brando75
TDPRI Member
I want to modify a Standard Telecaster. 2017 mim...tuners are the same and wood is the same as Mia ....any ideas??
Modify a Standard Telecaster mim
- Thread starter brando75
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Uhhh, modify for what? Kind of a broad question there - what are you looking to get?
BritishBluesBoy
Former Member
It's a very slippery slope. You'll start modding your MIM, then realize it's just not working out like you had imagined and will start looking for other things to mess with. You'll buy a used MIJ Tele and mess with that. Still not quite happy you'll discover Warmoth and order a bunch of expensive stuff from them. Sadly you still won't be satisfied. Then you discover USACG, Glendale and Callaham and you'll spend a fortune on parts from them, you will assemble several partscasters that you absolutely LOVE but by this time you will have wasted a lot of time and a TON of money. Take my advice, skip all the BS and go straight to USACG and build the guitar you really REALLY want now.
Shall I explain how I know all this...?
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Shall I explain how I know all this...?
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This sounds familiar
Papa Joe
Friend of Leo's
The one mod I almost always do first and early on is a 4 way..
jvin248
Doctor of Teleocity
.
+1 for the 4-way. Electrosocket and switchcraft jack are good, try to set the jack so it's just under the edge of the electrosocket bowl so you can stab the cable in there without looking.
Find the youtube videos of Joe Walsh setting up a Gibson guitar and pay attention to the pickup height balancing he does and use the techniques on your Tele.
And ... reverse that control plate!
+1 for the 4-way. Electrosocket and switchcraft jack are good, try to set the jack so it's just under the edge of the electrosocket bowl so you can stab the cable in there without looking.
Find the youtube videos of Joe Walsh setting up a Gibson guitar and pay attention to the pickup height balancing he does and use the techniques on your Tele.
And ... reverse that control plate!
Ripradiant
Tele-Afflicted
The only thing I'd change is add USA tele pickups. Just curious...how do you know that the tuners and the wood are the same?
Randypttt
Friend of Leo's
+1 on the pups. Imho that's all they need.
I don't have a MIM, I have a Classic Vibe that I think is great, but if I did get a MIM I would put a Twisted Tele pickup in the neck, a Nocaster pickup at the bridge, and put in a Electrosocket jack. I'd throw down $200 to have the neck PLEK'D, and I'd call that a perfect Telecaster.
PLEK'ed?
Look it up, I've had two Strats PLEK'D and it's a fantastic process. Makes your neck play like butter! A short video about it-
10thoufirst
Tele-Holic
I enjoyed my MIM Standard for the couple of years I had it and to start with I just set it up and played it. Some months later I decided that I wanted a more "vintage" sound as the standard pickups, whilst being excellent, were a bit too powerful for my liking (they are ceramics, as I'm sure you know). So I decided to change them for Fender Original Vintage pickups and they worked perfectly for me. The only reason I changed that guitar was as a part-exchange for a new AV. MIMs are great.
I was shopping for a tele , a while ago , went to the local music shop and played thru a lot of them. Ended up with a MIM standard, felt good , liked the neck. The pups is going to be replaced and i changed the bridge for an (excellent) wilkinson 3 piece comp. love the playability and action of this guitar.
Other than removing the poly off the neck, the only mod I've done is finally going to the CS Twisted Tele neck /Broadcaster bridge pups. It's awesome now and can't imagine any other changes. I have the FSR with the brass saddles FWIW.
Based on the tone chasing adventure I went on for the last year with my parts caster (which included pretty much everything that's been suggested and then some), I'd suggest:
Twisted Tele neck + Nocaster bridge
-or-
Tonerider Vintage Plus set
Vintage style bridge with brass compensated barrels
4-Way switch for the Bridge/Neck in series
Electrosocket jack
I'd also shield as necessary, add a tusq nut and maybe upgrade the tuners but that's just my preference.
Twisted Tele neck + Nocaster bridge
-or-
Tonerider Vintage Plus set
Vintage style bridge with brass compensated barrels
4-Way switch for the Bridge/Neck in series
Electrosocket jack
I'd also shield as necessary, add a tusq nut and maybe upgrade the tuners but that's just my preference.
brando75
TDPRI Member
Check Fenders web site...mim uses alder and the tuners are the same, as per photos they provide. If do a mod, it would be pick ups for sure. Maybe change the nut.
brando75
TDPRI Member
I had a MIM stratocaster for many years. I sold it and put the money towards a MIA stratocaster....world of a difference. Then purchased a MIA Telecaster with natural finish, ash body and custom shop pick ups.
This being said, I forgot about my stratocaster. The Telecaster is such a great guitar that I would defiantly purchase another one. I recently saw a MIM brown burst for 600$. I want to get it and change a few things on it.
This being said, I forgot about my stratocaster. The Telecaster is such a great guitar that I would defiantly purchase another one. I recently saw a MIM brown burst for 600$. I want to get it and change a few things on it.
Ripradiant
Tele-Afflicted
I'd be weary of spending $600 on a MIM strat because for that price or just a little more you can get a pre-owned USA strat.
brando75
TDPRI Member
600$ for a MIM tele...in QC it's a pretty good price new. An American Standard goes for double the $$$.... but then again if your going to lay some cash down on a guitar, why not get something worth it.
Cheers!
