Imma gut my Player Plus

[Primo Don]

Morning! First, I know ultimately it's up to me what I do but I'm interested in hearing opinions.

I've pined for a butterscotch Tele for a long time and have been thinking a Nash T-52 but I found a used PP Nashville Tele and was able to buy it for an absolute song. I'm not crazy about the noiseless pups, I have a Strat for the positions 2 & 4 tones, and it has some grounding issue anyway. My thought is that I gut it and make it the blackguard I've always wanted. I'm thinking swapping the pups, bridge (Callaham (maybe) 3-barrel), control plate/electronics, single-ply Bakelite PG. I'd keep the locking tuners, me thinks. (I'm not entering into any "period-correct" competition.) Two questions:

What do you think?

Would you also change the nut at this point?

 

[Fenderdad1950]

The guitar shown looks fine to me

 

[bgmacaw]

Other than perhaps a pickup swap to get the tones you want...

 

[Fret Fretterson]

How do you like the feel of the neck? If it were me, I wouldn’t hesitate to put money into it if I really got along with the neck.

 

[nickmsmith]

Yeah that’s fine! I wouldn’t change the nut, but a pickup swap or bridge swap is not overkill. I changed one of my 3 pickup Teles back to 2.

 

[John C]

Sounds like a good plan for the Player Plus. I wouldn't necessarily change the nut as long as it's working fine for you.

 

[Peegoo]

Fender guitars are modular for a reason.

Do what you like and to heck with anyone else's opinion.

Including mine!

 

[Killing Floor]

If the nut needs any work at all beyond widening a slot for your preferred gauge I’d replace it. But only because it’s the same effort to to significant nut filing as cutting a new one. But if it’s pretty good leave it alone. @Peegoo is right. It’s modular and there is an industry built around modding these guitars. Do it if you’ll like it better.

 

[Primo Don]

How do you like the feel of the neck? If it were me, I wouldn’t hesitate to put money into it if I really got along with the neck.

Neck is great, actually!

 

[_dave_]

Morning! First, I know ultimately it's up to me what I do but I'm interested in hearing opinions.

I've pined for a butterscotch Tele for a long time and have been thinking a Nash T-52 but I found a used PP Nashville Tele and was able to buy it for an absolute song. I'm not crazy about the noiseless pups, I have a Strat for the positions 2 & 4 tones, and it has some grounding issue anyway. My thought is that I gut it and make it the blackguard I've always wanted. I'm thinking swapping the pups, bridge (Callaham (maybe) 3-barrel), control plate/electronics, single-ply Bakelite PG. I'd keep the locking tuners, me thinks. (I'm not entering into any "period-correct" competition.) Two questions:

What do you think?

Would you also change the nut at this point?

I’m in the process of changing my PP 2 pickup. I haven’t felt the absolute need to change the nut but eventually may try a bone nut. Now it is fine for me.
Swapped PUs bridge controls tuners pickguard output jack … I love the neck and body and the color is growing on me. Aged CAR.
Next tele may be custom or a partscaster from the beginning…. Live and learn.

 

[Primo Don]

I’m in the process of changing my PP 2 pickup. I haven’t felt the absolute need to change the nut but eventually may try a bone nut. Now it is fine for me.
Swapped PUs bridge controls tuners pickguard output jack … I love the neck and body and the color is growing on me. Aged CAR.
Next tele may be custom or a partscaster from the beginning…. Live and learn.

Tell me about your new PG. Do the standard ones work or did it need to be MIM-specific?

 

[_dave_]

Fender official ‘guards fit fine. Seems like most of the ‘Mexico parts are like USA standard imperial and not metric.
Output jack is imperial, iirc.

PGs I have tried all fit fine:
Mint green, 3-ply black and parchment. All fit the stock holes. I just wish they wouldn’t have been drilled so big at the factory. I had to put toothpicks and glue (a few picks at that) to get the screws tight. Just glad can’t be seen.

 

[telemnemonics]

Is that six saddle bridge a three screw?
Aside from bridge compatibility, mod to your hearts content!

 

[_dave_]

Bridge is 4 screw.
I changed mine to a vintage style w/ brass barrels. Love it.

 

[Fenderdad1950]

I have always balked at buying a medium priced guitar, then converting it to one's own preference. I am of the frugal money spending group. I personally have the viewpoint that doing such, generally relegates one to buying lower priced guitars coming out of Indonesia & China. I figure if one is going to spend $850 to $950 (player plus range) for a new guitar, one should get what one likes. But you mentioned 'an absolute song' .... which means you may have gotten for as low as $450, which places it in budget category. Then you can dump another $400 into it, to make it just the way you like it and keep it in the Player range price. I bought a 2021 butterscotch blackguard and it checked all the boxes for me.

 

[Dismalhead]

I say go for it. Should be a great platform.

The nut - depends on what the stock material is. If it's plastic, by all means replace it.

 

[Primo Don]

She’s done! Here are the mods:

Bakelite PG
Loller ‘52 pups
Fender bridge w Callaham saddles (steel/brass)
Emerson controls
Copper shielded throughout
Proper set up: intonation, fret leveling, TUSQ nut

It’s NGD all over again!

 

[1 21 gigawatts]

Right on. I've thought about doing something similar, because it seems like the best used deals are on Nashville Teles.

 

[ponycar]

You nailed it. Good job!

 

[Echo79]

Wow you didn’t mess around. Awesome. Looks great, bet it sounds even better.