spupilup
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Sep 22, 2023
- Messages
- 127
- Reaction score
- 295
I recently got this TV Yellow Special as a demo model from one of the large mail order places for $379 (less a $20 coupon for an actual cost of $359). I was a little worried about what might have happened to it for the price to be this low but I was pleasantly surprised by the condition. Whomever had originally purchased the guitar had done a nice set up. Intonation was spot on and the action was pretty low. The only issues I saw were that the two grub screws were missing from the back of the wraparound bidge and the tops of the studs looked like they had been tightened using a butter knife. It was no big deal because I immediately installed a Faber bridge and studs. I had originally thought that the nut was slightly out of position but as it turned out, it wasn't even glued in place. So, a dab of Titebond and a dusting of graphite and all was made right.
One other thing that I noticed was that no matter how much I lowered the neck pickup, it overpowered the bridge pickup. I have the neck back just about as far as I can get it with the bridge raised higher than I've ever raised a pickup. Here's the thing. I think the neck pickup sounds incredible. The bridge pickup is no slouch either but it simply can't keep up. Initially, given the low cost of the guitar, I had planned on installing a different set of pickups. I play some 70's, punk and grunge so I had been checking out the Bare Knuckle P90's (Mississippi Queens and Nantucket's to be exact). I had planned to ask you folks what you use and what you like as an upgrade but to be honest, I think I may keep the neck pickup and just try to find a replacement for the bridge that can keep up. I'd love to hear what you think about my idea for just going with replacement of the bridge pickup and what you would use or likely use if you were in my position.
Lastly, is there any merit to replacing the tuners with genuine Kluson's or Gotoh's. It seems like both are a relatively cheap upgrade (costing under $50 in most cases) if I stay away from locking and keeping with the butterbean knobs. I can't really say I have any issues with tuning or holding tune, the nut seems fine and the bridge is exceptional. It's more a question of the value of installing something that's genuine rather than a knock off (as I'm typing this I realize the irony of what I'm saying since the whole guitar is nothing but a cheap knockoff of a Gibson). Let me know if I should make a change or save the money for a few sets of strings.
TIA
One other thing that I noticed was that no matter how much I lowered the neck pickup, it overpowered the bridge pickup. I have the neck back just about as far as I can get it with the bridge raised higher than I've ever raised a pickup. Here's the thing. I think the neck pickup sounds incredible. The bridge pickup is no slouch either but it simply can't keep up. Initially, given the low cost of the guitar, I had planned on installing a different set of pickups. I play some 70's, punk and grunge so I had been checking out the Bare Knuckle P90's (Mississippi Queens and Nantucket's to be exact). I had planned to ask you folks what you use and what you like as an upgrade but to be honest, I think I may keep the neck pickup and just try to find a replacement for the bridge that can keep up. I'd love to hear what you think about my idea for just going with replacement of the bridge pickup and what you would use or likely use if you were in my position.
Lastly, is there any merit to replacing the tuners with genuine Kluson's or Gotoh's. It seems like both are a relatively cheap upgrade (costing under $50 in most cases) if I stay away from locking and keeping with the butterbean knobs. I can't really say I have any issues with tuning or holding tune, the nut seems fine and the bridge is exceptional. It's more a question of the value of installing something that's genuine rather than a knock off (as I'm typing this I realize the irony of what I'm saying since the whole guitar is nothing but a cheap knockoff of a Gibson). Let me know if I should make a change or save the money for a few sets of strings.
TIA