I’ve been posting less and playing more just lately and having a ball. However, my Vintiqued Tele needed some essential maintenance as the tone pot started popping very badly when tweaking the tone, and then just gave up altogether.
Now although I ordered replacement pots some time ago (from The Guitar Shop in Ipswich, UK (
http://www.theguitarshop.co.uk/); arrived the following day), I’ve been relying on my Broadcaster replica.
So this weekend, I decided to get the pots replaced. Straightforward and I’m back to two Teles. I also decided to install a HighTech Tool milled jack cup (
http://www.hightechtool.com/guitar), which went in perfectly. Thanks to Brian Poe.
Now, what I learned from all this was quite interesting.
1. Plan your work and make sure you have all the schematics
BEFORE you start. I also took three digital images of the set-up as a guide.
2. My soldering could be better
3. But what surprised me the most was that as my Broadcaster replica uses a USACG compound radius neck (7.25 – 9.5in), bends in the upper reaches are
MUCH easier than the Vintiqued Tele which has a 7.25in vintage radius.
You know, there isn’t a week goes by when I alter my opinion of what my ideal Tele spec. is, but you can probably guess, a compound radius is now on the list.
For a 50-year old design, the Telecaster is still providing me (and I suspect others) with fresh inspiration. Long may it continue.