Swapping Tele Neck Pickups, Setting Pickup Height & Solder Tips - Ask Zac 132

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In today's video, Bill Keck and I re-install the 1954 neck pickup that was rewound by Ron Ellis. Bill passes on some important solder skills, and I show my hack for setting pickup height. To boot, you get a ton of under-the-hood shots of my 1957 Esquire.
Gear Used:
1957 Fender Esquire with a 1954 neck pickup, and original bridge pickup. Restoration and aging on the body by Dan "Danocaster" Strain. Both pickups were rewound by Ron Ellis.
Strings:
D'Addario NYXL 10-46 Amazon affiliate link amzn.to/3uD1WnZ
Pick:
D'Andrea Medium-Heavy
Amp:
1965 Deluxe Reverb with a V30 speaker. Used with AmpRX Brown Box set to 113v
Effects used:
Amp reverb
#askzac #guitartech #telecaster

[@xti2020]

Really enjoy the techy content. The factory visits to Ron Ellis and Joe Glaser are two of my faves.

[@joeldowdy404]

Just did some tele pickup swap outs on two different tele's this last week myself, soldering is a skill that requires practice and feel, just like learning to play a guitar 😉

[@petergoddard1960]

For organising your scratchplate screws, use a piece of card and push the screws through the card. No sticky tape mess! Also when screwing back into the wood, to stop a screw stripping out the hole, turn the screw the opposite way so that it 'drops' into the existing thread. That way the screw won't try try to cut a new thread into the hole but use the existing one. It will drop into place, you can feel it. Great to see the swap over and particularly how you set the pickup heights. Priceless.

[@AskZac]

Great tip!

[@chippsterstephens6800]

One thing about soldering, it’s not really the heat level, that’s the issue, it’s wattage. A cheep pencil gets hot enough to damage pots, yet doesn’t have the wattage to deal with the chunks of metal, like a pot. It acts as a heat sink, with enough wattage, it’s not a problem, without it is. And the second issue, is called dwell time, an electronic component will show this on the white paper, you want to spend the least about of time possible soldering, with not enough wattage dwell time increases, and that’s what burns things up. The Hakko triple 8 is a great iron that’s like $100, the tips last as long as the iron , and it has enough wattage to deal with all things guitar, once you use a good iron , this stuff is super easy. With a $15 pencil it’s just about impossible. I now use a metcal station , that works on frequency not a resistive element, it doesn’t even have a temperature adjustment. I can work very fast with it. The better the station, the more easy it is to solder. 50/60 watt station is plenty for guitar and tube amp stuff. Just my thoughts.

[@Guitar5986]

Love hearing you play. Your touch & tone never fail to inspire.

[@AskZac]

THANK YOU!

[@WayneMemphisMojo]

Thanks for the Telecaster pickup information, I always respect your POV & experience Zac

[@utahprepper8925]

A tip when reinserting the screws: Put them in the hole and twist backward until you feel a little click. Then proceed to tighten. This ensures you use the existing threads and prevents you from cutting new ones in the wood, which will eventually cause the hole to strip out. But you already knew that, right? 😎

[@FrumpyPumpkin]

Man your tone is fantastic. I LOVE me a Tele.

[@roberttower8059]

For stripped out mounting screw holes, I use 1/8" hardwood dowel stock. You can pick this up easily at lumber stores or home improvement centers. This material is harder than matchstick wood so it takes a lot longer to strip out again. In fact I don't think I've ever had to redo a hole that I've repaired using hardwood dowel. Cut the material slightly longer than the depth of the hole, add a drop of wood glue, put the dowel in the hole and then tap down the excess length with a finishing nail setter. This excess length tapped down fills the hole up so that a new hole can be drilled. For wider holes, you may need to use multiple pieces of dowel. Works like a charm.

[@stevenmeger3798]

For a small hole a toothpick works well, typical birch hardwood

[@notbraindead7298]

Great tip! Thanks!

[@markgordoncreamer7279]

What's wrong with a couple of flat toothpicks and some super glue. I have a pine bodied tele that just sounds great with it's softer body.

[@imannonymous7707]

Man i have so much respect for you guys that solder as well as bill just did...i make a mess everytime . So now i leave it to a pro like bill

[@GiantPinhead]

Outstanding, Zac. Really informative about how you set your pickup height. Actually makes way more sense than measure millimeters. Also, that fingerboard, up close, is a knockout.

[@jeffsquires6620]

Tuesday morning, 9AM. Haven't seen one this early. Great way to start the day.

[@AskZac]

Thanks!

[@seanc.9036]

You're like the Mr. Rogers of the Telecaster. I mean that as a huge compliment. Mr. Rogers found a way to make a spot kids could step back from everything and feel calm. Adults need that too. I appreciate it.

[@seanc.9036]

Good to take a breath once in a while.

[@seangrexa4707]

Having played and built dozens of teles over the years, IMO you do not need to spend a lot of money at all and swapping out is a fun and reversible "hobby". Lately I've really enjoyed everything I've tried from Bootstrap in Mt. Gilead, OH who hand winds pickups using classic materials and prices are almost too cheap. Artec makes a coverless Big Pole Alnico V with huge pole pieces that sounds really good, rubbery but clear if that makes sense!? Also I like .033 caps in teles which is a great midway between .022 and .047, best of both worlds. Good luck to y'all and thanks Zack!

[@bluesingmusic3443]

Nice look at the "internals" on the old girl. Little tip on the over sized hole. Buy a box of toothpicks, add a little wood glue, stick the toothpick into the hole, break it off, let it sit a couple hours, take a razor & carefully trim the toothpick flush. If you need to drill a hole for the screw, Take your screw, hold it behind the bit. The right size bit will be the 1 that allows you to see the threads on either side of the bit. Then take the screw, lay it along side of the bit, wrap tape bit, leaving a little less than the length of the screw.(take the thickness of the pickguard into consideration too. Basically use the tape as a poor mans "drill stop". Then screw the screw back in. Took longer to explain than the job will take. I'd suggest maple toothpicks if you can find them, but just about any wooden toothpick will do. I've seen some "wallered out" (to use a little Southwest US lingo) holes, the toothpick did the trick with no drilling needed. That's my former aircraft metal smith/sheetmetal/structures assembler, turned guitar repairman tip for the day. Easy peezey, lemon squeezy. Plus it's the same price as "dumb looks" still & always will be free.

[@thadjackson1484]

nice pickguard artwork on the Esquire!

[@Eric-fb2wp]

Easy way to fix a stripped wood screw hole is breaking off a toothpick in hole. I use thin CA glue in the hole aswell

[@admarhermans1]

I’ve had an issue like this with my ‘71 Fender Jazz bass. I bought it from a ‘famous’ Dutch musician that played it on many recordings and gigs from ‘71 to 1990. It was his only bass. It’s candy apple red (white pickguard), a custom colour in ‘71 for a Jazz, that he ordered from Fender. Nice block inlay rosewood neck. She’s a beast! First thing that happened when I got it: after about a month the bridge pickup died on me... I did notice the heavily corroded polepieces when I bought her, but I never thought of issues you mentioned that come with that... What I did: I put in some second hand active EMG’s from the mid-eighties and never looked back. Because I use only flatwounds on this bass, the active thing has never been a problem. It does not sound ‘active’ whatsoever (just volume/ volume/ tone knobs). It sounds like an old school Jazz bass should, people kept telling me. She still works great! She only gets better with age! I love this bass, and other players and engineers do too. She has been one of my main basses since than, and still is. But, of course I kept the original Fender pickups. Seeing your video, one day I might have them worked on like you say and put them back in. 🖖

[@charlescopeland1436]

Man, I love the post-restoration patina that the Esquire is gaining! Very cool!

[@AskZac]

Thanks!

[@unclemark8939]

G'day Zac, I am so happy i found your channel . I am 62 a Tele player and i also do my own set ups and pretty much the same as you do them, no rulers or following factory set up criteria because Tele,s are simple in design. I was blown away when i saw the Fred Carter vid, i only know of him from a Muddy Waters Album that Levon Helm & Garth Hudson played on now i dont have to wonder no more. I saw the Albert Lee video you did a while back, you mentioned his tone and playing on My baby thinks he,s a train, i couldnt agree more but have you heard Heartbreak Train with Rosie Flores ? If not check it out, Albert at his best. I have it on a album, "A town south of Bakersfield". Keep up the great work Zac, i got some videos to catch up with. Thanks mate.🥳

[@markgordoncreamer7279]

If you mount the pickups too close...you will have a "thumpy" leading edge of the note. Let it breath and just add gain afterwards. Also...screwing the neck pickup to the body rather than the pickguard is absolutely the only way to mount a tele neck pickup.

[@Heavenreck]

Love the detailed video. I am planning on an esquire build using The Brad Paisley Seymour Duncan secret agent in the neck and all the tips and tricks in this video will be so useful. Thank you for making this content. Its unique and great to watch.

[@AskZac]

Go for it!

[@matthewf1979]

Listen to a few reviews to see if you can deal with the decreased output. It’s significant by now fault of the design, it’s just too far away from the strings. I’m not saying it’s bad. It’s just not the typical “Tele” sound. The things we do to maintain a look we want are silly sometimes. I’m entirely guilty of doing the same things!

[@xti2020]

@@matthewf1979 yeah, I tried this and it lasted a week. Was so much happier with the regular single pickup esquire with eldred mod. That volume disparity is just too much. I hear Cavalier makes a stealth pickup with less of a volume drop, but again, I’d still go for a single bridge pickup. That said, if the volume disparity doesn’t annoy you, the pickup in itself is good, so maybe do go for it :). Otherwise you’ll always wonder…

[@Heavenreck]

@@matthewf1979 thanks that is useful information 👍

[@anthonypate8657]

I saw crook guitars also make a amazing telebird. Thanks

[@johnnymalmsteems198]

That Tele is unreal….dream guitar

[@marks2254]

You questioned chrome or nickel. Normally, nickel is plated on for that shiny appearance then chrome is plated over it for protection. Chrome is.clear so you don’t actually see it, you see the nickel. So you can have nickel plate or chrome plated nickel. I was very surprised to learn that myself. I’m betting that for a guitar pickup, they’d stop with the nickel and not spend money on chrome.

[@OehlJim]

something I have found that works well on stripped screw holes is the #30 super glue from Stew Mac. Use a toothpick to spread the glue around the inside of the hole and let it dry. The screw hole will be like new again.

[@78sevenfold]

I do this too. I will wick thin ca glue into non stripped holes to harden the wood and prevent stripping. It is a must on plywood bodies of my old Japanese guitars.

[@Oldguitarplayer]

Lighted magnifier is a game changer for the old eyes!

[@J.C...]

Well I finally did it! I got a blonde w/ black pickguard and maple fretboard T-style on the way! Guitar #5 and its my first of these. I doubt I would have ever given it a 2nd thought had it not been for your channel 🙏👌

[@johnfunk7568]

Love your posts Zac. Thank you!

[@iannicholls7476]

Fascinating stuff Zac. I love seeing this detailed work. It’s good to watch a real expert at work. BTW, I loved that piece you played at the beginning. Any chance of a lesson on that?

[@AskZac]

I was not planning on a lesson on that. I do give lessons. If you are interested, drop me a line zac(at)askzac.com

[@RichDix-y1h]

With older pups, why wouldn't you use shielding paint?

[@AskZac]

Go ahead, it can darken the sound a touch, but that can be a good thing.

[@JN-qj9gf]

Really handy info, I even have a friends artwork to stick under a clear pickguard (I cracked the first one...)

[@mooseymoose]

Watching this at a workbench much like the one in the video with a Tele on it, it’s guitar techception!

[@murpsman]

I'm surprised that he's not protecting the finish in case of hot solder mishap.

[@AskZac]

Solder helps a refin body look right

[@Gorilla.Guitar]

c-flat is my favorite key!

[@stevesuv]

Zac? I know you know about Jim Wieder. He is a real Tele guy and I think he would be a great interview and also makes the Big T. It is a great front tele pick up replacement. Do you have any experience with the BigT?

[@AskZac]

I love Jim, and would love to interview him.

[@birdbathbash]

These types of episodes beg for a new category of videos entitled "Zac's Hacks."

[@AskZac]

I like "Zac's Hacks."

[@normansjamsnjellies9574]

Here's a fun question for ya. Has your friend ever dropped solder on a vintage guitar??? Perhaps start using a cover before it happens. Thanks for the video!

[@murpsman]

My recent point exactly.

[@AskZac]

It’s a refin. Solder would help it.

[@Dbj5555555]

No shielding?

[@enriquemendez1507]

Changed my pickguard over the weekend and didn't have a clue how to adjust or reset my neck pickup height. Do fender v mod ii pickups count as vintage type pickups? Thanks for all that you do and inform us on.

[@brownmonkeybananayellow]

Wow I always wondered why my pickups measured differently on different days....

[@allstopblue5717]

Interesting you prefer both pickups literally as high as you can get them. I’ll have to try that.

[@donknotts5625]

Great video. Fun times

[@jonnybeck6723]

"...set this pickoff up" (perfect😁) As it happens, I wuz just fussing with me wee pine bodied CV Squier - dismayed 'cause I love the tone but the output is/was too feeble... So I dig this timely posting... thanx

[@AskZac]

Perfect!

[@guitareveryone]

Great early post!

[@anthonypate8657]

Great episode as always just built my first esquire , now im building my first telebird. What are your thoughts on the telebird ?I think its a great monstrosity of a guitar but looks fantastic. Keep up the great work. I can't find any history on a telebird, I think its a great topic for a episode.

[@CC-te5zf]

One thing that I noticed is how much honest play wear since it was refinished and put back together. You really gave it a new life, set it on a new course. It looks fantastic - but aside from looks, that play wear means you just can't put this thing down. it must be a real player. So, will you allow the red bleed thru to continue; or would there be some plans down the road to address it?

[@AskZac]

I will let it continue to bleed through. As long as the front does not turn pink, I don't care. I already have a pink paisley.

[@CC-te5zf]

@@AskZac It should hold. I’m thinking it would’ve done it by now. Great video. I’m raising some pickups today. After watching this I checked my go-to Tele and they’re pretty low. Thanks for info!

[@kenmarshall3221]

Thanks!

[@AskZac]

Thanks Ken!!!!

[@americanjoe5486]

I still think these are repaints I've never seen any red primer and what would be the use of it

[@AskZac]

It is a refin

[@To.Si.Ma.]

Great Video

[@dannywoody5497]

I wonder what kind of capacitor that is

[@nicholastotoro7721]

Do Tele pickups suffer from string crash when they're too close like Strat pickups do?

[@AskZac]

they can, but it happens less.

[@nicholastotoro7721]

@@AskZac Thanks, Zac!!!

[@billkallas1762]

I was just going to ask about surgical tubing versus springs for the neck pick up spacers. I was wondering about microphonics. I don't get it while playing, but I can hear it if I tap the neck pickup.

[@AskZac]

Surgical tubing is best on a Tele. Neck or bridge

[@smoochie3331]

I bought a refin 55 Tele ex Vince Gill and the neck pickup says Razor. I wonder if you have heard about the pickup.

[@AskZac]

No t familiar with Razor

[@MurrayWilliams]

It’s crazy that they used red primer on a translucent blonde finish. Seems like that would turn the finish pink.

[@MurrayWilliams]

Ahhh, never mind. You address why there’s red under the paint later in the video.

[@gregrhodes565]

I wonder if using a different type of metal such as aluminum or or some kind of odd metal for “pickup covers” would change the sound at all....( just a thought)

[@AskZac]

Metal covers change the sound

[@Andy_Fallon]

Hi Zak, I noticed that you have zero shielding on the Tele. Do you ever have issues?

[@AskZac]

Only near neon signs

[@Andy_Fallon]

So no Broadway gigs for this Tele 😂

[@fearnpol4938]

Ouch so straight away we have a guy that doesn’t know how to really solder. It’s way way too common!

[@matthewf1979]

You would think a covered pickup would last forever. If I ever wind a Telecaster neck pickup, I’d probably use a wrap of flatback tape. You know, the stuff people use on PAF’s.

[@AskZac]

Probably a good idea

[@BobbyCulpepper.srv3fender]

On a tele, does the tone pot need to have a ground wire run to it's casing, or does it ground through the electronics plate?

[@walterstreet1467]

I would love my telecaster pickup rewound how do I get that done

[@AskZac]

Contact Ron Ellis, Jim Rolph, or Lindy Fraliin

[@goswo]

Hi Zak. I really enjoy your videos. Im a little confused about pick up hight. Im sure you have tried it all, high and low, but Im surprised that you want your bridge pick up so high. Can you share your thoughts? Im confused cause I really like your tone, but I would imagine it to be way lower, to avoid “a sharp picky” sound. But its not, and still you get af really great round tone from the bridge pu 🤔 Maybe I got It all wrong and ned to experiment again, cause I almost go as low as possible….

[@AskZac]

I also roll down the tone some

[@goswo]

@@AskZac thanks. I noticed. I do the same still with a fairly low bridge pu.

[@markgordoncreamer7279]

Esquires don't have a neck pickup

[@AskZac]

Open your mind

[@nickbenjamin6527]

I generally twist the two wires together more tightly to try and cancel noise, do you find it doesn't make much difference?

[@AskZac]

I have not tested that

[@raymondlau1453]

I'm learning how to solder. Can you tell me what you used as the braid to soak up the old solder? Thank you.

[@AskZac]

www.stewmac.com/luthier-tools-and-supplies/tools-by-job/tools-for-electronics/soldering-tools-and-supplies-for-electric-guitar/solder-wick/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIkKjrrYzx-QIVtXxvBB1E6gsPEAQYASABEgJO8vD_BwE

[@raymondlau1453]

@@AskZac Thank you so much for your quick response.

[@Maplefuzz3542]

Hi, have you heard of Peter Florance pickups? If you have have, what's your take on them?

[@AskZac]

He was a friend and I loved his pickups. He passed away and it was a huge loss for my friends and I.

[@Maplefuzz3542]

@@AskZac hey, I'm really sorry to hear that. I recently got his pickups for my tele and I love them. I've also heard rumors that they'll start making his pickups again.

[@bernardparent8340]

Probably off topic, what are your thoughts about the Goldtop. P90 guitars (aka R4/R5) some say it’s a Tele on testosterone…thanks for taking care , Bernard

[@AskZac]

It sounds more Tele like, but it's still a Gibson.

[@bernardparent8340]

Oupsss, my bad : on steroïds , not testosterone 😅

[@jeffmazzei8520]

Zak there so many pickups out there !! Just get a Lollar or Duncan or Fralin. ! There is no magic powers in anything Vintage !! Everyone makes a Fender better than fender !

[@burr0010]

I'd sticky this one, Zac...lol.

[@mohamedtlass3842]

That’s not true, and you want to have some respect anyways for the original. I do love fralin and lollars btw