Telecaster mod ala Keith Richards

[heymoe318]

I'm looking to modify my telecaster to 5 string open G tuning and I need to replace the crappy pup's in the guitar. I not a big fender fan but I am a keith richards fan so I bought a cheap squier that played nice enough for this experiment. Any suggestions on what pup's to buy to get that stones sound?

Thanks for any help!

 

[Ventura]

I'm looking to modify my telecaster to 5 string open G tuning and I need to replace the crappy pup's in the guitar. I not a big fender fan but I am a keith richards fan so I bought a cheap squier that played nice enough for this experiment. Any suggestions on what pup's to buy to get that stones sound?

Thanks for any help!

He's got a guitar he calls his Micawber, it's his No.1 Telecaster. Not sure why he called it that until I realized there's a pick up called a Micawber which is apparently an old lapsteel pup - I think he uses this in his bridge position, and a 50's Gibson PAF in the neck position.

If you really wanna know, the last edition of GW (the one before Page) was all about KR. I'll do a re-read on the mag and find out cuz if my memory serves me correct, he does touch on a bit of his gear. Not in great detail, but I remember this Micawber talk.

Peace,
V.

 

[steve_k]

I just started reading his biography. The book came out last month and is a good read. He will be studied by neurologists for years!

Macawber was a Camelot character from which all his guitars are named.

You need a vintage Gibson PAF in the neck. Stock is fine for the bridge.

Get a good capo for the tunings and your A string tuned to the root note. This is the only way you can play something like Jumping Jack Flash, Gimme Shelter and other things properly.


Steve

 

[Anonymous]

There is no real reason to take the low E off, IMO. Most of the Stones stuff is Open G or Open E. I can play the stuff fine with the Low E on... just don't hit it...

I'd say the Dimarzio PAF 36th Anniversary or Duncan Antiquity necks would do you fine for this sound and you could get a hundred of them for what a vintage Gibson PAF would cost...

Micawber is a Charles Dickens character from "David Copperfield"...

Richards used tons of different guitars on the records - teles are not the only things responsible for the album tones. He used some weird ES-335 clone for "Gimme Shelter" for example... The tunings, amps and the way he plays make more difference than the guitars...

Steve

 

[steve_k]

You got to take the low E off Steve.....when mixed with booze, a few g's, etc. That part about "just don't hit it" for Keith was easier said than done.

Steve

 

[Ventura]

You got to take the low E off Steve.....when mixed with booze, a few g's, etc. That part about "just don't hit it" for Keith was easier said than done.

Steve

How very, very true... BEEN THERE, DONE THAT!!!

Hey Steve, in this book you're reading - which BTW I have to get - does he mention how he even played 3 string gits tuned to one chord so all he had to do was bar the neck to change the key periodically?? Wasted. But I love him...enigmatic fo'shizzle!!

Peace,
V.

 

[steve_k]

Note the absence of the top E string. And, yes - Copperfield not Camelot. Not sure from which left field that came from. Open G tuning and capo up and down the neck if you really want to do the Keith Richards thing.

Steve

 

[Anonymous]

You got to take the low E off Steve.....when mixed with booze, a few g's, etc. That part about "just don't hit it" for Keith was easier said than done.

Steve

True, true!

Steve

 

[skoora]

The Fender No-Caster bridge pickup is pretty sweet. Great vintage flavor, can be sweet or nasty. Not plinky.

 

[steve_k]

Also of note.....the neck HB is turned backwards with the bobbin screw away from the neck.

 

[heymoe318]

Also of note.....the neck HB is turned backwards with the bobbin screw away from the neck.

Thats odd I didn't notice that at first. That tele looks like its been thru a couple wars. Or a couple dozen stones tours.

Thanks for all the feedback. I was doing some research and the Dimarzio HB's seem to be getting good reviews.