easy fix, or run away? newbie help

pauleparker · April 16th, 2003, 04:42 PM

Greetings: I am looking to join the ranks of telecaster owners. A local fellow has a late 80s MIJ that could be a nice entry level guitar... or a mistake.

When the selector switch is in the middle (bridge/neck) position, only the neck plays. the other two positions work fine. My hunch is this is an easy fix, but my wife is afraid of my hunches that go bad (take lucent, for example).

thanks for your replies.

paul parker

Mark Davis · April 16th, 2003, 04:45 PM

Most of the time when this happens its the switch not the pickups. A $15 switch should fix it.

If your really worried about it take a meter with you and test the pickups for ohm readings.

Mike Better · April 16th, 2003, 05:52 PM

go for it.. it's probably the switch or wiring, but even if it is the pickups, you're prolly gonna want to replace them anyways (if they're stock)... try to get a deal cuz of the problem though

Mike

Tim Armstrong · April 16th, 2003, 10:32 PM

Yeah, get a good discount because "it's broken!", and then replace the switch (or maybe just use some contact cleaner on it!).

Oh, and play it a lot before deciding if you want to put new pickups on it, as you may just dig the ones that came with it. The conventional wisdom is that the MIJ pickups are average at best, but you never know what kinda mojo yours will have. Heck, I had a very cheap MIK Squier Tele that had an excellent bridge pickup in it...

Cheers, Tim

FrankenTex · April 16th, 2003, 11:02 PM

I am a total newbie that has read MANY posts on this very subject.
The MIJs are notorious for two things:
(1) Crappy electronics
(2) Superior fit and finish

This puts you, as a buyer, in a really good position! You see, MANY really knowledgable wizards around here just LOVE the MIJs because they are an excellent platform for modifications and upgrades. Figure about $250 (max) for (1) a 3-saddle vintage bridge (with compensated brass saddles) (2) Pickups of your choice (3) a good switch and (4) better pots.

SO ... act really doubtful and cautious about the purchase. Offer the guy $200 (Maybe $250) unless he is asking less. Tell him "everybody says the 'tronics stink and I'll have to sink hundreds more in parts and setup (which is probably true) ... Be sure to have a local luthier (mechanic) set up your rig (action) properly (another $50)

the beauty is, you will have a creamy "trick job" and will love your very own custom creation. Go for it!
=f=
(ANYONE HERE ... feel free to correct my comments or any mis-statements).

FrankenTex · April 16th, 2003, 11:07 PM

You definately WILL want a vintage style (3 saddle) bridge but I do not know if MIJs have a "String Through" type body or if the bridge replacement is an easy mod ...
... You might need to get a "Top Loader" 3 saddle or some other 3 saddle bridge that is designed to fit your MIJ without drilling, etc.

Someone here can tell you that? Any takers?

Once you get it, come back here and we will provide you with several links to parts suppliers and tell you our views on the viability and "sounds" of verious components.

=G'Luck!=

Mik · April 16th, 2003, 11:17 PM

beware of the advisor who passed on Lucent :D but invested in Enron

(so many Teles-you can pass on one that ain't quite right-find another that is)

Mik

FrankenTex · April 16th, 2003, 11:34 PM

I elected to get a MIM Classic Series '60s Tele (New $610) mainly because I am a total newbie and didn't want to become a mechanic ... just want to focus on learning to play rather than getting my ax to play right.

You (apparently) can find some good deals in pawn shops and on eBay and right here on "our" (Paul Green's) "Garage Sale". You will need to know how to identify different models. It would help greatly to have an expert mentor to shop with you and play it, check the action and setup, etc.

If you want a used one and don't want to do any (many) mods, I would suggest some of the following models for under $680 (new). In order of my preference . . .

(1) Fender Classic Series '60s Telecaster (MIM)
(2) Fender Artist Series "Muddy Waters" Signature Tele.
(3) Fender Classic Series '50s Telecaster (MIM)
(4) Fender MIJ Blue Flower or Paisley Tele ('tronics?)
(5) Fender Standard Telecaster (MIM) (Play it B4 buying)
.
AS ALWAYS ... SOMEONE CORRECT ME IF I AM OFF BASE

Smokin OP · April 16th, 2003, 11:39 PM

Paul,
I love the MIJ models. The pots & switches usually are not of the highest quality so they would need to be swapped out anyway. Good luck

OP

Scotland · April 17th, 2003, 06:29 AM

They are great guitars and a new switch is really a very minor problem and easily rectified. As someone else said here, try to get the price reduced as it is "broken", if not, then I would go for it anyway. Good luck and let us know how you get on.

Colo Springs E · April 17th, 2003, 06:54 AM

...I owned a top-loader 80s Squire Tele that was beat all to hell. Had a replaced bridge pickup (seymour duncan, not sure of the model), and as far as I know, stock otherwise. I wouldn't have changed ONE thing about that guitar, including the bridge/saddles! That thing frikkin' ROCKED, I wish I'd never sold it.
:(
-Eric

pauleparker · April 17th, 2003, 08:13 AM

and the encouragement. nice words of wisdom: it could be okay, but there are many others out there. I'm gonna make the guy an offer, expecting that it will be the switch.

a couple people wondered: it is a fender, and its not String -Through.

As a lurker for a couple months, I especially enjoy the enthusiasm that goes with the knowledge I have found on the list. thanks again for your replies

paul-e

April 16th, 2003, 04:42 PM	#1 (permalink)
pauleparker NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Northeast Missouri Posts: 5	easy fix, or run away? newbie help Greetings: I am looking to join the ranks of telecaster owners. A local fellow has a late 80s MIJ that could be a nice entry level guitar... or a mistake. When the selector switch is in the middle (bridge/neck) position, only the neck plays. the other two positions work fine. My hunch is this is an easy fix, but my wife is afraid of my hunches that go bad (take lucent, for example). thanks for your replies. paul parker

April 16th, 2003, 11:02 PM	#5 (permalink)
FrankenTex Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 369	Yep I am a total newbie that has read MANY posts on this very subject. The MIJs are notorious for two things: (1) Crappy electronics (2) Superior fit and finish This puts you, as a buyer, in a really good position! You see, MANY really knowledgable wizards around here just LOVE the MIJs because they are an excellent platform for modifications and upgrades. Figure about $250 (max) for (1) a 3-saddle vintage bridge (with compensated brass saddles) (2) Pickups of your choice (3) a good switch and (4) better pots. SO ... act really doubtful and cautious about the purchase. Offer the guy $200 (Maybe $250) unless he is asking less. Tell him "everybody says the 'tronics stink and I'll have to sink hundreds more in parts and setup (which is probably true) ... Be sure to have a local luthier (mechanic) set up your rig (action) properly (another $50) the beauty is, you will have a creamy "trick job" and will love your very own custom creation. Go for it! =f= (ANYONE HERE ... feel free to correct my comments or any mis-statements). __________________ I don't suck yet but, with lots of practice, I will suck pretty soon. You might say I am in my "Pre-Suck" phase. Dare to suck! =FrankenTex=

April 16th, 2003, 11:07 PM	#6 (permalink)
FrankenTex Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 369	PS ... MIJ bridge types You definately WILL want a vintage style (3 saddle) bridge but I do not know if MIJs have a "String Through" type body or if the bridge replacement is an easy mod ... ... You might need to get a "Top Loader" 3 saddle or some other 3 saddle bridge that is designed to fit your MIJ without drilling, etc. Someone here can tell you that? Any takers? Once you get it, come back here and we will provide you with several links to parts suppliers and tell you our views on the viability and "sounds" of verious components. =G'Luck!= __________________ I don't suck yet but, with lots of practice, I will suck pretty soon. You might say I am in my "Pre-Suck" phase. Dare to suck! =FrankenTex=

April 16th, 2003, 11:17 PM	#7 (permalink)
Mik Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,416	probably just the switch but beware of the advisor who passed on Lucent :D but invested in Enron (so many Teles-you can pass on one that ain't quite right-find another that is) Mik __________________ a "motor-bike with a touch of blood in it is better than all the riding animals on earth, because of its logical extension of our faculties, and the hint, the provocations, to excess."-T.E. Lawrence

April 16th, 2003, 11:34 PM	#8 (permalink)
FrankenTex Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 369	What is your (total) budget? I elected to get a MIM Classic Series '60s Tele (New $610) mainly because I am a total newbie and didn't want to become a mechanic ... just want to focus on learning to play rather than getting my ax to play right. You (apparently) can find some good deals in pawn shops and on eBay and right here on "our" (Paul Green's) "Garage Sale". You will need to know how to identify different models. It would help greatly to have an expert mentor to shop with you and play it, check the action and setup, etc. If you want a used one and don't want to do any (many) mods, I would suggest some of the following models for under $680 (new). In order of my preference . . . (1) Fender Classic Series '60s Telecaster (MIM) (2) Fender Artist Series "Muddy Waters" Signature Tele. (3) Fender Classic Series '50s Telecaster (MIM) (4) Fender MIJ Blue Flower or Paisley Tele ('tronics?) (5) Fender Standard Telecaster (MIM) (Play it B4 buying) . AS ALWAYS ... SOMEONE CORRECT ME IF I AM OFF BASE __________________ I don't suck yet but, with lots of practice, I will suck pretty soon. You might say I am in my "Pre-Suck" phase. Dare to suck! =FrankenTex=

April 16th, 2003, 04:45 PM	#2 (permalink)
Mark Davis Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bakersfield Ca. Age: 57 Posts: 12,257	Most of the time when this happens its the switch not the pickups. A $15 switch should fix it. If your really worried about it take a meter with you and test the pickups for ohm readings.

April 16th, 2003, 05:52 PM	#3 (permalink)
Mike Better Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Age: 27 Posts: 507	go for it.. it's probably the switch or wiring, but even if it is the pickups, you're prolly gonna want to replace them anyways (if they're stock)... try to get a deal cuz of the problem though Mike

April 16th, 2003, 10:32 PM	#4 (permalink)
Tim Armstrong Moderator Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Berlin, Maryland, USA Age: 49 Posts: 8,388	Yeah, get a good discount because "it's broken!", and then replace the switch (or maybe just use some contact cleaner on it!). Oh, and play it a lot before deciding if you want to put new pickups on it, as you may just dig the ones that came with it. The conventional wisdom is that the MIJ pickups are average at best, but you never know what kinda mojo yours will have. Heck, I had a very cheap MIK Squier Tele that had an excellent bridge pickup in it... Cheers, Tim

April 16th, 2003, 11:39 PM	#9 (permalink)
Smokin OP Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Leesburg, GA Posts: 331	Paul, I love the MIJ models. The pots & switches usually are not of the highest quality so they would need to be swapped out anyway. Good luck OP __________________ It's so country, it couldn't go pop with a mouthful of firecrackers.

April 17th, 2003, 06:29 AM	#10 (permalink)
Scotland Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Aberdeen, Scotland, Yewrup Age: 54 Posts: 6,377 3 Photos	Go for it They are great guitars and a new switch is really a very minor problem and easily rectified. As someone else said here, try to get the price reduced as it is "broken", if not, then I would go for it anyway. Good luck and let us know how you get on. __________________ All those who believe in psycho-kinesis, raise my hand !

April 17th, 2003, 06:54 AM	#11 (permalink)
Colo Springs E Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 5,026 5 Photos	Out of curiosity, Squire or Fender?..... ...I owned a top-loader 80s Squire Tele that was beat all to hell. Had a replaced bridge pickup (seymour duncan, not sure of the model), and as far as I know, stock otherwise. I wouldn't have changed ONE thing about that guitar, including the bridge/saddles! That thing frikkin' ROCKED, I wish I'd never sold it. :( -Eric __________________ "Are those live rounds?" "Seven six two millimeter... full metal jacket."

April 17th, 2003, 08:13 AM	#12 (permalink)
pauleparker NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Northeast Missouri Posts: 5	thanks for the assistance.. and the encouragement. nice words of wisdom: it could be okay, but there are many others out there. I'm gonna make the guy an offer, expecting that it will be the switch. a couple people wondered: it is a fender, and its not String -Through. As a lurker for a couple months, I especially enjoy the enthusiasm that goes with the knowledge I have found on the list. thanks again for your replies paul-e