More Tele Mod's aka NASHVILLE BLACKOUT

[t_ross33]

After upgrading the p'ups in my Strat to Tex-Mex's and the successful completion of my Tele build project, I'm itchin' to mod something else. Next to go under the knife is going to be my "Modified" Vintage Modified (a little history HERE)

Currently sports a GFS Lil puncher Modern Vintage p'up in the bridge and a GFS Dream 90 in the neck. I really like the Dream 90, but I find I don't use it that much live. I've been GASing for a Nashville Tele for a while so...

Middle and neck p'up from my MIM Strat (see above) and add black covers - may need to route body for the middle p'up
New black/white/black pickguard - Nashville configuration
Fender "Delta" no-load 250K Tone pot - takes the tone pot and cap out of the circuit on "10"
50's Vintage wiring mod (connect the tone to the output of the volume pot instead of the input)
5-way switch (bridge/bridge North coil and middle parallel/middle/middle and neck/neck)
Black Strat volume and tone knobs (just to be different)

NASHVILLE BLACKOUT - should be a tone monster! Once all the parts get here I'll break down the Tele and start with the pics. Stay tuned.

[bcdon***]

NASHVILLE BLACKOUT - should be a tone monster! Once all the parts get here I'll break down the Tele and start with the pics. Stay tuned.

Looking forward to seeing your progress on this.

[t_ross33]

Stripped down and masked off. Ready for surgery.


Just a little off the top...


Tools of the trade...


A little bit lighter now...


Getting all wired up...

[t_ross33]

Introducing the "Nashville Blackout" Tele


One tiny issue with how I have it wired up... the number 2 position doesn't split the bridge humbucker coil (for bridge/middle in parallel) I have to do some more digging to find a wiring diagram. I was going to use the Fender HSS diagram, but I have to use a PCB style switch (with the solder terminals in a row) as a Strat style blade switch will not fit in the control cavity.

Other than that, I'm pretty happy with the tonal options available. A fun way to spend an afternoon

[sunvalleylaw]

Cool! Looks like it rocks! I like the swapped plate and knobs too.

[Ch0jin]

That's a bad-*ss Tele! Looks great, I do love the playing cards too

[bcdon***]

Great work!

[FrankenFretter***]

That's freakin' sweet! I love it.

[marnold***]

Cool! I don't think I'd have the guts to do that routing. Now you just need to play this with it:

[Duffy]

Or this one. A couple beautiful parts.

[Duffy]

Or this one. Watch Prince on his tele at the end. Nice tele too.

[Katastrophe]

Looks awesome! Great work.

[t_ross33]

Got the switching pretty much figured out. Still wasn't able to figure out how to split the coil in the No. 2 position (and I wired it every way from Sunday)... BUT I did figure something else out. In my search I discovered that many (most? all?) GFS humbuckers use Seymour Duncan wiring. A wiring diagram on the SD site for an HSS config mentioned that the "green" and "black" wires should be reversed if using it with Fender pickups. I reversed the wiring and PRESTO! the No. 2 position quacks like a duck! Sweet, sweet tones, lots of options. Bright and punchy without being ice-pick piercing, quacky in 2 and 4 and lots and lots of twang when you need it.

Still my No. 1. I'm going to have a lot of fun with this mod. Oh yeah, I also added a "Custom" neck plate from Greasy Groove. I figured it was only appropriate as the only original thing left is the body (and even that has been routed out for the middle p'up).

I'll try to get some better pics up... and maybe even some sound clips.