Classic Vibe Upgrades?

[GhostRider]

Ajgus I've noticed my pots are stiff as well.

[bluepill]

hey ajgus, yes the CV pots are quite a bit stiffer than the HW1...without making any rank sexual jokes, i like them stiffer

[Carzee]

Originally Posted by ajgus

.............. eyeballing the bridge, it appears that an vintage style fender bridge might fit. Anyone do this yet?

Yes; the CV body is a exact fit for my Callaham Vintage Bridge.

Remember to use the original CV bridge screws (metric) unless you want to re-thread the body for american screw threads.

[rob5755]

Should have posted this question here...oops.

Given the poly finish, would the CV Tele body & neck be easy or difficult to lightly relic? I'm talking light, to the point that the new Road Worn Series look (on the body & esp the neck) would be considered going too far. Perhaps a look 1/2 way between a Closet Classic & RW treatment. Ideas & opinions welcome!

[sotob]

Originally Posted by ajgus

Also, In eyeballing the bridge, it appears that an vintage style fender bridge might fit. Anyone do this yet?

I had this vintage bridge from ebay installed with no issues on the CV:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Fender-Telecaste...3A1%7C294%3A50

[ajgus]

Originally Posted by sotob

I had this vintage bridge from ebay installed with no issues on the CV:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Fender-Telecaste...3A1%7C294%3A50

Great to hear!

[Alamo]

Originally Posted by bluepill

the mods to the CV are a white pg, duct tape over the jack (with hole to insert guitar jack:), a big buck sticker on the back that my girlfriend found at a market and a reverse control plate.

oh and the HW1 tele now has the CV pickgaurd, think it looks great too...only problem is that it doesnt get played much with the CV around which is why i havent changed the control plate:)

only other thing ive been thinking about is removing fender from the headstock and just leaving the nice gold squire...think it will clean it up a little..anyone done this?

I don't quite get the duct tape - is the jack cup coming loose?
I'd put 2 small screws through the side of the cup, if that's the case.



that big buck sticker reminds me of this:

[Alamo]

Originally Posted by ajgus

Does anyone else have really stiff pots? I usually like the movement to be nice & fluid, but these are pretty stiff. What can I do to remedy this? I don't want to loosen the nut under the knobs cause I don't want the pots hanging off the control plate. Suggestions?
...

Same here, the pots on my CV are stiffer than on any Tele I have.
first I thought that's no good, but I've learned to appreciate it. I did 2 gigs with the CV and you can actually dial in a sound and volume and it stays like that.
To loosen the nut won't remedy it - I had to tighten the nut because the whole pot was moving. it didn't make any difference to the stiffness though.

[partscasteruk]

Originally Posted by Carzee

Yes; the CV body is a exact fit for my Callaham Vintage Bridge.

Remember to use the original CV bridge screws (metric) unless you want to re-thread the body for american screw threads.

Metric - ok, will the slotted bridge screws from a Telecaster slotted screw kit fit the CV bridge?
These are the ones I'm looking at:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...B:EOIBSA:UK:31

[Alamo]

Well it says : **Fits American / USA and Mexican MIM instruments**
so I suppose those screws aren't metric.

[bug music]

As far as the pots being tight, I've had luck in the past loosening up solid shaft CTS pots by giving them a few slight taps on the top of the shaft (after removing the knobs) with a small ball peen hammer. However I've never attempted it with the split shaft Alpha pots like the CV has so attempt this at your own risk.

Also a question for the guys who've changed out the pickguards. I'm getting a lot of static off the stock pickguard too, did anyone else besides millhouse notice less static buildup with a real Fender replacement guard?

- Jay

[bluepill]

Originally Posted by Alamo

I don't quite get the duct tape - is the jack cup coming loose?
I'd put 2 small screws through the side of the cup, if that's the case.



that big buck sticker reminds me of this:

yes ill get around to some screws or a new cup someday, but i kind of like the current dodgeness:) the cup used to pretty much just fall out!

mmm jagermeister, funny, i have a bottle in the fridge right now but cant seem to come at it (something to do with numerous shots a few weeks back)...my CV experiences have been better than the jagers:)

[ajgus]

Originally Posted by Alamo

Same here, the pots on my CV are stiffer than on any Tele I have.
first I thought that's no good, but I've learned to appreciate it. I did 2 gigs with the CV and you can actually dial in a sound and volume and it stays like that.
To loosen the nut won't remedy it - I had to tighten the nut because the whole pot was moving. it didn't make any difference to the stiffness though.

Yeah, loosening it will just create a whole new set of problems. I guess it can be "greased up" a bit. I'm actually planning on replacing all of the hardware with some chrome Fender stuff, complete with a set of dome knobs & a top hat switch tip. Anyone looking for some nickel hardware...keep your eyes peeled

[PJ]

Try a spray or two of contact cleaner. That stuff has a lubricant in it that frees-up stiff pots. I bought a can at Stew-Mac. Good stuff.

[Chris S.]

I got my CV a couple of days ago. My immediate thought was "This guitar is so good I could start gigging it right away." So of course my very next thought was "So how can I modify it?"

I've already ordered a one-ply white guard as so many others have done. I also decided to replace the pickups; the stock pups are good, but I've been enamored of P90s lately. So I ordered a Rio Grande Dirty Harry for the neck, and I'm trying to decide between a couple of different Tele-sized P90ish bridge pickups. The good news is that this guitar just resonates and sustains for days. So I imagine almost anything I drop in there is going to sound killer.

As most of you have already discovered, this guitar is waaaay beyond just "good for the money" -- it's just plain "GOOD!" CS

[Freewheeler]

I've put a DiMarzio Twang King in the bridge (the stock pup is too dull for my taste), Rockinger compensated saddles, a Fender 3-way switch and a 1 ply white guard on my CV Tele.

A surprisingly big improvement in overall resonation, vibration and sustain of the guitar was the removal of a little wooden shim in the neck pocket. That was totally unnecessary there and the improved body / neck contact really made a difference! Remember to adjust string height and intonation afterwards, also pickup heights.

[ajgus]

Originally Posted by bug music

As far as the pots being tight, I've had luck in the past loosening up solid shaft CTS pots by giving them a few slight taps on the top of the shaft (after removing the knobs) with a small ball peen hammer. However I've never attempted it with the split shaft Alpha pots like the CV has so attempt this at your own risk.

Also a question for the guys who've changed out the pickguards. I'm getting a lot of static off the stock pickguard too, did anyone else besides millhouse notice less static buildup with a real Fender replacement guard?

- Jay

In general, I tend to notice more static in pickguards that are shielded in some way. Can't remember if the stock ones are or not. My Allparts whiteguard thats on it now is just as staticky. Wipe it down with a dryer sheet. Works every time...and it'll keep your Tele smelling April fresh!

[androo]

Originally Posted by ajgus

...Wipe it down with a dryer sheet. Works every time...and it'll keep your Tele smelling April fresh!

+1.

[bug music]

Originally Posted by ajgus

Wipe it down with a dryer sheet. Works every time...and it'll keep your Tele smelling April fresh!

Thanks man, I have done that but it only seems to last a day or two. Can't wait for this winter to be over though.

There was a thread around here about someone leaving a dryer sheet in the neck pickup cavity and wrapping it around the wires.

I'm not sure if that would be a more permanent static solution, but it may keep the April Fresh smell longer.

- Jay

[bruceffect]

So, I finally got around to tweaking my CV. I installed a set of compensated saddles from Stew mac, an electrosocket, USA Switch, a big fat orange drop, some nut lube, new strings, and a single ply black guard.

The comp saddles from stew mac are really great. I actually eyeballed them to nearly perfect just based on where the old saddles were. A couple twists of a screwdriver, and I had perfect intonation across the board. The added tone was noticeable as well thanks to the solid brass I'm guessing. I was going to install some solid shaft CTS pots, but the box from MF didn't arrive in time, so I decided to see if I could make the alphas a little smoother. I sprayed a couple shots of contact cleaner in each one, and they are much better. Not as nice as the CTS pots in my CV strat, but pretty close. I installed a USA switch and connected the shielding in the neck p/up area to the ground in the control cavity. I installed a .047 orange drop on the tone pot, and moved the output from the tone to the middle lug on the volume pot (aka the 50s mod). The volume and tone controls are so much more usable now. It's really great. I used the nice shielded cable that came stock and installed a switchcraft jack and electrosocket. All of the static that I was getting before is now gone. I think it was mostly in the switch and jack.

I did a quick polish on the frets, and then I put some nut lube on the saddles, the nut and the string tree and installed a fresh set of 9's and got down to playing. These mods while very inexpensive, made a huge difference in the tone and playability for me. I can't comment enough on the huge difference in the volume and tone controls. Before, they were almost useless, but I kept finding great new tones by rolling the tone back a little and then using the volume to dial up the gain, etc. A little midrange boost on the eq pedal really helps both these and the CV Strat pickups.

I wasn't sure how I would like the .047 tone cap, but it suits these pickups really well. When dialed back about 50%, the tone is simply FAT.