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Old November 3rd, 2011, 08:16 AM   #1 (permalink)
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Your single best upgrade on a Tele
I´m curious: what´s your single best upgrade on a Telecaster?
I changed pickups on my Baja to Don Mares Joel Foye´s. Very sweet
sounding pickups, very dynamic when playing low-volume.



But the biggest improvement was on my CIJ Antigua reissue. I changed
the original thin c-shape neck and installed a Musikraft "Chunky C" - wow!



I got a chunkier neck like I wanted, but I also got an all together louder guitar that now just sings. Didn´t expect that.
Very happy with this, to me, upgrade!
What is the best "improvement" you´ve done to your Telecaster?

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Old November 3rd, 2011, 08:43 AM   #2 (permalink)
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My best upgrade:

Having a Luthier go through the guitar to make it more playable.
Ended up have the frets leveled and dressed, the nut refiled and the bridge
replaced. He also tweaked the truss rod. This guitar ( a roadworn 50's Tele) went from "nice" to "Wow!".
Last edited by tagruvto; November 3rd, 2011 at 08:45 AM. Reason: additonal info added
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Old November 3rd, 2011, 08:55 AM   #3 (permalink)
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From this:



to this:



the single greatest improvement to the quality of my guitar playing life.

The other improvements I have made are through practice...
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Old November 3rd, 2011, 09:00 AM   #4 (permalink)
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Fresh strings and practice. Oh wait, that's two...
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Old November 3rd, 2011, 09:10 AM   #5 (permalink)
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Compensated saddles.
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Old November 3rd, 2011, 09:15 AM   #6 (permalink)
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Seymor Duncan Quarterpounder Bridge PU :)
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Old November 3rd, 2011, 09:18 AM   #7 (permalink)
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Playability: Gotoh modern 6 saddle bridge

Tonally: Rio Grande pickups(Muy Grande bridge, Dirty Harry neck).

I'd say the pickups are #1
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Old November 3rd, 2011, 09:22 AM   #8 (permalink)
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American Standard to American Vintage 52 Reissue. :)
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Old November 3rd, 2011, 09:25 AM   #9 (permalink)
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New bone nut, cut by a professional luthier.
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Old November 3rd, 2011, 09:32 AM   #10 (permalink)
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Swapping the control plate so it's volume/tone/switch. Makes it a lot easier to adjust settings on the fly and I'm not smacking my fingers into that damned switch!

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Old November 3rd, 2011, 09:34 AM   #11 (permalink)
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My CV Thinline I put in Bill Lawrence Keystone pickups, and had a luthier do a nice setup. WOW!!! Huge amazing upgrade.
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Old November 3rd, 2011, 09:38 AM   #12 (permalink)
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Trial and error with several pickup selections, including Bardens, over the years, but finally settling on a set of Rio Grande Dirty Harry's.
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Old November 3rd, 2011, 09:41 AM   #13 (permalink)
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Comfort contours both in front and back (a bit like on a strat).

I know, I know... it's not purist tele, but the lack of contours and ergonomics in general on my trusty, old, 1978 Ibanez Performer (an LP type) was what got me started on DIY and modding in the first place.
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Old November 3rd, 2011, 09:44 AM   #14 (permalink)
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Switched out the modern 6 saddle bridge for a vintage 3-saddle setup. Love the tone with the brass saddles.
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Old November 3rd, 2011, 10:05 AM   #15 (permalink)
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Bill Lawrence Keystones on a CV BSB.
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Old November 3rd, 2011, 10:05 AM   #16 (permalink)
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Me. I made a huge imporvement.
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Old November 3rd, 2011, 10:10 AM   #17 (permalink)
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Just one???!!!!! A 4 way switch!!!!!...A must for all Teles..Then most of the above posts..
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Old November 3rd, 2011, 10:11 AM   #18 (permalink)
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Better mention a fret level, crown and polish (many thanks to Ron Kirn.)
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Old November 3rd, 2011, 10:43 AM   #19 (permalink)
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My 50s classic was a decent guitar right off the rack, but mostly inspired by this forum I started messing with the parts. First thing was a Rio Grande bridge pickup, which I really like a lot. Then I swapped out the bridge for a Joe Barden one with brass saddles and really noticed an improvement in the snappiness of the guitar. Finally, i added a Lollar humbucker to the neck and that widened the tonal possibilities greatly.
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Old November 3rd, 2011, 10:45 AM   #20 (permalink)
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Having it "Ville-I-fied".....
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