SX Furrian Thinline Gut Shots & "Upgrading"

[Southpaw Tele]

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:

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...

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).


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.

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.

Problem almost solved. Please ignore subpar soldering skills.

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.

[Southpaw Tele]

PS - The bridge on these Furrians is weird...staggered holes, 5 screws into the guitar. I won't be able to replace this guy without some serious woodwork.