Second-build feedback

[doctorpunk]

Here's what I'm thinking, and I figured I'd reach out to the hivemind first to see if there are any red flags that more experienced builders can spot.

I'm thinking a swamp ash Thinline body. I'll finish it with a black-on-black ceruse style cause I love that open grain look. I'll get it without the f-holes and add my own diamond-shaped one with a router template I have on order.

Here's where I think I might have some trouble. The neck pickup I want is a WRHB, middle is a p90, bridge is a Filtertron. Warmoth won't put a WRHB in the neck position on the Thinline. I was told they only offer it on the Tele Custom, Tele Deluxe, '72 Thinline, and the standard Tele because those all cover the rout with a pickguard.

I thought about going the '72 Thinline path, but they don't offer that with the "modified hollow" option, and I want the option to add a Bigsby later. I can get around that with one of those Vibramate plates, but they also don't offer the '72 Thinline with rear routing in the LP configuration. You can see that I'm planning to go that direction, albeit slightly modified with a Jaguar control plate instead of a pickup Selector toggle, and a kill switch in one of the pots.

I guess my main question is: If I have them send it to me with a humbucker rout in the neck, can I just get a WRHB routing template and expand it? Is there a structural reason that won't work? I'll get a pickup ring for it.

Also thinking a wenge-on-wenge neck with a reverse CBS headstock just because it's weird. I've already got the neck and the pickups, and all the electronics, just curious if this body would work for what I want to do.

Thanks!

 

[cuthbert]

I think the output of these pickups are wildly different and the filtertron will be completed outmatched.

 

[doctorpunk]

I think the output of these pickups are wildly different and the filtertron will be completed outmatched.

I've considered that. The Filtertron I bought is pretty high-output specifically for that reason. This is basically the same pickup configuration that's on the Jack White Triplecaster and he seems to make it work. His is also a semi-hollow and Hammett and he just did a version with a regular f-hole, so I'm hoping there's enough wood around the neck area to make it work.

 

[TBurst Std]

Go with the TV Jones Classic + or Supertron and you’ll be fine. Yep when I saw that, that’s Jacks Tele

 

[doctorpunk]

Go with the TV Jones Classic + or Supertron and you’ll be fine. Yep when I saw that, that’s Jacks Tele

Yep, definitely looking for the Jack vibe, but with some mods like the pickup selector and controls. I could probably cram everything into a regular Tele cavity with a custom 4-hole plate (but probably lose the switching I want), but the rear rout gives me quite a bit more space to work.

 

[doctorpunk]

Looking at router templates for Thinlines on the internet, I'm guessing the issue is that these corners circled in red aren't in the Warmoth rout, which is why they require a pickguard and pickup rings won't work. If that's the case, I'm a little more comfortable upsizing from a humbucker rout on my own, but I was curious if anyone had a second opinion.

Alternatively, I guess I could glue a little wood in place to support a pickup ring if I can convince them to make it for me.

 

[Hodgo]

Warmoth tends to say no unless you explicitly say “I know this might not work and will be non refundable and am willing to pay the shop fee regardless”

Had to do that for one of my builds where the Warmoth pickguard wouldn’t fit my options and they told me it was fine as long as I accepted the risk

 

[jhamnett]

Maybe a Strat sized P90 in the middle? Digging it for sure!

 

[doctorpunk]

Maybe a Strat sized P90 in the middle? Digging it for sure!

I'm planning on full soapbar. Lollar 50's wind.

 

[JohnnyHardtail]

Is anyone able to remind me why the Fender wide-range pickup is better than a vintage-style PAF humbucker. Is this pickup a good choice for playing rhythm, or are you more likely to play blues solos?

 

[doctorpunk]

Is anyone able to remind me why the Fender wide-range pickup is better than a vintage-style PAF humbucker. Is this pickup a good choice for playing rhythm, or are you more likely to play blues solos?

Well, they’re bigger for one.

 

[TBurst Std]

Is anyone able to remind me why the Fender wide-range pickup is better than a vintage-style PAF humbucker. Is this pickup a good choice for playing rhythm, or are you more likely to play blues solos?

Totally different sound as they are constructed totally differently.
The originals used a different magnet compound. CuNiFe
Also while a PAF style uses a bar magnet then slugs and screws into it, a WRHB does not. In a WRHB the slugs and screws are the magnets. In addition there is a reflector plate underneath the coils which alters the magnetic fields.

Their sound tends to be more articulate and clearer. Keep in mind a lot of the current Fender offerings are NOT designed like this. You normally need to go to a builder like Curtis Novak for the original design.

Having played them a few times, the closest in sound I would say getting to them is a Filtertron that has more of a single coil articulation. Even that's a ways off.