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Post by tojla on Oct 13, 2017 13:15:03 GMT
Hi everybody , I 'm new on this forum and greetings to everyone. I don't want to open a new topic so I 'll use a this one. I recently got a TE-52. The guitar is as expected (he he ,with rusty strings off course ) and needs some setup to do but in generall I 'm very satisfied with the sound. In two words "very playable". Nevertheless, I intend to change bridge , nut and Tuners. I 'm interested if Wilkinson bridge (link) fit ok for TE-52 or I definitely need to pay attention on measuers? I 'm sure that many of forum members already did some changes on TE-52 and would be very helpfull if someone share his experience regarding this mater. Which tuners...bridge..saddles...nut...electronics..etc the members changed and how happy are with it? www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-Wilkinson-Chrome-WTB-Ashtray-Bridge-for-Tele-guitars-with-Brass-Saddles-/121756243937?epid=1364824650&hash=item1c593cd7e1:g:yt4AAOxy0QBSPcpS
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Post by DerAlex on Oct 13, 2017 17:38:52 GMT
Just a short uppdate: I sent the TE-52 back as it was too heavy for my liking and I didn‘t like the tiny vintage frets.
I got and will keep the TE-70RW though: 3.5kg, medium-jumbo frets, better hardware. And still good sustain but not as much as the TE-52.
I am happy now.
I was looking for upgrade parts especially bridge and saddles.
I actually like the Fender bridge plate and then ABM brass saddles. Both can be had for around 50€. So once I get into upgrade mood I think this would be it (and probably a bone nut from a luthier)
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thunderbird
Harley Benton Expert
Less purchase, more practice
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Post by thunderbird on Oct 13, 2017 21:52:56 GMT
Hi everybody , I 'm new on this forum and greetings to everyone. I don't want to open a new topic so I 'll use a this one. I recently got a TE-52. The guitar is as expected (he he ,with rusty strings off course ) and needs some setup to do but in generall I 'm very satisfied with the sound. In two words "very playable". Nevertheless, I intend to change bridge , nut and Tuners. I 'm interested if Wilkinson bridge (link) fit ok for TE-52 or I definitely need to pay attention on measuers? I 'm sure that many of forum members already did some changes on TE-52 and would be very helpfull if someone share his experience regarding this mater. Which tuners...bridge..saddles...nut...electronics..etc the members changed and how happy are with it? www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-Wilkinson-Chrome-WTB-Ashtray-Bridge-for-Tele-guitars-with-Brass-Saddles-/121756243937?epid=1364824650&hash=item1c593cd7e1:g:yt4AAOxy0QBSPcpSWelcome Wilkinson bridge works for me, but you could just get the brass compensated saddles instead. I changed the tuners because of the badly finished buttons, I used a spare set some from an old Tele copy that I had changed the neck on. Nut works fine, although I did file the slots a little. Electronics are good, pointless to change anything there, IMO.
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Post by tojla on Oct 17, 2017 7:29:40 GMT
Hi Thunderbird, just for info...I changed the bridge, tuners, did a freet job and now the guitar is as I wanted to be, perfect. Yes it is a little heavy but I don't have any problem with it. The sound is excellent. Thank you for advice.
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Post by bettsaj on Jul 11, 2019 14:16:10 GMT
Cons: Really heavy (4.2kg) Ash is a heavy wood, as has been stated previouslySaddles on the bridge total crap (screwdriver sticks in the holes and can only be forced out while intonating) I would change them, again brass compensated are a good choiceSmall imperfections on the fretboard (yellow color on the side) For this price point, you're concerned about small imperfections? They won't worry about those at the factory.... Now if the guitar was costing €300 to €400 then I would be complainingVery rough frets (could be polished out probably) Again, at this price point you won't get a guitar that's perfect out of the box..... If you do, you're luckyMedium frets (used to medium-jumbo these feel strange in the beginning) That's not really a "con"... Just a personal preferenceTuners just ok Likely good enough at this price point.Bridge pu much quiter than neck pu (but someone said this is common to Teles and can be adjusted) Agreed, historically they can be quieter... Easy to adjust thoughOverall manufacturing quality much worse than e.g. SC 4540 GT (just look at the pocket where the neck joins the body) Maybe it was a Friday afternoonI'm looking forward to buying my first HB guitar (I do own a Slider II Lapsteel, but I don't class that as normal guitar). i'll be getting a TE-52 and can't wait. At this price they're great as doner guitars to modify. i'll definitely be replacing the bridge to a Wilkinson with brass compensated saddles, and likely the tuners to locking tuners. I'll see how the pick-ups sound... I may or may not change them. From what I've heard they sound just great.
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81 posts
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Post by guitartrojan on Jul 12, 2019 4:04:50 GMT
*********CORRECTION! The nut was too LOW. Sorry, it has been a while since this happened.*********** First, I'm sorry for anyone that's had a problem with their TE-52s. It sucks to get a guitar with flaws or to just find out you're not feeling it anymore. I also feel like I need to say that I'm strictly a guitar hobbyist/enthusiast. I'm not in a band, I don't gig, record, etc., I just like learning. So low-cost guitars are fine with me. Also, I don't buy guitars with an intention of modding them (so far). I like the guitar for what it is. I also consider all of my guitars to be lifetime guitars. I don't buy them with a thought of reselling them. All that being said, I love my TE-52. It is a beautiful one piece body (I've posted pics here before as proof ) I think the neck pickup is magic. The neck is like butter. No bites from the fret ends. There was ONE problem with it, however. The nut on the G and B strings were a little high creating a sitar-like buzz. But I took it to my favorite shop and had it replaced with a Tusq nut and HB reimbursed me with store credit. So there was a happy ending. Again, I am really sorry about the problems anyone has had with theirs. I just wanted to offer some positives. Have a great day.
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81 posts
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Post by guitartrojan on Jul 13, 2019 3:57:15 GMT
I've had a sitar like buzz on a tele and always attacked the barrel saddle to solve it. What was it about it being high on the G and B slots that was leading to the buzz guitartrojan ? I may have been looking at the wrong end. Hey DefJef, You were right to ask. Upon further review of my emails with Thomann and friends about the problem I discovered that the nut was too LOW. I added the correction to my previous post. Thanks for asking or I never would have caught that. How could I not remember that? I'm a teacher, that's how. Have a great day.
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freeman
Harley Benton Club Junior Member
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Post by freeman on Jul 13, 2019 5:26:47 GMT
I have the TE-70 Black Paisley and I've often wondered if I should have bought the TE-52 instead. The TE-52 just looks more vintage, but I got the TE-70 basically because of the Wilkinson bridge and the compensated saddles. I figured I would need to do these mods anyway, so for 10 Euros more I would already have them, being the lazy sod that I am. And let's be honest, it's no fun having to mod a guitar from the onset just to make it playable.
The only things I did with the TE-70 was install a new Graphtech nut, because the original one was cut too low on the B-String causing the old sitar effect. I shaved off the beak on the headstock and sealed it with Tru-Oil. I also put black knobs on, giving it a cooler look.
I don't gig but do record and the performance in the studio has been perfect. The neck pickup is very sweet. The bridge is a bit harsh and I've been contemplating changing it. Just not sure to what yet. Then again, bridge and neck combined sound pretty good. Don't have any of the microphonic problems people have spoken of. Everyone who has played it has been impressed. The weight is perfect, the neck is really well made and is very playable. The tuners are fine. The sound is very much Tele. There wasn't much difference between the TE-70 and a Fender USA Tele as far as sound goes. All in all a very good purchase. I think if Thomann put a decent bridge on the TE-52 it would be a game changer.
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Post by roberto on Jul 13, 2019 6:46:23 GMT
I have the TE-70 Black Paisley and I've often wondered if I should have bought the TE-52 instead. The TE-52 just looks more vintage, but I got the TE-70 basically because of the Wilkinson bridge and the compensated saddles. I figured I would need to do these mods anyway, so for 10 Euros more I would already have them, being the lazy sod that I am. And let's be honest, it's no fun having to mod a guitar from the onset just to make it playable. The only things I did with the TE-70 was install a new Graphtech nut, because the original one was cut too low on the B-String causing the old sitar effect. I shaved off the beak on the headstock and sealed it with Tru-Oil. I also put black knobs on, giving it a cooler look. I don't gig but do record and the performance in the studio has been perfect. The neck pickup is very sweet. The bridge is a bit harsh and I've been contemplating changing it. Just not sure to what yet. Then again, bridge and neck combined sound pretty good. Don't have any of the microphonic problems people have spoken of. Everyone who has played it has been impressed. The weight is perfect, the neck is really well made and is very playable. The tuners are fine. The sound is very much Tele. There wasn't much difference between the TE-70 and a Fender USA Tele as far as sound goes. All in all a very good purchase. I think if Thomann put a decent bridge on the TE-52 it would be a game changer. I totally agree with you!
I've have done the same work in my TE 70 BP. I've also changed the tuners and the neck pu (but the stock one is very good) with DiMarzio, and I'm waiting for DiMarzio True Velvet for the pu bridge.
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3,457 posts
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Post by LeoThunder on Jul 13, 2019 6:59:16 GMT
I think if Thomann put a decent bridge on the TE-52 it would be a game changer. The TE-52 is designed to ape the vintage thing, as its name indicates. It cannot afford "a decent bridge".
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DefJef
THBC Moderator
Due to musical differences I've decided I can't work with myself any more.
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Post by DefJef on Jul 13, 2019 8:26:42 GMT
I've had a sitar like buzz on a tele and always attacked the barrel saddle to solve it. What was it about it being high on the G and B slots that was leading to the buzz guitartrojan ? I may have been looking at the wrong end. Hey DefJef, You were right to ask. Upon further review of my emails with Thomann and friends about the problem I discovered that the nut was too LOW. I added the correction to my previous post. Thanks for asking or I never would have caught that. How could I not remember that? I'm a teacher, that's how. Have a great day. Ah yes, I found a similar problem on a mate's VOX guitar the other day. The G sitared away like the whole of the Punjab. The B was doing it a bit too. He'd never noticed so I don't know if it had happened recently since he had decided to do a lot more whammy playing at the last two gigs. Seems unlikely. Anyhow, the slots were too low and the first fret was easily touched by the strings when fretting at the third. In fact the G was still touching the second fret when fretting at the fourth! I've temporarily used a superglue and nut shavings repair for this sort of problem before now and it has stood up to use very well but this nut is brass! The choice would seem to be to shim it and recut all the slots or replace it...and recut all the slots. Either way I hope VOX used light glue!
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