First build attempt

[Aadamdun]

I will be buying a bridge, most likely a hipshot tele. Still undecided on pickups as there's so many options to look at it all depends on how much I throw into this first build. In saying that I'd like to try and build a good guitar that I'm not going to want change too much if that's at all possible for me.

[Aadamdun]

sounds good Aadamdun, what pickups are you planning if not ordering stock ones ? Be worth upgrading the pots/switch/jack/wiring and copper shield the cavities. Also worth looking into an upgraded bridge.

With the pots and that can you suggest which ones to buy and do I just buy them off the store?

[Dedman]

The Tone Rider Pick ups are pretty good value for money, I'm very happy with the ones I used in my Tele.
For Pots, yea Adam has the Bournes and CTS ones in the store, get a capacitor while your there for a couple of bucks.

[Aadamdun]

The Tone Rider Pick ups are pretty good value for money, I'm very happy with the ones I used in my Tele.
For Pots, yea Adam has the Bournes and CTS ones in the store, get a capacitor while your there for a couple of bucks.

I started to try and find some reviews on Tone Riders last night and only found limited reviews in the time I had but they were positive as well.

[Andy40]

I put tonerider Hot Classics in my TLA-1R, they are awesome. I am really impressed. Sorry I haven;t had time to put up a soundclip, but i will

[Aadamdun]

Is there a particular capacitor to buy out of the 2?

[Aadamdun]

Just ordered my TL kit, upgraded with a few extras, pots, capacitor( just bought the more expensive one) shielding, tuners. Might buy the TL bridge as well when I decide on a pickups and what colour trans finish I want. Thanks everybody for the advice much appreciated. Adam

[Andy40]

Wierdy can correct me here but

Cap values depend on what kind of tone you want.

I believe the smaller the number the less highs it rolls off as you turn the tone knob from 10 to 1. .047 will roll off the highs much earlier than a .022.

If you want to keep single coils brighter, use a .22

[Aadamdun]

Yes I did want to keep them bright, thanks I'll get onto changing them if I can.

[WeirdBits]

Yep, as Andy said, the caps act as filters. The larger the capacitor value the lower its cut-off frequency. Everything below the cut-off frequency is blocked, everything above it can pass through. Roughly speaking, an 0.022uF cap has its cut-off in the high range whereas an 0.047uF's cut-off is a slightly lower at the top of the mid range. The tone pot controls how much of freq's above the cut-off are allowed to pass to ground.

The simplest solution is to get one of each cap, start with the .022 then go to the .047 if you want a darker tone.