MIM Telecaster Modifications

[raga80]

Hi:

I bought a MIM Standard Telecaster, which is in very good conditions.
The guitar is amazing, but I want to make some modifications. Mostly pickups.
I have bought the Dimarzio Fast Track T Telecaster Bridge Pickup and the Dimarzio True Velvet Tele Neck pickup to replace the originals. I also bought a Fender black pickguard.

But now that I'm sending my guitar to the technician to do the mods, I remembered that some new Teles (like the blaktop series) have the control plate backwards, supposely to have an easier access to the volume control. I asked the guitar technician about that kind of mod, and it will cost me about 10 bucks.

The question is: Does that reversed control plate make a difference while playing? Is that mod just a stupid thiung to do?

This is my first Thread, so thanks for helping.

Raul, from Monterrey, Mexico

P.S. This is my Guitar as I bought it.

[scantron81]

I mean, the volume is already within reach of the hand. I find myself using the tone knob more than anything. One suggestion if you're looking to mod the thing is to consider a 4 way pickup selector switch. There are a few ways to wire them but many go for the "4th Gear" type option that engages both pickups and creates sort of a fuller sound. I use mine almost always as it gives the grit I desire.

[aniss1001]

Originally Posted by raga80

The question is: Does that reversed control plate make a difference while playing? Is that mod just a stupid thiung to do?

Well stupid is as stupid does :D

Nah just kidding.

I reversed the control plate on mine simply because I like to be able to use it in my playing kind of like you would use a volume pedal; set volume to zero, pick a note/chord, turn up the volume, thereby creating a "fadein"-effect. Doing this with the control plate as it is on a normal tele is extremely akward because the volume knob is just too far away from your picking hand. Ah I not only reversed the plate I also reversed the position of the tone and volume knob respectively off course.

However If you don't do this in your playing OR you're allready using a volume pedal I see no reason at all why you should reverse it.

And to me $10 seems rather expensive if the technician is allready changing the pups. If it was the only mod fair enough, but there really isn't that much to it.

1) Unscrew the plate.

2) Desolder some joints.

3) Extend some wires perhaps (in my case ONE).

4) Resolder the joints.

5) Screew the plate back on (reversed).

But if the technician is allready changing the pups then he has to do 1, 2,4 and 5 anyway so in my opinion I don't see how he would even charge extra for that.

Also if you just bought a NEW guitar I would wait a few months to mod it because you will void the warranty by doing so. It could have flaws that you didn't yet notice. For instance the neck could be flawed and start bending or something.

Just my NON EXPERT 2 cents ;)

PS: Just curious. How much is he charging to change the pups? When I modded my tele I paid a luthier here $45 to route it for a humbucker, cut the pickguard for a humbucker, install a humbucker in the heck position, change the pots and wire it all, change the tuners, calibrate and generally fine tune it.

[aniss1001]

Originally Posted by scantron81

I mean, the volume is already within reach of the hand. I find myself using the tone knob more than anything. One suggestion if you're looking to mod the thing is to consider a 4 way pickup selector switch. There are a few ways to wire them but many go for the "4th Gear" type option that engages both pickups and creates sort of a fuller sound. I use mine almost always as it gives the grit I desire.

Sorry I don't quite understand this 4 way switch thing. A tele has a 3 way switch:

1) neck pup

2) bridge pup

3) both neck and bridge pup

What would be the 4th mode given that the guitar has only 2 pups?

[scantron81]

Originally Posted by aniss1001

Sorry I don't quite understand this 4 way switch thing. A tele has a 3 way switch:

1) neck pup

2) bridge pup

3) both neck and bridge pup

What would be the 4th mode given that the guitar has only 2 pups?

You can get a 4-way switch for a few dollars. I think it's totally worth it just for the fourth option. It's not invasive and you can always go back to stock if you wish.

This is how it goes:
1) Neck
2) Bridge
3) Neck+ Bridge parallel
4) Neck+ Bridge series

Neck+ Bridge in series offers a warmer sound with more bass and "fullness." it's a fourth option to go with the standard tele signature sounds.

[Beachbum]

I like everything wide open with a volume pedal.

[James J LaRue]

bienvenidos guey,

Also with that DiMarzio fast track you could do some kind of splitting or series/parallel switching if you wanted. I'm not trying to make things more complex tho!

Since you say it's in buenas condiciones, I assume it is used? Looks pretty clean and new!

Let me know how the new PU's compare to the old ones once they're in.

[Radspin]

"PS: Just curious. How much is he charging to change the pups? When I modded my tele I paid a luthier here $45 to route it for a humbucker, cut the pickguard for a humbucker, install a humbucker in the heck position, change the pots and wire it all, change the tuners, calibrate and generally fine tune it."

Well, I live in New York and although I didn't check I'm sure it would cost a lot more than $45 to get my guy to do this work.

[jklotz]

I tried reversing the controls, and found I was so used to the stock way, it felt unnatural to me. I kept reaching for the tone knob and it wasn't where I expected it to be. I switched it back.

[raga80]

Yes it is a used telecaster, 2002 MIM Standard. The technician is going to charge me about 40 bucks. Actually a little less than 40 bucks (about 400 pesos) for the pickups and pickguard changing. The control plate would cost me about 10 dollars because of the wiring. He would change the wires to anything new. Even if the potentiometers need to be changed he would.

About the parallel and the series positions? I have also a Fender Deluxe Roadhouse Strat, MIM 2007, and the same technician put a small 2 way switch, for about 4 bucks, and he gave that kind of option. Maybe I will do the same in here.

Thanks for replying.

[zooyuka]

You will like the black pickguard I have one on my Midnight Wine tele. Locking tunerw would be a nice upgrade too!

[raga80]

I thinka that would be my next moda for both of my guitars, some locking tuners.

[caliban335]

I highly recommend the use of a 4 way switch with neck and bridge engaged in series as the 4th position. It gives you a humbucker-like tone and does not require any cosmetic modifications to the guitar; completely reversible, if you want.

[aniss1001]

Originally Posted by scantron81

You can get a 4-way switch for a few dollars. I think it's totally worth it just for the fourth option. It's not invasive and you can always go back to stock if you wish.

This is how it goes:
1) Neck
2) Bridge
3) Neck+ Bridge parallel
4) Neck+ Bridge series

Neck+ Bridge in series offers a warmer sound with more bass and "fullness." it's a fourth option to go with the standard tele signature sounds.

Hey thanks. I had no idea. I believe you just added an item to my future modding list. I currently have a PAF in the neck position and a horrible SX stock bridge pup so for now it makes no sense. However at some point I wanna replace it with this one I believe.

Do you think having 2 humbuckers is series would be usable? Or perhaps a neck humbucker and a bridge single coil should I choose another bridge pup? Or does this mod only make sense with 2 single coils?

Originally Posted by Radspin

Well, I live in New York and although I didn't check I'm sure it would cost a lot more than $45 to get my guy to do this work.

I'm sure it would cost a great deal more there. I estimate it would cost some $200-300 atleast in my own country (Denmark). That is the advantage of living here in Argentina. Here you have to pay atleast double for the actual guitar (or any other equipment) but manual labour is cheaper. So it makes more sense to buy something cheap and mod the crap out of it.

[caliban335]

Originally Posted by aniss1001

Do you think having 2 humbuckers is series would be usable? Or perhaps a neck humbucker and a bridge single coil should I choose another bridge pup? Or does this mod only make sense with 2 single coils?

I've done it with a single coil in neck and bridge, as well as with a humbucker in the neck and a single coil in the bridge. It sounds great either way.

[aniss1001]

Originally Posted by caliban335

I've done it with a single coil in neck and bridge, as well as with a humbucker in the neck and a single coil in the bridge. It sounds great either way.

Hey cool. Thanks. That's it. The 4-way switch is officially on my modding list then

[psyched]

With a MIM, I'd say pickups, then Electrosocket, then 4-way. You could do a bridge yourself, all it takes it is a screwdriver when you're changing the strings.
There's only 3 controls, reversing the plate only effectively gets you the ability to do volume swells easier IMO. I've tried it before, didn't really feel it benefited my playing (in a way, forced me to have to pay a little more attention to where my hand was going if I was trying to make quick adjustments) so I switched it back.

[Televised]

Nice looking Tele!

I don't see the real advantage of switching the control plate but do what works for you.

I'd definitely recommend a "4-Way" switch and they are inexpensive. It gives you a nice growl of a tone that is in between a Humbucker and an OD pedal tone.

I'm a huge Bill Lawrence pick up fan but have heard nothing but good reviews regarding the Dimarzio's.

With the exception of Pick-up upgrades and 4-way switch, those are the only real Mods I'd go with for an MIM and really they are pretty dang good stock. I am assuming you are also having a "Pro Set Up" in all of this, if not, I would.

Enjoy!

[Sollophonic]

I have a 4 way switch fitted to all my Teles, including a wine red MIM like you have



Mine has a set of Keystones in and is one of my gigging guitars.

In my experience a four way switch with its 4 very useable settings might mean that you might not want to reverse the control plate.

I find that having the 4 settings nearer to hand is more useful than having the volume control nearer to hand.

Just my opinion of course. YMMV

[raga80]

Thanks for all your replies. I do think that I will add the 4 way switch to the mods. The reversing plate was like a kind of what if?, but to be honest, I'm not convinced.

So, now I'm just waiting for my stuff to reach the border so that I could pick it up (I live near the border) and then take my tele to the technician. Hopefully, this toy would be even more joyable than before.