but they're not cheap.

Graphs is right that single coil pickups will hum, unless you get some of them 'noiseless' jobbies... I have no experience with them myself, although the cork-sniffing crowd will tell you that they sound different that the traditional single coils do.

Lastly: Electronics

I would recommend changing the 1 meg volume and tone pots for 250K pots.
If you don't know what that means, then get on the interwebs and read about it. Basically, it'll keep the guitar from having a shrill-and-way-too-trebly sound when crank the tone knob wide open.

the '69 thinline has a thin neck? or are you talking nut width? and tuning issues? put on some new strings. if it don't stay in then, somethings up--MIM classic series gits usually stay in tune very well.

i wouldn't change a thing, personally, i think the MIM '69 thinline is a fine guitar as is. changing the pots is pretty quick and cheap though, but that doesn't sound like the problem you're having...

give it some time...you say you were a les paul guy. it might take a while to break yourself into a tele. but once it happens...

and welcome.

Welcome!

First question: What kind of music do you play? That'll help us zero in on a pickup that will get you where you want to go.

Second question: Have you tried adjusting the pickups to get the type of tone you're after?

As has been mentioned, single coil pickups will hum in the presence of other electronics such as TVs, computers, flourescent lights. Shielding the body may help. Changing the pickups may make it worse. Hotter pickups will pick up noise better, too.

If you play with a lot of gain the hum will be worse. A noise reduction may be in order.

Personally, I like the stock pickups that come in the MIM Teles. I have a pickup in the drawer I was going to put in my Esquire, but I haven't needed it. One of these days, I may put it in just to see what changes, but IMO, all the pickup needed was a bit of adjustment.

BTW, I play my Teles (and everything else) through a mildly modded 5150. I can hear it buzzing when I'm not playin, but it's not loud enough to cause problems when I am.

The MIM Classic bridges lack a baseplate - adding one to my Thinline certainly added the compression, bite and twang and reduced the scatteredness of the stock tones. These pickups, combined with 1 meg pots, are pretty much the tone of 60's Teles, although they are a little hotter. The neck pickup is a nice take on the best pickups IMO. They are very hi-fi with lots of topend.

If you want a fatter 50's tone, go with Fender Original Vintage pickups, the stock pickup in US Vintage Reissues and a very good basic upgrade with 250K pots. Duncan makes nice vintage takes, so does DiMarzio, even makers like GFS at very reasonable prices.

Hum? Welcome to single coils. Solder every connection you can.
Two choices after that: shield the guitar cavities around the pickups and controls which will minimise it and retain almost all of the tone. Or go to humbuckers or low impedance preamp types. I haven't found a one I think retains true vintage single coil Tele tone without losing something. YMMV.

Or there is a third. Learn to live with it and accept it as the price of 'the tone'. Keep a hand clamped on the strings when not playing. That's the only time it's usually aparent. Bad wiring, cheap lighting dimmers switches and EMF sources like computer monitors and TVs are to be avoided.

To produce added versatility you can go to a four way switch which will make a Tele roar with humbucker tone (series in phase connection on both pickups). Something like an SG on bridge with a hottish pickup.

As for the neck, don't change it unless you hate vintage radius/frets. Get a good setup done, it will play as well as any Fender made.

I love my MIM '69 Thinline. I did change the pups to the Fender Nocaster in the bridge for monster twang tones, and a Fender Custom Shop '68 in the neck with a very full and smooth sc tone. All else is stock and I intend to keep it that way. The shielding is a good move to lessen the 60 cycle hum, but I just live with it as part of the sound.

Welcome and good luck with that fine guitar.

I'd experiment with different pots first; these 1 meg pots may be throwing you off.
The only thing about the 69 RI necks that bug me are the 'F' style vintage tuners. They aren't IMO as good as a Gotoh 'kluson' as found on a AV 52 RI and they seem to wear out fast. If you're having issues, check out the nut and the tuners, and make sure the neck bolts are fast.
I'd say the Thinline does have less juice than its solid body equivalent. I've done just about every imaginable thing to try and boost my 1999 '69 Thinline, but she's lacking twang; just the way she is. But she's very light, which is nice.

After seeing Jeru's Thinline with the black pickguard I couldn't resist putting one on mine. I opted for the 3 ply guard and I also added a Joe Barden bridge. She sounds a little different. Warmer and clearer perhaps? Not sure, but I do love the new look and sound.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/517/medium/DSCF0801.jpg

I think you should sit back and play your tele for a while, then you can decide exactly what it is you want from your tele. Then you can mod it accordingly.

I think you should sit back and play your tele for a while, then you can decide exactly what it is you want from your tele. Then you can mod it accordingly.I have to agree with Mr. Knight - that's good advice. Especially if you're used to a Les Paul. I'm glad you've reconsidered changing out the neck - the neck is one of the best things about that particular model. I find it very comfortable. You might want to find some compensated saddles right away and get the guitar set up to play accurately, though.

Another very important point - you do not have to live with a lot of hum. Single coils will always make some noise, but shielding the pickup cavities and the back of the pickguard will help greatly. Check out this guide (http://www.guitarnuts.com/wiring/shielding/tele.php) for quieting Telecasters. I went one step further and built a little box out of copper foil-lined cardboard for the controls, since Thinlines have open space back there. It further reduced the hum by a noticeable amount.

Welcome to the forums and enjoy your new guitar!