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NGD Guitar Safari for Sub $350 tele

Discussion in 'Telecaster Discussion Forum' started by pinchegil, Nov 24, 2020.

  1. Nov 24, 2020 #1
    pinchegil

    pinchegil Tele-Meister Platinum Supporter

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    Roxborough Park, CO
    Over the last couple of weeks there have been a couple of articles on how pricey Guitars have become. this put me on a quest find a tele for $350 or less. Fast forward I completed the task today, for $350 I found a 2016 MIM that had a little pre-schooler distressing (child dragged guitar on the side walk). Funny thing is the guitar has a great flamed neck. It plays great after a truss rod adjustment. In my junk drawers I found a wilkerson compensated bridge and an SD Broadcaster bridge pickup. so the question is do I change the bridge for the wilkerson? and what neck pickup (humbucker or mini humbucker) would go well with the Broadcaster at the bridge
    2017-mim-tele-front.jpg 2017-mim-tele-rash.jpg 2017-mim-tele -neck.jpg
     
    OlRedNeckHippy, joe_cpwe and Jakedog like this.
  2. Nov 24, 2020 #2
    Jakedog

    Jakedog Doctor of Teleocity Ad Free Member

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    The North Coast
    That factory bridge is one of the only modern bridges I’d ditch. I generally prefer them, but the MIM standard models have thin plates, and junk saddles. I wouldn’t go vintage style more than likely, cause it’s not my preference, but just about anything is an improvement over stock on that guitar.

    Likewise, I’m not a vintage style pickup guy, either. Can’t stand the hum. But I think in this case the SD will be an improvement in most people’s estimation.
     
    pinchegil likes this.
  3. Nov 25, 2020 #3
    El Tele Lobo

    El Tele Lobo Poster Extraordinaire

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    Nice find!

    Personally, I'm not a fan of Wilkinson bridges. I've had them on 3 or 4 teles and they worked passably well, but I eventually found better alternatives. I use cold-rolled steel bridges made by Advance Music Products (AMP) in Nashville. @roknfnrol put me on to them after seeing several of his demos with them. I did some demos/comparisons on my channel too. My Wilkinsons were kind of dead sounding and after taking them off and doing a "ring" test (dangling from a thread and striking the bridge gently with the handle of a screwdriver)...I see why. The Wilkinson gave a dull clank...the AMP rang like a bell. I also find, on dual-load models, that the Wilkinsons place the top-load strings too close to the body while the AMP bridges place them more midline. AMP bridges can be had for about $25 bucks at Philadelphia Luthier Tools, who carry several of their models. They have a bunch of other models too, if you order direct from Advance Music Products (if you want more choices)...but they have a $75 minimum order when ordering direct, so you'd have to buy a couple bridges and maybe a set of their compensated saddles (which are also excellent and can also be found at Philadelphia Luthier Tools.

    As for the pickup, I understand the SD Broadcaster is a pretty good model. I've heard several people here comment favorably on them. Maybe get a Duncan neck to match it...something with a vintage wind. Personally, I like Cavalier, Bootstrap and Sunday Handwound Pickups. Any of those builders would be happy to wind something for you also that would pair well (in terms of output, phase and RWRP) with your SD Broadcaster, at comparable or better quality and probably more affordably too.

    Links:

    Philadelphia Luthier Tools:
    https://www.philadelphialuthiertools.com/telecaster-bridges/

    Advanced Music Products Catalog:
    http://www.advancedmusicproducts.com/Advanced-Music-Products_small.pdf

    Bootstrap Pickups:
    https://bootstrappickups.com/search?q=tele

    Cavalier Pickups:
    http://www.cavalierpickups.com

    Sunday Handwound Pickups:
    https://reverb.com/brand/sunday-handwound-pickups
     
    roknfnrol and pinchegil like this.
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