I bought the 40th Satin Mocha, Out of the Box from Fender and was great out of the box! My first Fender coming from an Ibanez SG and The Feel of this guitar just calls me to pick it up and explore my creativity! Thanks for these helpful videos!
Oh that neck PU sounds so good! I am a huge lover of all things brass not just for tone but used in anything like tools or hardware for other things, those barrels not only look great but drastically balance the tone and even stability and they wear so nice. Don't even get me started on the anti-corrosion properties and how it it doesn't cause sickness in wood. I dig the front and back black binding it looks really smooth!, Great video Mike! :)
Agreed, out of the box the neck pickup sounds muddy. I adjusted the height away from the strings, and now it sounds brighter, more articulate, perfect.
Saw a guy on a forum yesterday that decided to personalise his 59 epi by stripping the binding himself with no experience. He made a connection alright! I’m happy with my simple modifications! Thanks again for the great pickup!
You are so right. I've seen guys hesitate to change something for years, then are floored by their "new" guitar when they get it back. Me, I jumped right in, back in the 80s when I was new to Austin. Sold the new mail-order guitar (my first) that I had in 79 when I got there after a year or so when I realized we were swimming in used gear, Fenders and SGs for 150, Les Pauls and Martin Ds for 250-350, all with cases. (They all needed work lol.) But you couldn't go out without meeting players and techs willing to teach and work for free or trades. Retired to a small town, now I offer that to the locals, and it's a good feeling. I learned in Austin that if you make the rounds of the pawnshops and music store tuning every one you fondle, everyone loves you.
I have a 2000 Standard Series Tele by Squier that has become a very nice guitar since I got it 5 years ago. It needed neck adjustment, crack repair at the headstock, sharp fret ends dressed, and broken string ends coaxed out of the through-the-body ferrules. I also replaced the string trees with the vintage-style round ones because the stock one stuck. In British Racing Green, it looks better without the pickguard (which has yellowed quite nicely with age and goes with the guitar if I ever sell it). It has a very creamy neck pickup that may have been changed. Either way, I'm keeping it. Bridge pickup sounds like a Tele. I might change pots in the future but what I really want is a P90 in the middle position, but I'm torn by the idea that a vintage Squier Standard might be worth leaving stock. Might pick up a partscaster to play around with instead, because it really does seem this is as good as a MIM. I'm tempted to put a P90 in the Mad Cat instead, but that one is a 70s or early 80s MIJ that probably shouldn't be messed with either. Someday that one needs some Texas Specials or similar just to finish making it a real wailer -- it has 2 Strat pickups.
@@USTTRM has a 60s-type fleck to the finish and other 60s-vibe touches, like rosewood fretboard, skinny neck, gull-wing trees (I've never liked them -- when were the round ones used?). Not sure if covered tuners were used in the 60s -- I plan on replacing them with open-back Kluson style. Big fan of Kluson style tuners, or Grover-Gibson or Grover-Fender. Going to need bushings for the over-size holes. I like the progress of your show, glad I found you early. Best of luck in your endeavors. Maybe some more guitar shopping next year? I never get tired of seeing new gear, even if it's old. I don't have enough guitars, and yet I have too many.
Hi! I have the Satin Mocha and I want to get the same brass saddles and neck pick up. Do you have any details on the two products so I can pick up the same ones you have? I looked on bare knuckles site and there's a few variations
@USTTRM, Bare Knuckle makes great pickups, but since I live in the US, I was unable to purchase them for my Epi LP mods. Was nervous that a potential return may have been an issue. My next project is a Tele Nashville clone, built from scratch.
so this is a question i'm hoping some one might be able to answer , i've bought a new Squier Tele and going to upgrade all the hardware but as i'll be usuing it for recording purposes only , instead of keeping the 3-way switch for the pick up's i was wondering if it'd be possible to have 2 volume pots and a tone pot , so i could blend the pick-up's to the output and hopefully be able to do some noise cancelling with the 2 pick ups humbucking each other , is that something i could do ? .. Thanks , Great video btw
I have a g and l asat classic tele, I have to honestly tell you there is virtually nothing I can mod on this guitar to make it better. I have strats that I mod constantly so I am a modder, the g and l may be the perfect guitar.
@@USTTRM I see it regularly...I just wonder what the story is for that spelling...I know about Esquire...no offence, thank you! Groet uit Nederland. 🙋🏻♂️
I wanted this about a month ago but it was £400 and I didn’t have the money to do upgrades so in a sale I bought a Prs se Starla in a sale for £400 and a month later I’ve just sold my Starla for £510 and seen that this telecaster is on sale for £250 so now aswell as making a £110 profit I’ve not got the money to now spend money on the upgrades with it costing less than what the guitar is at full price
I only paid $399 for my 40th Anniversary Squire Telecaster. I'm not going to put more money in it. I know there are upgrades. But add on the cost to have the upgrades installed makes it untenable. Mine is ebony and gold.
Those "Bare Knuckle" and "Tone Rider" pickups like that cheap bastard Oak Grigsby switch are Chinese made with someone else's name plastered on it. I used one of those cheap shitty switches in my Squier Bullet Stratocaster. They're nothing to write home about. CRL is what I use for all my USA made guitars. These are the originals and are the best. Be as that may I don't use the compensated saddles on my Teles - I just use brass. This way they are so shrill and harsh. I know that Squier is known for using garbage hardware so I always replace it with good quality stuff. These are getting to the point of almost being as good as the USA and some of it better! I've seen some USA Fender guitars that are pretty sloppy finish wise and they aren't any better than the Mexican models. Nothing I've seen from USA Fender guitars has impressed me lately. There are too many things that I've seen in fit and finish that has now shaken my confidence and their customer service sucks! Just buy a Squier and replace the stuff you don't like and save the over head costs on getting better parts. I use bone nuts on my guitars usually but if I can get synthetic I use that too. Both work real well in creating a better and more stable tuning and tone. Thank you for sharing this with us. It's always great to see another Tele player keeping the dream alive!
@@USTTRM I suppose I did some sanding to round off the squared edges of the stock nut...then hit each slot with a quick polish file, the action at the nut was slightly high. All in all the finished product with new pickups gets played more than my American tele (both lighter and better neck)...but not my Fed jv Modified Japan Strat. I've come to believe the best quality is comings out of Japan now...not to mention that soft V neck is to die for. Cheers!
I don’t understand why so many clearly novice and beginner level people make gear videos, as if they have enough experience to know what’s good. If you retired an MIJ Tele for this, you’re clueless.
I bought the 40th Satin Mocha, Out of the Box from Fender and was great out of the box! My first Fender coming from an Ibanez SG and The Feel of this guitar just calls me to pick it up and explore my creativity!
Thanks for these helpful videos!
I was considering the mocha! Greatly choice!
Oh that neck PU sounds so good! I am a huge lover of all things brass not just for tone but used in anything like tools or hardware for other things, those barrels not only look great but drastically balance the tone and even stability and they wear so nice. Don't even get me started on the anti-corrosion properties and how it it doesn't cause sickness in wood. I dig the front and back black binding it looks really smooth!, Great video Mike! :)
Yeah I’m really happy with that trade. It’s really a fine instrument. now with those simple changes!
Have a good one!
Agreed, out of the box the neck pickup sounds muddy. I adjusted the height away from the strings, and now it sounds brighter, more articulate, perfect.
Same. Sounds great. 👍🏽
people tend to forget about pickup height adjustments it makes a huge difference in tone
Yea. Very nice guitar. Perfect upgrades. Easy for big improvements and sounds. Keep rocking.
Keep rolling!
Beautiful Tele Mike. She sounds and looks lovely. Looking forward to the next live already. Merry Christmas brother.
See you this Christmas on the live!
I'll be there !
I have one of these on the way. Thanks for the recommendations!
These come with bone nuts but if you cut your own you can control the selection/ density of the bone in question so I get it.
Beautiful.
I love top loading them.
Often a few tweaks and upgrades on any guitar at any price level just makes the connection between the player and the instrument that much better.
Saw a guy on a forum yesterday that decided to personalise his 59 epi by stripping the binding himself with no experience. He made a connection alright! I’m happy with my simple modifications! Thanks again for the great pickup!
You are so right. I've seen guys hesitate to change something for years, then are floored by their "new" guitar when they get it back. Me, I jumped right in, back in the 80s when I was new to Austin. Sold the new mail-order guitar (my first) that I had in 79 when I got there after a year or so when I realized we were swimming in used gear, Fenders and SGs for 150, Les Pauls and Martin Ds for 250-350, all with cases. (They all needed work lol.) But you couldn't go out without meeting players and techs willing to teach and work for free or trades. Retired to a small town, now I offer that to the locals, and it's a good feeling. I learned in Austin that if you make the rounds of the pawnshops and music store tuning every one you fondle, everyone loves you.
Let's hear those thoughts!
Awesome video. What exact neck pickup did you put in?
Agree with the mods… the guitar is beautiful, I have the Mocha 40th anniversary, and I love the roasted maple neck.
I have a 2000 Standard Series Tele by Squier that has become a very nice guitar since I got it 5 years ago. It needed neck adjustment, crack repair at the headstock, sharp fret ends dressed, and broken string ends coaxed out of the through-the-body ferrules. I also replaced the string trees with the vintage-style round ones because the stock one stuck. In British Racing Green, it looks better without the pickguard (which has yellowed quite nicely with age and goes with the guitar if I ever sell it). It has a very creamy neck pickup that may have been changed. Either way, I'm keeping it. Bridge pickup sounds like a Tele. I might change pots in the future but what I really want is a P90 in the middle position, but I'm torn by the idea that a vintage Squier Standard might be worth leaving stock. Might pick up a partscaster to play around with instead, because it really does seem this is as good as a MIM. I'm tempted to put a P90 in the Mad Cat instead, but that one is a 70s or early 80s MIJ that probably shouldn't be messed with either. Someday that one needs some Texas Specials or similar just to finish making it a real wailer -- it has 2 Strat pickups.
Racing green sounds cool! I will look that up! Thanks for sharing!
@@USTTRM has a 60s-type fleck to the finish and other 60s-vibe touches, like rosewood fretboard, skinny neck, gull-wing trees (I've never liked them -- when were the round ones used?). Not sure if covered tuners were used in the 60s -- I plan on replacing them with open-back Kluson style. Big fan of Kluson style tuners, or Grover-Gibson or Grover-Fender. Going to need bushings for the over-size holes. I like the progress of your show, glad I found you early. Best of luck in your endeavors. Maybe some more guitar shopping next year? I never get tired of seeing new gear, even if it's old. I don't have enough guitars, and yet I have too many.
Hi Mike! I just bought one of these. What saddles are those? Thanks! Drew from USA
Hi! I have the Satin Mocha and I want to get the same brass saddles and neck pick up. Do you have any details on the two products so I can pick up the same ones you have? I looked on bare knuckles site and there's a few variations
It already had a bone nut from the factory, but cutting it bij a luthier is prob. better.
Hey Mike,
Whats the Laney amp behimd you? I have the cub 10 and love it.
@USTTRM, Bare Knuckle makes great pickups, but since I live in the US, I was unable to purchase them for my Epi LP mods. Was nervous that a potential return may have been an issue. My next project is a Tele Nashville clone, built from scratch.
i love your neck pickup What is the name? where can I buy?
I thought the 40th squires come with a bone
they come with a bone nut was yours badly cut?
And I have enjoyed the video...
so this is a question i'm hoping some one might be able to answer , i've bought a new Squier Tele and going to upgrade all the hardware but as i'll be usuing it for recording purposes only , instead of keeping the 3-way switch for the pick up's i was wondering if it'd be possible to have 2 volume pots and a tone pot , so i could blend the pick-up's to the output and hopefully be able to do some noise cancelling with the 2 pick ups humbucking each other , is that something i could do ? .. Thanks , Great video btw
I have a g and l asat classic tele, I have to honestly tell you there is virtually nothing I can mod on this guitar to make it better. I have strats that I mod constantly so I am a modder, the g and l may be the perfect guitar.
Recommendations for inexpensive under $40 neck pickup that is brighter/clearer than my stock muddy one? Or can a cap or resistor be changed?
try adjusting the pickup height on your neck pickup closer to the strings makes a huge difference opens up the pickup sound
Great review!
What is a bright aaahhhh guitar ?
How much money would these changes cost for me to do ?
I'm confused...is it a Squire or a Squier? I never see Fender/Fendre?
Ha! Good catch! I think I’m going to let the spelling ride for laughs down the line! Thanks for watching!
@@USTTRM I see it regularly...I just wonder what the story is for that spelling...I know about Esquire...no offence, thank you! Groet uit Nederland. 🙋🏻♂️
I wanted this about a month ago but it was £400 and I didn’t have the money to do upgrades so in a sale I bought a Prs se Starla in a sale for £400 and a month later I’ve just sold my Starla for £510 and seen that this telecaster is on sale for £250 so now aswell as making a £110 profit I’ve not got the money to now spend money on the upgrades with it costing less than what the guitar is at full price
I only paid $399 for my 40th Anniversary Squire Telecaster. I'm not going to put more money in it. I know there are upgrades. But add on the cost to have the upgrades installed makes it untenable. Mine is ebony and gold.
Best mod, sell it and buy either a G+L Asat tribute or if you can find one an Agile TC 730. You will be much happuier!
OK...first thoughts. Read the logo out loud. It clearly says Squier, not squire (".)
Those "Bare Knuckle" and "Tone Rider" pickups like that cheap bastard Oak Grigsby switch are Chinese made with someone else's name plastered on it. I used one of those cheap shitty switches in my Squier Bullet Stratocaster. They're nothing to write home about. CRL is what I use for all my USA made guitars. These are the originals and are the best. Be as that may I don't use the compensated saddles on my Teles - I just use brass. This way they are so shrill and harsh. I know that Squier is known for using garbage hardware so I always replace it with good quality stuff. These are getting to the point of almost being as good as the USA and some of it better! I've seen some USA Fender guitars that are pretty sloppy finish wise and they aren't any better than the Mexican models.
Nothing I've seen from USA Fender guitars has impressed me lately. There are too many things that I've seen in fit and finish that has now shaken my confidence and their customer service sucks! Just buy a Squier and replace the stuff you don't like and save the over head costs on getting better parts. I use bone nuts on my guitars usually but if I can get synthetic I use that too. Both work real well in creating a better and more stable tuning and tone. Thank you for sharing this with us. It's always great to see another Tele player keeping the dream alive!
Brother love the channel, but the nut that comes on these guitars is already a bone nut.
Yeah a custom made bone nut is going to be the ideal way to go but the nut it comes with is just fine!
Thanks for sharing!
@@USTTRM I suppose I did some sanding to round off the squared edges of the stock nut...then hit each slot with a quick polish file, the action at the nut was slightly high. All in all the finished product with new pickups gets played more than my American tele (both lighter and better neck)...but not my Fed jv Modified Japan Strat. I've come to believe the best quality is comings out of Japan now...not to mention that soft V neck is to die for. Cheers!
Eheheh
I don’t understand why so many clearly novice and beginner level people make gear videos, as if they have enough experience to know what’s good. If you retired an MIJ Tele for this, you’re clueless.
He’s a professional musician. What part of supporting yourself on just music while living abroad reads as novice to you?
*Squier
Want to improve your squire Tele, trade it to a real American made Fender Tele.