What pickups have you got planned for the build? Keeping it a pretty standard Tele configuration?
What pickups have you got planned for the build? Keeping it a pretty standard Tele configuration?
I bought this homeland kit that comes with pickups, sans any kind of research:Originally Posted by Simon Barden
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/302842316013
I was trying to complete my hardware list, and that kit covered a lot requirements in one go. I have literally no idea of the quality of the pickups, but I'm gonna assume not great.
As it's my first build I didn't want to put anything into it that I'd regret having in a potentially awful feeling/playing guitar, so I decided to just get something cheap that I could swap out later. I regret not having researching all the pitbull products, otherwise I would have purchased the TL-1 Black Pickup and Hardware Upgrade kit and saved myself a lot of money and time.
In the end I purchased all my hardware in bits and pieces from eBay, except the neck and neckplate from Pitbull, as my eBay neckplate never turned up.
Black hardware has its problem with grounding as the black finish is insulating, so you need to do a lot of scratching away at the finish in order to get the strings grounded properly.
The dimensions diagram for the bridge seems to indicate that it is top loading as well as string-through, but I can't see the rear string mounting holes. And other eBay photos for the unloaded version of the bridge and control plate show only the string-through holes.
So at some point you'll need to drill through the body. Have you got any ferrules for the bottom of the body?
If you can get it to play nicely, then it would certainly then be worth replacing the pickups. The Toneriders Pit Bull sell are excellent value for money.
The same kit is on Amazon with a lot more images:
https://www.amazon.com/Control-Telec...ct_top?ie=UTF8
I may need to adjust the bridge pup route to make it fit. I'm planning string through for this, rather than buy individual ferrules I purchased a plate style ferrule thingamabob. I'll likely recess it into the body. I figured I could use it as a guide to drill the string through holes at the very least, but I have a sinking feeling it might not match perfectly with the through holes in the bridge.... I'll check tonight.
Looks like the pickups have proper magnet pole pieces, so they could very well sound quite decent. The bridge pup also has its important baseplate.
The normal way to drill the holes is to mark out the holes on the top using the bridge, then drill the two outer E string holes all the way through, and the four inner ones 2/3 the way. Then using the bridge plate on the back of the body, align the two E string holes and mark the 4 inner ones, then drill about 1/2 the way into the body for those 4, and hopefully the holes line up. The rear holes will be in a straight line.
If your rear plate spacing doesn't match up (it should), then drilling holes at an angle that line up isn't going to be easy, so you might need to get a plate that does, or else swap to individual ferrules. I'd still drill through with the two outer holes and drill the other 4 from the back to get the holes aligned. A small difference in alignment could be taken up by using slightly over-sized holes for the plate ferrules to sit in.
I had been thinking of a few different ways to do this but the way you've mentioned sounds like the best option. Personally, I get irrationally irritated seeing ferrules that are even slightly out of line or spaced slightly incorrectly. Which means I'm a near certainty to make some kind of mistake =)
It’s one of those jobs where you really want a drill press to make it as easy as possible, but you need one with a throat that’s at least half the width of the body, which means a large drill press. If not, then use a drill stand, or else a drill guide. It’s not a job you really want to try freehand as you don’t want the holes drilled at an angle.
I'll just add that if you do happen to have a drill press, but it's not large enough like Simon described, you can use still use it to make an accurate drill guide. There's a number of YT vids that show ways of making drill guides.
Making the world a better place; one guitar at a time...
Not a problem there, I have a large pedestal drill sitting in the old guys workshop. I'll have to buy my own when I move out in a couple of years, boo.
And to briefly add to the above, when your drilling the 2 outside E holes straight through. Use a brad-point and set the depth so only the very tip goes all the way thru. Then turn the body around and finish from the back using the point you just drilled to eliminate any tear out. Your welcome! Ask me how I know?
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