Telecaster complete wiring rebuild - Full tutorial

In this video you'll learn how completely repace the stock circuit of your loved Telecaster to get it working at it's full potential. Enjoy!
If you like my videos please consider becoming a Patron and help me keep producing more content and improving quality - you'll gain access to exclusive features too!
/ inspiringtracks
------------------------------------------
Link to the previous video:
Change pickups on your Telecaster - Full tutorial with sound samples!
• Change pickups on your...
Link to the Seymour Duncan Telecaster Standard schematic:
www.seymourduncan.com/images/...
------------------------------------------
All backing tracks of the video - in order of appearance:
Relaxed and Smooth Funk (Gm) - Guitar Backing Track
• Relaxed and Smooth Fun...
Guitar backing track - Awesome Texas blues in E
• Guitar backing track -...
Guitar Backing Track - Powerfull Shuffle Blues in Am
• Guitar Backing Track -...
Awesome face melting Hard Rock - Guitar Backing Track
• Awesome face melting H...
If you liked some of this tracks, please consider support my work by purchasing it in Band Camp - inspiringtracks.bandcamp.com/ - It´s only 75 cents and you're helping me A LOT to produce more tracks like this, plus you can download it to your computer in hi-res formats including mp3, flac and wav. Thanks in advance!!!
------------------------------------------
Follow me on Instagram: / inspiringtracks
Follow me on Twitter: / inspiringtracks
Follow me on Facebook: / inspiringtracks
Greetings from Argentina!
Juan Pablo - Inspiring Tracks

[@schultz564]

I’m an electrical engineer, working on my Masters in both electrical and mechanical engineering, and that trick to solder the 3 way switch was absolutely genius. Going to un-solder mine just to do that. Well done!

[@InspiringTracks]

Thanks!!! Glad you liked it!!

[@russelltodd2833]

After watching this do-it-yourself wiring video, I’m confident that… I’m totally gonna pay someone to do this for me. 😄

[@antoineportes.composer]

I've watched dozens of videos, and I stopped after this one: it's perfect! Thanks for your work.

[@InspiringTracks]

Really awesome to know that! I'm glad you found it useful.

[@ButWhatDoIKnow]

Great video. My son and I are learning and found this very helpful. Thank you.

[@InspiringTracks]

That's awesome. Thanks!

[@effinecko]

great in depth vid. very clean work. can't wait for electronics and pickups that I ordered to rewire, change pickup and pots for my tele.

[@jakevizcarra4072]

Very clean wiring! Thanks for the Tutorial.

[@HektorBandimar]

The two videos you have made on this subject are probably the best and most instructive I have seen, thanks and well done!

[@InspiringTracks]

Wow thanks! Glad you liked them!!

[@surfingcoyote]

awesome video man! thanks a lot, I was going to buy a control plate already made but seeing this video made me feel like I can do it! thanks for sharing

[@KyriCB]

Excellent workmanship, excellent video once again Juan, Merry Christmas!!

[@InspiringTracks]

Thanks a lot, I really apreciate it! Merry Christmas for you too!

[@jljonesar]

This was super helpful man! Thankfully I bought a pre wired kit so I got to skip the middle section of the video😁

[@tjstevens001]

Thanks for inspiring me, I upgraded all my electronics on my Squier FSR Bullet Tele with '64 classic pickups and all new guts. It turned out great. I even installed a treble bleed circuit!

[@InspiringTracks]

Awesome to know that and really glad to have inspired you! Enjoy your Tele!!

[@janbenzalpajaro1057]

if; l kkkkkjjjk

[@edochriztian3072]

@@InspiringTracks

[@milanpolak]

Great video, huge help. Thanks so much!

[@69jomen]

Excellent video. Ideal for the first timer.

[@fusion1239]

Thank you very much! You helped me figure out a wiring issue I had! Very awesome video

[@InspiringTracks]

Thanks, glad you liked it!

[@charlievoll2292]

Great video ,Learn very much of it Thanks. Charlie

[@tonugamu]

there was many parts where i stop heeding and enjoying the relaxing soldering work 😊

[@giulioluzzardi7632]

Thanks, a before and after strum through an amp would have been the cherry on the cake, just to hear the benefits. Splendid tips too.

[@paolosantovito2598]

thank you very much!

[@HotDominicanDad]

Using the one wire to do the 5 way connector was genius, abolished any anxiety I had about doing this myself! a link to all the products, specifically the shielded cables would be great

[@steffenwohler6463]

This was fun to watch! When I work on one of my guitars the next time, I will solder properly like you did. 😊 Also because the next owner could open the electronic compartement in the future. 😅

[@InspiringTracks]

Thanks! And you are right! You never know when somebody coul open a guitar you sold and dedicate you a couple of insults lol

[@francoisgineste5738]

Nice job thank’s!!!!!

[@mikestroud9969]

Great video buddy 😎👍👌💯🎸🎸

[@patulekos]

Nice work!!!

[@InspiringTracks]

Thanks!!

[@danmclennan7026]

just the video I was searching for

[@InspiringTracks]

Glad you found it useful!

[@tunemeister99]

Pretty neat soldering work. Nice demo. Very easy to follow with the schematic diagram handy. Too bad there was no soundcheck that completes the process.

[@davidriel7805]

Thanks. You certainly made it look so easy!! Wish me luck! Haha

[@InspiringTracks]

It isn't hard, just requires some minimal soldering skills and patience. Good luck!

[@skeletonshorror5184]

Amazing, thanks!

[@InspiringTracks]

Glad you like it!

[@patrickbrown8540]

I just bought those same pickups and going to put them in my Squier bullet Tele. Waiting for my pots, switch, jack and wiring to come in to get started!

[@InspiringTracks]

They are really great, I'm sure you'll enjoy them . Cheers!

[@patrickbrown8540]

@@InspiringTracks they are really nice! I am yet to find a sound I do not enjoy!

[@gertzpalma]

THANKS, IP!

[@InspiringTracks]

Thanks, glad you liked it!

[@reinamorocha7805]

Excelent job!!!

[@InspiringTracks]

Thanks!

[@vedeler87]

great video. tanks :)

[@InspiringTracks]

Glad you liked it!

[@popogejo7245]

I work on guitars miself, and this guy is an absolute wizard!!! The music, the lighting, the application, all top shelf! Tight, my man, Tight! Total professionalism, we need more of it. You rank right up there with the folks at StewMac.

[@InspiringTracks]

Wow thanks! That must be one of the best compliments I've received ever. Thanks a lot and glad you liked the video!

[@popogejo7245]

@@InspiringTracks Like musicians there are THOUSANDS of content providers out there, but only a few really rise to the top and really profect their craft. That extra effort needs to be recognized, and appreciated. Once I decided to become a tech I spent hundreds of hours learning, and quite a pile of money on good tools. (Bought some shitty cheap ones too)! And screwed up a pile of hanger queens from the pawn shop before I got the hang of it, but the one thing that helped more than anything was well done, strait forward, no b.s. vids like yours.

[@popogejo7245]

@@InspiringTracks Checked out some of yur tunes, and your right! It could melt your face. lol ;)

[@patulekos]

Very useful!!! ... thanks ..

[@InspiringTracks]

Thanks!!

[@alegitarsolomusik7837]

Mantap boss kuuuu...good job..

[@InspiringTracks]

Thanks!!!

[@MrMikeX]

What a terrified video!!

[@StringTechWorkstations]

Nice job on the camera work ! Cheers \m/ MMcC

[@InspiringTracks]

Thanks, I'm glad you liked it! Cheers!!

[@tmcchannel212]

Thanks ... 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@cedricguitars8206]

Nice 👍

[@InspiringTracks]

Thanks!!!

[@sjlBoise54]

Superb video, thank you. I especially like connecting all three ground/earth wires from PUs and bridge together before connecting to control plate ground/earth. I especially like your use of heat shrink tubing in just the right places - an improvement over a few of my prior efforts. Very tidy. To make a stronger connection between the output jacket/ground/shield and the ground on the volume pot, I run the bare jacket/ground/shield through the lug #3, then solder the jacket/ground/shield to both lug 3 and the pot case. Reduces the potential for one of the solder joints to be a cold solder joint or to come loose with heavy attack strum.

[@nandogroovemachine823]

Great man, that’s exactly what i was looking for, i ordered some new pots and wires for my affinity tele and this is spot on, i’m hoping to get rid of the static noises and overall a cleaner sound, question when soldering all ground wires together doesnt that make the selector a bit weird? Thanks man

[@InspiringTracks]

The bulk of the noise in a tele comes from the single coil pickups, that's the nature of the beast. You can almost eliminate it with some sc sized humbuckers but the sound will not be exactly the same. The new wiring helps but don't expect a dramatic reduction in noise. Connecting all the grounds together eliminates ground loops which are a potential source of noise. Hope that helps!

[@TempoDrift1480]

I'm so engrained in the video I'm blowing smoke away.

[@InspiringTracks]

Lol that's a good thing!!!

[@mattboyd9379]

Damn you, and that adjustable wrench! Otherwise, Amazing!

[@vastozone3843]

Great video and techniques! Thank you!

[@InspiringTracks]

Thanks!!

[@ericdavid199]

Hell of a job filming this so it can be seen what's actually being done.

[@InspiringTracks]

Thanks! Glad you liked it!

[@rainman3594]

Great video thanks. Although you fail to mention which pickup (neck or bridge) was soldered to which terminal.

[@jpalberthoward9]

If you're ever in the mood to experiment, try some of those crusty old ancient wax caps for your tone control. When you pull the old ones out of an amp for the rehab, they're useless and even dangerous in a 200-400 volt circuit, but they're just fine at the operating voltage of a guitar. (100 miilivolt, or .1 volts) they won't change the sound of the guitar at all, but what happens if you find a good one is it will have a very nice taper from "8" down to around "3" where the range is excellent and you can hear very small movements of the pot. Most people just throw them away when they overhaul an amp, but .050s or .047s are the ones you want. You might have to try a few, but you'll hear the difference in the taper if you get lucky with a good one. You might also say I'm nuts. Well, yeah but not about this. You can also do the Roy Buchanan "built in wah" if you have a 1 Meg pot and a .1 cap. Seymour Duncan cooked that one up for Roy in about 1970. He said Roy flipped over it and never went back. I have it on my Tele, and it works great. Hats off and CHEERS!!

[@adriandavidpayne]

What drum program was used in the backing tracks? Awesome snare!

[@bronsonguidry1744]

Great work bro! I'm wondering if you, or someone in the comments can help me out with an idea. I'm thinking of a mod of blending 2 pickups...with no switch involved. The idea is to have each pickup connected to it's own volume pot, and with a shared master tone control pot. I'm unsure of where I should put the tone cap and which leg should the tone connect to each volume pot. This should, in effect act as a switch and blender. For example if both knobs are at 10, both pickups are on full, then you can turn one or the other down at will giving a broad range of changes...at least that's how I see it. What I have so far is that each pickup will connect ground to top of each pot, and hot to the input leg. Each output leg goes to the jack, and grounds from the top of each pot to jack as well. That in itself should work fine, but of course I would like to have some control for tone. After grounding it, what should connect to each volume pot at the input? I'm thinking 1 wire coming from the middle leg with a cap ran in series (or parallel?) which then splits off to each volume pots input leg. Or should I have the tone cap soldered to the outside leg and top of pot? One master tone is all I want, and all that would fit anyways. Is this similar to Les Paul wiring...minus 1 tone knob and switches? Any advice??? The point of this is because I only have room to either put in a switch or another knob, and it's easier to drill a hole than to cut a slot for a switch in a through body installation.

[@InspiringTracks]

What you want is essentially a Jazz Bass circuit with 2 volumes and one tone. Look for standard Jazz Bass schematics on the Seymour Duncan page and you'll find what you need

[@bryansimmons4550]

5:00 Buy an inexpensive open-ended or box wrench set to properly fit the mounting nuts and prevent messing up them and the surrounding finish by using improper tools.

[@InspiringTracks]

Since the making of this video I designed some 3dPrinted tools specifically for this purpouse so anybody with a 3dPrinter (or with a friend that has one) can make their own for free, check them out! kzbin.info/www/bejne/oqHVo3uVo86EjdU I still have to upload the files to Thingiverse, I was really busy lately. Cheers!

[@rifty3366]

Hi can i ask a question on how much you spent in all of these changes? my telecaster needs all parts to be changed like the wires and pickups. This video will be a nice guide when I change my parts

[@JB-68]

Hy Guy, really nice video :-) . Is the thickness of your control plate standard ? it seems more sturdy than usual one i saw in others videos. I'm also surprise to see that in most of guitar electronic video no one used grounded cable, but you did it for the ouput jack, which is better that just 2 simple wire. do you know why shielded cables are used so little ?is it to be as close as possible to the original designs ?

[@InspiringTracks]

Thanks, I'm glad you liked the video! I didn't notice the thickness of the plate. Its roughly the same height of the pickguard so is a nice touch that it sits flush with it. I use shielded cable mainly because its neater, maybe it eliminates 0.5% of the hum but I doubt it lol. If you want to use the classic two wires that's totally fine

[@avega2792]

One of if not the neatest wiring how-tos I’ve seen. The wiring in my telecaster is a disaster and every time I open it up I dread the rats nest looking back at me. Guess I finally have fix for it!

[@InspiringTracks]

Glad you liked the video and hope it helps you with your Tele!

[@shermanmcmullen9582]

Is the pattern the same on the 500k pots as the 250k ones? I guess I'll find out the hard way because I'm kinda in a rush lol but might be something to mention next time ir go back and edit in something so some goofball like me wont mess something up before they have a chance to hear what they built lol after all these weeks and technical bs and sweat that went into this build I'd sure hate to do something like pop a pickup or something drastic, maybe I'll find something if I keep googling thanx and great job looks professional to me..😊

[@TheForce_Productions]

Would be fine to have the before and after sound sample with cheap and with brand components, which is the core of the whole thing.

[@InspiringTracks]

The point of this upgrade is reliability, feel and precision, which is what you'll gain by using better components. The sound is exactly the same as with the cheap parts. Pickups is a different thing and I made their own video with before and after sound samples

[@docgify]

With the shaft one is metric(import switch)the other imperial (USA leer switch size)

[@docgify]

Great video but I hate oak grisby switches with a passion I know it’s snake oil but buy a CRL with the spring lever switch

[@Paulmccarthy6801]

How do you wire up a tele for the blend circuit? Please let me know. Can you do a video?

[@InspiringTracks]

You can find any imaginable wiring and mod on the Seymour Duncan page. I've put a link to it in the description. Check it out!

[@Paulmccarthy6801]

@@InspiringTracks is Seymour Duncan the same as fender does it?

[@deanmccaskill5495]

I “ think” this is the exact same project I’m attempting. I had a Squier std same finish and all. I changed from rosewood ( or something) to maple. Put a black pickguard. Ordered a vintage style bridge but it won’t fit. So to put in the barrels I’m gonna have to modify the stock bridge and change it to a top loaded. How am I doing so far?

[@InspiringTracks]

Is great to customize a guitar, the only thing that matters is to make it as you like! I don't have any issue with this guitar being a top loader, in fact it sustains like a champ. It may be subjective but I noticed a brighter tone after swapping the generic pot metal bridge barrels for bronze ones so it's worth trying. Good luck with your project!

[@deanmccaskill5495]

@@InspiringTracks Thanks. All I’m saying is I’m I on track with what you did? Did you start with a dark fretboard for instance? Did you try to change to a more vintage bridge but it wouldn’t go on there so you didn’t give up and put the saddles anyway? Because it looks so so similar to what I’m doing. I started out with that exact same guitar I think. Squier standard

[@deanmccaskill5495]

@@InspiringTracks PS I don’t think there is a thing wrong with top loaded

[@Parx.10]

Can i ask? Does the potentiometers are same for volume and tone or not? Do I have buy same 2 for?

[@InspiringTracks]

Yes, both are 250k

[@SnifterRoux]

Are those pots log or linear?

[@nick1512]

I’m doing the same for a HH telecaster I’m building with different parts. Do I need to run a wire to the top of both pots?

[@InspiringTracks]

You need to be sure that both pot cases are grounded, if the plate is conductive - as it is in standard Teles - there's no need to run a ground wire between them but it doesn't hurt if you want to do it

[@nick1512]

@@InspiringTracks I have a regular tele plate and I have a wire running to the top of both how would i ground both of them?

[@BaljakTuners]

hello, just do ing everything like you do but my bridge (vintage new ,and neck pickup also brand new) pickup don't work, questio-how I can see is it bridge pickup OK without puling it out, string off, wires soldered again ....help pleas, thank you, best regards

[@InspiringTracks]

Try using a multimeter on the pickup leads, it should read around 8k in standard pickups if I remember correctly

[@waynechurchill7212]

Coo bass playng

[@damham5689]

Great video 👍 and love the 80s porn music sound track. 😜

[@kevinl.sparks5066]

How come you didn't use? The solid shaft CTS It also how come you didn't use the cloth wiring to wire up the vibration controls in the sbitch And 3 you could have pushed. The knon the potential averages before you screw the plate back to the body.

[@KnightDarkGabriel]

What's the difference between the stock and this one?

[@InspiringTracks]

I don't understand, what do you mean by difference? It's all new, pots, switch, wires, etc

[@Andreas_Straub]

I would suggest to connect the tone control cap not to the total output, but to the bridge pickup connection to the 3-way switch. Normally you do not need tone controll for the neck pickup - and if you use the bridge pickup or both you can balance the neck and the bridge pickup by removing some of the harshness of the bridge pickup .....

[@user-qr7wf4li9l]

What gauge is the wire you used?

[@InspiringTracks]

22 AWG if I remember correctly

[@hakanarik2221]

amazing. i am buying the cheapest tele on the market :)

[@InspiringTracks]

As always with cheap guitars avoid purchasing online without actually playing it to be sure you are getting a good one! Good luck

[@kellykane312]

I use high quality controls and switch but why use a cheap 25 cent tone cap you can get high quality pio caps for $2 and show you take pride in your work.

[@InspiringTracks]

Because they sound exactly the same

[@docgify]

Sorry(lever switch size)

[@raymonddixon7603]

Not a fan of the oak rigsby selector switch. Rather cumbersome and unnecessary the China one is much more sensible. All those changes are basically a side issue mainly to promote over priced US products.

[@InspiringTracks]

I really like it, way more clicky and with a more secure feel. The original green PCB one works just fine but is spongy and feels loose which I dont like at all. Just personal prefferences. Cheers!

[@ShaneJMcNair]

@@InspiringTracks a spring action CRL-3 Way Blade Switch is also a nice option used on custom shop builds.

[@gabrielalejandrocentenohid8310]

please advise a good 3way selector? I want to re wire my guitar and want to buy excelent quality gear!

[@gabrielalejandrocentenohid8310]

@@InspiringTracks the one you used was a fenter 3 way selector? would it work on my Jackson?

[@gabrielalejandrocentenohid8310]

@@ShaneJMcNair please can you add some ebay link to check it out?

[@ThomasGilmore-fi6gb]

What is the point of trying to do this as an artsy fartsy music video?

[@InspiringTracks]

Being different to the other 6 trillion videos on KZbin?

[@letterli]

wrong knobs...

[@shibumi5210]

Did you see the solder joins in that controls cavity? Where was that piece of shit built?? 😬