Anybody modded their axe?

[bucknaked]

Repost from the lounge (thanks to democracyindanger for showing me this forum).

Have a telecaster myself, and am looking to replace the neck PU with a PAF humbucker. Love the twang of the bridge pickup, and don't want to lose it, but would like some versatility.

Anyway, this involves routing, and a lot of balls to take a one to my guitar.

Just wondering if anybody here has modded theirs, or any other guitar/bass for that matter. Any tips would be greatly appreciated

[Gold Metal Flake]

1. Is this a real Tele?

You'll be killing the value if it is. The Tele Custom from the 1970's with the three-bolt neck has a neck position humbucker with a cavity big enough to mount a PAF. On the other hand, the Fernandes guitars are made in the same factories as the modern Fenders and are set up by hand once they arrive in the US. They make a great guitar to mod.

[bucknaked]

2. No, it isn't, and awesome guess on the repro brand!

Fernandes, butterscotch.

I'm a bass player, originaly, and bought this one through a guy at work. Was after a different sound when I bought it, but got it anyway, because I also love the sound of the tele bridge pickup.

[Gold Metal Flake]

3. Cool. You can mod the shit outta those!

I have not done mods. I'm an amp guy. This forum does not see a lot of traffic, but you will get an answer. Might also take a look at Harmonyn Central. http://www.harmony-central.com/

[ProfessorGAC]

4. Yep!

I have an old 1972 Strat that was COMPLETELY reworked. I did everything myself. Of course, putting a new neck and pickups in a strat is nothing, but. . .

I added a Kahler. So, i had to do the routing on the body so the larger bridge block would fit, and then i had to carve a slot in the headstock of a bird's-eye maple neck (Warmouth) to install the bridge lock.

One of the pickups is a stacked humbucker (bridge) but the other two are just Duncan SSL-1's which are just meant to sound like a 50's Strat.

All i can recommend, especially if you're as clumsy with tools as am i, is to use the router slowly. You can always go back and take out an extra 1/32nd of an inch a time until the new stuff fits. But, if you make it too big, that's a bummer. The one thing on a Tele, though is that the pickguard will cover any minor overcuts. The total amount of wood is enough that you'd have to go insane with the router to affect the tone. So, you're pretty safe there. As an example, you couldn't get me to allow a router within 10 feet of my JS. No pickguard, tranparent finish of really high quality basswood. Anything that ruined that finish would make my suicidal! (Well, other than pick scratches. It is, afterall, a tool, not an artwork.)

If you're not impatient and have any skill with power tools, you should be able to do it. If i could do it, anybody can!
The Professor

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

7. Have you seen the hollow body strat bodies at Warmoth?

I'm thinking of getting a hollowed out telecaster. Supposedly the tone is greatly improved and so is the sustain, without increasing any feedback. It's not a true hollowbody with an arched top, but involves the cutting of chambers inside the guitar and gluing on a flat front piece.

[ProfessorGAC]

9. Haven't Seen Their Version, But. . .

. . .i played a highline Fender version of the semi-hollow. It was a terrific guitar, but that was after i told the guy it needed to be better set-up. He said "Have at it!" So, back into his workshop i went and when i was done, he didn't want to sell it anymore. It sounded that good and played so nicely.
The Professor

[greyl]

5. Here's one I'm working on

for the second time. It ended up under a blanket on the couch and someone sat on it and splintered the neck. It began life as a Kramer "Eddie Van Halen" strat copy (that red white and black thing) and I couldn't bear that, so my first step was painting it. Well actually my first step was to take an air-powered sander to it. Looking for less noise, I replaced the original hot pickup with an emg, which I now regret doing.
So anyway, now I have a new Fender neck and nice new volume knob but I want to spend some more time on the finish before choosing the rest of the hardware.

[leftofthedial]

6. I don't know. maybe we should axe a mod

[bucknaked]

8. Just got the Seymour-Duncan SH-55, yesterday. Going to be...

...an interesting trip to the garage.

Like said, above. Glad the pickguard will cover up all the butchery.

[retread]

10. Replaced the tusq saddle and bridge pins with bone. n/t