software

The Canadacaster (Fender MIJ 60's Tele Custom with a red maple leaf on it) is the neglected middle child of my collection, between good ol' Number One and my quot;new babyquot;, the lovely sunburst Strat - not to mention the Warmoth LP that's on the way. I barely play it anymore, which is really a shame because it's such a great guitar. Part of the problem is the pickup switch is broken, and only the bridge position works reliably. I'm also not satisfied with the neck pup's tone, and I wish it were a bit more versatile. Other than that, it's an outstanding instrument.

So here's what I'd like to do right away:

1. Replace that !@#$% switch with a working one (I have tried fixing it by bending the pins, but it keeps breaking).

2. Replace the neck pickup with something more interesting, either a P90, a mini humbucker, or a single-sized humbucker.

And maybe a few months down the road, I'd also like to:

3. Replace the bridge pickup with something tapped, and wire it through a push/pull pot.

So if anyone has suggestions for the neck position, or which tapped Tele bridge you like (Hot or Quarter Pound), I'd like to hear them.

Thanks!

SD Custom Mini-Hum, Custom Shop BG-1400!

^ Thanks, unfortunately I don't think I'm willing to spend custom shop $$$, so the BG-1400 is out. Good suggestions though.

GFS have a set of Blade type Tele pickups that are supposed to be like Bardens (Could just be looks tho) I have one in my Kramer (Tele Shape etc) and I'm looking to get the neck version soon. They sell for about $30 US each. They could help make your Tele Interesting...

from : localhost/store.guitarfetish.com/catepisethle.html

They make a quot;Modern Vintagequot; and a quot;Cool Vintagequot; version also...

Do what I did. I have a MIJ Thinline and I installed a Hot Tele lead with a tap and a nickel Pearly Gates in the neck.

I wired it up using a standard 5 way strat switch. In position 1 I get the tapped bridge output, pos. 2 gives me tapped lead neck, pos. 3 is the neck by itself, pos. 4 is the full STL-2 with the PG, and pos. 5 is the Hot Lead on its own.

I also use a push/pull pot to split the PG, giving me 3 more sounds.

With this set up (and my GT-8), I can do country twang, Keef style chording, REM style jangle, fat blues leads (clean or dirty), STP style grind, and even some nu-metal chunk with the tone rolled back.

I highly recommend this combo.


Originally Posted by Benjy_26Do what I did. I have a MIJ Thinline and I installed a Hot Tele lead with a tap and a nickel Pearly Gates in the neck.

I wired it up using a standard 5 way strat switch. In position 1 I get the tapped bridge output, pos. 2 gives me tapped lead neck, pos. 3 is the neck by itself, pos. 4 is the full STL-2 with the PG, and pos. 5 is the Hot Lead on its own.

I also use a push/pull pot to split the PG, giving me 3 more sounds.

With this set up (and my GT-8), I can do country twang, Keef style chording, REM style jangle, fat blues leads (clean or dirty), STP style grind, and even some nu-metal chunk with the tone rolled back.

I highly recommend this combo.

That sounds really cool. I can't do a full-sized hum though (anything bigger than a P90 will compromise the maple leaf logo), but a mini hum or single-sized hum would work fine. Couple of questions for you:

1. Is that a super switch? I can't see how you would get those switching options otherwise, but then again I'm no ArtieToo

2. How does that hot tele lead sound tapped? Compare it to a vintage Tele lead type of pickup if possible.

Thanks!

1. Normal 5 way switch and a push pull pot to split the Pearly. The schematic on the SD site is the one I use.

2. Think Jim Compilongo and the 10 Gallon Cats. Bright and twangy, quite good actually.

Just connect the tapped output to the quot;bridgequot; position, neck to the quot;middlequot; position and the full output bridge to the quot;neckquot; position of the standard 5-way Strat switch. The middle position would actually be the output from the push/pull that splits the humbucker.

Sounds cool...

Ok, I get it now. Thanks guys.

One more question: is there any point in splitting a single-sized hum? I can't imagine it sounding that good.


Originally Posted by ratherdashingOk, I get it now. Thanks guys.

One more question: is there any point in splitting a single-sized hum? I can't imagine it sounding that good.On their own, they're OK, not great, but when combined with another pickup, they sound fantastic.

A friend of mine has a JB Jr in the bridge of his Musicman Albert Lee sig. guitar paired with a Dimarzio VV Blues in the neck (no mid pickup) and they sound great together with the JB wired in parallel.


Originally Posted by Benjy_26On their own, they're OK, not great, but when combined with another pickup, they sound fantastic.

A friend of mine has a JB Jr in the bridge of his Musicman Albert Lee sig. guitar paired with a Dimarzio VV Blues in the neck (no mid pickup) and they sound great together with the JB wired in parallel.

Sweet, thanks. Now I need to decide which single coil hum to get. I doubt I'll bother splitting it.


Originally Posted by ratherdashingSweet, thanks. Now I need to decide which single coil hum to get. I doubt I'll bother splitting it.Are you getting it for the neck?

If so, I'd suggest a mini humbucker. I have a SM-1 in my Fernandez 50's style axe paired with a JD Lead and it's great. It walks the line between a single coil and a PAF class pickup very well.

If you want to split it, go with the SM-2 or -3.


Originally Posted by Benjy_26Are you getting it for the neck?

If so, I'd suggest a mini humbucker. I have a SM-1 in my Fernandez 50's style axe paired with a JD Lead and it's great. It walks the line between a single coil and a PAF class pickup very well.

If you want to split it, go with the SM-2 or -3.

Yeah, it will be for the neck. I think I'll go either Hot tapped or QP tapped for the bridge.

I was thinking of a mini hum as well, but now I'm leaning towards a single-sized hum, or maybe a Cool Rails. I will have to listen to some clips and ponder it.