Pics of my 96 M.I.J. Tele that I promised I would post

[Blues4U]

Here's a look at my new to me M.I.J. 96 Tele.

I will post more in my next post.

[Blues4U]

Here's some more pictures

[Blues4U]

Here are a few more and also a picture of the Tele's room mates. There is also a picture of the pickguard I plan on installing after I do a little fitting around the neck pocket.

[WBPickups]

nice looking family!

[Blues4U]

Thanks Will, I love both of these Strats and I am really liking this new Tele.

The pics are not that good, but I told the guys that I would post pics as soon as I had the Tele in my possession.

[WBPickups]

Man, I just learned how to take pictures myself. Most of my old pictures are so bad, I never used to post them. Always too dark or too much flash. Now I take them all outside with natural light. Yours don't look bad and I am really digging that blue Strat!

[Blues4U]

That Blue Strat is a real partscaster for sure. It has had 4 different necks on it. Various and assorted Pickups and controls. I am well versed at taking quality pictures, I just don't have a good place to take indoor pics of guitars.

This thing started out as a 92 Mexican Strat. The first mod I did to it was install an American, two point trem from the same period. I replaced the stock pickups with 3 Duncan mini humbuckers. A hot rails in the bridge, a JB jr in the middle and a little 59 in the neck. All of the electronics are American. I put a Fender American 5 way switch on it, a CTS 500k volume pot and 2, 250K tone pots and a switchcraft jack. I put a full copper shield under the pickguard and shielded the pickup cavities. I put two different American necks on it and eventually found a Robert Cray neck and this is the neck it will have forever. If you ever played this thing, you would love it. Every person that has ever played it has fallen in love.

My 4 year old son calls this my "Rock and Roll guitar" he was just looking at it today and said "Daddy, that's your rock and roll guitar" I asked him if he wanted me to play it for him and he said yes. I started noodling around and this kid looks at me and says with a straight face "That's not rock and roll music" I asked him what is rock and roll music and he strikes his best on stage guitar hero pose and the says "rock and roll guitars sound like this, and he proceeds to make the sound of booming power cords" I then oblige him and ask him if this is what he wants as I blast loud and proud power cords. He smiles and walks away and says " That's a rock and roll guitar" I nearly busted a gut.

I am fully convinced that the only way I could get a better strat than my Blue one would be to buy a custom shop model. You could never afford to buy one like it, lol. I use to call this guitar "The Money Pit" but now I call it "NAFTA STRAT" parts and pieces from all over North America.

I have learned everything about putting guitars together and wiring them up from this old blue thing. She's pretty too.

[WBPickups]

That is great story with your son! My oldest daughter has really taken to playing guitar is getting quite good for a 5 year old. We got her a mini Hello Kitty pink Strat and she's plugging away. It's great when your kids love the same things you do.

Your mod quest with the blue one is why I like Strat and Teles. You can really customized them to you and when they are configured to the point of bliss. You play them forever.

[Blues4U]

bump for the guys that wanted to see that pics

[Blues4U]

Well, I am trying to decide what pickups to put in this thing.

I am not into putting big money into it at this time because, frankly, I am trying not to spend too much money on things I don't really need, lol. I bought the tele, I don't want to spend 2-3 hundred bucks on new pickups,lol.

I really want to keep this Tele sounding like a tele. I have 3 strats and a Les Paul that I play. I don't want the Tele to sound like either of them.

I cannot believe that I actually like the stock pickups. The neck pickup could be a little clearer or more defined, but really, they aren't bad.

Gimme some ideas. GFS has many reasonably priced Tele pickups and I am trying to figure what I want.

I know exactly what pickups I like in my Strats when I am looking for a particular sound, same goes for the Les Paul.

This is my first Tele.

[Gunner]

Very sweet Tele!

[WhippingPost]

Nice Tele!