Thoughts on my modded Tele/Partscaster?
I don't even know what to call this beauty of mine.
The base was a Fender Standard BTB Made In Indonesia, while i was aware that the Player II was a much better choice, for then only 199€ more, but to me it was too good for all the parts that i wanted replaced.
I started with swapping the bridge for a Highway One 3 Saddle bridge, so i could also put an ashtray on it.
I swapped the ceramic pickups for a set of TexMex Alnico V Pickups, where i added a Baseplate on the Bridge Pickup and staggered the Pole pieces. And mounted the neck pickup to the body.
I swapped the pickguard for a Carmedon "Rad Paisley" 3 Ply pickguard, which now has 2 holes at the neck pickup i don't need. And some colour started to wear on the place i rest my fingers while playing.
I replaced the stock tuning machines for ClassicGear Tuners. I took off the big ass screw plates, and put smaller ones on, for a more "vintage", and IMO sleaker look.
The really pale, satin finished maple fretboard was replaced with a roasted maple neck with narrow-tall frets and gloss finish on the fretboard and headstock and satin finish on the back.
I cleaned up the cheap indonesian wiring, after learning to solder in like one week, and replaced the weird 3 way switch they used, with a more traditional fender 3 way switch, and put on a Top Hat style switch tip. I also replaced the weird green asian capacitors with an orange drop .047 Cap, and changed the wiring to the vinage dark circuit wiring with a .1 Cap in the front position.
It's got a lot of half authentic half self induced "roadwear/relicing", where i put some woodpaint on, so it looks more like swamp ash, and not the 3-piece Poplar that it is. (luckily im not a big TOnEwoOd guy)
Im currently thinking about replacing the pickguard with a 1-ply white 5 hole pickguard, to make it actually look more like a whiteguard Tele (which it, due to its steel saddles, staggered Alnico V bridge pickup, vintage wiring and body-mounted neck pickup it functionally already is).
I really like the current pickguard, but i kinda grew to find it unfitting, especially now with the 2 extra unfilled holes, and wearing off design.
Let me hear your thoughts, and i know i made some questionable decisions.