TL-1 Build Improvements

[TheDangerMan]

Hey guys,

So this is my first post on the re-doing of my TL-1 (well, this is a new paddle neck, but an update on my telecaster will follow this thread).
Im hoping to upgrade pickups & Relic the body (Or atleast, put a contour on the body), but that will come in time.

Enjoy a progress pic of my new neck with new Fender Machineheads!

Most posts to come when I decide on pickups/ Figure out what im going to do with the body

[wokkaboy]

well done Danger looks excellent, nice upgrades !

[dingobass]

OK, So what sound are you after?
Do you want the classic Tele sound or something with more bite and growl?

If you want a classic sound, you cant go past the Tonerider Tele pups... great sound and very cost effective.

For more bite and growl you may have to shop around... Kinman, Bareknuckle or Mojo... But these are rather expensive options, and you may have to re rout the pup cavities to suit.

But remember, myself and all the guys on the forum are here to help you if needed

[Brendan]

DM,
Having put some Toneriders into my VP (bass), I'm stoked. It's now my go-to bass. Nicely manufactured and well put together. On top of that, great price.

[TheDangerMan]

Cheers Wokka!

DB, well my favourite telecaster pickup of all time would have to be the single coil sized humbucker that I have in my standard telecaster (From memory, its a DiMarzio Chopper T). But I cant seem to find any Tonerider/Entwhistle equivalent that fit that mould, and I'm pretty tight on funds for the refurb on my telecaster.
Any suggestions?

If I have no luck, I may keep an eye out for secondhand Chopper T's/Hot Rails

@Brendan - I do like the look and, from what I have heard, the sound of Toneirders so I still think that they are the forerunner for any new pickups I install

[pablopepper]

Hey Danger, check out GFS pickups. They aren't as nice as Dimarzio or Tonerider, but the price is pretty good.
http://www.guitarfetish.com/Calibrat...ter_p_150.html

[dingobass]

One way of giving the Toneriders (or any pup) more grunt is to drop a one meg ohm volume pot in.
Another way is to use a pre amp, yes, you can use use an active preamp with passive pups.
This is a great way to boost the signal and quieten down any background hum.
As for other brands of pups, there are too many to list, but I always avoid GFS gear as I have had a few bad experiences with it.
Recently had a Guitar in that had the Filletron copies in and it sounded like mud and the plating on the covers was crap... I could rub it off with my finger! (Same with a Floyd copy bridge I got from there)
Sure, the service is great from GFS (they offered to replace the Floyd) but you get what you pay for and at the end of the day GFS pups are no better than the ones supplied with PBG kits.
But that is my experience, others may have had better ones but when it comes to hardware and electrics I will not compromise on quality.

[TheDangerMan]

I have looked into GFS pickups PabloPepper but I cant seem to find many good review about them, plus around the 60-100 bracket I could probably scoop some decent secondhand dimarzios. But definitely an option for a future build on a budget.

DB - Cheers for the ideas. I think my easiest bet may be the upgrading pickup options but that offers me a whole new range of ideas for the TL-1.
Onto another idea, how difficult would it be to get a contour on the back of my Tele? Im thinking something along the lines of what you get with some deluxe models. Would I need any specialist tools?

[dingobass]

For the contour, you just need a rasp and sandpaper... should be able to do it for under 20 bucks!

[TheDangerMan]

DB- Excellent! Will be headed to the big green shed or the big blue one in the next few days to grab a new rasp!

Meanwhile - I finally got around to stringing it up this evening... Plays awesome!