Meet Annabel Lee

[68thinline]

After lurking here a couple of days, I had to join. What an amazing site!

So many knowledgeable sources and great builders/modders too.

I've enjoyed it so much I thought I'd introduce Annabel Lee, my 1968 Thinline Tele:

This has been my #1 for the last 15+ years. I love the tone of the humbucker neck pup (obviously not original), but I still have the original bridge pup, shown here with the original bridge plate (sorry for the blurry cell phone shot:


The bridge saddles were so badly rusted they had to be broken off. I have temprarily replaced with newer saddles and left out the bridge pup (which I rarely use because I think it needs rewinding)


Here's a shot of the neck plate:

[68thinline]

I believe these are original tuners:




And it looks like a previous owner once had a Bigsby installed


I'm toying with the idea of RESTORING this guitar to it's former glory (original factory spec), even though I hate to lose that hot humbucking neck pup.

What do y'all think? Could the tremelo have been original for a 68 thinline? I'm not sure it would have worked with the original bridge.
Should I get the bridge pup rewound and find a matching neck pup (and new pickguard), or stay with the sound that I have (and love)?

[fenderix]

Welcome to the TDPRI! You did the right thing to register - good to have you with us. You'll like it here.

That's a nice piece you've got there! If it were mine - I'd have the bridge P/U rewound and keep the neck 'bucker in it. That's all. You can obviously live with the way it looks (and sounds) and with the addition of a working bridge P/U you'd get a bigger variety soundwise.

Remember the wise words of David Lindley: "If it ain't broke - don't fix it!"

Enjoy!

[Hiker]

Welcome Aboard! You've got a real keeper in Annabele Lee! I'll be interested in the responses about the tremelo and pickguard.

[Parma_TeleMon]

Sweet guitar!! Welcome aboard!!

[68thinline]

Originally Posted by fenderix

Remember the wise words of David Lindley: "If it ain't broke - don't fix it!"

Enjoy!

Thanks Fenderix, that's good advice. I'll look into having the bridge pup rewound (maybe a little overwound to come closer to the neck pup's output).

[FrankJames]

Welcome to TDPRI !!

[Nighthawk]

Welcome to TDPRI...

Excuse me but that name.... It's a famous poem by Edgar Allen Poe. I assume you're aware? Copied it in below. Cool,

ANNABEL LEE

It was many and many a year ago,
In a kingdom by the sea,
That a maiden there lived whom you may know
By the name of ANNABEL LEE;
And this maiden she lived with no other thought
Than to love and be loved by me.

I was a child and she was a child,
In this kingdom by the sea;
But we loved with a love that was more than love-
I and my Annabel Lee;
With a love that the winged seraphs of heaven
Coveted her and me.

And this was the reason that, long ago,
In this kingdom by the sea,
A wind blew out of a cloud, chilling
My beautiful Annabel Lee;
So that her highborn kinsman came
And bore her away from me,
To shut her up in a sepulchre
In this kingdom by the sea.

The angels, not half so happy in heaven,
Went envying her and me-
Yes!- that was the reason (as all men know,
In this kingdom by the sea)
That the wind came out of the cloud by night,
Chilling and killing my Annabel Lee.

But our love it was stronger by far than the love
Of those who were older than we-
Of many far wiser than we-
And neither the angels in heaven above,
Nor the demons down under the sea,
Can ever dissever my soul from the soul
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee.

For the moon never beams without bringing me dreams
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And the stars never rise but I feel the bright eyes
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And so, all the night-tide, I lie down by the side
Of my darling- my darling- my life and my bride,
In the sepulchre there by the sea,
In her tomb by the sounding sea.

[68thinline]

Thanks for the post, Nighthawk. I was certainly aware - it's a beautiful poem.

I think you have to build a relationship with an instrument. I mean they all have their quirks, but some you come to love anyway. I've been playing this one for 15+ years and she's always been my go-to guitar for most gigs. I know I can trust her.

Fortunately my wife is very understanding ;)

[timmer114]

Welcome, and Annabel Lee is a beatiful gal. That guitar looks like it has alot of stories it could tell :)

[Groovey Records]

So you sleeping with Annabel Lee?

Quoth the Raven never more

[68thinline]

Not equipped for that, sorry. But I think she's got something going with my DeVille :)