Anybody here play a telecaster? Modded it?

[bucknaked]

Have one 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.

[Richard Steele]

1. Are you married to the PAF idea?

Lots of stacked humbuckers should drop right in
without altering your guitar.

[bucknaked]

2. Yeah, pretty much am.

Want the older, classic LP sound (well as close as possible), along with retaining the twang of the tele when desired.

Haven't heard from anybody with experience with the stacked PU though.

[asthmaticeog]

9. You won't get the classic LP sound even with a PAF.

Or anything close, even. The difference in sound between Gibsons and Fenders has more to do with scale length and the angle of the strings at the nut & the bridge than with the pickups. I had a Tele with an HB at the neck, and there IS a signifcant difference when you swap out the pickup - it's a much fuller sound in the low mids - but if you want the classic LP sound, what you need is an LP, a Tele simply isn't built to produce the overtones that an LP gets.

If you want to do it, don't sweat the rout too much; I went back to the original pickup configuration after awhile (not really original, Seymour Duncan replicas, which are superb), and the rout wasn't really a problem. Then again, mine was an '80s Japanese model - if yours is vintage or otherwise collectible, you might want to reconsider.

As for stacked or split-rail humbuckers, I have one in my Strat (a DiMarzio, at the bridge) and I LOVE it. It might be worth a try if you're really skittish about routing. I *think* Seymour Duncan has a stacked humbucker made specifically for the Tele neck position.

On edit: Don't know if you're looking to buy, but a Gretsch with Filtertron pickups can get a range of sounds from twang to crunch. They're sonically very versatile.

[bucknaked]

12. Thanks for the reply!

Yeah, figured it'd be a stretch getting the sound of an LP.

Still though, I'm looking for a fatter sound, and when I got this guitar (nowhere, near a vintage piece), I was after a different sound, but I eventually fell in love with the twangy sound of the tele.

Hoping I could still get the sound I'm looking for with a PAF HB through on this piece though, and with the money I spent on this one, wouldn't mind having the pickguard covering the eventual deviations of the router.

[democracyindanger]

3. Nope, untouched Strat here, but

didja know about the Musicians' Group?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=256

You'll probably get a good and more timely answer in there.

[bucknaked]

4. Hey, thanks, repost there!

n/m

[chaska]

5. Don't DIY it...

unless you have experience with one. And use a template.

On second thought, hire a pro. I've seen too many boogered up pickup routes.

[Chemical Bill]

6. Why not get a Les Paul?

Me, I have a strat and a "Les Money" (Austin knockoff). Repeat this mantra as you meditate: more guitars, more guitars, more guitars, more guitars, more guitars....

Bill

[tuvor]

7. Ask in the musician's forum. n/t

[bucknaked]

8. Thanks, I did.

Didn't know there was such a thing before tonight!

[tuvor]

10. I had a hunch.

Good luck! :)

[LaCrosseDem]

11. mine remains as-built and gonna stay that way

but good luck!