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Southpaw Tele
May 31st, 2011, 12:56 AM
So, I just got this guy a week ago or so and decided to rip it open and change pickups, pots, and the 3 way switch. Here it is with the hood open:
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5028/5779595602_916967d424.jpg
It's routed for a humbucker in the neck, which I had heard from other buyers of the guitar. The plan was to switch out the cheapo pickups and replace with some MIM ceramics from my '07 Tele. More on that later...
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3445/5779599620_89e9af470d.jpg
The above shot is of the stock switch. Typical Chinese fecal matter switch. Wiring looked like my 5 year old did it (this in no way implies I let the 5 year old near the soldering iron).
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5227/5779597196_d9ab296eb1.jpg
Above is the stock bridge pickup. It sounds so-so, so I wanted to replace it with the aforementioned MIM bridge pup. No dice...the route will NOT take the MIM pup and I don't have time to enlarge the hole at this point. The old pickup stays in for now.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2057/5779053749_11c532b8bd.jpg
The MIM neck pup is a little short in the ground wire department, thanks to Fender Mexico's habit of using two pieces of wire to go the same distance one would usually go.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3612/5779055901_7f2922b4a9.jpg
Problem almost solved. Please ignore subpar soldering skills.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5024/5779597820_3e6abdd4f5.jpg
Add a little heat shrink stuff and we're good.
I put in a proper 3-way switch (now, with new improved metal!) but apparently, in my leftiness, wired it up backwards, thus rendering the electronics work useless until tomorrow after work. I need some popcorn and a martini, I think.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5028/5779595602_916967d424.jpg
It's routed for a humbucker in the neck, which I had heard from other buyers of the guitar. The plan was to switch out the cheapo pickups and replace with some MIM ceramics from my '07 Tele. More on that later...
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3445/5779599620_89e9af470d.jpg
The above shot is of the stock switch. Typical Chinese fecal matter switch. Wiring looked like my 5 year old did it (this in no way implies I let the 5 year old near the soldering iron).
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5227/5779597196_d9ab296eb1.jpg
Above is the stock bridge pickup. It sounds so-so, so I wanted to replace it with the aforementioned MIM bridge pup. No dice...the route will NOT take the MIM pup and I don't have time to enlarge the hole at this point. The old pickup stays in for now.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2057/5779053749_11c532b8bd.jpg
The MIM neck pup is a little short in the ground wire department, thanks to Fender Mexico's habit of using two pieces of wire to go the same distance one would usually go.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3612/5779055901_7f2922b4a9.jpg
Problem almost solved. Please ignore subpar soldering skills.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5024/5779597820_3e6abdd4f5.jpg
Add a little heat shrink stuff and we're good.
I put in a proper 3-way switch (now, with new improved metal!) but apparently, in my leftiness, wired it up backwards, thus rendering the electronics work useless until tomorrow after work. I need some popcorn and a martini, I think.