New Guy - OV Pickups and Dome Knobs

[RI Tom]

Hi,

I just joined the forum but fell in love with Telecasters just about a year ago.

By way of introduction, I've been playing for 20+ years (wow, how'd that happen?) and was inspired to pick up my first Tele last Spring when I got to spend some time with GE Smith in the Kansas City airport (he was waiting for his flight and I got up the nerve to introduce myself and get his autograph for my 4 year old son).

I play a 2010 MIM Tele in Lake Placid Blue with Original Vintage pickups and replacement dome knobs from Stew Mac in place of the hot, ceraminc pickups and the original barrel knobs. The OV pickups provide great clarity and headroom (I play mostly clean with a little boost from an Xotic AC Boost, when appropriate). The dome knobs are purely an aesthetic preference. I run through a Micro Qtron before the AC into a Marshall JCM 900 1x12 combo (purchased when I was 14!) with a Memory Toy in the loop for a little analog delay and modulation.

I love my Telecaster - it sounds and plays great.
I've been on the forum for a little bit - what a great resource and I'm happy to be a part of the community!

[boris bubbanov]

Welcome, Tom!

2 great choices for improving the looks and sound of that guitar, IMO.

I do like the domes over the crisp modern cylindrical shape.

But the ones I've been buying lately are the Stylemaster knobs. Intermediate shape, plenty of knurl, and you don't see them everywhere either. :^)

Tom, not meaning to pressure you, but we do love pictures!

[RI Tom]

Understood and thanks, I'll get some pictures up.

[TeleKato]

Indeed, welcome! And this is a great place ... once you get past the shotguns in the hall (just kidding). I have learned a great deal from the folks on this forum.

I enjoyed your GE Smith story. That'd be a great memory! And I agree with you on the OVs ... Though I'm more a '62 Custom pickup guy. And I'm a 'ho ... as I've got a SD, Texas Specials, Fralins, Rio Grandes, gonna order some Bill Lawrence and maybe some Bareknuckles ... it's all good.

Same for knobs ... have round-tops on my more traditional Teles, Flat-tops on others including my Esquires. Again ... all good and viva la variety!

[Skub]

Welcome along Tom,OVs are a great choice.

Pawtucket is a fine place name,it's a telecaster kinda sound.

[BobV60]

Autograph for your 4-year old... right! What a great way to be introduced to the wonderful world of Telecasters. I'm still new to playing AND Telecasters, and loving every minute of it. Finding this community for me has been icing on the cake, such a wealth of experience and information here. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

[Sea Devil]

"There once was a girl from Pawtucket..."

[Skub]

Originally Posted by Sea Devil

"There once was a girl from Pawtucket..."

And?

[Camplain]

Welcome! Sounds like a great guitar, and good mods.... Very cool G.E. story, I'd love to get my hands on one of his signature Teles, maybe one of these days... Beware, if you hang around these parts very much you'll become the latest victim of GAS, but that's not so bad, just meant you'll have more Teles than you have fingers to count them on before long

[vanguard]

wow, very tasteful mods on that tele; one would think you were a tele-expert! seriously, lots of us have gone through the gamut of tele pickups only to realize the OV's are as good as anything out there at any price. and then a little early 50's dome action for some flair? nice. just enough to make it yours, but not over-do it.

[Elias Graves]

OV bridge pup AND dome knobs, too! You're not alone.
Though I made the guitar in Oklahoma. :)

[RI Tom]

Thanks for the kind words and the warm welcome. I'll get some pics up soon. I love the no-frills aspect of the Tele (2 pups, 2 knobs, fixed bridge, etc.) so my mods were going to be minimal in any event. With good, dynamic pickups such as the OVs, the rest of the guitar is so well made, especially for the money. Maybe a new string tree at some point, but otherwise, I don't plan on fussing around too much on this one!

Yes, the girl from Pawtucket, her sister lives on Nantucket, right? In any event, Pawtucket does have a certain twanginess in name and spirit, thanks.

G.E.'s custom shop is a beaut and has a real cool story behind it, G.E. himself was a real gentlemen. In addition to the autograph, I just wanted to thank him for everything he's done for American music. He's a real national treasure and I wanted him to know that we appreciate what he's doing. Hopefully I didn't annoy him too much - noone else in the terminal seemed to recognize him (!).

Elias Graves - I saw your recent post with your guitar and spent a good hour or so drooling over that craftsmanship. I can only imagine how sweet it sounds - what was your inspiration?

[Elias Graves]

Originally Posted by RI Tom

Thanks for the kind words and the warm welcome. I'll get some pics up soon. I love the no-frills aspect of the Tele (2 pups, 2 knobs, fixed bridge, etc.) so my mods were going to be minimal in any event. With good, dynamic pickups such as the OVs, the rest of the guitar is so well made, especially for the money. Maybe a new string tree at some point, but otherwise, I don't plan on fussing around too much on this one!

Yes, the girl from Pawtucket, her sister lives on Nantucket, right? In any event, Pawtucket does have a certain twanginess in name and spirit, thanks.

G.E.'s custom shop is a beaut and has a real cool story behind it, G.E. himself was a real gentlemen. In addition to the autograph, I just wanted to thank him for everything he's done for American music. He's a real national treasure and I wanted him to know that we appreciate what he's doing. Hopefully I didn't annoy him too much - noone else in the terminal seemed to recognize him (!).

Elias Graves - I saw your recent post with your guitar and spent a good hour or so drooling over that craftsmanship. I can only imagine how sweet it sounds - what was your inspiration?

Yes, teles are terrific guitars. Their simplicity is the beauty!
My inspiration? I wanted a tele. My father in law gave me walnut. 2+2=telecaster. :D

[RI Tom]

As promised, here's a picture.

[alexpigment]

Originally Posted by boris bubbanov

But the ones I've been buying lately are the Stylemaster knobs. Intermediate shape, plenty of knurl, and you don't see them everywhere either.

Boris, I assure you I'm not Google-inept, but I came up empty handed looking for these. You usually have good recommendations and I was curious to see what they look like. Do you have a link?

[Poppatwang]

Originally Posted by RI Tom

As promised, here's a picture.Attachment 126151

That's a mighty tall pedal board!

Haven't tried the OV bridge, but I love it at the neck position.

Welcome aboard.

[Telemarkman]

The OV's are awesome ..... As for the knobs, it depends on whether they're time correct or not. No personal preference.

[Elias Graves]

Originally Posted by RI Tom

As promised, here's a picture.Attachment 126151

Nice!
My son has one very similar...also with OV pups.

[emisilly]

Originally Posted by Elias Graves

OV bridge pup AND dome knobs, too! You're not alone.
Though I made the guitar in Oklahoma. :)

Awesome looking guitar!

[boris bubbanov]

Originally Posted by alexpigment

Boris, I assure you I'm not Google-inept, but I came up empty handed looking for these. You usually have good recommendations and I was curious to see what they look like. Do you have a link?

Well it looks like Darren Riley is out of stock:

http://www.darrenriley.com/shop/cart..._detail&p=1418