1962 Custom Reissue

[Btrain718]

I purchased the 1962 Custom Telecaster reissue last February at Umanov's in NYC. I ripped out the tone dampener on the front pickup within the first week.

It's a good guitar, but I'm having a bit of difficulty keeping the bugger in tune. I have to make compromises at times, with some strings slightly sharp or flat, so that the open G sounds decent.

I'm considering changes the tuning pegs, as the B string is particularly problematic.

I think it was originally setup for 10's, but I put on 11's last month. This could be a contributing factor to the neck and tuning problems.

Does anybody else have this problem? Any suggestions that I can do or suggest when I bring it in for a setup?

BB

[WickedGTR]

It's almost never the tuners IMO. Make sure you are putting the strings on properly- inserted into the hole on the top of the tuner and at least a couple of wraps around the tuner peg. Stretch the stings by pulling them away from the neck a few times and retune.

Slippage is a factor sometimes on the B and high E strings- Make sure you have about 4 wraps on them.

A little vaseline in the nut slots and string tree wouldn't hurt either.

Sounds like you may be hearing intonation issues from your post (not clear). Always re-intonate the bridge after you change string gauges.

The standard three saddle bridge may not intonate perfectly for you. You may want to try compensated saddles if this bothers you.

[Mark Davis]

I agree its not the tuners. That model uses the good gotoh tuners.

My Tele is so stable I only touch the tuning keys about once a week and I play at least 1-2 hours a day. Even then its just a slight adjustment usually on the small e.

Get a pro setup and get the neck adjusted might also need some fret dressing or leveling.

[Btrain718]

Thanks for the information guys. I'm ignorant about a lot of stuff. I'm bringing it to the guitar guru in my neighborhood this week.

BB

[Mike Rice]

If this guy is a guru, or even just a decent tech, it will be money well spent and you're likely to feel quite differently about the guitar. Never underestimate the ability of a decent setup to turn a mediocre guitar to gold or vice versa!

One bit of advice; talk to the tech about what he did, why he did it, and perhaps even how he did it. This is a great thing to learn to do yourself. I've probably said it here over a hundred times, but letting a tech fine tune your guitar is like letting a mechanic adjust your car mirrors. Learn what little tweaks to the bridge, neck, and pickups can do. Learn how to intonate a guitar. Not because you need to be a tech weenie, but because it makes the guitar even more personal.

[Geo]

Other than the mentioned check and make sure
the pickups are not set too close to the strings.
Too much magnetic pull can cause tuning problems.
The Fender site has the factory height specs.
Those aren't written in stone but probably their
recommended max closeness pole to string.