OK, so now I'm a TWO Tele guy. <m + a couple of questions>

Deacon · August 17th, 2006, 11:28 AM

I've owned a Muddy Waters Tele for the past few years, and I've been really happy with it. Love the tones, the feel ... great guitar for a reasonable price.

A good friend of mine just put her 52RI Tele (butterscotch, black pickguard) up for sale for a very good price, so I caved and bought it from her.

It still has the "vintage" switching, and I'd like to change it to the regular kind of switching (i.e. position 1 = neck pup, 2 = neck and bridge combined, 3 = bridge pup). She doesn't think she has the conversion kit that came with the guitar. Is that something that I can get at my local shop? What exactly IS the difference from the original "vintage" switching? I know the front position has that very muted tone (jazz tone?!?). Is it a cap difference or something?

Another local Tele owner mentioned a couple of other switching options I mmight want to consider.

First one was a 4 position switch (1 = neck pup, 2 = both pups in series, 3 = both pups in parallel, 4 = bridge pup).

The other was something like a "no load" tone control? Something about it being wide open when the tone is rolled all the way off?

Anyway, I'd really appreciate whatever information and suggestions y'all might have for me.

For me, that original switching setup is pretty much useless. The tone is so muted and dull sounding to me that I'd end up using only positions 2 or 3.

Thanks for your help/advice.

Deacon

0le FUZZY · August 17th, 2006, 11:43 AM

May I make a humble suggestion?

Create a hoe new control panel with vintage style three-way CRL switch, new caps, new pots and new plate. Try 1Meg pots instead of 250Ks and keep your stock plate for later modifications.

Using the following drawin but with 1Meg pots yew will notice a remarkable difference and yew kin switch back tew suit yew tastes in tone.

MY KIND OF MUSIC !(click)

SMORE !!(click)

Please visit my page

Deacon · August 17th, 2006, 12:18 PM

Thanks for the info, Ole Fuzzy. I check that out.

I had always heard that it's "better" not to use the higher value pots on Fender guitars ... that pots above 250K would make the guitars sound too bright.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 0le FUZZY

<li> May I make a humble suggestion?

<li> Create a hoe new control panel with vintage style three-way CRL switch, new caps, new pots and new plate. Try 1Meg pots instead of 250Ks and keep your stock plate for later modifications.

<li> Using the following drawin but with 1Meg pots yew will notice a remarkable difference and yew kin switch back tew suit yew tastes in tone.

MY KIND OF MUSIC !(click)

SMORE !!(click)

Please visit my page

Wild Rice Chris · August 17th, 2006, 12:27 PM

1meg pots allow the resonant peak of the pickup to come through full force. It can be too bright for some players, but those tone knobs on your amp can tame it down. The way the guitar responds changes with Fuzzy's wiring. Worth a try, IMO.

gtrjones · August 17th, 2006, 01:50 PM

Doug/Deacon/Swamp King...

I have a couple guitars with the 4-way switching, and I think you'd like it. It adds the two pickups in series (the traditional middle position is the two pickups in parallel), which sounds (to my ears) brighter and punchier than the traditional middle position - kind of a wide-space humbucker sound, and it works as an additional 'lead' sound - a great option.

I've never personally used the 'no-load' concept, but have heard a couple players using it. basically, it's an option where (only?) the bridge pickup is wired directly to the output jack - no volume pot, no tone pot, no capacitor, etc - it can be really bright through the wrong setup, but can be an attention-grabber soloing sound, as long as you're not hurting people.

Fuzzyhead · August 17th, 2006, 01:50 PM

Do more modern guitars like MIMs have 250K pots, too?

Wild Rice Chris · August 17th, 2006, 01:53 PM

No-load removes the tone control from the cicuit when it is all the way up (it clicks). Slight boost in presence. Actually sounds very similar to just using 1 meg pots.

Deacon · August 17th, 2006, 02:16 PM

Hey there, stranger.

So ... I know Fender makes 3 position switches and 5 position switches ... but a 4 position switch?

Quote:

Originally Posted by gtrjones

Doug/Deacon/Swamp King...

I have a couple guitars with the 4-way switching, and I think you'd like it. It adds the two pickups in series (the traditional middle position is the two pickups in parallel), which sounds (to my ears) brighter and punchier than the traditional middle position - kind of a wide-space humbucker sound, and it works as an additional 'lead' sound - a great option.

I've never personally used the 'no-load' concept, but have heard a couple players using it. basically, it's an option where (only?) the bridge pickup is wired directly to the output jack - no volume pot, no tone pot, no capacitor, etc - it can be really bright through the wrong setup, but can be an attention-grabber soloing sound, as long as you're not hurting people.

Wild Rice Chris · August 17th, 2006, 02:18 PM

Fender doesn't make any switches...
The 4-way is made by Oak-Grigsby, available from Allparts, WD, and other places.

August 17th, 2006, 11:28 AM	#1 (permalink)
Deacon TDPRI Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Toledo, OH Posts: 23	OK, so now I'm a TWO Tele guy. <m + a couple of questions> I've owned a Muddy Waters Tele for the past few years, and I've been really happy with it. Love the tones, the feel ... great guitar for a reasonable price. A good friend of mine just put her 52RI Tele (butterscotch, black pickguard) up for sale for a very good price, so I caved and bought it from her. It still has the "vintage" switching, and I'd like to change it to the regular kind of switching (i.e. position 1 = neck pup, 2 = neck and bridge combined, 3 = bridge pup). She doesn't think she has the conversion kit that came with the guitar. Is that something that I can get at my local shop? What exactly IS the difference from the original "vintage" switching? I know the front position has that very muted tone (jazz tone?!?). Is it a cap difference or something? Another local Tele owner mentioned a couple of other switching options I mmight want to consider. First one was a 4 position switch (1 = neck pup, 2 = both pups in series, 3 = both pups in parallel, 4 = bridge pup). The other was something like a "no load" tone control? Something about it being wide open when the tone is rolled all the way off? Anyway, I'd really appreciate whatever information and suggestions y'all might have for me. For me, that original switching setup is pretty much useless. The tone is so muted and dull sounding to me that I'd end up using only positions 2 or 3. Thanks for your help/advice. Deacon __________________ Doug "Deacon" Robertson

August 17th, 2006, 12:27 PM	#4 (permalink)
Wild Rice Chris Friend of Leo's Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rice Custom Dungeon Posts: 2,862 27 Photos	1meg pots allow the resonant peak of the pickup to come through full force. It can be too bright for some players, but those tone knobs on your amp can tame it down. The way the guitar responds changes with Fuzzy's wiring. Worth a try, IMO. __________________ "The children need to learn how to build their own environment and make their own music that is inspired by their roots."--Eugene Hütz "All music turns out to be ethnic music."--Steve Reich Enjoy, and please visit my homepage.

August 17th, 2006, 01:50 PM	#6 (permalink)
Fuzzyhead Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Bonn (Yer-up) Age: 25 Posts: 1,350 23 Photos	Do more modern guitars like MIMs have 250K pots, too? __________________ about me: blog, photos & musical preferences

August 17th, 2006, 01:53 PM	#7 (permalink)
Wild Rice Chris Friend of Leo's Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rice Custom Dungeon Posts: 2,862 27 Photos	No-load removes the tone control from the cicuit when it is all the way up (it clicks). Slight boost in presence. Actually sounds very similar to just using 1 meg pots. __________________ "The children need to learn how to build their own environment and make their own music that is inspired by their roots."--Eugene Hütz "All music turns out to be ethnic music."--Steve Reich Enjoy, and please visit my homepage.

August 17th, 2006, 02:18 PM	#9 (permalink)
Wild Rice Chris Friend of Leo's Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rice Custom Dungeon Posts: 2,862 27 Photos	Fender doesn't make any switches... The 4-way is made by Oak-Grigsby, available from Allparts, WD, and other places. __________________ "The children need to learn how to build their own environment and make their own music that is inspired by their roots."--Eugene Hütz "All music turns out to be ethnic music."--Steve Reich Enjoy, and please visit my homepage.

August 17th, 2006, 11:43 AM	#2 (permalink)
0le FUZZY Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Kolly-forn-knee-ya Posts: 10,001 6 Photos	May I make a humble suggestion? Create a hoe new control panel with vintage style three-way CRL switch, new caps, new pots and new plate. Try 1Meg pots instead of 250Ks and keep your stock plate for later modifications. Using the following drawin but with 1Meg pots yew will notice a remarkable difference and yew kin switch back tew suit yew tastes in tone. MY KIND OF MUSIC !(click) SMORE !!(click) Please visit my page

August 17th, 2006, 01:50 PM	#5 (permalink)
gtrjones Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Austin, TX y'all Posts: 816	Doug/Deacon/Swamp King... I have a couple guitars with the 4-way switching, and I think you'd like it. It adds the two pickups in series (the traditional middle position is the two pickups in parallel), which sounds (to my ears) brighter and punchier than the traditional middle position - kind of a wide-space humbucker sound, and it works as an additional 'lead' sound - a great option. I've never personally used the 'no-load' concept, but have heard a couple players using it. basically, it's an option where (only?) the bridge pickup is wired directly to the output jack - no volume pot, no tone pot, no capacitor, etc - it can be really bright through the wrong setup, but can be an attention-grabber soloing sound, as long as you're not hurting people.