Adding a middle pickup to American Deluxe.

CSS · July 19th, 2006, 08:39 PM

I want to transform my American Deluxe to a Nashvville three pup version. The route is already there but it seems I read once where the Nashville guard will not line up. Anyone have a heads up on that issue? Also, the original three pup deluxe had a mini switch that the Nashville does not (other than the power version). Is this switch really needed? What I am looking for is the Tele sound with the added position 2 or 4 from a Strat....or close to it.

Any suggestions?

a42 · July 19th, 2006, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CSS

Any suggestions?

Take a normal 2-pup Tele pickguard and cut out a spot for the middle pup. No worries about it lining up then.

Darrell · July 19th, 2006, 10:57 PM

There are wiring schemes that can be had on gearhead and Seymour Duncan and various other sites, that will get you what you want.

If it were me, I would spend some extra time reseaching the proper placement. If you have a swimming pool rout, you have multiple options. Closer to the neck or closer to the bridge. This is the most significant part of your decision, in my opinion.

CSS · July 19th, 2006, 11:19 PM

Thanks guys. Darrel, you are correct my friend. Thats why Iasked the question. I was hoping someone has completed this task before so I could get some pointers. I had read somewhere that a 17 degree angle of the bridge pickup comes in to play on the placement of the middle pickup. I guess I could by an old pickguard and experiment on my own. There is ample room in there for many variations.

Craig

Tom S · July 19th, 2006, 11:21 PM

If you don't install a toggle, you can't get the traditional tele bridge/neck combo, unless you modify the wiring, but then you will have to omit something else. With the toggle, you can also get all three pickups at once. Here are the PDFs from Fender:

What the five-way switch controls with and without the toggle engaged

The wiring diagram for the '98 Am. Dlx

Wop Geronimo · July 19th, 2006, 11:33 PM

You can get pre-cut guards for the American Deluxe at this site...

http://store.guitarfetish.com/pickguards.html

No affiliation.

Darrell · July 20th, 2006, 10:35 AM

CSS, cut your own guard. I told you this because I made the mistake. I put my middle pickup in based on Strat placement. If I had it to do over, it would have gone in closer to the bridge. Why would you want it closer to the neck? Maybe to get ritchous humbucker type sounds.

pc · July 20th, 2006, 07:46 PM

Take it from someone who is a 3-pup addict. If you call WD music (who are also pickguards.com) and tell them the year and type of Tele (in my case, 2000 Am Dlx), they'll send you exactly the right cut.

If you call Warmoth, they'll say, "Sorry, ours our pre-cut from templates, and they don't fit those Teles."

For my first 3rd-pickup conversion a few years ago, I blindly ordered the Warmoth first off the internet and it wasn't right--it was in "Strat" spacing not Nash spacing. I had to rout myself inside the Tele to make it fit:

Some checking around this time got to WD. I use a Stew-Mac Mega switch which comes with a simple instruction sheet to get it done so that the middle position on the switch is Bridge + Neck.

(American Deluxe)

The sound differences between the two positions for your "quack" sounds in positions '2' and '4' are extremely minimal.

Hope that helped.

CSS · July 20th, 2006, 11:18 PM

Hey, I want that pickguard !! LOL... That is exactly what I want. Mine is a 2000 natural ash. It appears that your middle pickup is closer to the bridge than the Nashville as was mentioned ealier. Nice job and nice Tele by the way! I used to own a 2000 90's Thinline that same color. I wish all the time I had it back. Thanks for the picture and the info.

pc · July 23rd, 2006, 09:02 PM

Wow, that's a beaut!

July 19th, 2006, 08:39 PM	#1 (permalink)
CSS Tele-Holic Join Date: May 2003 Location: Myrtle Beach, SC and Augusta, GA Age: 49 Posts: 844 25 Photos	Adding a middle pickup to American Deluxe. I want to transform my American Deluxe to a Nashvville three pup version. The route is already there but it seems I read once where the Nashville guard will not line up. Anyone have a heads up on that issue? Also, the original three pup deluxe had a mini switch that the Nashville does not (other than the power version). Is this switch really needed? What I am looking for is the Tele sound with the added position 2 or 4 from a Strat....or close to it. Any suggestions?

July 19th, 2006, 10:57 PM	#3 (permalink)
Darrell Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Houston, Texas Age: 48 Posts: 2,485	There are wiring schemes that can be had on gearhead and Seymour Duncan and various other sites, that will get you what you want. If it were me, I would spend some extra time reseaching the proper placement. If you have a swimming pool rout, you have multiple options. Closer to the neck or closer to the bridge. This is the most significant part of your decision, in my opinion. __________________ "Yeap, I like the American Standard Telecaster, I can even live with one a them PCB amps, and I even use one a them mul-tie-effects things too."

July 20th, 2006, 10:35 AM	#7 (permalink)
Darrell Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Houston, Texas Age: 48 Posts: 2,485	CSS, cut your own guard. I told you this because I made the mistake. I put my middle pickup in based on Strat placement. If I had it to do over, it would have gone in closer to the bridge. Why would you want it closer to the neck? Maybe to get ritchous humbucker type sounds. __________________ "Yeap, I like the American Standard Telecaster, I can even live with one a them PCB amps, and I even use one a them mul-tie-effects things too."

July 20th, 2006, 07:46 PM	#8 (permalink)
pc Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Columbus, OH Age: 41 Posts: 515 3 Photos	Take it from someone who is a 3-pup addict. If you call WD music (who are also pickguards.com) and tell them the year and type of Tele (in my case, 2000 Am Dlx), they'll send you exactly the right cut. If you call Warmoth, they'll say, "Sorry, ours our pre-cut from templates, and they don't fit those Teles." For my first 3rd-pickup conversion a few years ago, I blindly ordered the Warmoth first off the internet and it wasn't right--it was in "Strat" spacing not Nash spacing. I had to rout myself inside the Tele to make it fit: Some checking around this time got to WD. I use a Stew-Mac Mega switch which comes with a simple instruction sheet to get it done so that the middle position on the switch is Bridge + Neck. (American Deluxe) The sound differences between the two positions for your "quack" sounds in positions '2' and '4' are extremely minimal. Hope that helped. __________________ Me

July 23rd, 2006, 09:02 PM	#10 (permalink)
pc Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Columbus, OH Age: 41 Posts: 515 3 Photos	Wow, that's a beaut! __________________ Me

July 19th, 2006, 11:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
CSS Tele-Holic Join Date: May 2003 Location: Myrtle Beach, SC and Augusta, GA Age: 49 Posts: 844 25 Photos	Thanks guys. Darrel, you are correct my friend. Thats why Iasked the question. I was hoping someone has completed this task before so I could get some pointers. I had read somewhere that a 17 degree angle of the bridge pickup comes in to play on the placement of the middle pickup. I guess I could by an old pickguard and experiment on my own. There is ample room in there for many variations. Craig

July 19th, 2006, 11:21 PM	#5 (permalink)
Tom S Friend of Leo's Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 2,211 49 Photos	If you don't install a toggle, you can't get the traditional tele bridge/neck combo, unless you modify the wiring, but then you will have to omit something else. With the toggle, you can also get all three pickups at once. Here are the PDFs from Fender: What the five-way switch controls with and without the toggle engaged The wiring diagram for the '98 Am. Dlx

July 19th, 2006, 11:33 PM	#6 (permalink)
Wop Geronimo Tele-Holic Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Confusion, USA Age: 31 Posts: 550	You can get pre-cut guards for the American Deluxe at this site... http://store.guitarfetish.com/pickguards.html No affiliation.

July 20th, 2006, 11:18 PM	#9 (permalink)
CSS Tele-Holic Join Date: May 2003 Location: Myrtle Beach, SC and Augusta, GA Age: 49 Posts: 844 25 Photos	Hey, I want that pickguard !! LOL... That is exactly what I want. Mine is a 2000 natural ash. It appears that your middle pickup is closer to the bridge than the Nashville as was mentioned ealier. Nice job and nice Tele by the way! I used to own a 2000 90's Thinline that same color. I wish all the time I had it back. Thanks for the picture and the info.