Improvements to a Tele

Stormtiger

Joined: Dec 12, 2006
Posts: 2687
Ventura, CA
United States

Posted on Mar 31 2008 12:32 PM

image
Telecaster update.

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KingKahuna

Joined: Mar 06, 2008
Posts: 21

Posted on Apr 03 2008 12:27 AM

Hi Stormtiger What strings have you got on the Telle and Jag ?

Rich

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DennistheMenace

Joined: Dec 29, 2007
Posts: 714
Southeast, Florida

Posted on Apr 03 2008 08:50 AM

RumorsofsurF
Bigsbys rule!

I love my CIJ....

They can be a pain to set up, but they really are great. If you are trying to keep that Tele tone, I agree that the 3-saddle bridge would be best. Mine is the "F" stamped model (B5 I think), with the Jag/Jazzmaster bridge. I really like it, and it does sound a lot like a Jaguar with both pickups on. It still has the Tele spank with the bridge only...

Holy Krabbie Patties!!!!
Rumorsofsurf, when did the CIJ models come out with a Bigsby with the "F" Logo?!?!?!? I've got a '69 Custom wth the SAME SET-UP, and you just blew me out the window!!! I wasn't aware of a Bigsby being available until recently in the New Fender Catalogs. Is yours a brand new model you just bought? Damn, I thought I had a very unusual setup with my guitar, and then Fender comes along and undoes everything my guitar was supposed to represent for a late '60s! When I first saw the pic of your guitar, I said, "Hey, wait a second! How did Rumors get a pic of my Custom??!?!?

p.s. Ben, yes, the arm WILL fold enough to clear in most cases, but be careful of the cheaper "wanna be SKB" case clones. Some of the cheaper type cases will either be super tight (depth wise) or not close at all......

—

.......make the Mos' of it,
.....choose the 'rite stuff!
.........owner of 9 Mosrites
proud owner and documented:
1963 "The Ventures" Model s/n# 0038
http://www.vintagerock4.com
www.mosriteforum.com

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Stormtiger

Joined: Dec 12, 2006
Posts: 2687
Ventura, CA
United States

Posted on Apr 03 2008 10:53 AM

KingKahuna
Hi Stormtiger What strings have you got on the Telle and Jag ?

Rich

I have .11 Chromes on the Jag and .11 GHS Burnished Nickel on the Tele. The Burnished strings are a tip I got from Wronski. They are roundwound, slightly polished and less twangy tthan the D'Addarios I had been using. I think they only come in .10s and .11s but they feel heavier.

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kontiki

Joined: Apr 03, 2008
Posts: 6

Posted on Apr 03 2008 12:07 PM

Can I just use the B5 itself with a stock Tele bridge? It's more a matter of cosmetics, but I'm also looking to upgrade to an ashtray-style with brass saddles.

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Stormtiger

Joined: Dec 12, 2006
Posts: 2687
Ventura, CA
United States

Posted on Apr 04 2008 10:59 AM

kontiki
Can I just use the B5 itself with a stock Tele bridge?It's more a matter of cosmetics, but I'm also looking to upgrade to an ashtray-style with brass saddles.

I don't think so. The back of the ashtray is too high and the strings would hit it before the saddles. I would assume that you would be breaking strings since they would rub over the saddles.

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kontiki

Joined: Apr 03, 2008
Posts: 6

Posted on Apr 04 2008 09:19 PM

Yeah, I though of that yesterday... file slots, maybe?

Anyways, I don't think it would take care of the top-loading problem. Thanks, though.

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goober

Joined: Jan 12, 2007
Posts: 317
California
1 Calendar Pin

Posted on Apr 05 2008 01:12 AM

Ben:

For a case, I bought a rather cheap case by Guitar Research I found at Sam's Trash, modified the body pocket to be a little deeper, and the Bigsby fits fine without hitting the top when closed.

image

Bought mine last year from Music123. I see where they recently raised the price to $899.

Goober

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DeadRanchHands

Joined: Apr 15, 2008
Posts: 1281
1 Security Pin

Posted on Apr 15 2008 09:20 AM

I recently installed a B5 on my Tele. I'm using the standard 3-saddle brass bridge, with slots filed in the back for the strings to pass over unmolested. I do find that doing extreme bends on some of the lighter strings high on the neck can cause string slippage. I'm going to buy some slotted brass saddles to fix this.

It's definitely worth putting a Bigsby on a Tele, IMO. Tele can work great as a surf guitar - it works for a wide variety of styles. I'd love to get a Jazzmaster as a primary surf guitar, but I can't afford one right now. The Tele does the job admirably, though.

I'm currently using two GFS pickups, which I'm happy with. They're the alnico fatbody Tele pickups. I'm considering replacing the bridge pickup with a Harmonic Design Super 90 to get that P90 bridge sound.

—

http://www.reverbnation.com/thedeadranchhands

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZEW74mHjQk

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Stormtiger Joined: Dec 12, 2006 Posts: 2687 Ventura, CA	Posted on Mar 31 2008 12:32 PM image Telecaster update. Top
KingKahuna Joined: Mar 06, 2008 Posts: 21	Posted on Apr 03 2008 12:27 AM Hi Stormtiger What strings have you got on the Telle and Jag ? Rich Top
DennistheMenace Joined: Dec 29, 2007 Posts: 714 Southeast, Florida	Posted on Apr 03 2008 08:50 AM RumorsofsurF Bigsbys rule! I love my CIJ.... They can be a pain to set up, but they really are great. If you are trying to keep that Tele tone, I agree that the 3-saddle bridge would be best. Mine is the "F" stamped model (B5 I think), with the Jag/Jazzmaster bridge. I really like it, and it does sound a lot like a Jaguar with both pickups on. It still has the Tele spank with the bridge only... Holy Krabbie Patties!!!! Rumorsofsurf, when did the CIJ models come out with a Bigsby with the "F" Logo?!?!?!? I've got a '69 Custom wth the SAME SET-UP, and you just blew me out the window!!! I wasn't aware of a Bigsby being available until recently in the New Fender Catalogs. Is yours a brand new model you just bought? Damn, I thought I had a very unusual setup with my guitar, and then Fender comes along and undoes everything my guitar was supposed to represent for a late '60s! When I first saw the pic of your guitar, I said, "Hey, wait a second! How did Rumors get a pic of my Custom??!?!? p.s. Ben, yes, the arm WILL fold enough to clear in most cases, but be careful of the cheaper "wanna be SKB" case clones. Some of the cheaper type cases will either be super tight (depth wise) or not close at all...... — .......make the Mos' of it, .....choose the 'rite stuff! .........owner of 9 Mosrites proud owner and documented: 1963 "The Ventures" Model s/n# 0038 http://www.vintagerock4.com www.mosriteforum.com Top
Stormtiger Joined: Dec 12, 2006 Posts: 2687 Ventura, CA	Posted on Apr 03 2008 10:53 AM KingKahuna Hi Stormtiger What strings have you got on the Telle and Jag ? Rich I have .11 Chromes on the Jag and .11 GHS Burnished Nickel on the Tele. The Burnished strings are a tip I got from Wronski. They are roundwound, slightly polished and less twangy tthan the D'Addarios I had been using. I think they only come in .10s and .11s but they feel heavier. Top
kontiki Joined: Apr 03, 2008 Posts: 6	Posted on Apr 03 2008 12:07 PM Can I just use the B5 itself with a stock Tele bridge? It's more a matter of cosmetics, but I'm also looking to upgrade to an ashtray-style with brass saddles. Top
Stormtiger Joined: Dec 12, 2006 Posts: 2687 Ventura, CA	Posted on Apr 04 2008 10:59 AM kontiki Can I just use the B5 itself with a stock Tele bridge?It's more a matter of cosmetics, but I'm also looking to upgrade to an ashtray-style with brass saddles. I don't think so. The back of the ashtray is too high and the strings would hit it before the saddles. I would assume that you would be breaking strings since they would rub over the saddles. Top
kontiki Joined: Apr 03, 2008 Posts: 6	Posted on Apr 04 2008 09:19 PM Yeah, I though of that yesterday... file slots, maybe? Anyways, I don't think it would take care of the top-loading problem. Thanks, though. Top
goober Joined: Jan 12, 2007 Posts: 317 California	Posted on Apr 05 2008 01:12 AM Ben: For a case, I bought a rather cheap case by Guitar Research I found at Sam's Trash, modified the body pocket to be a little deeper, and the Bigsby fits fine without hitting the top when closed. image Bought mine last year from Music123. I see where they recently raised the price to $899. Goober Top
DeadRanchHands Joined: Apr 15, 2008 Posts: 1281	Posted on Apr 15 2008 09:20 AM I recently installed a B5 on my Tele. I'm using the standard 3-saddle brass bridge, with slots filed in the back for the strings to pass over unmolested. I do find that doing extreme bends on some of the lighter strings high on the neck can cause string slippage. I'm going to buy some slotted brass saddles to fix this. It's definitely worth putting a Bigsby on a Tele, IMO. Tele can work great as a surf guitar - it works for a wide variety of styles. I'd love to get a Jazzmaster as a primary surf guitar, but I can't afford one right now. The Tele does the job admirably, though. I'm currently using two GFS pickups, which I'm happy with. They're the alnico fatbody Tele pickups. I'm considering replacing the bridge pickup with a Harmonic Design Super 90 to get that P90 bridge sound. — http://www.reverbnation.com/thedeadranchhands http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZEW74mHjQk Top

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Improvements to a Tele