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Post by hallon on Oct 10, 2021 15:14:40 GMT
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. Yeah, I agree with that 100%.
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Post by frankthetank on Oct 10, 2021 18:40:50 GMT
Sorry, no idea. But if you do find any, I'd love to hear about them.
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kz
Harley Benton Club Junior Member
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Post by kz on Oct 13, 2021 20:48:42 GMT
Sorry, no idea. But if you do find any, I'd love to hear about them. The TE-20 seems to have standard import tuners with washer (at least how it appears on the images) - this usually means that the hole in the headstock is ~10mm and fits various tuning machines of similar type (e.g. Kluson MK6LN). Only thing that could vary is the position of the screw. Even similarly looking tuning machines may not have the same fit for the screw, but occasionally you wan to plug the screw hole and re-drill, just to correct the angle of the tuning machine...
Take one of the tuning machines off, next time you will change the strings and measure the hole diameter. Search for suitable tuner, the measurements are often mentioned at thomman's product's pages.
The pressed-in bushings could vary more. The pressed-in tuners I have seen on HB guitars was non-standard and required enlarging the holes. Reamer is recommended, the drill-bit could be a little bit rough to the lacquered finish. Drilling in reverse could take longer, but there is lesser chance of biting to the wood with the drill bit.
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kz
Harley Benton Club Junior Member
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Post by kz on Oct 13, 2021 21:27:00 GMT
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 hallon About 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. Agree. Drilling a holes through body in a way that it looks satisfying after requires some tools and skills. Without these you will end up with damaged back side lacquer and holes that are not even close to be in a straight line. Even with a drill-press it takes some skill and experience, to get a straight line on the back side, not mentioning the finish.
The thing with upgrading cheap guitars (like HB) is, that it is almost never worth it...
So, I d did it to all my HB guitars :-)
Well, because I'm more focused on the technical side, than playing. The guitars are for me a tools to learn and experiment about the instrument itself. So when I damage the guitar in the process, it will not bother my mind that much as damaging proper Fender or Gibson (at least that is what I keep telling myself...).
The costs of good quality hardware to upgrade HB guitar was for me, in most cases, same or higher than the guitar itself (and that is without the pickups). There will be a sound difference after the upgrade, but there is no guarantee that it will be better, because tithe perception is a subjective to some degree...
So for the combined money that I have spend on the guitar I could have one or two levels better guitar without modification. This applies roughly to all brands and represents a pricing model - the cost of upgrade is higher, than the next better model in the lineup...
I have really cheap DIY Kit LP from basswood. Maybe it is the oil finish, but the body resonates like crazy (it is also crazy soft wood so "aging" is a feature not an effort) and it is crazy light... The other "Pro" Mahogany LP is a lot heavier so I still like the cheap LP kit because it has it's own magic and I can take it anywhere, dent it, scratch it. With good setup it is comfortable and when you start playing for a friends around a camp fire, with something to drink, the sound will be enough and you could really appreciate in the morning, that the guitar is a cheap one and not a Custom Shop Fender :-)
Interesting and probably cheap upgrade for the TE-20 could be to get rid of the ceramic magnet in the pickups and replace the metal slugs with Alnico magnets. Be aware of really thin wires, but the sound will be different and probably more professional...
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Post by goodvoodoo on Oct 16, 2021 19:53:44 GMT
kz Thank you for the advices
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Post by frankthetank on Oct 18, 2021 21:35:13 GMT
I fully agree with kz and this in no way devalues HB guitars. For the price you get good to great guitar. But we do have to realize that these are for a) beginners b) people on a budget or c) people looking to improve their set-up/modding skills Same for other similarly budgeted guitars (Squier Bullet/Affinity et al)
Your budget should match your needs. You could bring a budget guitar closer to a really good guitar, but you will need to replace nearly *everything*. If you calculate it all up, you might just be better off going for a guitar near that price point and seeing what it needs to improve.
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kz
Harley Benton Club Junior Member
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Post by kz on Oct 20, 2021 12:59:29 GMT
Yeah, I like the HB guitars. The quality and price combined are really welcoming. And I'm not a professional musician, so, for me, to experience the different guitar styles the HB inspired variants are best option for me. We live in times where advertisement is hidden everywhere. And from e.g. YT videos about the gear you could get sometimes a feeling, that if you don't own the custom shop version of the specific brand, you might not even start playing, because it will be the "wrong sound" anyway. Or to value yourself as a musician, you need to have guitar form appropriately priced category.
The thing is, that our music heroes often started with guitars we would now consider (without the historic value) a thrash (e.g. Les Paul - The Log) and their playing and music made the sound of the instruments famous, not the other way around. They loved the music and creating and anything could become an instrument...
Maybe if Les made the log really from the railorad track he would looked more "ripped" on the stage and he could be laying the foundations of Heavy Metal a few years sooner :-) Or, maybe he would not even become famous, if the slab of the wood for "The Log" was from a different tree, because the guitar could feel cheap for the audience :-)
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153 posts
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Post by r3v3nt0n on Oct 26, 2021 1:30:08 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. A different nut can affect the sound quite a bit. Change that plastic nut for a Graphtech or a brass nut, and you will see (hear). It's the cheapest mod you can do. I would suggest you do that first. Let me just say, I have a TE 52 and I didn't like the stock (Wilkinson) pickups. I later changed them to different Wilkinson pickups, also AlNiCo, and it was better. I've also changed the saddles to brass. Again, difference in the sound.
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Post by sheaisidore on Nov 30, 2021 20:19:52 GMT
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....... Nox Vidmate VLC
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Post by cig35 on Dec 4, 2021 12:21:23 GMT
I agree with you kz . Everything's an instrument in my house, from wooden spoons to scissors (great for percussion!) to gravel trays to saucepan lids being struck and lowered into water (love that sound ). It only takes the money men to see dollar signs on those things for them to try to sell us 'professional-quality-musician-only' saucepan lids and wooden spoons and for the price to go up accordingly and the snobbery to grow. You're not alone. The following was posted for fun by one of my absolute favourite guitarists
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advb
Harley Benton Expert
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Post by advb on Nov 19, 2022 0:00:06 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. Did you do these upgrades goodvoodoo and how did you get on?
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Post by justlearnin on Nov 19, 2022 3:37:52 GMT
But as far as the TE-52 goes ... what you are missing as an "upgrade", that is not available via any other means ... Is the roasty, toasty "Caramelized neck" that is worth $500 in and of itself !!! I would think that once you went through all the material and labor costs of the Mods, you will have paid as much or more that the TE 52 costs And you still will not have the super cool neck. ANY Tele fan worth his/her salt, Has to have a TE 52 ... If the weight is a problem (mine does weigh 10.2 lbs) ... Cop the TE 69 which is about a pound and a half lighter. But none of the guitars discussed above have the CARAMELIZED NECK !!! (I hate spellin' that) that in all seriousness costs about $350 US if you buy a Fender MIM one for Strats ... As I type this, I am gettin' cozy with another new Tele Gem ... A Sire T 7 It cost 3x more than the TE 52. Both have the roasty/toasty neck. The Sire have more stuff that comes standard as premium upgrades, so there is nothing to upgrade. I figure between these 2 Teles ... You got the whole market covered . The TE 52 for Tele clones up to $800 ... and the Sire for everything from $800 to $3000 (anticipating a PRS "Tele" )
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