Stew-Mac Wiring Kits Good?

I'm about to order the final part in my Squier transformation, the wiring kit. I was going to grab a vintage tele wiring kit from Guitar Parts Resource (http://www.guitarpartsresource.com/electrical_fender.htm) but liked the look, quality, presense of a cap which I felt was probably necessary (why is there not on in the Fender kit?) as well as the inclusion of wiring instructions that come with the Stew Mac Tele Wiring Kit. (http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electronics,_pickups/Supplies:_Wiring_kits/1/Wiring_Kit_for_Telecaster.html)

Is there a good reason to go with Fender on this one? Are these Stew Mac kits any good? Why no cap on the Fender kit? The instructions at Stew Mac also say I'll need a .001uf cap in addition to the .50uf cap that comes with the kit. Do I need this? I can order it seperatly, but what gives?

stuff at Stewmac are of good quality. Fender kits don't include caps (even if the genuine Fender replacement caps does have a cap in the pakage) maybe because the choice of the 'right' cap value is a matter of taste. You can be satisfied by a 'standard' .047 cap or look for different values...

I've purchased a (cheap) set of alligator clips and tested several capacity before choosing the one I liked. I warmly recommend this cheap procedure to 'tailor' a big part of your sound right on your preferences.

For all the (three) guitars I've wired, I've purchased separate components, always cloth wire, always CRL switch, always CTS solid shaft pots (250K no load for tone control and 500K for volume) but... one man's coffe... :wink:

I just wired a couple of Teles with the Stew Mac kits. The components are fine but the wiring diagram they give you is incorrect and will not work. To get the right wiring diagram, go to www.mrgearhead.com and download the Fender Telecaster closest to what you are doing. I just use the standard Telecaster wiring diagram.

The Stew Mac diagram omits all connections on one side of the three-way switch.

I just wired a couple of Teles with the Stew Mac kits. The components are fine but the wiring diagram they give you is incorrect and will not work. To get the right wiring diagram, go to www.mrgearhead.com and download the Fender Telecaster closest to what you are doing. I just use the standard Telecaster wiring diagram.

The Stew Mac diagram omits all connections on one side of the three-way switch.

Yet, be aware that almost all the wiring diagrams display the old pin pattern of the CRL switch.

Useful (at least I do hope) info here (http://www.tdpri.com/viewtopic.php?t=19184&highlight=)

stuff at Stewmac are of good quality. Fender kits don't include caps (even if the genuine Fender replacement caps does have a cap in the pakage) maybe because the choice of the 'right' cap value is a matter of taste. You can be satisfied by a 'standard' .047 cap or look for different values...

I've purchased a (cheap) set of alligator clips and tested several capacity before choosing the one I liked. I warmly recommend this cheap procedure to 'tailor' a big part of your sound right on your preferences.

For all the (three) guitars I've wired, I've purchased separate components, always cloth wire, always CRL switch, always CTS solid shaft pots (250K no load for tone control and 500K for volume) but... one man's coffe... :wink:
Is there a FAQ or guide somewhere that can tell me about this kind of stuff. I'm just going with 250k pots b/c that's what is typically on teles but if I can customize my sound in regard to this as well as caps I'll do it. For instance, do a higher number (500k, etc.) indicate a higher degree of fine tuning or what? What is the difference between split shaft and solid shaft? Load and No Load?

For instance, do a higher number (500k, etc.) indicate a higher degree of fine tuning or what? What is the difference between split shaft and solid shaft?
higher number ends up being a slightly brighter sound, and a slightly different taper to the control. 250k is standard pretty much, but for some years in the late 60's fender used 1meg pots (1000k). not a huge difference, just preference.
solid shaft pots are for tele's or any time you're using metal knobs with a set screw. slotted shaft are for strat type plastic knobs (they stick on there better)

A friend has a '75 Telecaster with the 1 meg pots, and it truly has the icepick-in-the-eye vib going for it. My MIM Squier came with 500k pots and although it sounded fine, simply on principal I changed them out to full size (Fender) pots and frankly like the sound better.

makes great wiring kits. I got the 4 way for my tele, cts components, sprague etc, very nice soldering etc

you get to pick the parts, and the wiring set up, and you can order with or without pickups etc-

acmeguitarworks.com