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Post by goodvoodoo on Oct 2, 2021 19:35:32 GMT
Hi, I have TE-20 guitar, I like its overall quality, fihish, color. It's very comfortable to play - it's my first telecaster and I fell in love with this guitar style. The only cons of TE-20 is a sound, my Pacifica 112J sound is far better. I understand that it is normal situation for such cheap instrument. Now I'm at a crossroads: 1. Sell TE-20 and buy TE-52 with better Alnico pickups and through the body strings,or 2. Upgrade my TE-20: install new pickups (Vanson or even Fender), brass saddles, maybe drill the body for the strings - would it be worth?
If someone has an experince with both TE-20 and TE-52, I'll be appreciate for the advice.
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advb
Harley Benton Expert
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Post by advb on Oct 2, 2021 23:08:32 GMT
Welcome to the forum. I only have the TE-20 and, like you, I very much like mine. Personally, I wouldn't consider replacing it with a TE-52 unless I had tried one first: by all accounts the neck profile is much fatter on the TE-52 and it is much heavier. You could, of course, buy a TE-52 and return it to Thomann if you didn't like it but you might just end up with 2 guitars....... The TE-52 recently increased a bit in price so there is now £58 between that and the TE-20. Upgrading the TE-20 with Vanson pickups and brass saddles should only cost about £40. If you are happy doing the upgrade yourself, it would certainly be cost effective although, if you did decide to sell the TE-20 later on, its unlikely that you would recoup the upgrade costs. My TE-20 is quite resonant so I'm not sure how much difference through body stringing would make - there is a lot of dabate on that. That's certainly not something I'd try doing myself! Hopefully, one of the TE-52 owners on the forum can give you some proper advice.
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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 Oct 3, 2021 8:35:15 GMT
It depends what sound you are getting problems with and what sound you are expecting. The Pacifica 012J I suspect also has alnico pickups but they are strat style single coils and a humbucker in the bridge. I don't know which combination of those pickups you prefer but they will all sound different and will also sound different to the telecaster. I don't feel the string-through alteration will be the thing you are looking for to change things much. That is more of a feel thing. I have several telecasters - strung through and top loaded and with a variety of pickups on - and a Pacifica 112 with the standard Yamaha alnico pickups. I use both guitar shapes for different purposes but tend to fall to one tele for MOST things. If it were me I would upgrade to pickups you have heard and like (bearing in mind that your entire signal chain and style may not be the same as the instrument whose pickups you do like). A tele is a perfect base for experimenting with that kind of stuff, much easier than say a strat or a Les Paul...or a 335! SO if you like the instrument's feel and response then you have an ideal start point.
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Post by stratsoundfan on Oct 3, 2021 14:46:18 GMT
DefJef Yamaha Pacifica 112 has ceramic pickups, they are not alnico. I own one, mine is from 2004.
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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 Oct 3, 2021 15:06:26 GMT
Yep I muddled that one up totally stratsoundfan ! Let me reel back and start again. What I had intended to say was, "the Pacifica 012J I suspect also has ceramic pickups". But I also did mean to say that my Pacifica 112 has alnico pickups...because it does. But now it looks as though the OP has edited their post to say "112J" so the whole thing is moot!
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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 Oct 3, 2021 15:25:43 GMT
Right, I just improved my Pacifica knowledge a whole load! I always thought the 012s were loaded with ceramics and everything else from the 100 series upwards had alnicos. I didn't know there was this 112 J slotted in amongst the 112s. My 112 VM certainly is alnico but that 112 J is ceramic. Phew! Now what?
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Post by stratsoundfan on Oct 3, 2021 16:26:16 GMT
Here is my Pacifica 112j LH. Fit and finish is exeptional. Bear in mind, this is almost 20 years old guitar, and it still looks brand new.
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Post by goodvoodoo on Oct 3, 2021 17:01:42 GMT
Hello everyone. Thanks for the replies. My Yamaha is exactly the same model as shown above by stratsoundfan. It has ceramic pckups, very nice instrument. I mentioned Pacifica in my post just for example of good "warm" sound that I like. TE-20 has a bit flat and colorless sound. I also understand that tele and superstrat sound are two different things. I decide to stay with my TE-20 and upgrade it. I want to get a traditional twang telecaster sound. My list of changes: 1. Vanson Alnico puckups 2. brass compensated saddles 3. new tuners (I did't choose a model yet) 4. new nut Number 3 and 4 doesn't affect the sound. But I believe it will make the guitar more comfortable, and give more stable tuninig.
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Post by stratsoundfan on Oct 3, 2021 17:53:53 GMT
goodvoodoo why didn't you buy TE-52 instead of TE-20? It is supposed to be a much better guitar, both in terms of sound and looks. Peoole are raving about it all over the internet. I am seriously considering buying one, once it's back in stock, which won't be anytime soon, unfortunately.
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Post by frankthetank on Oct 4, 2021 21:10:54 GMT
Welcome to the forum. by all accounts the neck profile is much fatter on the TE-52 and it is much heavier. Even more fatter? I found the TE-20s neck quite a bit fatter then a Squire Strat, so much so I prefer playing the latter. Will either sand down the TE-20 and see if I can make it work or just get a Fender Squire Tele and move my mods over as far as possible.
From what I hear and have seen, the TE-20 might be completely different than a TE-52. You might not even be able to fit regular replacement parts onto the TE-20
otherwise the string through body might also require a new ashtray and that comes with a whole bunch of fun.. see thread
Otherwise would personally see the TE-20 as something to mess around with and when you are done and no longer need it, as a nice wall deco or salvageable for a partscaster.
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Post by hallon on Oct 7, 2021 0:31:16 GMT
Hi, I have TE-20 guitar, I like its overall quality, fihish, color. It's very comfortable to play - it's my first telecaster and I fell in love with this guitar style. The only cons of TE-20 is a sound, my Pacifica 112J sound is far better. I understand that it is normal situation for such cheap instrument. Now I'm at a crossroads: 1. Sell TE-20 and buy TE-52 with better Alnico pickups and through the body strings,or 2. Upgrade my TE-20: install new pickups (Vanson or even Fender), brass saddles, maybe drill the body for the strings - would it be worth? If someone has an experince with both TE-20 and TE-52, I'll be appreciate for the advice. I have both. The TE-52 sounds brighter, closer to a classic tele sound, and is usually alot heavier than the TE-20. As for drilling holes in the TE-20, nah don't bother unless you like modifying stuff
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Post by goodvoodoo on Oct 9, 2021 16:30:21 GMT
goodvoodoo why didn't you buy TE-52 instead of TE-20? It is supposed to be a much better guitar, both in terms of sound and looks. Peoole are raving about it all over the internet. I am seriously considering buying one, once it's back in stock, which won't be anytime soon, unfortunately. I didn't buy it, because I wanted to try TE-20 - so much good reviews about such a cheap guitar. And also it has very nice color. I guess I'll buy TE-52 in future, but before that I want to upgrade TE-20.
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Post by goodvoodoo on Oct 9, 2021 16:36:46 GMT
Welcome to the forum. by all accounts the neck profile is much fatter on the TE-52 and it is much heavier. Even more fatter? I found the TE-20s neck quite a bit fatter then a Squire Strat, so much so I prefer playing the latter. Will either sand down the TE-20 and see if I can make it work or just get a Fender Squire Tele and move my mods over as far as possible.
From what I hear and have seen, the TE-20 might be completely different than a TE-52. You might not even be able to fit regular replacement parts onto the TE-20
otherwise the string through body might also require a new ashtray and that comes with a whole bunch of fun.. see thread
Otherwise would personally see the TE-20 as something to mess around with and when you are done and no longer need it, as a nice wall deco or salvageable for a partscaster.
Thanks for the information, you did a really nice job. I have a question about tuners - you've mentioned that you drilled headstock for Wilkinson tuners, I also want to replace the original tuners, so do you know a model which could be installed without extra drilling?
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Post by goodvoodoo on Oct 9, 2021 16:42:20 GMT
Hi, I have TE-20 guitar, I like its overall quality, fihish, color. It's very comfortable to play - it's my first telecaster and I fell in love with this guitar style. The only cons of TE-20 is a sound, my Pacifica 112J sound is far better. I understand that it is normal situation for such cheap instrument. Now I'm at a crossroads: 1. Sell TE-20 and buy TE-52 with better Alnico pickups and through the body strings,or 2. Upgrade my TE-20: install new pickups (Vanson or even Fender), brass saddles, maybe drill the body for the strings - would it be worth? If someone has an experince with both TE-20 and TE-52, I'll be appreciate for the advice. I have both. The TE-52 sounds brighter, closer to a classic tele sound, and is usually alot heavier than the TE-20. As for drilling holes in the TE-20, nah don't bother unless you like modifying stuff hallonAbout new holes in the body - I've rejected this idea because it's not worth it) According to the videos on YouTube the difference in the sound is not significant.
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