G.E. Smith Tele

trev flint · March 9th, 2007, 04:49 PM

I recently purchased the G.E. Smith tele. I really like how it feels and plays but I am finding that the bottom end is too hot. Now, this guitar has a custom cut-off bridge so the bridge pick up is fully exposed including the pick up hole. I think this is why the bottom is too hot. The bridge pickup is body mounted as well. Any ideas on how too ease up the lower end?...maybe replace the cut off bridge with a standard one?
You can view this guitar on the Fender website.
\ Thanks!

fullerplast · March 9th, 2007, 05:39 PM

If you are saying that there is too much bass on the bridge pickup, try lowering the bass side of the pickup (screw that side into the body more). Use the center screw to level the tilt of the pickup.

If you are saying that the middle position or neck position has too much bass, try lowering just the neck pickup by itself.

The main discerning (non-cosmetic) feature of the GE tele is the bridge, so rather than replace the bridge plate, you may be better off just getting a different tele, or maybe trying a lower output pickup. Of course it's your guitar....

trev flint · March 9th, 2007, 08:02 PM

if I replaced the bridge plate to a standard one would that make it the same as a standard Tele?? I really like the extra deep neck on the guitar so I want to keep if I can!

austintele · March 9th, 2007, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trev flint

if I replaced the bridge plate to a standard one would that make it the same as a standard Tele?? I really like the extra deep neck on the guitar so I want to keep if I can!

Yes, just get a nice fender(or glendale) stock bridge plate, bolt the pickup to it and you are good to go. Probably get more of a airy, twangy, and less low end sound.(I'm guessing though since I've never played a tele with the pickup bolted to the body)

fullerplast · March 9th, 2007, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trev flint

if I replaced the bridge plate to a standard one would that make it the same as a standard Tele?? I really like the extra deep neck on the guitar so I want to keep if I can!

Actually, no. The switch wiring is different as well. Change that too and you'd have a standard tele with GE neck cosmetics.

lostpick · March 9th, 2007, 08:32 PM

G&Ls have a tone knob to cut BASS.
Maybe someone knows the mod....

fullerplast · March 10th, 2007, 11:01 AM

To be perfectly honest, "finding that the bottom end is too hot" is really not enough information for anyone to give much advice, other than maybe pickup height. We don't know what pickup (neck or bridge) you are talking about, what amp you are playing through, what volume you are playing at, what EQ settings you are using, what string gauges you use, what speaker, what other guitar you are using as a point of reference, etc. There's a whole chain of tone components starting with your pick and ending at the speaker. Most of those components are variable and can make dramatic differences in your tone.

I've played a GE model long enough to know that your "bottom end" observation is not some sort of generic design issue. The GE sounded very much like a good '52 reissue with better sounding neck and middle tone and a very subtle change in the bridge top end and upper mids. Your guitar could be completely different due to wood alone, but it could also be many other things.

trev flint · March 10th, 2007, 01:07 PM

I am finding that both pickups are picking up the bottom end a little too hot. I read an article from GE SMITH and he said that the hotter bottom end is a result of the cut off bridge and the open cavity in the body. would that make sense??

fullerplast · March 10th, 2007, 02:30 PM

Still too little information, really you haven't added much of anything. The quality of any advice is going to depend on how much info you provide.

"Too hot bottom end" relative to what? Some other tele? Which one? What pickups? What amp? What is your bass control set at? What speaker? What volume? Have you tried adjusting the pickup height?

Anderson has been doing the same pickup mount technique for years, with no issues. Yes, it does sound a little different, but having owned and used several of that style, I would certainly not say that mounting causes a "hot bottom end".

March 9th, 2007, 04:49 PM	#1 (permalink)
trev flint TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: canada Age: 28 Posts: 82	G.E. Smith Tele I recently purchased the G.E. Smith tele. I really like how it feels and plays but I am finding that the bottom end is too hot. Now, this guitar has a custom cut-off bridge so the bridge pick up is fully exposed including the pick up hole. I think this is why the bottom is too hot. The bridge pickup is body mounted as well. Any ideas on how too ease up the lower end?...maybe replace the cut off bridge with a standard one? You can view this guitar on the Fender website. \ Thanks!

March 9th, 2007, 05:39 PM	#2 (permalink)
fullerplast Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,018	If you are saying that there is too much bass on the bridge pickup, try lowering the bass side of the pickup (screw that side into the body more). Use the center screw to level the tilt of the pickup. If you are saying that the middle position or neck position has too much bass, try lowering just the neck pickup by itself. The main discerning (non-cosmetic) feature of the GE tele is the bridge, so rather than replace the bridge plate, you may be better off just getting a different tele, or maybe trying a lower output pickup. Of course it's your guitar....

March 9th, 2007, 08:02 PM	#3 (permalink)
trev flint TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: canada Age: 28 Posts: 82	if I replaced the bridge plate to a standard one would that make it the same as a standard Tele?? I really like the extra deep neck on the guitar so I want to keep if I can!

March 9th, 2007, 08:32 PM	#6 (permalink)
lostpick Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Staten Island, NYC Posts: 1,010	G&Ls have a tone knob to cut BASS. Maybe someone knows the mod....

March 10th, 2007, 11:01 AM	#7 (permalink)
fullerplast Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,018	To be perfectly honest, "finding that the bottom end is too hot" is really not enough information for anyone to give much advice, other than maybe pickup height. We don't know what pickup (neck or bridge) you are talking about, what amp you are playing through, what volume you are playing at, what EQ settings you are using, what string gauges you use, what speaker, what other guitar you are using as a point of reference, etc. There's a whole chain of tone components starting with your pick and ending at the speaker. Most of those components are variable and can make dramatic differences in your tone. I've played a GE model long enough to know that your "bottom end" observation is not some sort of generic design issue. The GE sounded very much like a good '52 reissue with better sounding neck and middle tone and a very subtle change in the bridge top end and upper mids. Your guitar could be completely different due to wood alone, but it could also be many other things.

March 10th, 2007, 01:07 PM	#8 (permalink)
trev flint TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: canada Age: 28 Posts: 82	I am finding that both pickups are picking up the bottom end a little too hot. I read an article from GE SMITH and he said that the hotter bottom end is a result of the cut off bridge and the open cavity in the body. would that make sense??

March 10th, 2007, 02:30 PM	#9 (permalink)
fullerplast Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,018	Still too little information, really you haven't added much of anything. The quality of any advice is going to depend on how much info you provide. "Too hot bottom end" relative to what? Some other tele? Which one? What pickups? What amp? What is your bass control set at? What speaker? What volume? Have you tried adjusting the pickup height? Anderson has been doing the same pickup mount technique for years, with no issues. Yes, it does sound a little different, but having owned and used several of that style, I would certainly not say that mounting causes a "hot bottom end".