Odd 72 Thinline?

[Durtdog]

Warmoth will cut you a pickguard in just about any configuration.

[ezrydr]

Durtdog, I looked at warmoth's web site and it says their pickguards are only meant for thier bodies, not as retrofits to original fenders. I will give them a call tomorrow and see what they say though.

Thanks,
Steve

[Durtdog]

Originally Posted by ezrydr

Durtdog, I looked at warmoth's web site and it says their pickguards are only meant for thier bodies, not as retrofits to original fenders. I will give them a call tomorrow and see what they say though.

Thanks,
Steve

Ah, right you are. I was only thinking of control and pickup configurations. I don't think that means it definitely won't fit, but it is a pretty strong disclaimer. I don't know the answer.

[jwells393]

The pot cavity has definitely been enlarged. All I can say is they did use a router. I wouldn't exactly call it a good job. Looks like aluminum chips were probably flying when they did it. Almost looks like they did it freehand without a template.

......

[jivetrain]

Originally Posted by ezrydr

if I were to go with the pickguard on the right I'd have the switch hole with nothing in it. That would look kinda weird and I would not have the original pearl look but i would have the dual controls.

that tele deluxe pickguard can have any empty holes covered up with electrical tape, which shouldn't be noticable unless you're right next to the guitar. you could also use stickers.... take a look at this:
the real problem is that the deluxe pickguard has no slot for your selector switch, so you'd either have to switch to a gibson type and place it in the upper bout or cut a slot into the guard.

[winny pooh]

I say save yourself the hassle and widen those pickup slots and slap em in there.
Those wide-ranges look and sound beautiful, plus you wont have to hassle with rewiring from scratch if you are new to guitar mods, just 3 solder connections. I did the same with mine, just had a flat and round file and gradually opened them up.

[ezrydr]

winnie - I gave that some serious thought but I think I am going to buy a new pickguard and pots so I'll have 2 complete assemblies I can swap out if I want to.

I've contacted Tony at http://www.pickguardian.com/pickguardian/
to see what he can do for me.

Anyone have any dealings with Tony?

I am leaning towards a pearl 3 ply like the original with 4 control holes so I can keep the dual control set up.

This thread certainly has turned this guitar into an adventure for me!

Steve

[ezrydr]

Tony responded to my email with quoted price fo $67 plus 6 shipping to make a pickguard for me.
I don't mind the price so much but he wants me to send the pickguard I have to him as a template. I hate to be without the guitar so I emailed him back to see what the turnaround would be. Still waiting for a reply.

In the meantime I've been reading the forum and saw the thread about making your own pickguards. I am seriously considering this. I am fairly handy and have a modestly equipped workshop with a router table and drill press.

Looks I can get the material for $30 and I would need to buy a 45degree router bit for about $15.00.

I still have a question that I am hoping you guys can answer for me.

KevinB mentioned that the original pots in the 72 thinline are 250k, can anyone verify this for me? It looks to me like when the controls on this guitar were added, the 2 original pots were used. Both of what I think are the original pots say 1 meg on them.

Also, the chrome covers on the original pickups are badly corroded. It looks like they could easily be replaced. Does anyone know if replacement covers are available anywhere??

Can someone give me a definitive answer on these pots?

Thanks
Steve

[jwells393]

Since slack actually has an original 72 in hand I think you should get your pot value information from him.

I doubt if you can buy replacement covers for the original pickups. You could buy reissue pickups on eBay and swap covers. Personally I'd see what I could do with some chrome polish.

I think you can do better on that pickguard price. I would try www.pickguardheaven.com . Price depends on what color you want. Looks like a white pearl 4-ply is $57. One option which wouldn't require you sending the pickguard would be to order the guard with no holes drilled ........ only the neck pickup rout, the edge bevel and the switch slot and switch mounting holes. It would be a simple matter to tape your old guard to the new one and drill through the old holes. You'd need a countersink for the pickguard mounting holes.

[ezrydr]

thanks jwells


"Since slack actually has an original 72 in hand I think you should get your pot value information from him"

Slack?? you there man? what can you tell me about these pots?

Steve

[jwells393]

Help me understand .......... you want a new pickguard but plan to use the current four pot configuration? Have you seen my pictorial on making a pickguard? I make all my own.

http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/showgallery.php/cat/609

[ezrydr]

"Help me understand .......... you want a new pickguard but plan to use the current four pot configuration? Have you seen my pictorial on making a pickguard? I make all my own."

yep you got it! and guess what? I just ordered the pickguard material! Gonna make my own.

Thanks for the inspiration!

[ezrydr]

I just received my pickguard material for Guitar Resources - white 3 ply pearloid. Nice!

I have everything together and am ready to start making the pickguard.

This project gave me a good excuse to invest in another shop tool so I picked up a Hitachi Scroll saw from Lowes yesterday. $149 on sale and a $25 gift card/rebate! Not bad. I set the saw up last night and tried it out. Very smooth running. Gonna come in handy for lots of stuff but its first task will be to help me with this pickguard.

Pictures will be posted as work progresses....

Steve

[ezrydr]

well I lied - I didn't take pictures as worked progressed.
I started the pickguard project this morning and just finished putting the guitar back together WITH the original pickups.

OMG! what a difference in the sound!! I am thrilled with how this thing sounds now.

The only thing that's strange is that my tone pots no longer seem to have any effect (or very little)

I need to figure that out.

I'll get some pictures... hang on...

Steve

[ezrydr]

here she is with my new home made pickguard.

all in in all I am very pleased with my first attempt at making a pickguard. The only thing that went wrong is that the router chipped a hunk out of the plastic as I was routing the opening for the neck pickup. You can see the dark spot in the middle of the top edge of the neck pup cutout.

While cleaning the shop I actually found the chip! Next time I have the guitar apart I am going to try and see if I can cement/epoxy the chip back into the guard.

[ezrydr]

another picture

[jwells393]

I have that scroll saw but I bought it back in January for $159 and no gift card. I think you got a great deal. I'm really happy with mine. If you don't have them you might try some spiral tooth blades. They cut in any direction so you don't have to turn the workpiece.

Good job on the pickguard......... A '72 Thinline with a twist. ...

[ezrydr]

before and after

I think it looks so much better but the looks are nothing compared to the sound of the original pups. I cannot get over the difference.

[ezrydr]

jwells393, you know it was you who inspired me to make this pickguard myself!

[ezrydr]

Fun project and very satisfying!

now that I have the template I may make another one with original controls instead of the duals.

Can anyone tell me why my tone pots no longer have any noticable effect?

[ezrydr]

here's a better pic - I didn't realize how blurry that first one was until I posted it.

[Stuco]

Guitar looks better and it's good you got those pickups back in there. I bet is sounds great.

[ezrydr]

I took the guitar apart agina this morning and rewired the controls to match the 72 Deluxe. Tone pots work properly now and it sounds even better. Clean channel is awesome!

While I had it apart I repaired the chipout in the new pickguard. You can't even see the repair!

Now back to playin!!

[Stuco]

You given new life to this old classic. Enjoy it.

[ezrydr]

thanks stuco!

I am still marvelling at sound of these pickups.

There is so much brilliance and clarity on the clean channel of my amp.

What makes the story if this guitar even better is how I got it.

The last band I was with was together for over 11 years. In 1997 we disbanded as it was getting harder to find gigs. The drunk drving laws were having a huge impact on the bar scene and wedding dances were going to DJs and quite frankly we were all getting older and had other obligations.

When we broke up I owned some of the sound gear and the lead guitarist wanted it. He traded me this guitar and an Ovation 12 String Acoustic guitar for about $500 worth of PA gear. I have been playing the Tele almost daily for the past 10 years or so.

The only thing I knew about the guitar that was unique (and I have no proof) is that Charlie Pride used the guitar to sit in with a house band at a bar in Okoboji Iowa. The story is that Charlie Pride was playing a concert at the Clay County Fair in Spencer Iowa and he stopped by this local bar and asked to sit in with the house band and used this guitar.

For whatever reason a few weeks ago I got a sudden curiosity about the guitar and found this forum which has answered all my questions and to my joy I found out what I really had here.

To me, at least, this is a great discovery and has brought some real newfound excitement to my guitar playing.

And I learned how to make a pickguard!

Many thanks to all of you who helped me out here!

Steve