Great video. Let me shed some light on the stiffness you are feeling in your Telecaster from my experience as a luthier. There is a correlation of stiffness to break angle as well as string height to stiffness. Both, extreme break angles and string height add stiffness (string tension). So, you started with high action and stiffness. You mitigated the action with a shim and lowering the saddles slightly. But, you only fixed one issue (reduced your action). To reduce stiffness you will need to reduce the break angle of the strings coming out of the saddle as well as get the strings closer to the neck as they come out of the saddle. So what to do? 1. Get smaller diameter brass barrels. 2. Remove the shim. Now if you want to get slinkier you can have a luthier shave your neck pocket (make it deeper) thus allowing you to lower the strings even more. Or, get a saddle plate that allows you to string through the plate rather than through the body. L
Hi Gio. Huge thank you for taking the time comment and offer advice regarding the string tension. You have a wealth of knowledge in this area from what I can see and I will certainly consider your suggestions. Many thanks again for sharing your thoughts on this topic. Cheers Kev 😊👍
@@GigsandGuitars Feel free to reach out to me with any questions you may have to get that Tele playing like you want it. If you haven't done so already, I would watch and subscribe to Zac Childs channel "Ask Zac" he is a wealth of knowledge in the area of Telecasters and recently had Danocaster on to discuss why he builds them the way he does and why some Tele's are stiffer than other: ua-cam.com/video/dACbZ40PpYY/v-deo.htmlsi=atsPH01QYRgQTnua
Absolutely. I have found over the years that some will do a factory set up as per the manufacturers spec and others will tailor a set up to your own personal requirements. I think that the best option for guitarists is to be specific about their preferences which can in some cases be overlooked. Thanks for taking the time to comment and best wishes for Christmas. Regards Kev 😊
Great sounding tone Kev Lighter strings hybrid 8’s did it for me on two telecasters I’ve owned. Watching you playing a super looking Telecaster has made think why did I sell mine. Rock on
Cheers Gary, I might just have to drop from 10’s down to 9’s to see if I can get the feel that I need. It sounds like you need to buy another Telecaster!! 😂👍
I love Telecasters, but I know what you’re talking about when it comes to stiff feel. I’ve found that finding the “sweet spots” in regards to neck relief, string height , break angle over saddles and the choices one makes with intonation makes a big difference. It can take time to get a good set up on a vintage style Tele. I also use lighter strings for a slinkier feel. Nice playing !
Thanks Clayton for sharing your experience which is appreciated. I’ve become more dialled into its quirks since the video and it’s currently in open G tuning and doing an awesome job of Keith Richard’s, with six strings! Cheers Kev 👍😊
I agree! I just picked up the 51 version and it’s setup really well for low height and zero fret buzz, but with the 10’s that came on it makes it very stiff(and I’ve played 11’s for the last 25 years). I’ve always set up my guitars myself and adjusting the truss rod even ever so slightly can actually change the tautness of the strings considerably. For now I switched out the strings to 9’s and that is much better. I’m still deciding on weather or not I want to keep this guitar, 99% sure I will and once I’m 100% on it, I will set it up properly to play the 10’s with plenty of twang(of the strings) while having as close to perfect intonation and so on
@@The11eleven it’s good to know how people are getting on with their reissue telecasters and huge thanks for sharing your experiences too. A brief update on mine is that I’m still on 10’s which is now in open G tuning for our current set with authentic Keith Richard’s vibes. I wouldn’t be without it now 😊👍
G'day Kev, Thanks for a great video. I've recently bought 2 Fender vintage reissue guitars, & I couldn't be happier with them, although I don't play professionally. I bought a 2021 MIJ Traditional 50's Telecaster last year, & a 2021 MIJ Heritage 50's Stratocaster a couple of months ago. When I bought the Tele, I was looking to spend up to $1800 AUD, & tried a two Mexican & one American Teles before I tried the Japanese, & the difference was like night and day! When I bought the Strat, I tried a Vintage II 50's, a Vintage II 60's, a Traditional 60's, & the Heritage 50's. Once again, the Japanese guitars were just so, so much nicer to hold & play. The neck shape and fret size are more traditional on the MIJ than the MIM & American Teles & Strats. The Japanese guitars are very faithful reissues, with the only updates being modern switching on all models, polyurethene paint and the 9½" fretboard radius on the Traditional models. And, since it sounds like you're from the UK, the other problem is that Traditional models are only listed in Australia & Japan, and the Heritage models are only listed in Japan. But, if you can find an MIJ 50's Telecaster for sale near by, go out & give it a try. Otherwise, you can go to the Fender site's Start page, scroll all the way down the bottom, press the languge flag, then select JA from the "start-country-language" pop-up menu, you can find the guitars I'm talking about - just click on pull-down menus until you find "Made in Japan Traditional" & "Made in Japan Heritage". Once again, thanks for a great video. Keep up the good work. I hope my comments are helpful. Andrew BTW, I did hear someone say; "Once you try a Japanese Fender, you'll never go back to the American onces". Whoever said that was right. :)
Thanks Andrew for taking the time to share your thoughts on the MIJ models. From what you are saying these sound very good indeed and I will take a closer look at them as you described. As for now the Telecaster in the video is far better than it was originally and I do like a challenge. Let’s see what happens next!!😂 Thanks also for supporting the channel which is appreciated. Regards Kev 😊
Here's a list of minor mods you might want to try to see if you like it better. 1. Hipshot drop D on the low E string. 2. Banjo drop tuners on the high E and A strings. 3 Hipshot open back on the rest. 4. Roller string tree. 5. Brass roller nut. 6. Sand the neck to a compound radius. 7. Strap pull b bender. 8. Reverse the control plate. 9. 500k linear volume pot for volume swells. 10. 250k linear tone pot for wah wah sweels. 11. Modern 6 saddle bridge. 12. Brass roller saddles on the high E and B strings. 13. Steele roller saddles on the G and D strings. 14. Aluminum saddles on the A and low E strings. That's what I did to mine and I like it alot better now.
Hi Bryan, wow that’s a detailed list of potential improvements that I could make. Thankyou for sending it over which is appreciated. Have a great weekend 😊👍
The main reason it feels less slinky to the Strat is because the Strat has a 9.5" radius neck. This explains also why the Gibson with a 12" radius feels even more slinky. Well that and the fact that the scale length is shorter than your fenders. Also, the Strat might have medium jumbo frets whereas the Tele will have vintage sized frets. This also makes a difference when bending.
Thanks for comments which is appreciated and you are right. At the moment I’ve stuck with the current set and have kind of got used to it, which is great. Thanks again. Kev 😊
I wouldn’t do it. But you could try a top mount tele bridge. Same type of bridge but it’s not string through the guitar. That might change the tension.
It’s certainly a good suggestion which I will consider and thank you for mentioning it. I might just put a set of lighter gauge strings on first and see how that affects the playability. Cheers Kev 😊
This is partially an example of how this mythology around vintage guitars makes us do strange things. Part of the lesser playability, as you say, will be the 7.25” radius on the tele. It certainly explains the difficult bending. The Gibson has the flattest radius. Now some people prefer that and especially for playing chords I can see that, but for blues/rock and even most jazz playing most prefer a flatter board.
That’s a great point of view and I really appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts on this issue. It seems that body through string/bridges when added to your suggestion can be an issue. That as you say is the interesting part of owning and using vintage spec guitars. Regards Kev 😊👍
@@GigsandGuitars it is, and I certainly have had some lovely vintage-spec instruments. But in my view there’s a good reason the American Pro II has a 9.5” radius and allows both string-through as well as top loading of the strings on its bridge.
It may be beneficial to use a full pocket angled thin shim. There will be a tiny space between the neck and pocket which may lead to a ski jump at the end of the neck, due to the tensile stress of the strings above the socket, which will cause a downward force in the socket gap area. A full-contact shim negates the gap. It’s only a small chance but it does happen.
A valuable breakdown of the issues you encountered. I’m considering a 52 avii and I’m a pretty new player. I have less than a year play Martin D-18 that I considered challenging on day one. But I think I grew into it a bit and since that was all I knew, I had no other comparison. Considering the 52 avii I wonder if it will be a smoother transition for me, or should I go w a more forgiving neck shape/size. I just love everything I’ve seen of the 51/52s and I’m kinda making decisions from emotional perspective as I don’t consider myself a ‘musician’ that needs a specific tool in their toolbox. I just like nice, unique guitars. Thanks for ur valuable content. Hope the 52 works out for you now that action is refined to ur liking. 🎸
Thank you for your kind words and I hope that you will continue your guitar journey for many years to come. The 52 AVRI is a great guitar and I bought mine for the same reasons as you have mentioned. It is a faithful reproduction of the early Telecasters and it comes with those quirks of Leo’s initial attempts at design. That said, it’s those quirks that give it the character that we desire. I’ve dialled into mine since the video and it plays very very well and I’ve got used to the string tension. Infact, I played a gig with it over Easter in open G tuning for authentic Keith Richard’s tones. Simply awesome. Enjoy the hunt for your guitar which I’m sure you will 😎
Not sure why you didn't replace the screw that was sticking out with a screw that sits flush with the ashtrash bridge it connects? I play with lighter 9 gauge strings on my telecasters and haven't run into this problem. Interesting.
Thanks Gary for taking the time to comment. I did consider changing the screw but I wanted to keep it as authentic to the original as I could. I’ve been playing it now for a few weeks and it’s now a great guitar. I might just change from 10’s to 9’s as you’ve suggested. Cheers Kev 😊
Give Curt Mangan strings a go. There is definitely less tension in them. Also, have your frets tarnished a bit due to having no strings rubbing against them for nearly 2 years. A quick fret polish could also help The room looks great Kev 👍
Cheers Karl, I’ll certainly consider strings again and also the fret clean up. The studio is getting better all time too and thanks for taking the time to comment 😎👍
Assuming you use the same string gauges on all your guitars, the Gibson's shorter scale length will mean its string tension will be lower at standard pitch, and if you have the Strat's trem set up to float, its string tension will appear lower than that of the Telecaster. I would suggest taking the Tele to a luthier who can finish what you've started, because trickier adjustments (e.g. nut slot depth) might be required. Incidentally, I disconnected the tone control from my Tele's neck pickup, which was a good (and reversible) improvement.
Great comment and you’ve highlighted what I forgot to mention in the video! My Gibsons are strung with 11’s and the Fenders are strung with 10’s and the Stratocaster’s are set up with non floating trems, which I should have mentioned 😂 That said, you are right and I may look to using a lighter gauge again on the Telecaster as a first option. Many thanks for taking the time to comment and enjoy your Christmas. Regards Kev 😊
@@GigsandGuitars Thank you Kev, and Happy Christmas to you too! I use 9's on my guitars, all of which are 25.5" scale length. I did try 11's and 10's, but bending was way too difficult, and I couldn't detect any difference in the tone.
The trouble with the American professional 2 telecaster is I don't own one yet ‼️😂🤣 I " accidentally" pick up one in the music shop and as soon as I held it, I knew that was my guitar ‼️
That happens to me! I had a similar moment with a 1957 Reissue Gold Top Les Paul recently at a guitar show. Absolutely stunning but I couldn’t afford it…one day perhaps!😂
a 'muddy' Tele neck is never an issue when you disconnect tone pot from it. improves clarity and output even on a Squier CV50 known to have darkish neck pups. Some say...I'm not convinced or can't tell difference...that top load feels slinkier than string through.
Thanks for taking the time to comment and I do like your view on the top loader v string through. I might just have to see if there is any difference in tension. Cheers Kev 😎
Love the playing, very nice guitar and great content!Just thought I’d share from having similar issues with my telecaster. To mitigate the stiff string tension I switched to a top loader bridge. I don’t do the string through the body anymore because the angle of strings going over the saddles is more acute resulting in that stiff/tight feel when you do bends. And I also went to lighter gauge strings (Tele players historically favored them for playability and sound from what I’ve heard. They were using banjo strings). Hope this helps and good luck!
Thank you so much for your comments and also supporting the channel. The Telecaster is pretty much as it was when I filmed the video, however as you have suggested I may take the dive to lighter gauge strings. Having said that, I’ve gigged with it recently and it was just great and in open G tuning, it was full of the Keith Richard’s vibe. Cheers Kev 😎
@@GigsandGuitars I’m glad you’re finally happy with your Tele. I have a Fender American Performer Tele with their “double-tap” humbucker neck pickup I really like with that hollow sound but it’s quite microphonic and needs lower gauge (40 gauge) low E string for a tighter sound. Otherwise, the lows get woofy or wooly. Love where it is now playability wise and sound wise. Cheers!
That could just be my next step, although my intention was to use the same gauge as my other Fenders. It’s more of a challenge in understanding why the tension is so different from the others. I might have to use .007’s that Billy Gibbons uses!!😂👍
If you put a bigsby or a top loader bridge on it, you might find that it feels more like a strat when bending. Teles have a stiffer feel because of the hard break angle over the saddle and no trem. I have a top loader tele that definitely feels easier to bend on than my through body tele
Thanks Justin, that’s a great input on the tension issues that I had when I first set up the guitar into a playable instrument. As an update, I’ve not changed anything just yet and I have dialled into its unique charm. Thanks again and I hope that you like the content. Cheers Kev 😎
I did check the intonation after I adjusted the neck relief and surprisingly it was very good for a Telecaster with these saddles. Thanks for taking the time to comment which is appreciated 😊👍
@@stringspicksandfiddlestick6388 thanks for sharing your experience on your Telecaster. Sounds like there could be a common theme emerging. Cheers Kev 😊
You could try tuning down a semi tone. It’s honestly never going to feel as slinky as a strat with a tremolo or a shorter scale Gibson. If your dead set on maintaining your me string gauge for different scale lengths easiest and cheapest solution is to alter the tuning.
Thanks Tom for the suggestions which I will definitely consider. There’s plenty of other options too which have been mentioned, which is also great. Cheers Kev 😎
Thanks David for the great advice on jumbo frets which I will certainly consider. At some stage I’ll post an update video on how I’ve been getting on with the Telecaster, which is now much better 😊👍
Awesome to have you back, superb playing as always. Shims were quite common in fender guitars, so much that in the 70s they made the necks adjustable. So good thinking there. DO you think trying a different string gauge, like a hybrid set or .0095 would make it slinkier without being flabby?
Hi Rafael. It’s certainly something that I am thinking about regarding the use of lighter gauge strings to get the same feel as my other guitars. There has also been some other good suggestions too which I may also consider. That said, the telecaster is a whole lot better to play now with the shim and action set up. 😊👍
a top loaded bridge( strings thorugh bridge not body) is a known mod to alleviate a lot of tenion and make the guitars feel slinkier (even on gibsons) as well as add "mellowness" to the sound. Youll need a new bridge with the holes tor figure out a way to drill your current one to the right measuremens. Callaham and wilkinson provide great bridges with this mod
You can buy a new ashtray bridge that allows top loading the strings this will reduce the tension of the strings as the string through method leaves them a bit tight- I use 10's strings with normal string through and have no issue Ive tried 9's but they feel like spagetti - or if you use 10's yourself you can try the 9's or 9.5's.
Hi Andrew, thank you for taking the time to share your kind advice which is appreciated. I’m just in the process of deciding which way to go to reduce the tension issue and will consider your options. Having said that I am now enjoying the guitar much more which is great. Regards Kev 😊👍
Not sure what gauge your using and this mite seems totally obvious and you may have already tried but if not but try dropping to 8’s if your on 10’s for example Rick beats and many others swear by 8’s if your already on 8’s then no idea nice gator though I’m in the process of building my own to try to replicate a 50’s one
Hi and thanks for taking the time to share your input which is appreciated. I’ve considered dropping a gauge or two but at the moment it’s on 10’s and I’ve kind of grown into it. It’s been in open G tuning recently for some great Keith Richard’s tracks! Enjoy your 50’s build project which does sound great. Cheers Kev 😊👍
Great video! I too have a Strat and a tele which I purchased earlier this year. I too have noticed the different string tension’s between the two. I’ve heard that there is more string tension with a string through body/bridge verses a top loader and I’m not sure why because the Strat is a string through bridge with less string tension. I’m just a beginner and I’m not totally sure which reason is correct or not. Again Great video!! New subscriber!! 🎸
Thanks Tim, it is a baffling topic and I’m glad that you liked the video and found it useful. Thank you also for subscribing which is really appreciated. Regards Kev 😊
It would be a relatively simple swap to try a top-loader bridge. They can spark heated debate but I tend to ignore those (especially when they are about reversible mods) and try to find out what I like for myself. The word 'shim' will cause some purists to steam from the ears, so a grain of salt is sometimes called for. I have a string-through ('52 reissue from around '97) and a less vintagey top-loader and I love them both for different reasons.
Hi David, you are right and everyone is entitled to their opinion on the topic of mods. I’ve received lots of positive suggestions on how to tackle the string tension which I will address, including yours which is really appreciated. The guitar is definitely a keeper now as the action is perfect, I just need to decide which way to go to address the tension. Thanks for taking the time to comment and have a great Christmas. Regards Kev 😎
Don’t hang your guitars my friend, get a guitar stand , they make a stand for multiple guitars. It’s much safer and won’t damage your expensive guitars, I’m just saying.
It is something I have considered and I can see where you are coming from. The problem that I have is available floor space when filming as it’s a complete mess with cables which can’t be seen in the videos. Thank you for taking the time to comment which is really appreciated. Cheers Kev👍😊
Good info, it's amazing how what appear to be minor adjustments can make a massive difference to playability. Check out the latest Ask Zac who I/v's Danocaster, who shares some great knowledge on neck pocket depth, and break angle setup. Assuming you don't want to try a top loader bridge, you can always revert to Rev willy's (Billy Gibbons) Mexican lottery strings. Super lightweight.
Hi Tim and thanks for the advice on Ask Zac which I will take a look at. As you say, I think my next sensible step might just be to restring the telecaster but with a set 9 gauge strings!😂 Thanks for the comment and have a great Christmas 😊
Cheers Donny, I have changed my hand conditioner to a less fragrant brand, but that hasn’t helped at all…😂 But on a serious note, you are definitely right 👍 Have a great new year. Regards Kev 😊
Great video. Let me shed some light on the stiffness you are feeling in your Telecaster from my experience as a luthier. There is a correlation of stiffness to break angle as well as string height to stiffness. Both, extreme break angles and string height add stiffness (string tension). So, you started with high action and stiffness. You mitigated the action with a shim and lowering the saddles slightly. But, you only fixed one issue (reduced your action). To reduce stiffness you will need to reduce the break angle of the strings coming out of the saddle as well as get the strings closer to the neck as they come out of the saddle. So what to do? 1. Get smaller diameter brass barrels. 2. Remove the shim. Now if you want to get slinkier you can have a luthier shave your neck pocket (make it deeper) thus allowing you to lower the strings even more. Or, get a saddle plate that allows you to string through the plate rather than through the body. L
Hi Gio. Huge thank you for taking the time comment and offer advice regarding the string tension. You have a wealth of knowledge in this area from what I can see and I will certainly consider your suggestions. Many thanks again for sharing your thoughts on this topic.
Cheers Kev 😊👍
@@GigsandGuitars Feel free to reach out to me with any questions you may have to get that Tele playing like you want it. If you haven't done so already, I would watch and subscribe to Zac Childs channel "Ask Zac" he is a wealth of knowledge in the area of Telecasters and recently had Danocaster on to discuss why he builds them the way he does and why some Tele's are stiffer than other: ua-cam.com/video/dACbZ40PpYY/v-deo.htmlsi=atsPH01QYRgQTnua
Recent ask Zac covers these topics well with Danocaster
I have a Telecaster with a top loader bridge. I cannot detect any sound difference and it solves the extreme break angle.
It's amazing what a professional setup can do for a guitar.
Absolutely. I have found over the years that some will do a factory set up as per the manufacturers spec and others will tailor a set up to your own personal requirements. I think that the best option for guitarists is to be specific about their preferences which can in some cases be overlooked. Thanks for taking the time to comment and best wishes for Christmas. Regards Kev 😊
you mean you had a guitar that did not play well, and you set it up properly and it played good? Wow your amazing!
Hi Jed, you’ve nailed there in your summary as it’s now become the amazing guitar I always wanted. Thanks for taking the time to comment 😊
Great sounding tone Kev
Lighter strings hybrid 8’s did it for me on two telecasters I’ve owned.
Watching you playing a super looking Telecaster has made think why did I sell mine.
Rock on
Cheers Gary, I might just have to drop from 10’s down to 9’s to see if I can get the feel that I need. It sounds like you need to buy another Telecaster!! 😂👍
I love Telecasters, but I know what you’re talking about when it comes to stiff feel.
I’ve found that finding the “sweet spots” in regards to neck relief, string height , break angle over saddles and the choices one makes with intonation makes a big difference.
It can take time to get a good set up on a vintage style Tele.
I also use lighter strings for a slinkier feel.
Nice playing !
Thanks Clayton for sharing your experience which is appreciated.
I’ve become more dialled into its quirks since the video and it’s currently in open G tuning and doing an awesome job of Keith Richard’s, with six strings!
Cheers Kev 👍😊
I agree! I just picked up the 51 version and it’s setup really well for low height and zero fret buzz, but with the 10’s that came on it makes it very stiff(and I’ve played 11’s for the last 25 years). I’ve always set up my guitars myself and adjusting the truss rod even ever so slightly can actually change the tautness of the strings considerably. For now I switched out the strings to 9’s and that is much better. I’m still deciding on weather or not I want to keep this guitar, 99% sure I will and once I’m 100% on it, I will set it up properly to play the 10’s with plenty of twang(of the strings) while having as close to perfect intonation and so on
@@The11eleven it’s good to know how people are getting on with their reissue telecasters and huge thanks for sharing your experiences too. A brief update on mine is that I’m still on 10’s which is now in open G tuning for our current set with authentic Keith Richard’s vibes. I wouldn’t be without it now 😊👍
@@GigsandGuitarsthat’s great to hear… thanks for making the video and sharing your experiences and input as well! It’s very appreciated
G'day Kev,
Thanks for a great video. I've recently bought 2 Fender vintage reissue guitars, & I couldn't be happier with them, although I don't play professionally. I bought a 2021 MIJ Traditional 50's Telecaster last year, & a 2021 MIJ Heritage 50's Stratocaster a couple of months ago. When I bought the Tele, I was looking to spend up to $1800 AUD, & tried a two Mexican & one American Teles before I tried the Japanese, & the difference was like night and day! When I bought the Strat, I tried a Vintage II 50's, a Vintage II 60's, a Traditional 60's, & the Heritage 50's. Once again, the Japanese guitars were just so, so much nicer to hold & play. The neck shape and fret size are more traditional on the MIJ than the MIM & American Teles & Strats.
The Japanese guitars are very faithful reissues, with the only updates being modern switching on all models, polyurethene paint and the 9½" fretboard radius on the Traditional models. And, since it sounds like you're from the UK, the other problem is that Traditional models are only listed in Australia & Japan, and the Heritage models are only listed in Japan. But, if you can find an MIJ 50's Telecaster for sale near by, go out & give it a try. Otherwise, you can go to the Fender site's Start page, scroll all the way down the bottom, press the languge flag, then select JA from the "start-country-language" pop-up menu, you can find the guitars I'm talking about - just click on pull-down menus until you find "Made in Japan Traditional" & "Made in Japan Heritage".
Once again, thanks for a great video. Keep up the good work. I hope my comments are helpful.
Andrew
BTW, I did hear someone say; "Once you try a Japanese Fender, you'll never go back to the American onces". Whoever said that was right. :)
Thanks Andrew for taking the time to share your thoughts on the MIJ models.
From what you are saying these sound very good indeed and I will take a closer look at them as you described.
As for now the Telecaster in the video is far better than it was originally and I do like a challenge. Let’s see what happens next!!😂
Thanks also for supporting the channel which is appreciated.
Regards Kev 😊
Here's a list of minor mods you might want to try to see if you like it better.
1. Hipshot drop D on the low E string.
2. Banjo drop tuners on the high E and A strings.
3 Hipshot open back on the rest.
4. Roller string tree.
5. Brass roller nut.
6. Sand the neck to a compound radius.
7. Strap pull b bender.
8. Reverse the control plate.
9. 500k linear volume pot for volume swells.
10. 250k linear tone pot for wah wah sweels.
11. Modern 6 saddle bridge.
12. Brass roller saddles on the high E and B strings.
13. Steele roller saddles on the G and D strings.
14. Aluminum saddles on the A and low E strings.
That's what I did to mine and I like it alot better now.
Hi Bryan, wow that’s a detailed list of potential improvements that I could make. Thankyou for sending it over which is appreciated. Have a great weekend 😊👍
The main reason it feels less slinky to the Strat is because the Strat has a 9.5" radius neck. This explains also why the Gibson with a 12" radius feels even more slinky. Well that and the fact that the scale length is shorter than your fenders. Also, the Strat might have medium jumbo frets whereas the Tele will have vintage sized frets. This also makes a difference when bending.
Thanks for comments which is appreciated and you are right. At the moment I’ve stuck with the current set and have kind of got used to it, which is great. Thanks again. Kev 😊
I wouldn’t do it. But you could try a top mount tele bridge. Same type of bridge but it’s not string through the guitar. That might change the tension.
It’s certainly a good suggestion which I will consider and thank you for mentioning it. I might just put a set of lighter gauge strings on first and see how that affects the playability. Cheers Kev 😊
This is partially an example of how this mythology around vintage guitars makes us do strange things. Part of the lesser playability, as you say, will be the 7.25” radius on the tele. It certainly explains the difficult bending. The Gibson has the flattest radius. Now some people prefer that and especially for playing chords I can see that, but for blues/rock and even most jazz playing most prefer a flatter board.
That’s a great point of view and I really appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts on this issue.
It seems that body through string/bridges when added to your suggestion can be an issue. That as you say is the interesting part of owning and using vintage spec guitars. Regards Kev 😊👍
@@GigsandGuitars it is, and I certainly have had some lovely vintage-spec instruments. But in my view there’s a good reason the American Pro II has a 9.5” radius and allows both string-through as well as top loading of the strings on its bridge.
It may be beneficial to use a full pocket angled thin shim. There will be a tiny space between the neck and pocket which may lead to a ski jump at the end of the neck, due to the tensile stress of the strings above the socket, which will cause a downward force in the socket gap area. A full-contact shim negates the gap. It’s only a small chance but it does happen.
Great point and I’ll certainly take a look into what you have advised which is appreciated.
Have a great Christmas.
Regards Kev 😊
A valuable breakdown of the issues you encountered. I’m considering a 52 avii and I’m a pretty new player. I have less than a year play Martin D-18 that I considered challenging on day one. But I think I grew into it a bit and since that was all I knew, I had no other comparison.
Considering the 52 avii I wonder if it will be a smoother transition for me, or should I go w a more forgiving neck shape/size.
I just love everything I’ve seen of the 51/52s and I’m kinda making decisions from emotional perspective as I don’t consider myself a ‘musician’ that needs a specific tool in their toolbox. I just like nice, unique guitars.
Thanks for ur valuable content. Hope the 52 works out for you now that action is refined to ur liking. 🎸
Thank you for your kind words and I hope that you will continue your guitar journey for many years to come.
The 52 AVRI is a great guitar and I bought mine for the same reasons as you have mentioned. It is a faithful reproduction of the early Telecasters and it comes with those quirks of Leo’s initial attempts at design. That said, it’s those quirks that give it the character that we desire.
I’ve dialled into mine since the video and it plays very very well and I’ve got used to the string tension. Infact, I played a gig with it over Easter in open G tuning for authentic Keith Richard’s tones. Simply awesome.
Enjoy the hunt for your guitar which I’m sure you will 😎
Not sure why you didn't replace the screw that was sticking out with a screw that sits flush with the ashtrash bridge it connects? I play with lighter 9 gauge strings on my telecasters and haven't run into this problem. Interesting.
Thanks Gary for taking the time to comment. I did consider changing the screw but I wanted to keep it as authentic to the original as I could. I’ve been playing it now for a few weeks and it’s now a great guitar. I might just change from 10’s to 9’s as you’ve suggested. Cheers Kev 😊
Give Curt Mangan strings a go. There is definitely less tension in them.
Also, have your frets tarnished a bit due to having no strings rubbing against them for nearly 2 years. A quick fret polish could also help
The room looks great Kev 👍
Cheers Karl, I’ll certainly consider strings again and also the fret clean up. The studio is getting better all time too and thanks for taking the time to comment 😎👍
Assuming you use the same string gauges on all your guitars, the Gibson's shorter scale length will mean its string tension will be lower at standard pitch, and if you have the Strat's trem set up to float, its string tension will appear lower than that of the Telecaster. I would suggest taking the Tele to a luthier who can finish what you've started, because trickier adjustments (e.g. nut slot depth) might be required. Incidentally, I disconnected the tone control from my Tele's neck pickup, which was a good (and reversible) improvement.
Great comment and you’ve highlighted what I forgot to mention in the video!
My Gibsons are strung with 11’s and the Fenders are strung with 10’s and the Stratocaster’s are set up with non floating trems, which I should have mentioned 😂
That said, you are right and I may look to using a lighter gauge again on the Telecaster as a first option.
Many thanks for taking the time to comment and enjoy your Christmas.
Regards Kev 😊
@@GigsandGuitars Thank you Kev, and Happy Christmas to you too! I use 9's on my guitars, all of which are 25.5" scale length. I did try 11's and 10's, but bending was way too difficult, and I couldn't detect any difference in the tone.
My CV is amazing! I've scored a genuine guitar here. Glad you sorted it.
Aww thank you so much, glad that you are happy with yours and I’m really happy with with mine. Thanks for the comment and have a great Christmas 😊👍
@@GigsandGuitars , I will also say this, I went through about 20 guitar's before I found that one. Have a great new year!
The trouble with the American professional 2 telecaster is I don't own one yet ‼️😂🤣
I " accidentally" pick up one in the music shop and as soon as I held it, I knew that was my guitar ‼️
That happens to me! I had a similar moment with a 1957 Reissue Gold Top Les Paul recently at a guitar show. Absolutely stunning but I couldn’t afford it…one day perhaps!😂
a 'muddy' Tele neck is never an issue when you disconnect tone pot from it. improves clarity and output even on a Squier CV50 known to have darkish neck pups. Some say...I'm not convinced or can't tell difference...that top load feels slinkier than string through.
Thanks for taking the time to comment and I do like your view on the top loader v string through. I might just have to see if there is any difference in tension.
Cheers Kev 😎
Love the playing, very nice guitar and great content!Just thought I’d share from having similar issues with my telecaster. To mitigate the stiff string tension I switched to a top loader bridge. I don’t do the string through the body anymore because the angle of strings going over the saddles is more acute resulting in that stiff/tight feel when you do bends. And I also went to lighter gauge strings (Tele players historically favored them for playability and sound from what I’ve heard. They were using banjo strings). Hope this helps and good luck!
Thank you so much for your comments and also supporting the channel.
The Telecaster is pretty much as it was when I filmed the video, however as you have suggested I may take the dive to lighter gauge strings. Having said that, I’ve gigged with it recently and it was just great and in open G tuning, it was full of the Keith Richard’s vibe.
Cheers Kev 😎
@@GigsandGuitars I’m glad you’re finally happy with your Tele. I have a Fender American Performer Tele with their “double-tap” humbucker neck pickup I really like with that hollow sound but it’s quite microphonic and needs lower gauge (40 gauge) low E string for a tighter sound. Otherwise, the lows get woofy or wooly. Love where it is now playability wise and sound wise. Cheers!
Have you thought about trying a lighter string gauge for easier bending?
That could just be my next step, although my intention was to use the same gauge as my other Fenders. It’s more of a challenge in understanding why the tension is so different from the others.
I might have to use .007’s that Billy Gibbons uses!!😂👍
If you put a bigsby or a top loader bridge on it, you might find that it feels more like a strat when bending. Teles have a stiffer feel because of the hard break angle over the saddle and no trem. I have a top loader tele that definitely feels easier to bend on than my through body tele
Thanks Justin, that’s a great input on the tension issues that I had when I first set up the guitar into a playable instrument. As an update, I’ve not changed anything just yet and I have dialled into its unique charm. Thanks again and I hope that you like the content. Cheers Kev 😎
Was that guitar ever intonated properly?
I did check the intonation after I adjusted the neck relief and surprisingly it was very good for a Telecaster with these saddles.
Thanks for taking the time to comment which is appreciated 😊👍
I got a 2008 52 Reissue. There was a neck shim behind the bottom neck screws.
@@stringspicksandfiddlestick6388 thanks for sharing your experience on your Telecaster. Sounds like there could be a common theme emerging. Cheers Kev 😊
You could try tuning down a semi tone. It’s honestly never going to feel as slinky as a strat with a tremolo or a shorter scale Gibson. If your dead set on maintaining your me string gauge for different scale lengths easiest and cheapest solution is to alter the tuning.
Thanks Tom for the suggestions which I will definitely consider. There’s plenty of other options too which have been mentioned, which is also great.
Cheers Kev 😎
I have had my telecaster and strat refretted with jumbo frets as I find that string bending is much easier with them than when you have vintage frets.
Thanks David for the great advice on jumbo frets which I will certainly consider.
At some stage I’ll post an update video on how I’ve been getting on with the Telecaster, which is now much better 😊👍
Awesome to have you back, superb playing as always.
Shims were quite common in fender guitars, so much that in the 70s they made the necks adjustable. So good thinking there. DO you think trying a different string gauge, like a hybrid set or .0095 would make it slinkier without being flabby?
Hi Rafael. It’s certainly something that I am thinking about regarding the use of lighter gauge strings to get the same feel as my other guitars. There has also been some other good suggestions too which I may also consider. That said, the telecaster is a whole lot better to play now with the shim and action set up.
😊👍
a top loaded bridge( strings thorugh bridge not body) is a known mod to alleviate a lot of tenion and make the guitars feel slinkier (even on gibsons) as well as add "mellowness" to the sound. Youll need a new bridge with the holes tor figure out a way to drill your current one to the right measuremens. Callaham and wilkinson provide great bridges with this mod
Thanks Eric, that’s a great suggestion and I hope that you enjoyed the video. Cheers Kev 👍😊
You can buy a new ashtray bridge that allows top loading the strings this will reduce the tension of the strings as the string through method leaves them a bit tight- I use 10's strings with normal string through and have no issue Ive tried 9's but they feel like spagetti - or if you use 10's yourself you can try the 9's or 9.5's.
Hi Andrew, thank you for taking the time to share your kind advice which is appreciated. I’m just in the process of deciding which way to go to reduce the tension issue and will consider your options. Having said that I am now enjoying the guitar much more which is great. Regards Kev 😊👍
Not sure what gauge your using and this mite seems totally obvious and you may have already tried but if not but try dropping to 8’s if your on 10’s for example Rick beats and many others swear by 8’s if your already on 8’s then no idea nice gator though I’m in the process of building my own to try to replicate a 50’s one
Hi and thanks for taking the time to share your input which is appreciated. I’ve considered dropping a gauge or two but at the moment it’s on 10’s and I’ve kind of grown into it.
It’s been in open G tuning recently for some great Keith Richard’s tracks!
Enjoy your 50’s build project which does sound great.
Cheers Kev 😊👍
Great video! I too have a Strat and a tele which I purchased earlier this year. I too have noticed the different string tension’s between the two. I’ve heard that there is more string tension with a string through body/bridge verses a top loader and I’m not sure why because the Strat is a string through bridge with less string tension. I’m just a beginner and I’m not totally sure which reason is correct or not. Again Great video!! New subscriber!! 🎸
Thanks Tim, it is a baffling topic and I’m glad that you liked the video and found it useful. Thank you also for subscribing which is really appreciated. Regards Kev 😊
It would be a relatively simple swap to try a top-loader bridge. They can spark heated debate but I tend to ignore those (especially when they are about reversible mods) and try to find out what I like for myself. The word 'shim' will cause some purists to steam from the ears, so a grain of salt is sometimes called for. I have a string-through ('52 reissue from around '97) and a less vintagey top-loader and I love them both for different reasons.
Hi David, you are right and everyone is entitled to their opinion on the topic of mods. I’ve received lots of positive suggestions on how to tackle the string tension which I will address, including yours which is really appreciated.
The guitar is definitely a keeper now as the action is perfect, I just need to decide which way to go to address the tension. Thanks for taking the time to comment and have a great Christmas. Regards Kev 😎
Don’t hang your guitars my friend, get a guitar stand , they make a stand for multiple guitars. It’s much safer and won’t damage your expensive guitars, I’m just saying.
It is something I have considered and I can see where you are coming from.
The problem that I have is available floor space when filming as it’s a complete mess with cables which can’t be seen in the videos.
Thank you for taking the time to comment which is really appreciated.
Cheers Kev👍😊
Good info, it's amazing how what appear to be minor adjustments can make a massive difference to playability. Check out the latest Ask Zac who I/v's Danocaster, who shares some great knowledge on neck pocket depth, and break angle setup. Assuming you don't want to try a top loader bridge, you can always revert to Rev willy's (Billy Gibbons) Mexican lottery strings. Super lightweight.
Hi Tim and thanks for the advice on Ask Zac which I will take a look at.
As you say, I think my next sensible step might just be to restring the telecaster but with a set 9 gauge strings!😂
Thanks for the comment and have a great Christmas 😊
I put 11 gauge on mine , la Brea pick ups and used nut sauce for the first , can not put it down
Good to hear that you are enjoying your journey with your Telecaster Martin. Regards Kev 😊
12th Fret - 5/64th on Low E String 4/64 for A D G B e
Thanks for the advice Alex which is really appreciated. Kind regards Kev 😊
Set the springs on the strat straight not at an angle
Triable is Trouble
toughen up them hands my dude
Cheers Donny, I have changed my hand conditioner to a less fragrant brand, but that hasn’t helped at all…😂
But on a serious note, you are definitely right 👍
Have a great new year. Regards Kev 😊
Maybe it's you and not the guitar....