I've got a Squier Vintage Modified Telecaster Special that I'm fond of but isn't getting played much. The Squier Joe Trohman that I've been turning into a nightmarish mess of too many switching options (33 at last count) is getting all the love these days.
So in the spirit of lurching wildly between extremes I'm planning to esquire the VM Squier and keep it as simple as possible. If it all works out, It'll hopefully become my go-to guitar for playing North Mississippi hill-country style droning, hypnotic, repetitive blues - think RL Burnside or Jr Kimbrough played badly by a middle aged, middle class white man. A bit like Jon Spencer without the soul, technique or hair.
So, how to get simple?
No switches for a start. Does anyone know a UK source for custom tele control plates? I'm thinking of keeping the volume and tone knobs for now and a control plate without the switch cut would look sweet.
I'll keep the vintage style bridge, maybe use the top-loading holes if that helps the droning. The tuners are good, so it's just a case of finding the right pickup...
It's a bright sounding guitar, and will be played mostly with fingers rather than pick, through a blackface-ish amp without pedals. I want plenty of rich, dark dirt and snarl, and a firm lid kept on any shrillness. A P90-ish wind might do the job, but I'm open to anything as long as it's single coil, will fit in a standard tele bridge route, and is UK made.
Does anyone have any recommendations?
Comments
I got one recently from Axecaster and just drilled a couple of holes where I wanted them ... £6.25
http://www.axecaster.co.uk/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=9_20
Plate should look a bit like this one when finished
http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/44389/first-build-started-nice#latest
Nice looking results there: I'm heading the diametrically opposite direction though, 5-way switch and pull/push so 10 settings!
Formerly TheGuitarWeasel ... Oil City Pickups ... Oil City Blog 7 String.org profile and message
... and I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who fits Schaller strap studs to everything