Thinking of Nashville-izing my Tele

DMace · November 9th, 2009, 02:57 PM

I have a beater MIM Tele that's become my all-purpose guitar. I routed and installed a Duncan Seth Lover at the neck and have a Duncan Antiquity Tele bridge. The combination of those two pickups covers a lot of sonic ground. But, because I'm a habitual fiddler, I'm considering routing the middle for a Strat pickup. Any opinions on this set-up and the mod in general (practicality, pickguard, etc.)? Thanks.

Ormond · November 9th, 2009, 04:27 PM

I just know I love my Texas strat PU in the middle. Great for recording.

telemania · November 9th, 2009, 05:11 PM

another vote for the Nashville. Love my # 4 setting which is middle and bridge. do it, you can't go wrong. my Ed Roman (yeah, I know..) came standard and I had the middle routed and installed Bardens - really dig the guitar. also installed a Torres super midrange concentric pot which allows me to roll back the treble a bit to cut the highs on the bridge only position, or cut the midrange for an acoustic type sound (if you dial it all the way back). the mid range cut is effective on the #3 (middle only) strat switch position to accentuate the "quack" effect (if you dial it back just a bit). it has become my most versatile guitar as far as range of tones is concerned. happy modding!

sjtalon · November 9th, 2009, 05:50 PM

Oh ya Nashville !

I have a Texas Special mid too.....................SMOKIN !

ADK Teleman · November 9th, 2009, 05:57 PM

I'm not a big modder...BUT...for a Nashville Tele...GO FOR IT!!!

emtjr928 · November 9th, 2009, 06:01 PM

I've got a Nashville and love it. Added two p/pull pots so I can add neck to any of the 5-way selections and also have some series options that fatten it up. Kind of a swiss army knife guitar.

DMace · November 9th, 2009, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emtjr928

I've got a Nashville and love it. Added two p/pull pots so I can add neck to any of the 5-way selections and also have some series options that fatten it up. Kind of a swiss army knife guitar.

That's what I was thinking of doing as well, a p/pull to add the neck. I already have a p/pull volume pot that puts the neck pickup and bridge out of phase. The guitar really would be a swiss army knife with a Strat middle pickup. With the Seth Lover neck I can approximate Les Paul tones, and the bridge is classic Tele. The Strat pickup would cover the remaining ground, especially with a 5-way switch.

Ormond · November 9th, 2009, 08:53 PM

Here again of the 4rth position....best of the Tele mixed with the best of the Strat Really neat tone. Use it more than anything.

leonard d rock · November 9th, 2009, 09:45 PM

would the middle and the neck pup give a tone similar to the bridge sc and neck? like mellow good cleans which are almost acousticky?

caytele · November 10th, 2009, 12:02 AM

...this mod can turn out to be very usefull...i used an 80's Strat pickup (Alnico 5..??) in the middle with a regular 5 way switch, ...turned a good guitar into a great guitar...that #4 pos is killer for funky rhythm playing!!!...and like has been said...push-pull switches can give you a few more options to excercise...go for it!!

StuH · November 10th, 2009, 01:55 AM

I always find my the middle pickup is getting in the way in that configuration.

I wish that middle pickup was sitting angled in my guitar.

Ormond · November 10th, 2009, 03:30 AM

would the middle and the neck pup give a tone similar to the bridge sc and neck? like mellow good cleans which are almost acousticky?

No. It is quite different. Can't explain it though.

SpinWheelz · November 10th, 2009, 10:33 AM

I've just picked up a Nashville and have done made some changes to it. From my very limited experience with the guitar, I can share the following thoughts:
- There are two Nashville pickguards - one with places the middle pickup 1" from the leading edge facing the bridge, and another which places the middle pickup 3/4" from said leading edge
- The neck/middle tone has as "softer" (as in not harsh/spanky, I don't mean quieter) tone, while the middle/bridge tone has a "snappier" tone. Which kinda makes sense if you think about the progression from rhythm-style sound at the neck going down to lead-style sound in the bridge.
- When you move the middle pickup towards the neck, i.e. using a 1"-spacing pickguard, you tend to lose some of the spank in the middle/bridge position. It just takes some of the edge off.

I'd be curious to see a wiring schematic that uses the standard five-way pickup switch setup, but adds a push-pull pot to activate the neck and bridge pickup only. I can't fathom how that would be possible.

emtjr928 · November 10th, 2009, 10:55 AM

Here ya go. Got it from Deaf Eddie.

Fret Wilkes · November 10th, 2009, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpinWheelz

- There are two Nashville pickguards - one with places the middle pickup 1" from the leading edge facing the bridge, and another which places the middle pickup 3/4" from said leading edge
- The neck/middle tone has as "softer" (as in not harsh/spanky, I don't mean quieter) tone, while the middle/bridge tone has a "snappier" tone. Which kinda makes sense if you think about the progression from rhythm-style sound at the neck going down to lead-style sound in the bridge.
- When you move the middle pickup towards the neck, i.e. using a 1"-spacing pickguard, you tend to lose some of the spank in the middle/bridge position. It just takes some of the edge off.

I've been debating getting a Nashville style for sometime as an alternative to a Strat. I mostly use the middle pickup alone on a Strat, so I figure a Nashville would get me there and still have the great bridge pup too. Would you have any idea which of the configurations that you listed here would be closest to the Strat middle pup placement?

SpinWheelz · November 10th, 2009, 11:19 AM

Sorry, I'm very unsavvy to Strats. I play humbuckered Gibsons primarily, and this Nashville is my only single coil-only guitar.

DMace · November 10th, 2009, 02:34 PM

The only thing keeping me from doing this mod is what it'll cost me. I can't do the routing and soldering at home, so I'd have to bring it to my guitar tech. The cost of the rout, pickup, pickup installation, new pickguard and 5-way switch may be a bit prohibitive for a guitar that I bought for $35 at a yardsale.

caliban335 · November 10th, 2009, 03:41 PM

If you like the guitar as is, I'd say leave it alone. Plus, the real magic of a Nashville is when you combine the neck & middle pickups. I don't think you'd get that tone with the Seth Lover in the neck.

DMace · November 10th, 2009, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caliban335

If you like the guitar as is, I'd say leave it alone. Plus, the real magic of a Nashville is when you combine the neck & middle pickups. I don't think you'd get that tone with the Seth Lover in the neck.

You may be right. What's the 2nd position like? More Strat than Tele?

November 9th, 2009, 02:57 PM	#1 (permalink)
DMace Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 2,999	Thinking of Nashville-izing my Tele I have a beater MIM Tele that's become my all-purpose guitar. I routed and installed a Duncan Seth Lover at the neck and have a Duncan Antiquity Tele bridge. The combination of those two pickups covers a lot of sonic ground. But, because I'm a habitual fiddler, I'm considering routing the middle for a Strat pickup. Any opinions on this set-up and the mod in general (practicality, pickguard, etc.)? Thanks.

November 9th, 2009, 06:01 PM	#6 (permalink)
emtjr928 TDPRI Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: McDonough, Ga. Age: 59 Posts: 42	I've got a Nashville and love it. Added two p/pull pots so I can add neck to any of the 5-way selections and also have some series options that fatten it up. Kind of a swiss army knife guitar. __________________ " If it ain't broke,,,fix it 'til it is." 2006 Taylor 314ce (SOLD) 2006 Taylor GC6 2005 Nashville Tele (Keystones installed B/N and wiring mods) 2004 Blues Junior w/mods

November 9th, 2009, 09:45 PM	#9 (permalink)
leonard d rock Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Malaybalay,Bukidnon, Philippines Posts: 290	would the middle and the neck pup give a tone similar to the bridge sc and neck? like mellow good cleans which are almost acousticky? __________________ my guitars are clones 'cause i play covers.

November 10th, 2009, 01:55 AM	#11 (permalink)
StuH Friend of Leo's Join Date: May 2006 Location: Yukon, Canada Age: 39 Posts: 2,191 19 Photos	I always find my the middle pickup is getting in the way in that configuration. I wish that middle pickup was sitting angled in my guitar. __________________ My music page http://www.soundclick.com/thrucoloredglass

November 10th, 2009, 10:55 AM	#14 (permalink)
emtjr928 TDPRI Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: McDonough, Ga. Age: 59 Posts: 42	Here ya go. Got it from Deaf Eddie. __________________ " If it ain't broke,,,fix it 'til it is." 2006 Taylor 314ce (SOLD) 2006 Taylor GC6 2005 Nashville Tele (Keystones installed B/N and wiring mods) 2004 Blues Junior w/mods

November 9th, 2009, 04:27 PM	#2 (permalink)
Ormond Tele-Holic Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: san bernardino Age: 59 Posts: 573	I just know I love my Texas strat PU in the middle. Great for recording.

November 9th, 2009, 05:11 PM	#3 (permalink)
telemania Tele-Meister Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: jacksonville, fl. Posts: 169	another vote for the Nashville. Love my # 4 setting which is middle and bridge. do it, you can't go wrong. my Ed Roman (yeah, I know..) came standard and I had the middle routed and installed Bardens - really dig the guitar. also installed a Torres super midrange concentric pot which allows me to roll back the treble a bit to cut the highs on the bridge only position, or cut the midrange for an acoustic type sound (if you dial it all the way back). the mid range cut is effective on the #3 (middle only) strat switch position to accentuate the "quack" effect (if you dial it back just a bit). it has become my most versatile guitar as far as range of tones is concerned. happy modding!

November 9th, 2009, 05:50 PM	#4 (permalink)
sjtalon Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Upper Peninsula of Michigan Age: 50 Posts: 901 7 Photos	Oh ya Nashville ! I have a Texas Special mid too.....................SMOKIN !

November 9th, 2009, 05:57 PM	#5 (permalink)
ADK Teleman Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: FT Benning GA Age: 44 Posts: 263	I'm not a big modder...BUT...for a Nashville Tele...GO FOR IT!!!

November 9th, 2009, 08:53 PM	#8 (permalink)
Ormond Tele-Holic Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: san bernardino Age: 59 Posts: 573	Here again of the 4rth position....best of the Tele mixed with the best of the Strat Really neat tone. Use it more than anything.

November 10th, 2009, 12:02 AM	#10 (permalink)
caytele TDPRI Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Grand Cayman,Cayman Islds Age: 47 Posts: 96	...this mod can turn out to be very usefull...i used an 80's Strat pickup (Alnico 5..??) in the middle with a regular 5 way switch, ...turned a good guitar into a great guitar...that #4 pos is killer for funky rhythm playing!!!...and like has been said...push-pull switches can give you a few more options to excercise...go for it!!

November 10th, 2009, 03:30 AM	#12 (permalink)
Ormond Tele-Holic Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: san bernardino Age: 59 Posts: 573	would the middle and the neck pup give a tone similar to the bridge sc and neck? like mellow good cleans which are almost acousticky? No. It is quite different. Can't explain it though.

November 10th, 2009, 10:33 AM	#13 (permalink)
SpinWheelz TDPRI Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: New York Posts: 87	I've just picked up a Nashville and have done made some changes to it. From my very limited experience with the guitar, I can share the following thoughts: - There are two Nashville pickguards - one with places the middle pickup 1" from the leading edge facing the bridge, and another which places the middle pickup 3/4" from said leading edge - The neck/middle tone has as "softer" (as in not harsh/spanky, I don't mean quieter) tone, while the middle/bridge tone has a "snappier" tone. Which kinda makes sense if you think about the progression from rhythm-style sound at the neck going down to lead-style sound in the bridge. - When you move the middle pickup towards the neck, i.e. using a 1"-spacing pickguard, you tend to lose some of the spank in the middle/bridge position. It just takes some of the edge off. I'd be curious to see a wiring schematic that uses the standard five-way pickup switch setup, but adds a push-pull pot to activate the neck and bridge pickup only. I can't fathom how that would be possible.

November 10th, 2009, 11:19 AM	#16 (permalink)
SpinWheelz TDPRI Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: New York Posts: 87	Sorry, I'm very unsavvy to Strats. I play humbuckered Gibsons primarily, and this Nashville is my only single coil-only guitar.

November 10th, 2009, 02:34 PM	#17 (permalink)
DMace Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 2,999	The only thing keeping me from doing this mod is what it'll cost me. I can't do the routing and soldering at home, so I'd have to bring it to my guitar tech. The cost of the rout, pickup, pickup installation, new pickguard and 5-way switch may be a bit prohibitive for a guitar that I bought for $35 at a yardsale.

November 10th, 2009, 03:41 PM	#18 (permalink)
caliban335 Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2007 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Age: 55 Posts: 402	If you like the guitar as is, I'd say leave it alone. Plus, the real magic of a Nashville is when you combine the neck & middle pickups. I don't think you'd get that tone with the Seth Lover in the neck. __________________ Jemima surrender. That's all ya hafta do. I'll bring over my Fender & I'll play all night fer you.

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