My Tele is out of fire!!

podxtking · May 3rd, 2008, 07:02 AM

Hi, I have a American Deluxe which I bought around 8 years ago in Canada. Red Wine Red with ash wood and rosewood neck. The tele is all good, touching, feeling, the tone, everything is good. However, starting from couple months ago, the volume control has some problem, when i turn the knob up, it has those "buzz" noise and the tone of the tele is not as powerful as power, like when i try to sustain a note, it can't stay as long as before. I fixed the buzz noise thing with WD40. However, the tone of the tele is still not right. Anything i can do to fix it? or i need to take it to a technician to fix it?? thanks

gtrwrks · May 3rd, 2008, 07:39 AM

If there isn't anything apparent to you regarding it's setup, etc - then you might be best served by taking it to a local tech for a check up.

bobthecanadian · May 3rd, 2008, 08:44 AM

replace the pots

go to tom lee music in kowloon. they have some techs there that can take care of you.

bob

Dennis68 · May 3rd, 2008, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gtrwrks

If there isn't anything apparent to you regarding it's setup, etc - then you might be best served by taking it to a local tech for a check up.

Agree. An objective eval is never a bad thing.

Doug Ferguson · May 3rd, 2008, 09:19 AM

If you can trouble shoot the wiring and electronics yourself, that will save you some money, rather than taking it to a tech straight away. It does sound like the pots need replacing and maybe the caps, too. Since nothing's cutting out, the wiring's probably okay -- might want to check the bridge ground anyway. Good luck, and welcome!

BroadMaster · May 3rd, 2008, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by podxtking

Hi, I have a American Deluxe which I bought around 8 years ago in Canada. Red Wine Red with ash wood and rosewood neck. The tele is all good, touching, feeling, the tone, everything is good. However, starting from couple months ago, the volume control has some problem, when i turn the knob up, it has those "buzz" noise and the tone of the tele is not as powerful as power, like when i try to sustain a note, it can't stay as long as before. I fixed the buzz noise thing with WD40. However, the tone of the tele is still not right. Anything i can do to fix it? or i need to take it to a technician to fix it?? thanks

Have you tried changing the strings?

podxtking · May 4th, 2008, 03:41 AM

changing the strings will help? apparently, the strings look fine to me, anyway, thanks for all the replies, really appreciate.

Scotland · May 4th, 2008, 03:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BroadMaster

Have you tried changing the strings?

Good question. When did you last change them ?

podxtking · May 5th, 2008, 03:50 AM

like 6 months ago

podxtking · May 5th, 2008, 03:50 AM

however, i tend to do the pots changing, coz the tele is really out of fire

BroadMaster · May 5th, 2008, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by podxtking

like 6 months ago

strings can be very dead sounding in six months...lifeless with no fire. Depending on weather conditions, wiping down after playing, /other extraneous variables, a string change can bring back the zing to your guitar. Why do you think the pots are bad?

fivenote · May 5th, 2008, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by podxtking

however, i tend to do the pots changing, coz the tele is really out of fire

Dude... change the strings. Those 6-month-old strings died 5 months ago.

If your car felt sluggish and your mechanic gave you a choice between a $20 oil change or a $1000 head & valve replacement, which would you try first?

bobthecanadian · May 5th, 2008, 09:27 AM

Yes, change the strings! If after a couple days after that you haven't noticed a difference, then go see a guitar tech.

Bob

guitreble · May 5th, 2008, 09:51 AM

deffinatly +1 on the string change. Are you saying, when you turn the volume up and down, its crackling and fuzzy? If so, replace the pots. Its easy to do yourself (only a few wires to soder). Just draw a colored map of how its wired now.

ajgus · May 5th, 2008, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fivenote

Dude... change the strings. Those 6-month-old strings died 5 months ago.

If your car felt sluggish and your mechanic gave you a choice between a $20 oil change or a $1000 head & valve replacement, which would you try first?

Depending on how much you ply, they could have died about 5 months & 3 weeks ago!

wilkat1 · May 5th, 2008, 10:39 AM

1. Seriously - go for simplest solutions first. Dead strings can sound lifeless, boingy and dull. How fast you wear out strings will depend on several factors including your local climate and your personal skin chemistry (some people's hands are just murder on strings).

Check your strings, sight your truss rod - those things can get out of whack when you're not looking. Look for gunk build-up in your saddles.

2. Keep WD-40 away from the electrical parts of your fiddle. Use De-Ox-It or a similar contact cleaner for pots, switches and jacks. WD-40 can temporarily fix the problem but it attracts dirt and can gum up the works.

petebradt · May 5th, 2008, 10:40 AM

Edit- I agree, change the strings.

podxtking · May 5th, 2008, 05:32 PM

ok, i will do the strings first, thanks for the replies

May 3rd, 2008, 07:02 AM	#1 (permalink)
podxtking NEW MEMBER! Join Date: May 2008 Location: Hong Kong Age: 27 Posts: 5	My Tele is out of fire!! Hi, I have a American Deluxe which I bought around 8 years ago in Canada. Red Wine Red with ash wood and rosewood neck. The tele is all good, touching, feeling, the tone, everything is good. However, starting from couple months ago, the volume control has some problem, when i turn the knob up, it has those "buzz" noise and the tone of the tele is not as powerful as power, like when i try to sustain a note, it can't stay as long as before. I fixed the buzz noise thing with WD40. However, the tone of the tele is still not right. Anything i can do to fix it? or i need to take it to a technician to fix it?? thanks

May 3rd, 2008, 07:39 AM	#2 (permalink)
gtrwrks Tele-Holic Join Date: May 2003 Location: oklahoma city, ok Age: 44 Posts: 723	If there isn't anything apparent to you regarding it's setup, etc - then you might be best served by taking it to a local tech for a check up. __________________ www.myspace.com/toddlynchmusic

May 3rd, 2008, 08:44 AM	#3 (permalink)
bobthecanadian Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Taipei, Taiwan Age: 42 Posts: 1,531	replace the pots go to tom lee music in kowloon. they have some techs there that can take care of you. bob __________________ It don't mean a thang if it ain't got that TWANG!!!

May 3rd, 2008, 09:19 AM	#5 (permalink)
Doug Ferguson Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Indianapolis, IN Age: 55 Posts: 1,384	If you can trouble shoot the wiring and electronics yourself, that will save you some money, rather than taking it to a tech straight away. It does sound like the pots need replacing and maybe the caps, too. Since nothing's cutting out, the wiring's probably okay -- might want to check the bridge ground anyway. Good luck, and welcome! __________________ If you get hung up on just guitar players, you've missed something.... Don't ever get to a point where you just gotta be a guitar player. You hear something, go try to get that note and sound as much like that as you can.-Buddy Guy

May 5th, 2008, 09:27 AM	#13 (permalink)
bobthecanadian Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Taipei, Taiwan Age: 42 Posts: 1,531	Yes, change the strings! If after a couple days after that you haven't noticed a difference, then go see a guitar tech. Bob __________________ It don't mean a thang if it ain't got that TWANG!!!

May 4th, 2008, 03:41 AM	#7 (permalink)
podxtking NEW MEMBER! Join Date: May 2008 Location: Hong Kong Age: 27 Posts: 5	changing the strings will help? apparently, the strings look fine to me, anyway, thanks for all the replies, really appreciate.

May 5th, 2008, 03:50 AM	#9 (permalink)
podxtking NEW MEMBER! Join Date: May 2008 Location: Hong Kong Age: 27 Posts: 5	like 6 months ago

May 5th, 2008, 03:50 AM	#10 (permalink)
podxtking NEW MEMBER! Join Date: May 2008 Location: Hong Kong Age: 27 Posts: 5	however, i tend to do the pots changing, coz the tele is really out of fire

May 5th, 2008, 09:51 AM	#14 (permalink)
guitreble Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Safety Harbor, FL Age: 25 Posts: 133 2 Photos	deffinatly +1 on the string change. Are you saying, when you turn the volume up and down, its crackling and fuzzy? If so, replace the pots. Its easy to do yourself (only a few wires to soder). Just draw a colored map of how its wired now.

May 5th, 2008, 10:39 AM	#16 (permalink)
wilkat1 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: So. Illinois Age: 40 Posts: 1,531 20 Photos	1. Seriously - go for simplest solutions first. Dead strings can sound lifeless, boingy and dull. How fast you wear out strings will depend on several factors including your local climate and your personal skin chemistry (some people's hands are just murder on strings). Check your strings, sight your truss rod - those things can get out of whack when you're not looking. Look for gunk build-up in your saddles. 2. Keep WD-40 away from the electrical parts of your fiddle. Use De-Ox-It or a similar contact cleaner for pots, switches and jacks. WD-40 can temporarily fix the problem but it attracts dirt and can gum up the works. __________________ MySpace "That number don't mean nothing to me if the guitar don't sound right." - Buddy Guy on the year a guitar was manufactured.

May 5th, 2008, 10:40 AM	#17 (permalink)
petebradt Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Niner Country Posts: 3,347 12 Photos	Edit- I agree, change the strings.

May 5th, 2008, 05:32 PM	#18 (permalink)
podxtking NEW MEMBER! Join Date: May 2008 Location: Hong Kong Age: 27 Posts: 5	ok, i will do the strings first, thanks for the replies