tlm3210
Tele-Meister
I love the Squier '51 concept. Thin body, Telecaster control layout. I'm not that impressed with the neck on the few I've tried, and I really want a tone control. I like the stock pickups, but I wanted a completely different sound. So here goes......
I purchased a very nice '51 body and bridge on Ebay. I used a Squier Vintage Modified neck with a 7.25" radius that I kept from another guitar that I like very much. I shot a couple of coats of lacquer on it and vintage tuners were fitted. I ordered a control plate from a Fender bass that looks very similar but that is drilled for three controls. I hoped it would be exactly the same measurements as the stock plate. Drat, its narrower and looks odd with the stock pickguard. Ok, since I'm ordering a new pickguard anyway I might was well have it made any way I want. I decided on a humbucker for the neck. I traced out what I wanted and had it made. I used the stock rotary pickup selector in the bottom hole of the control plate with a set screw tele knob positioned so that the set screw is a position indicator. The rest is basic tele, full size 500K pots with an .047 cap, tone in the middle and volume at the top. I wasn't interested in splitting the bridge humbucker like a stock '51 does, so the push-pull pot went by-by. All those controls won't fit the body cavity, so I used a template to carefully route the control cavity just enough so it all fit. I used a humbucker template from StewMac to route out the neck pickup cavity. I have a GFS Filtertron type Nashville bridge pickup I like very much so I ordered the matching neck pickup. New wiring, Switchcraft jack, setup and I'm good to go.
So how does it all work? Its a natural. The Nashville humbuckers have a sweet tone and I love the neck. I have all the controls I wanted in the perfect position (I hate the stock layout on a Stratocaster). I like something different, this certainly is (I'm not offended if someone uses some of my ideas). I have put together quite a few Frankencasters, this one is the best yet. I actually prefer it over my more expensive guitars. I played it in the church band on Sunday (I'm not that great but they tolerate me), I think the vintage tone blends perfect with the other instruments. Don't get me wrong, when I'm at home it can rock out as well.
Check out the picture.
I purchased a very nice '51 body and bridge on Ebay. I used a Squier Vintage Modified neck with a 7.25" radius that I kept from another guitar that I like very much. I shot a couple of coats of lacquer on it and vintage tuners were fitted. I ordered a control plate from a Fender bass that looks very similar but that is drilled for three controls. I hoped it would be exactly the same measurements as the stock plate. Drat, its narrower and looks odd with the stock pickguard. Ok, since I'm ordering a new pickguard anyway I might was well have it made any way I want. I decided on a humbucker for the neck. I traced out what I wanted and had it made. I used the stock rotary pickup selector in the bottom hole of the control plate with a set screw tele knob positioned so that the set screw is a position indicator. The rest is basic tele, full size 500K pots with an .047 cap, tone in the middle and volume at the top. I wasn't interested in splitting the bridge humbucker like a stock '51 does, so the push-pull pot went by-by. All those controls won't fit the body cavity, so I used a template to carefully route the control cavity just enough so it all fit. I used a humbucker template from StewMac to route out the neck pickup cavity. I have a GFS Filtertron type Nashville bridge pickup I like very much so I ordered the matching neck pickup. New wiring, Switchcraft jack, setup and I'm good to go.
So how does it all work? Its a natural. The Nashville humbuckers have a sweet tone and I love the neck. I have all the controls I wanted in the perfect position (I hate the stock layout on a Stratocaster). I like something different, this certainly is (I'm not offended if someone uses some of my ideas). I have put together quite a few Frankencasters, this one is the best yet. I actually prefer it over my more expensive guitars. I played it in the church band on Sunday (I'm not that great but they tolerate me), I think the vintage tone blends perfect with the other instruments. Don't get me wrong, when I'm at home it can rock out as well.
Check out the picture.
Attachments
Last edited:
