How To Install Humbuckers In a Telecaster

[@mikeivey8471]

Mr. Dylan sir , I just want you to know that you made my band mate seriously happy with the mods you did to his guitar !!! That thing sounds & plays phenomenal !! When he said that it was worthless to him what he meant was ... That he would never sell it cause he loved the way it played but he didn't like the tone of it . Now that thing is a freaking monster !!! All Hail Dylan Pickups !!! But yourself some today ppl !!! You will not be disappointed !!!

[@saintbrando]

A guitar is never worthless. Especially a Tele.

[@TexanUSMC8089]

It didn't have the sound he wanted for the type of music he played. It wasn't a guitar he could use. Now it is. I have a Tele Deluxe with two humbuckers. He could have just bought one of those, but he wanted this one converted. Dylan did a great job.

[@Steve-wz5pz]

Weeeellllll..it is NOW!!!!

[@kaeljoe]

Love the mod on this guitar .The transformation from a quack to a rock growl is simply amazing .

[@gordyn5292]

That may actually be the best looking Tele I've seen, especially with the clear bobbins. It certainly transformed it.

[@magnusfox777]

I love how Humbuckers sound and Telecasters are the coolest looking guitars so why wouldn't you want to put humbuckers in a Tele?

[@tritonmosquito9348]

I got a classic single coil tele, a P90 tele and I really want a hambucker esquire to end the collection.

[@joeh83winston87]

I have fell for marketing gimmicks for years and because of your content I have learned so much about how electric guitars actually work. I am so thankful for your videos now I am making my guitars my way and i actually know how to do it

[@ottovonnekpunch1268]

Dude, when you pulled the pickguard off , lo and behold, the body was already routed for a "Nashville" pickup configuration! I think HSH "Nashville" would be KILLER!

[@johncollins5552]

Yep a strat middle pickup could be cool but the phase can be a problem.

[@roberthastings708]

I watched this when it came out. This type of content is what hooked me, but I think your shift to your new content does net a wider audience. Now you have it all. Tech creds and industry insight. Good for you!

[@PaxAmor1]

That looks killer! Love the DAF pickups with the transparent bobbins. Also, it still sounds like a Tele when played clean but then rocks dirty. Love it!

[@jeffhunter9311]

Mini humbuckers actually hotter than you can handle if you want want no routing necessary My favourite Telecaster has a full size SD '59 Model SH-1 In the neck and a Dimarzio Chopper T Mini humbucker in the bridge Sounds fatter than my Les Paul. Great work man Love your videos

[@chrisgrabowski2678]

(Shocked he found it worthless). Glad he brought it to you! That guitar is gorgeous; it shines! Your pickups sound great! Nice touch. Thanks for the explanations about the bridge.

[@ethancheng1595]

thanks for showing us this. It's pretty much how imagined it, but it's good to see someone roadmapped the project before I start. One thing I didn't expect was that there are ready made tele bridges with humbucker slots. I was considering cutting the old bridge in half and just keeping the saddle section!

[@TimHoustonSB]

You’re the man, Dylan! I’m a total fan of HH Telecasters!!!

[@Colhogan06]

I would like to see how to modify a Telecastor the way Bob Kirchen mods his Telecastors in order to do the sound effects he gets. For those who are wondering, Bob Kirchen was the guy who played lead guitar on the song Hot Rod Lincoln in 1975 by Commander Cody and his Lost Airmen. I seen an interview with him in which he said he reversed the positions of the volume and tone and the 3 way switch. He did this for convenience. It placed the tone and volume in the forward most positions of the plate and put the 3 way switch in back of them. Then when he played he could extend his finger down and manipulate the volume or tone as he played to emulate the sounds of various vehicle horns like different cars or trucks or even a ship's horn. It's pretty cool to watch him do it. I was thinking of doing it to my Tele just for kicks, but wanted to see if I could find a video showing the reversal being done. It would make for a great conversation piece when playing. It would be done by flipping the panel the the volume and switch are in and then wiring it so the 3 way switch is first then tone then volume. I figured if I tried to do that without some guidance I would probably hose it up somehow and I didnt want to chance messing up a component to the point where it would need replacing. If you know where something like this could be found online that would be cool as well. Update: I did manage to find a video online showing how to reverse the controls. Works like a charm. When you look at it, it takes a second. You see it and think, humm something looks different here. Then you realize oh hey the controls are reversed. Looks great though!

[@tronloomis3291]

BILL

[@roxville]

Haha, at 5:30 I found myself blowing off the dust from the body when you removed the bridge :D

[@causetherat308]

Love it! And totally dig your new hash tag. Got nothing against single coil sized humbuckers. Love my Duncan little 59's. But nothing beats the rich sound of a full sized humbucker.

[@valueofnothing2487]

Lots of people may not know that Fenders are great for humbuckers (better in my opinion). You get the longer scale length, individual string intonation and height adjustment and string through contact. Also, it's far easier to get parts to modify.

[@andyhayes7828]

Agreed, Fenders have that longer scale length (25 1/2) which, imo gives more clarity, definition and 'throw' to the sound ( as compared to Gibsons 24 3/4 scale). Add to that, I like bolt on better than glued in necks, etc. A Tele with a humbucker (or two), imo, can sound like the best of both worlds, concerning a Gibson (Les Paul) and a Fender ( Strat).

[@rex8958]

2005 telecaster. "The owner has had it for about 20 years"

[@DylanTalksTone]

MinnesotaBassist yup... people lose track of how long they have had a guitar all the time.

[@rex8958]

@@DylanTalksTone lmao. Any way great video like always

[@gonzalosanchez6387]

He lives in the future

[@SuchaDoofus]

He is literally the 'customer of the future'.

[@mmmcookies6435]

Rex this is beyond science

[@davidwood351]

this video is just what I need, I’m doing the same work on my Tele, but with Wide Range CnNiFe pickups.

[@trdrvr2]

My Tele has Mick Thomson blackouts. 2 humbuckers. Great guitar!

[@HendoReviews]

So glad I found this video I wanted to do this to my tele and the humbucker bridge came today and I seen it was bigger and got worried but after watching this I can’t wait!

[@barndonmartin]

I'd love to do this to my tele. I don't really play much twangy stuff anymore, and I can't really afford a new guitar atm. Time to start researching I guess.

[@Hopfroggerz]

Did I hear that correct? The owner of the guitar said it's worthless because he's not a country guy? Didn't you tell him that with a Telecaster you can play any style you want?

[@waterhead001]

Can you get the deeper blues/rock tones in a Telecaster?

[@daccsacc]

@@waterhead001 yep, i've got one you can essentially play anything id say its the most versatile guitar

[@alexr6527]

I wonder if he knows who Jim Root is..

[@bigttygthegg6001]

Alex R given he has active EMG pickups in his Lol

[@pondmatter]

waterhead001 Soundgarden used Teles on many songs for the Down On The Upside record.

[@carlcrathorne7298]

Fantastic, and if you don’t like it it ent your guitar 🎸, brilliant just brilliant , fantastic video and it looks and sounds amazing

[@ShallowPlane]

That was really good and informative. I have wanted to do this for ages

[@labeandistort6213]

Wanted to see how to put a humbucker in my neck! Great Video! The guitar sounds magnificent!

[@johncollins5552]

Cool video, best tele mod is 50s wiring imo followed by... a belly cut, I just use an electric sander and rattlecan matt black, then a clear coat. Rough and ready to rock, cost about 15 bucks.

[@jrbuzzgalbraith4792]

I got my first telecaster this summer and wasn't happy with the bridge pickup characteristics so I installed a humbucker in the bridge which gave me the tones I love. It really jams. I was surprised at the level of disapproval I got from other tele players (purists) when I posted the mod on a FB tele page. Reminds me of the people who tell me I "ruined" my 64 Chevelle by making it a high performance hot rod. People should keep their negative opinions of other people's teles to themselves it's not like I feel bad for humbuckering my tele. Every telecaster I will ever own is gonna have a bridge humbucker and I like when it makes a purist tense up lol

[@geraldfrieberg7921]

Great video. But, it is also a good argument for simply buying an HH telly from Fender. Thanks for the great info !!

[@RayLawrenceJrMUSIC]

I like it. This is a tone monster guitar. I want to do one of my Teles with the EMG Revelation set. The cool thing about Teles is you can have as many as you want and all set up different,

[@rickmoore7501]

thanks Dylan,nice video,what would you do about pots if you had a humbucker in the neck and a single coil in the bridge?

[@colibarsbisuit8779]

Rick did you get an answer ? I want to do that with mine

[@alexandreabreupassos2560]

I need that answer too. I researched a little bit and looks like either work. 500k is brighter.

[@ВладимирИльин-о4к]

Good job. Here we see that infrequent case when the "improved" guitar was not damaged and acquired, albeit a different, but quite decent sound. I especially liked the wiring.

[@Ungadewey]

I put Telecaster pickups in A Dean Z body with an Epiphone SG neck. Yea, my guitar, done My way. LOL! Grat job, looks and sounds great.

[@williamthrasher8540]

The next Telecaster guitar that I build is going to be with 2 humbuckers. I have already built one with a single p90 and one with standard tele style single coil pickups. I liked the sound that this mod made. thanks much. look forward to your next video.

[@STSGuitar16]

sunburst teles with black pick guards just look so cool. I am not biased about this at all......

[@TenisDimants]

Beautiful work! Looks and sounds great!

[@DylanTalksTone]

Thank you sir. Thanks so much for watching and subscribing

[@garycoraluzzi1166]

Once again a great video by Dylan. I have a 2018 MIM telecaster with two Humbuckers that sound horrible to my ears .I wish I could afford your DAF’s . They sound incredible . I love your video’s . They are always very informative. Thank you Dylan

[@imaginewaffles1318]

what kind of humbuckers do you own?

[@24AnVRodri]

I think he made a video where he opened another HH and noticed that FENDER used wrong pots and possibly capacitor. Your may want to move from 250k to 500k pots.

[@richardwright345]

Those pickups really looked nice in that guitar. nice vid.

[@goodboyringo9716]

Dylan.... You did a great job on that , sweet looking . Fender may take notice.

[@deanstrachan448]

Great job..personally I would use the DAF in the neck only, splittable. Add a bigsby..That would be near perfection...free and it would be perfect. Love the clear bobbin look too.👍👍👍

[@juliusebola9389]

Newb question, but is it the case that not all humbuckers are designed to be split? What happens if I put a normal humbucker in a guitar like the ampro ii telecaster deluxe which has a button which enables you to split the coils?

[@DylanTalksTone]

All humbuckers can be coil split in theory. You have to wire them so that all four coil wires are accessible. Many pickups have the coils joined internally

[@flatroc1]

I Really like this thing. Goin' out to buy an old Tele just to modify. Thanks.

[@AlanKaruzo]

Much more than cool project!! THNX for the video!!!

[@CarloBidoli]

Great, having routed, could one reverse the process for the bridge & pup i.e. replace the original bridge & pup without having to undo the routing?

[@SteveWheeler-k7u]

Hi Dylan, great video thank you! I have a Hh tele. Is it possible to turn it in to a standard tele with single core pickups?

[@RobG-KD9YBZ]

I’m planning on putting a TV Jones Classic Filter’Tron in the neck of my 2018 Player Tele. Do I need to change pot values if I’m keeping the stock single coil bridge pickup?

[@Projectelectricguitar]

I was really surprised to see a strat-like pickup routing pockets under the pickguard. I assume that's not stock... it was modified by someone along the way?

[@DylanTalksTone]

Project Electric Guitar no that is stock fender

[@Projectelectricguitar]

Huh!

[@roxville]

I guess they use that body for the Nashville Tele's, too. I would have dropped the bridge pickup in there.

[@acrscott]

All Fender American Teles are routed like that.

[@MMcG25]

Awesome!! Sounds great! Now he can still split them to get a single coil sound/tone of he wishes?

[@TheRickBallew]

I have a Telecaster Squire 70's Vibe and it has a Fender Humbucker in the Neck. I want a Dimarzio DP103 cream Humbucker in the neck for my tone purposes and cream pickup ring around it. Can that be done without drilling for the ring? The single coil neck pup sounds good but may change it for a Dimarzio Chop. But my main concern is the fitting of the neck pup. Also I have already installed 509k pots and capacitor.

[@Andy-uf8jq]

Link for the bridge plate?

[@pondmatter]

Pretty much the same mod I’d like to do to my Tele. The neck route is still just for a single coil but I’m cool with that. I need to route out the bridge pickup spot. Are most Tele humbucker bridge plates larger than the stock size?

[@TexanUSMC8089]

A Tele Deluxe has two humbuckers, but doesn't use the bridge from a standard Tele. Both humbuckers mount in a larger pick guard, and the bridge is a smaller piece that mounts below the guard.

[@danpaolillo2636]

It’s sacrilege to some, but can’t deny, that sounds GREAT!

[@74dartman13]

Thanks for the video. I'm building a Strat with 2 humbuckers. I wanted something different. I already have a couple with single coils. Thanks for setting it straight that it's not about what others think you should do to your particular guitar, it's your guitar and it only matters what you want to do with it! You said it better than I did. Anyway, the Tele sounded awesome. Nice job. Thanks!👍😎🎸🎶

[@DylanTalksTone]

74dart man let us know if we can help in the pickup department!! We have some killer stuff for that setup

[@74dartman13]

@@DylanTalksTone ok...will do!👍😎🎸🎶

[@TotallyNotFunny]

dude it looks amazing

[@ljkj63]

great vid and super job dylan just asking if you could have put seymour jb and 59 in that guitar would it fit and work THANKS FOR YOUR TIME!!

[@HookInTheMouth]

That’s bad ass! Sounds so good. What would a job like this run? Would love to make a change to my tele. Well done!

[@tomcat9930]

Humbuckers come from factory in modern player teles..i found one in a pawn shop and love playing it..plays like a old tele or kick in the humbucker for some real balls

[@orlok6653]

Thanks dude, I'm gonna try and drop a P90 in the bridge of my tele... definitely seems doable!

[@Aro748]

Can you make it so you have a single coil in the bridge but also have the humbucker on the neck? Would that more difficult to put together?

[@turbo72577]

Hey Dylan. If I wanted to buy those exact DAF pups, which color option would I choose?

[@TheFreeman4955]

I got a really cheap IYV hollow body Tele style that’s got the Destiny humbuckers. I must have lucked out and the planet’s aligned the day it was made! Sounds about like that guitar. Very clear with a bite. I grab it more than my Gibson or Classic vibe. I was going to do upgrades on it for fun but I’m scared to mess with it and change the tone. I may try Dillon humbuckers in another Squier Tele I have just to see if I can recreate that awesome tone.

[@boxerfencer]

Sounds good but still really bright for a humbucker guitar, even with the neck position on. Is that because of the maple neck and ash or alter body?

[@alchristensen8121]

Is there a video comparing the sonic differences between a Les Paul and a 2-humbucker Tele?

[@stevenlucas7930]

Do u anything for a prs style guitar with a square 3 way switch? Like how to wire or a diagram? Plz!

[@Gordonhermederme]

God's work here. Subscribed!

[@flaviodelladioband127]

I like it....a Tele is a platform to do anything you want

[@Krispy1011]

Great job Dylan - what did you set your pickup height at?

[@jackievandekauter819]

I want to change my single coils for humbuckers . But in the guitarshop the told my that the wood from the body must be the correct wood for it. Is this correct ? Thanks Jvdk from Belgium

[@michaelogden5958]

Have you used a Seymour Duncan Little ’59 humbucker in the bridge position on a Tele? If so, what did you think? Thanks!

[@richardtroha2520]

I have a wolf telecaster that I recently purchased and it's a one piece neck through the body guitar. It's just one big heavy block of wood. The neck does not come off and there is no pick guard. I would love to do this mod to that guitar. I love the way this thing plays but I hate the pickups. I would really appreciate some input on going about doing this. Thanks.!

[@78tag]

I went through a bunch of the comments on this one - it is surprising to me just how many clowns out there think their negative OPINION has value. No one cares what you don't like - these videos are produced for people who have an open mind.

[@JIMIIXTLAN]

I have been thinking about doing this to my telecaster you just push me over the edge to keep it somewhat stock I will use fender wide range humbuckers I also like the sound of them. The bridge you use is it a fender also is it necessary to go to 500k pots

[@chrishenderson9130]

Wide range humbuckers are much bigger than pafs. Check fitment first. Also not sure if they make a tele bridge to fit a wide range...

[@JIMIIXTLAN]

@@chrishenderson9130 thanks for the info any suggestions for a reasonable price humbucker like the one you installed on this telecaster

[@DylanTalksTone]

Give these a shot. FantasticPAF tone. dylantalkstone.com/products/daf-humbucker

[@arthritisankle]

You don’t need to A/B versus a regular tele but I would LOVE to have heard an A/B of this vs a Les Paul with those same pickups. Also You didn’t show cutting the plastic and that was what I was most curious about. How did you cut it?

[@rooster8925]

Sir what pickup amd tone pot and volume pot.. do 500 k pot inof you recommend

[@bluesmonkey4463]

Were did you get the bridge and humbuckers .......I love it ! Regards Mike.

[@DylanTalksTone]

Dylantalkstone.com for the pickups.

[@colinricgmailcom]

Can you help please? I have a Telecaster with 2 Seymour Duncan Little 59 pickups fitted with 2 DiMarzio 250k push-pull pots and would like to get a versatile wiring setup with an appropriate switch either 3, 4, 5 or super 5. Can you please advise? Many thanks!

[@jameywylie4361]

I love it! Great job.

[@barbmelle3136]

From Leo: Nice job. I hope no one discounts a Tele with Humbuckers. I have a G&L ASAT with split humbuckers, It is very versatile.

[@brookie2464]

Modifying my cheapo tele to a deluxe with the giant scratch plate and hard tail bridge rollers the works

[@musicman4christjesus]

How much would the labor cost be on a project like this? Aside from parts of course. Thanks in advance.

[@seanmcdonald4436]

Hey Dylan, whats your opinion of the Fender filtertrons that are in the Cabornita and the reissue Coronado II ?

[@Spaceman-jo5mz]

Great mod! Where can I get the Bridge & DAF pickups?

[@DylanTalksTone]

Dylantalkstone.com for the pickups

[@rayfabris2512]

I really like the sound of those pick ups? Daf's ? that's cool

[@jerrys5102]

Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates is a humbucker that'll fit in a single coil route....but that guitar sounds great!

[@plasma3211]

Sounds great! Nice job btw. I may get my hands on a 1967 Tele. Someone routed out the neck pickup pocket. I could rout the bridge or leave it. I don’t see that configuration much. What do you think?

[@brianb115]

We want to see how you modified the pick guard.

[@johnm3946]

Not that it matters but do they make a 6 saddle configuration out of brass?

[@TomH_YT]

It was routed for a Nashville tele. Would have been cool to put 3 pickups in with splits and pairings in the switching.

[@kevsnyder]

"You cant put humbuckers in a tele" Tell that to Keef Richards

[@gringogreen4719]

You ever seen a Deluxe or a Custom? Probably not...😏

[@victorribeiro2431]

Or Jim Root 🤷🏽‍♂️

[@cotuzo33]

John 5

[@randomchannel4886]

Nobodies seen my tele. Haha custom af.

[@kernalkarma4752]

Telecasters sound great with humbuckers .

[@GJ11598]

Nice video but wish you showed your wiring set up with the pickups too. Did you have to have a ground under the bridge plate?

[@DylanTalksTone]

Our wiring setups are available as assemblies here. dylantalkstone.com/collections/quality-upgrades/products/prewired-tele-control-plate-with-wiring-and-pots and yes there was a groung under the bridge for a string ground.

[@GJ11598]

ah ok. I've been searching around for videos on wiring configs because I was given a 5 way switch when I picked up the new wiring kit but can't find anything :( @@DylanTalksTone

[@GJ11598]

Did you have to have the ground under the bridge plate?@@DylanTalksTone

[@DylanTalksTone]

You always need to ground the strings. Putting it under the bridge plate on a tele is a smart way to do it

[@dkysimcox5662]

My closet wouldn't feel full without my HH Tele!

[@blackspine343]

What kind of bridge is that? I need one for my project.

[@nar____]

I’ve been wanting to do this exact mod on a black player series telecaster

[@tubularbill]

Want an awesome video. Thanks so much for posting!

[@PaxAmor1]

Can you put a humbucker in a middle position and leave the two original Tele pickups in the neck and bridge? I think that's what I'd like to do to my Tele.

[@camilo1455]

I'm doing that with a P90 in the middle. Still working through wiring options.

[@blacklabelnc]

Where did you get that replacement bridge?

[@rickcordero5574]

How much would you charge me to ship my Squuire to do the same thing change pickups saddles &pots & caps & string tree

[@DDE_ADDICT]

cool the jackson pickups are going into a tele

[@xdiaba]

Hello Dylan, could you please tell us which bridge did you use to modify this tele?

[@DylanTalksTone]

I can’t remember

[@isaacstanfield4743]

I'm installing a Babicz Full Contact bridge on a telecaster right now. They're expensive but it might be worth checking out if you're looking for something different.

[@MrDalegray]

So if you put just a humbucker at the neck,Can you still use a 250k pot or do you have to use the 500k? And can you use a split coil switch on neck pickup somehow?

[@WindOnMyWings]

Awesome sound