really made me sit up and take notice... I got a used 300 and it so far is a P>O>S> and I am very seriously thinking of virtual-stratizing mine.. any suggestions?
@guitrman56 I've now owned four different 300s over the years, and they seem inconsistent - one was quite good, two were OK, and one was pretty bad. I would first reflash the firmware, change the strings, check the piezo balance in Workbench (while set to an acoustic model), and make sure the setup (intonation, nut, truss rod, saddle height) is good. If it still sucks, transplant it; it's fun. Good luck
This video is now out of date, actually. Because of balance issues (the Tele became neck-heavy), I re-transplanted the Variax electronics into a Strat body and added standard pickups. Someday I'll post the result.
The cleans on the original body is nicer, clearer. I much prefer it over the new body. As for distortion, heck, I can't tell much of a difference. This goes to show tone wood isn't a big factor in quality of an axe, it's just a matter of preference.
another thing, maybe it would be smart to switch the tele neck with the variax neck, it would look better at least. i like the look (and feel) of rosewood necks, but hey, thats just me. and the basic natural finish is kind of boring, you should definately finish it yourself, or just sticker the heck out of it
rose wood is quicker? i think so, yet after 15 years of playing still dont get it. how? i still play better on a rosewood neck though. oh well some things will always be a mistery.
Cool - thanks for sharing. Regarding your Variax transplant, from what I could tell from your video, looks like you also have real pickups on the tele body. Are those active as well? One more silly question - were you forced to go with a standard telecaster bridge as opposed to LR Baggs bridge that came with the Variax? The tone difference seem very subtle - which body wood are you using here? Thanks again.
Thanks for the comments guys. I'm actually redoing this transplant into a Strat because I don't like the color & feel of the Tele (doesn't fit my style, too country for me, NTTAWWT). I don't have a camera @ the moment but will do videos of the completed item.
Oh yeah, and saovi81 - the pickups in the Tele are not functional, in fact the bridge PU is a cut off plastic top of a PU, and the neck PU is just a shaped piece of aluminum tape! I just thought it looked funny without pickups. Finally, I didn't *have* to use the tele bridge, but wanted it because it covered up the pickup cavity.
@mattmguitar Good video. I am considering doing the same. Was the transplant difficult, costly, and time consuming? How hearty of an endeavor, was it?
Maybe sometime; it's something you just sort of start off being bad at and gradually get good at. If I were you I'd start with something simple like if you have a Strat, put the 2nd tone control onto the bridge pickup instead of the middle. Guitarnuts dot com is a great site for tutorials.
haha, dude you fucking owned that guitar, it's sounding great man. yeah if i were you, i would have put an sg or strat body in there, but mainly because thats what suits my style, very good work.
Thanks. I agree with you as far as a strat - I'm going to redo it because I learned so much by doing this transplant that I want to make it better. I'm also going to finish it myself (lots of reading & work to do).
thinking about it, a strat would probably work out better than anything else i could think of, for the most partstrats are one of the most versitile guitars out there, with a variax board, it would be able to make any sound you want.
by the way, whats a good way to learn about wiring guitars and stuff like that?
Great job! I've been watching you from day one. Do you like the darker sound of the "teliax" over the original? Are you running it through a POD or an amp? Glad to see you still have all of your digits!
Thanks. The tone difference is subtle on some models and more noticeable on others; helps some and harms others. The Lester bridge pickup model has lost a little of its character, but not too bad. I measured 1.5sec more sustain on notes in the middle of the fretboard. This is the sound throught a PodXT Live.
Let's see... $130 for the Telecaster. $10 for the pickguard, a lot of time... $65 for a pro setup and new nut. It's been worth it for learning how to do it and being a fun project, and the new guitar's neck suits my style MUCH better. Next experiment is to get a PLEK fret job. (an interesting process; look it up)
really made me sit up and take notice... I got a used 300 and it so far is a P>O>S> and I am very seriously thinking of virtual-stratizing mine.. any suggestions?
guitrman56 7 months ago
@guitrman56 I've now owned four different 300s over the years, and they seem inconsistent - one was quite good, two were OK, and one was pretty bad. I would first reflash the firmware, change the strings, check the piezo balance in Workbench (while set to an acoustic model), and make sure the setup (intonation, nut, truss rod, saddle height) is good. If it still sucks, transplant it; it's fun. Good luck
mattmguitar 7 months ago
Processing is processing. If you like the feel better, that's all that matters.
guitartec 1 year ago
thanks, very good parameters
fifipam 2 years ago
Might be nice to recut the video with each lick one after the other with either body. But defo sounds nicer on the cleans with the original body
tightropetomg 3 years ago
This video is now out of date, actually. Because of balance issues (the Tele became neck-heavy), I re-transplanted the Variax electronics into a Strat body and added standard pickups. Someday I'll post the result.
mattmguitar 3 years ago
The cleans on the original body is nicer, clearer. I much prefer it over the new body. As for distortion, heck, I can't tell much of a difference. This goes to show tone wood isn't a big factor in quality of an axe, it's just a matter of preference.
What's left is just the playability.
oysterlicker 3 years ago
I definitely discern a fuller, richer sound with the tele body...
yinyangthang 3 years ago 2
GREAT JOB!!
Boxcarcrzy12 4 years ago
another thing, maybe it would be smart to switch the tele neck with the variax neck, it would look better at least. i like the look (and feel) of rosewood necks, but hey, thats just me. and the basic natural finish is kind of boring, you should definately finish it yourself, or just sticker the heck out of it
propeaceyoungun 4 years ago
rose wood is quicker? i think so, yet after 15 years of playing still dont get it. how? i still play better on a rosewood neck though. oh well some things will always be a mistery.
ondahonda 4 years ago
Cool - thanks for sharing. Regarding your Variax transplant, from what I could tell from your video, looks like you also have real pickups on the tele body. Are those active as well? One more silly question - were you forced to go with a standard telecaster bridge as opposed to LR Baggs bridge that came with the Variax? The tone difference seem very subtle - which body wood are you using here? Thanks again.
saovi81 4 years ago
Thanks for the comments guys. I'm actually redoing this transplant into a Strat because I don't like the color & feel of the Tele (doesn't fit my style, too country for me, NTTAWWT). I don't have a camera @ the moment but will do videos of the completed item.
mattmguitar 4 years ago
Oh yeah, and saovi81 - the pickups in the Tele are not functional, in fact the bridge PU is a cut off plastic top of a PU, and the neck PU is just a shaped piece of aluminum tape! I just thought it looked funny without pickups. Finally, I didn't *have* to use the tele bridge, but wanted it because it covered up the pickup cavity.
mattmguitar 4 years ago
@mattmguitar Good video. I am considering doing the same. Was the transplant difficult, costly, and time consuming? How hearty of an endeavor, was it?
cheers
novanine9 1 year ago
Sweet Man! I have no clue when it comes to wiring guitars. Can you make a video about that?
Timzsk8 4 years ago
Maybe sometime; it's something you just sort of start off being bad at and gradually get good at. If I were you I'd start with something simple like if you have a Strat, put the 2nd tone control onto the bridge pickup instead of the middle. Guitarnuts dot com is a great site for tutorials.
mattmguitar 4 years ago
Thanks man!
Timzsk8 4 years ago
haha, dude you fucking owned that guitar, it's sounding great man. yeah if i were you, i would have put an sg or strat body in there, but mainly because thats what suits my style, very good work.
propeaceyoungun 4 years ago
Thanks. I agree with you as far as a strat - I'm going to redo it because I learned so much by doing this transplant that I want to make it better. I'm also going to finish it myself (lots of reading & work to do).
mattmguitar 4 years ago
thinking about it, a strat would probably work out better than anything else i could think of, for the most partstrats are one of the most versitile guitars out there, with a variax board, it would be able to make any sound you want.
by the way, whats a good way to learn about wiring guitars and stuff like that?
propeaceyoungun 4 years ago
Re: learning about wiring. I would go to guitarnuts dot com and read everything on there. There are both beginning and advanced articles.
mattmguitar 4 years ago
definately one of the most unique/cool guitars ive seen
LeviMan2001 4 years ago
Thank you!
mattmguitar 4 years ago
Great job man!
LessThanCool 4 years ago
Great job! I've been watching you from day one. Do you like the darker sound of the "teliax" over the original? Are you running it through a POD or an amp? Glad to see you still have all of your digits!
jjaammoo7777 4 years ago
Thanks. The tone difference is subtle on some models and more noticeable on others; helps some and harms others. The Lester bridge pickup model has lost a little of its character, but not too bad. I measured 1.5sec more sustain on notes in the middle of the fretboard. This is the sound throught a PodXT Live.
mattmguitar 4 years ago
sounds good all in all how much do u think it has cost you and woz it worth it
john19921 4 years ago
Let's see... $130 for the Telecaster. $10 for the pickguard, a lot of time... $65 for a pro setup and new nut. It's been worth it for learning how to do it and being a fun project, and the new guitar's neck suits my style MUCH better. Next experiment is to get a PLEK fret job. (an interesting process; look it up)
mattmguitar 4 years ago