70's Teles with humbuckers anyone?

T-bone Tone · March 20th, 2004, 10:17 AM

In this current era of relic and re-issue mania, I am considering getting a 70's thinline or deluxe with the Fender humbuckers.

At the mo, I have a '82 '52 RI. It's a lovely guitar, but I do not like the 'sharp' edge to the neck at all. Recently I played this '75 Tele and it was one of the best guitars I've ever played.

I have never tried the thinlines or deluxe's with the humbuckers, but I would appreciate any feedback from anyone who has one. Fuzzy?

Ringo · March 20th, 2004, 01:02 PM

I have owned 2 of the 70's Telecaster Deluxe models, a 73 and a 77.
The 77 Tele had a loose neck, that seems to be a problem with some of the 3 bolt Fender necks, and it had some other issues so I sold it.
The 73 was a sweet guitar, not so good looking brown finish, but I loved the neck, 9 1/2 radius fretboard that felt and played great!
The original Fender humbuckers were designed by Seth Lover who did the PAF for Gibson.
They have a good sound, warm and articulate, played clean they still can do the twang thing well IMO.
Last year I got one of the 72 Thinline RI's, it felt good and played good, lightweight - warmer sounding than a solid Tele - nice guitars too for the $ - traded it off though.
The pu's on the RI's ar not made the same way, some have alnico magnets others ceramic magnets - they sound good to but not the same as the originals.
I could kick myself for ever selling the 73 Tele Deluxe, considering what they are selling for now but no use crying over it!

Punt · March 20th, 2004, 09:55 PM

I have my Thinline '72 RI now for 2 months and I love it.
It's versatile and sounds good clean and with OD.
I bought it to give it a try and now I sometimes take it out with me in stead of my Gibson LP or ES335.

I don't say the thinline sounds better then the Gibsons, but it's realy fun to play and the sound is serious enough to gig with.

I highly recommend it :)

TELE_BLUES · March 21st, 2004, 06:30 PM

I have a home brew '72 custom w/ a push pull pot for coil tap of the humbucker.If you get the double humbucker model you could tap both p.u.'s that would be cool.If you get one of these guitars and want to try this mod.e-mail me and i'll send you the details.

Bonneville Bruce · March 22nd, 2004, 11:10 AM

I have the '72 Thinline Classic, MIM Surf Green, purchased new last year. This is fine instrument is every respect, including the setup. It sustains very well and yields slingle-coil-like clean tones. The workmanship is top-drawer. I would recommend this to anyone going the twin humbucker route.

Bonneville Bruce,
Caldwell, Idaho

Brad · March 22nd, 2004, 01:07 PM

the selling the two 72 dual bucker thinlines I had in the early 80's. The Seth designed "wide range" buckers sound very good. At the time, I though those big ol ugly pickups were pretty dumb looking though. That ( and the fact I could not quite bond with the neck ) resulted in selling the first. The second, I stripped the finish, re-did it in natural, had warmoth cut a new pearl pickguard sized for regular buckers, put in lawrence L-500's, concentric pots and a Torres vari-tone. I don't think I can ever forgive myself for that one! But, that was the day's of trying to customize everything I got my grubby mits on. Sold it to a fella that did a singles act with a drum machine and backing tracks. He loved it and as far as I know, probably still has it.

Troels · March 23rd, 2004, 05:48 AM

I've got a '78 Custom (One neck HB one bridge SC). It is a great guitar - all original with a birdseye neck (lightly spread) and a (heavy) ashbody with lightly flames (yes... flames on an ash body). It's build like a tank I suppose, and the body an neck on this guitar is somewhat tuned to each other (probably by accident...) - the guitar sings fantasticly and it's the greatest tele I've ever owned (I've had 1967 Custom and 1965 blond and dozens of seventies Teles and even an Am. Std - and none of these was even close). The humbucker (designed by the late Seth Lover who also did Gibsons PAF) sounds almost like an old HOT strat PU - but this guitar delivers the best tone with the toggle switch i midle position - both PUs at a time. The neck plate is a three screw - but if you treat the neck pocket carefully making it 100% flat there is are no problems. In spite of it's a great guitar it suffers long periods in the case... but I haven't sold it so far and now I'll keep it. Troels

March 20th, 2004, 10:17 AM	#1 (permalink)
T-bone Tone Banned Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Newcastle, England Posts: 321	70's Teles with humbuckers anyone? In this current era of relic and re-issue mania, I am considering getting a 70's thinline or deluxe with the Fender humbuckers. At the mo, I have a '82 '52 RI. It's a lovely guitar, but I do not like the 'sharp' edge to the neck at all. Recently I played this '75 Tele and it was one of the best guitars I've ever played. I have never tried the thinlines or deluxe's with the humbuckers, but I would appreciate any feedback from anyone who has one. Fuzzy?

March 20th, 2004, 01:02 PM	#2 (permalink)
Ringo Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Memphis TN Posts: 1,913	Fender Tele with HB'ers I have owned 2 of the 70's Telecaster Deluxe models, a 73 and a 77. The 77 Tele had a loose neck, that seems to be a problem with some of the 3 bolt Fender necks, and it had some other issues so I sold it. The 73 was a sweet guitar, not so good looking brown finish, but I loved the neck, 9 1/2 radius fretboard that felt and played great! The original Fender humbuckers were designed by Seth Lover who did the PAF for Gibson. They have a good sound, warm and articulate, played clean they still can do the twang thing well IMO. Last year I got one of the 72 Thinline RI's, it felt good and played good, lightweight - warmer sounding than a solid Tele - nice guitars too for the $ - traded it off though. The pu's on the RI's ar not made the same way, some have alnico magnets others ceramic magnets - they sound good to but not the same as the originals. I could kick myself for ever selling the 73 Tele Deluxe, considering what they are selling for now but no use crying over it!

March 22nd, 2004, 11:10 AM	#5 (permalink)
Bonneville Bruce Tele-Holic Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Caldwell, Idaho Posts: 562	70s Tele with Humbuckers I have the '72 Thinline Classic, MIM Surf Green, purchased new last year. This is fine instrument is every respect, including the setup. It sustains very well and yields slingle-coil-like clean tones. The workmanship is top-drawer. I would recommend this to anyone going the twin humbucker route. Bonneville Bruce, Caldwell, Idaho

March 22nd, 2004, 01:07 PM	#6 (permalink)
Brad Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 1,294	One ( well, actually two ) of my great guitar regrets.... the selling the two 72 dual bucker thinlines I had in the early 80's. The Seth designed "wide range" buckers sound very good. At the time, I though those big ol ugly pickups were pretty dumb looking though. That ( and the fact I could not quite bond with the neck ) resulted in selling the first. The second, I stripped the finish, re-did it in natural, had warmoth cut a new pearl pickguard sized for regular buckers, put in lawrence L-500's, concentric pots and a Torres vari-tone. I don't think I can ever forgive myself for that one! But, that was the day's of trying to customize everything I got my grubby mits on. Sold it to a fella that did a singles act with a drum machine and backing tracks. He loved it and as far as I know, probably still has it. __________________ We don't stop playing because we get old, we get old becasue we stop playing.

March 20th, 2004, 09:55 PM	#3 (permalink)
Punt NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 6	I have my Thinline '72 RI now for 2 months and I love it. It's versatile and sounds good clean and with OD. I bought it to give it a try and now I sometimes take it out with me in stead of my Gibson LP or ES335. I don't say the thinline sounds better then the Gibsons, but it's realy fun to play and the sound is serious enough to gig with. I highly recommend it :)

March 21st, 2004, 06:30 PM	#4 (permalink)
TELE_BLUES Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: ROCKCHESTER,NEW YORK Posts: 457 34 Photos	I have a home brew '72 custom w/ a push pull pot for coil tap of the humbucker.If you get the double humbucker model you could tap both p.u.'s that would be cool.If you get one of these guitars and want to try this mod.e-mail me and i'll send you the details.

March 23rd, 2004, 05:48 AM	#7 (permalink)
Troels Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 142	I've got a '78 Custom (One neck HB one bridge SC). It is a great guitar - all original with a birdseye neck (lightly spread) and a (heavy) ashbody with lightly flames (yes... flames on an ash body). It's build like a tank I suppose, and the body an neck on this guitar is somewhat tuned to each other (probably by accident...) - the guitar sings fantasticly and it's the greatest tele I've ever owned (I've had 1967 Custom and 1965 blond and dozens of seventies Teles and even an Am. Std - and none of these was even close). The humbucker (designed by the late Seth Lover who also did Gibsons PAF) sounds almost like an old HOT strat PU - but this guitar delivers the best tone with the toggle switch i midle position - both PUs at a time. The neck plate is a three screw - but if you treat the neck pocket carefully making it 100% flat there is are no problems. In spite of it's a great guitar it suffers long periods in the case... but I haven't sold it so far and now I'll keep it. Troels