Putting a 'bucker in the bridge

[resonable_man]

Hi all,

Im sorry if this topic has come up before (I tried a search but no success), but Im an ignorant and inexperienced telecaster owner, and Im erring towards putting a full sized humbucker in the bridge, with the problem that its a single coil pup slot. Is it possible/easy to put in a bridge thatd allow a humbucker? One possibility Im seriously considering is turning the guitar into a tele plus, so a furthur question is is it difficult to wire two red lace sensor pickups together and to put them in together as the bridge humbucker?

cheers

[TeleGeir]

Hi Dan. Welcome to the TDPRI!

No problem. The topic has indeed been discussed, but searches doesn't always tell the full story.

Bridgeplates cut for a standard humbucker are available, that is no problem. But the route underneath is made for a slanted singlecoil too, so you won't get away without some woodwork to expand it.

Allow me to introduce the solution I chose for my Tuxedo Thinline, pictured below. Rio Grande makes a double coil pickup called the Twangbucker:



http://www.riograndepickups.com

I say double coil because it is not a traditional humbucker, but as the picture shows rather two full tele single coils mounted together in a slanted position, so that with the accompanying bridgeplate you retain that tele look. Which I at least find so attractive.

The coils can be split for single coil or humbucker use with a mini toggle. The humbucker sound is perfect for bridge use, but the real advantage is that in single coil mode it is a real tele bridge pickup, and one of the best too. So you really have the best of both worlds.

Note: The Twangbucker still require some addition routing to the bridge PU route.

Here is my Tux with the Twangbucker:



Note the difference in the saddles between mine and the pic of the bridge. I guess that picture is an older prototype.

The neck pickup BTW is a "real" humbucker. I have since put a chrome cover on it.

Good luck.

Geir :)

[resonable_man]

Cheers, that is definately worth considering, the coil tap is great too, though Id still be interested in knowing how difficult itd be to modify the wood for a standard humbucker (I suppose if I dont go for the twangbucker then Ill need to find someone in the UK to sort it so any suggestions preferably in the west midlands area would be appreciated).

Also, while Im at it I may as well ask about buzz - my guitars a 1990 US tele, and Ive had to raise the action quite a bit to get rid of loads of buzz, especially on the bottom string but also on all except the top two. As low action is important to me, am I looking at a re-fret or something like that to get the lowest action possible?

cheers

[Bob Mc]

Hi and welcome,
Where's yer buzz (open strings versus fretted)?
Are you certain the neck is adjusted correctly?
BTW, I'm putting togther my second parts Tele
(code named "number2") and am using full sized humbys.
Poor girl had a vicious meeting with a router before I met her; some haircut cut her real good.
I found a guy here in the states that sells bridges cheap
(I imagine I'll get what I pay for). Hasn't arrived yet, so no firm opinions. It'll be straight rather then slanted.
Bob

[resonable_man]

The buzz is both open string and with fingers down, as for neck adjustment I have no idea how to check/adjust the neck. BTW that tele sounds cool.

Also, thinking about it, because Im thinking 2 single red lace sensors forming a humbucker at the bridge, might it be possible to use a twangbucker bridge and use 2 red lace sensors diagonally (because theyre single coils), though I realise that may be impssible, but it might avoid modifying the guitar body.

[TeleGeir]

Originally Posted by resonable_man

Also, thinking about it, because Im thinking 2 single red lace sensors forming a humbucker at the bridge, might it be possible to use a twangbucker bridge and use 2 red lace sensors diagonally (because theyre single coils), though I realise that may be impssible, but it might avoid modifying the guitar body.

That might work. However I think you will find that the bridge pickup route if it is standard is too small for anything but a single tele pickup. Also, with two lace sensors you'd have to come up with a way to mount them.

I see it is a 1990 tele. I guess the question is if you have any problem with carving up the body. If so you may consider getting a new tele that already comes with a humbucker, or a replacement body like those offered on eBay. Buying a new body is probably not a good idea until you know what is wrong with the neck, though.

You may want to have that neck checked by a reputable luthier. Don't go to just any guitar shop. Some of them might say refret (read expensive) when a simple adjustment will do.

Geir :)

[telefreak]

If you're really really careful, you can get away with using a Gibson style mounting ring, like this

This is one of the Telecasters that I built for my little brother

[TeleGeir]

Originally Posted by telefreak

If you're really really careful, you can get away with using a Gibson style mounting ring, like this

This is one of the Telecasters that I built for my little brother

Hmmm... Are you saying you made that fit with a standard tele bridge route?

Geir :)

[hippietim]

what didn't you like about the Tele sized humbuckers? I've been very happy with my Little '59 in my Paisley reissue. I also have one of the twinblade humbuckers in a partscaster - sounds really good.

[11 Gauge]

there are a few different options as far as Tele sized humbuckers go. make sure you try them all before you pull out that router. it's certainly alot easier to replace a pickup versus having to rout for one.

besides - if you are unhappy with the humbucker rout mod, you are stuck - you can't go back to a standard sized Tele pickup without some gaps hanging out under each side of the bridge plate...

[resonable_man]

Cheers for all the replies

With the lace sensor pickups, I was wondering if the twangbucker required any modification to the body (if not, then I could have pretty much that setup only using 2 lace sensors instead of 2 tele pups, though i realise its going to be a challenge. As for modding the tele, while Im obviously gonna think very hard before I make any permanent changes, once I make them I think I can live with them - teles are obiovusly my no1 guitar, and I only have one, so I want it to be modified for me, Im not gonna sell it in my lifetime I dont think. Also, for example if somehow I did the lace sensor instead of twangbucker thing, i could always put in the twangbucker coil tapped which seems liek tid sound pretty much like the pp Ive got now. While in a way I love the sound that the upus make, my musical taste tends to be alternative rock, perhaps a little different from many here (though I dont know), a lot of bands i like use teles with modifications for humbuckers.

As for the buzz, it is going to be hard to find someone trustworthy to look at it, so i guess Id better do some reasearch.

cheers all

[Kevin]

Full-sized humbucker, Twangbucker, or dual Sensors... It doesn't matter; you'll have to rout the body for any of them.

[resonable_man]

If any kinda fo fulkl sized humbucker (including 2 lace sensors) is going to require rereouting, then I may leave it for the time being - Ive just been playing the tele (with origional pups) and realised how amazing those sound, so I dont really feel in a rush to replace them at all now, though all the advice and help in theis thread is very muich appreciated, and Ill definately remeber it for when I change my mind or get another tele (because I dont know how I could play anything else).

cheers

[telefreak]

Originally Posted by TeleGeir

Hmmm... Are you saying you made that fit with a standard tele bridge route?

Geir :)

No, just very careful routing of the existing cavity. I should have made myself more clear

[TeleGeir]

Originally Posted by telefreak

No, just very careful routing of the existing cavity. I should have made myself more clear

Ah, got it! 8)

Geir :)