suggestions for a Cool Tele I will build?

[gtech]

Ok, I know I am working on too many builds at the same time, but I can't help myself... That's how I am

Anyway, while working on my #2 and #3 Teles, I am ordering and receiving parts for my #4 (#5 body).

This special Tele I have in mind is only missing the pickups (already ordered from GFS) to be ready for a build.




Body: Basswood?
Neck: Vintage style
Pickups:GFS Retro 60
1 ply black guard
Minwax Gunstock stain color
Wilkinson compensated brass saddles bridge
Shaller locking strap holders
GuitarFetish Analog Delay Modboard
1949 Mojo pick
etc...

Now, I know what you think... many don't like onboard effects for guitars. I wouldn't do that with every guitars I have. But I would like to have it on that one.

It should normally be a very own special Tele, a Mojo thing for me...

What I am wondering is about the tone pot. I don't know how or where I should install it???

First knob: Delay time and repeats on a concentric pot
Other knob is volume with on/off switch for the Delay
Tone knob?

Any suggestion?

I won't be ready to work on it until this summer in a 2 months vacation. So there's no hurry.

As I said, I am already trying to finish 2 more Teles that are taking more time than I thought. And then I want to add more clear coats to the Muddy Waters Tele I built.

But I would like to find a good solution for the Tone Control of that special one.

Added:

Would 3 knobs be too much to handle?



Pictured above are:
Delay, Tone, Volume
Tone, Delay, Volume
Tone, Volume, Delay



Thanks,

Gilles

[Pete Galati]

I was giving some thought to installing a tone control in the lower cutaway horn. Never got around to it though. Seemed like a better idea than crowding the control plate with extra knobs.

[aunchaki]

I think in-guitar effect are cool. I've looked that the offerings from GFS and may try one on my next build.

For your first in-effects guitar, I'd suggest starting simple: no tone pot. I don't know about you, but I don't use mine at all. It would be easier to start with a volume+effect setup (no special plates or overcrowded control cavity). If you find that you really miss the tone pot, then figure out the best way to add it.

You may find that you don't miss the tone pot or that you don't like the effect. Starting simple may save you time/energy.

Good luck! Post pictures!

[Pete Galati]

Originally Posted by aunchaki

You may find that you don't miss the tone pot or that you don't like the effect. Starting simple may save you time/energy.

Yeah, that's true. Depends on how much you rely on tone controls. Two of my humbucker Telecasters, I gave each of the (out of phase) humbuckers a volume control, and didn't even put in a tone control at all. The most recent one I put together is wired just like a normal Tele, except for pot & tone cap values, and while I like the simplicity of playing that one, without having to balance two volume controls, I almost never use the tone control at all.

I use the tone control more on single coil Telecasters that have 1meg pots with a treble bleeder.

Pete

[gtech]

I think you are right guys, all of you...

Well, at first, I thought about not using a tone pot at all. But when I tried my MW Tele, I had to set the tone at 3 to get a sound that I liked. Normally I always leave the tone pots at max on my other guitars. So that got me thinking again about using a tone pot on that future Tele.

But it is true that I should just wire it without the tone pot first, and try it like that. Then I'll see if the pickups on that one have more bass (or less highs...) than the MW Tele.

The volume on the lower cutaway horn is also a good solution if I really need a Tone. I remember now that I saw a knob installed there on a few guitars, mostly a master volume on 2 volumes guitars. I am also not sure about crowding the control plate with 3 knobs, even if Johnycrash seems to like that.

I always wondered if it was making them harder to control his Teles?

And finally, what I like about the Analog Delay Modboard is that you can choose to keep the preamp active even when the Delay is off, or just keep the normal passive volume pot. You can buy it with a concentric pot or 2 separate pots. So I was thinking maybe that I could install the Delay pot/pots on a separate plate instead???

I just thought that I could also usze a 5 way switch and add a fixed Tone in the 2 in-between positions,''à la Esquire''.

Thanks, that will get me started,

Gilles