9383 Members
50 Forums
26843 Topics
293737 Posts
Max Online: 390 @ 10/02/12 01:42 PM
|
|
|
#292440 - 01/02/12 11:31 PM
Hypothetical Build?
|
Mark P
Professional Forumite!
Registered: 21/10/09
Posts: 455
Loc: Scotland
|
So - hypothetical guitar build. 
Along the lines of:-
Vintage Modified Tele® Custom II (P90s)
Tele Custom II
Classic Series '72 Telecaster Deluxe (Humbuckers)
Tele Deluxe
So ..... guitar body .... not a standard tele.
Guitarbuild.co.uk - have a Telecaster Deluxe '72 style
Tele Deluxe Body
I notice that it's a build for a stratocaster neck?
If P90 pickups like the Custom II - could go humbucker sized P90s to be like the '72 Deluxe.
But .... non standard scratchplate. Get a normal one and modify? Get a blank one and make from scratch? Where to get the scratchplate? Not just the pickups that aren't standard, but also the electrics. 2 x volume. 2 x tone, 1 x 3-way switch.
Or like the Jim Adkins Thinline - a more minimal scratchplate.
Adkins Thinline Tele
In the past I've dealt mainly with AxesRUs for guitar builds - only standard Tele bodies and standard Tele scratchplates. Though they do have electrics kits suitable for the deluxe style Tele.
I'm just the initial stages of wondering, but there's a lot of experience of building in the members here so any thoughts would be gratefully received.
My playing is going nowhere at the moment so maybe a build would be a good thing in the fairly near future? 
I also see diyguitarshop.co.uk do a "Alder Body Jazzmaster / Jaguar -inspired guitar Builder Kit w/ 21 Fret Neck" that are designed for 2 x P90 pups.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#292449 - 02/02/12 08:38 AM
Re: Hypothetical Build?
[Re: Megi]
|
Mark P
Professional Forumite!
Registered: 21/10/09
Posts: 455
Loc: Scotland
|
Thanks Graham - I'll look forward to any thoughts you have.
I'll also dig around here on previous threads. Any pointers to good threads would be appreciated - not always easy to find the right ones, even with the search facility.
There's Tinyghost and his Jagtelemaster.
Jagtelemaster
No scratchplate - like Jocko and his Tru-caster.
... and your own Custom Telecaster parts build project with three pickup and no scratchplate.
Custom Telecaster build
Though I don't fancy the thought of four pots and no scratchplate - too much precision needed in cavity depths. 
Though I guess I don't have to use 4 pots - could be just 2 and the standard Tele control panel???
It can all get very confusing at the early stages of thinking about a project. There are so many possibilities. Once you start honing in on an idea it gets easier as there's fewer questions that need answered the further into it you get.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#292452 - 02/02/12 10:09 AM
Re: Hypothetical Build?
[Re: Mark P]
|
Megi
Old Timer
Registered: 08/07/11
Posts: 1281
Loc: Lincolnshire
|
Hi Mark - this is just my personal philosophy and biases coming in really, so take it for what it is! but I've never liked separate volume and tone controls for each pickup - I suppose the idea is you can do subtle blends of both pickups and/or you can use one setting on the neck for rhythm and then switch to a louder setting on the bridge for lead (a dated concept at best IMO). I just don't feel the urge to do either of these things! So all my Guitars (I don't think it's a coincidence) have a master volume and a master tone - even the new strat, the 3rd pot on that is used as a fade control in series mode.
So if I was contemplating a build like the Tele Deluxe or Tele Custom 2, I think I'd probably change things a bit and have the body routed for something like a standard Tele control plate maybe. That would probably mean either a different scratchplate, or maybe seperate pickup surrounds for the humbuckers/P90's, and internal routing for the wires (guitar Build can do this sort of stuff). Or another alternate might be to have the normal scratchplate but find alternative uses for the additional 2 pots (probably some sort of fancy circuit as usual!) - there may even be a good circuit you could use already on the guitar nuts 2 forum, and if not, you could ask the guys there to come up with something, they love this sort of thing!
The only other thought I have (forgive me) is that I know you already have some other Guitars with P90's, so if you went for a P90 equipped tele, what new thing would it bring to the table? Maybe (just a maybe) it's time for you to consider humbuckers, if only for the sake of variety. Just a thought though, obviously this must be your decision.
Another thought! - I'm currently talking to the Ebay chap I got my strat pickups from about the possibility of some replacement ones for my tele (his pickups have impressed me that much!) and he says he makes a Broadcaster style set for teles - apparently these use thinner 43 gauge wire and more turns on the coils, to give what he says is a tele type sound, but fuller sounding too, in his words "almost like a P90". They still look like tele pickups though. I'm currently debating whether to go for these, or more standard tele pickups. I know you did once build a standard tele that didn't work out how you hoped, but perhaps it's worth looking at the idea again with the benefit of more experience?
Enough of my thoughts for now! (all hypothetically of course...  )
Edited by Megi (02/02/12 10:10 AM)
_________________________
Graham, jazz guitar nut!
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#292453 - 02/02/12 11:00 AM
Re: Hypothetical Build?
[Re: Megi]
|
Ape09090
Old Timer
Registered: 01/12/11
Posts: 1197
Loc: South Wales
|
My tuppence,
if I was to build a guitar I would have to consider direct mounting of the pick ups to the body as I believe that adds something to the overall sound of the instrument.....
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#292454 - 02/02/12 12:30 PM
Re: Hypothetical Build?
[Re: Ape09090]
|
Megi
Old Timer
Registered: 08/07/11
Posts: 1281
Loc: Lincolnshire
|
Tell you what, how about the classic butterscotch blonde ash body, maple neck tele, black pickguard, ashtray bridge and brass saddles for that vintage tone, with a set of beefy Broadcaster style pickups, great for blues! Or maybe have the broadcaster bridge pickup, and a bigger neck rout to fit a P90 (just have to have a slightly larger hole on the pickguard) - a cool guitar or what? Ooh, suits you Sir, a guitar like that Sir, ooh!
Edited by Megi (02/02/12 01:31 PM)
_________________________
Graham, jazz guitar nut!
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#292479 - 02/02/12 07:35 PM
Re: Hypothetical Build?
[Re: Megi]
|
Mark P
Professional Forumite!
Registered: 21/10/09
Posts: 455
Loc: Scotland
|
but I've never liked separate volume and tone controls for each pickup - I suppose the idea is you can do subtle blends of both pickups
Funnily enough, something that I used to do. I still have my two semi-acoustics with the four controls. But since regularly using a two pot guitar I find now that I no longer use the extra controls in that way, and when the bridge/neck combo pickup setting is ised it's just a nuisance. I have leanings towards two pots - I'm not too fussed about fancy switching - I'm not good enough a player to really utilise that.
or maybe seperate pickup surrounds for the humbuckers/P90's, and internal routing for the wires (Guitar Build can do this sort of stuff).
I was thinking down just those lines this morning!
The only other thought I have (forgive me) is that I know you already have some other guitars with P90's, so if you went for a P90 equipped tele, what new thing would it bring to the table? Maybe (just a maybe) it's time for you to consider humbuckers, if only for the sake of variety.
Many thanks for these thoughts - forgive doesn't come into it. It is a good point you're making. I'll admit to being very confused on this. I do have humbuckers on my Hagstrom Viking Deluxe - a semi-acoustic. But I don't have a solid body guitar with 'buckers. So there is a gap in the range. However I did have a (pricey) guitar that was solid body / 'bucker, and it was my favorite for quite some while. Then I fell totally out of love with its sound - I could hardly bear to listen to some of my previous recordings with it just due to the tones. I recently checked out a magazine video demo of typical sounds of single coil / P90 / humbucker. In every instance the humbucker sound was 3rd on my list for preference. I don't want to build a guitar I don't like the sound of so you'll understand my reservations on this. Hmmm .... though maybe 'buckers with a Peter Green setup?
Oh .. and I will bear the broadcaster pups idea in mind. You have brought a lot of good thoughts to your post Graham - many thanks.
f I was to build a guitar I would have to consider direct mounting of the pick ups to the body as I believe that adds something to the overall sound of the instrument.....
Thanks for that thought - I'm with you there, only it's on a pure gut feeling and not doown to any scientific knowledge on my part. Also if I could get a good looking body, with a clear finish (I prefer a good natural wood grain body) why hide it with a plastic scratch-plate?
..........................................
Oh dear .... and I thought I'd kicked the habit. Still - it might all yet fizzle out when the realisation hits me of the work and time involved.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#292481 - 02/02/12 07:50 PM
Re: Hypothetical Build?
[Re: Megi]
|
Megi
Old Timer
Registered: 08/07/11
Posts: 1281
Loc: Lincolnshire
|
One other unrelated thing, but how do you do multiple quotes on a single post? - I've never figured it out!
_________________________
Graham, jazz guitar nut!
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#292484 - 02/02/12 10:14 PM
Re: Hypothetical Build?
[Re: Megi]
|
Ape09090
Old Timer
Registered: 01/12/11
Posts: 1197
Loc: South Wales
|
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
Moderator: stickyfiddle
|
|
FREE Pre Sale
Personalised Setup worth £55
On every guitar sold (Since
1995)
Click on the Images For Further
Details
Acoustic Guitar Setup
Electric Guitar Setup
I have also created a page to help
explain, in basic terms, why a guitar sold by me will:
Play Better
Sound Better
Feel Better
Look Better
Stay In Tune - Longer Whether buying a guitar or otherwise, I hope you find the
information of value.
|
|
|
|
ponder, ponder...
