@@markgordoncreamer7279 did that in the original video. ruclips.net/video/rAmMa8-8Tos/видео.htmlsi=bmUSCcIyPuhbECST Just used the track as the comparison in this one.
1) This guitar is somehow much better looking in your video than it is in the photos on their website! 2) Good call on replacing that middle pickup with a WHITE one-I think it looks a lot better with a pickup that actually matches the pickguard! 3) I wonder how much this guitar weighs, since it is supposedly made of mahogany and maple instead of the alder, ash, poplar, or basswood that Telecasters are usually made of. Is this Telecaster too heavy as a result? 4) I really love that FLAT Wilkinson bridge they use as opposed to the vintage “ashtray” style! Apart from the whole 6 vs 3 saddle debate, I just don’t like those walls on the sides of the vintage ashtray bridge, which I find tend to impede strumming and palm muting near the saddles. Maybe I’m the only one. 5) I’d say you definitely accomplished the goal of making this into a truly serviceable Nashville Tele, and for under $70 not counting the tuners, not bad!!!!!!
It is kind of heavy. Not 13 pound Les Paul heavy but heavier than my early 2000’s MIM Tele. I really need to get a scale. This seems to be a question a lot of folks have. My guess is it’s in the 8 to 9 pound-ish range. Sorry I can’t be more exact. The Wilkinson bridge on this guitar is an really nice addition. It is officially the first of my Firefly’s that I have not had to replace the bridge on. Thanks for the kind words and encouragement!
I've never been a fan of ceramic pickups,and these didn't disappoint my opinion, to me the stock pickups sounded better, and that's the first time I've ever had to comment about a set of pickups,useally a cheap alnico set will mimic the sound of a better pickup,or at least brighten up a dull sounding set of stock pickups, I was looking at low g pickups, and even seen these on Amazon, but I went with an alnico2 set of Tele pickups for a mod on a regular tele I'm doing,every stock pickup I've ever had to change out, has been ceramic,and they still sound dull to me, low g didn't help much,but thanks for reviewing them for everyone,I haven't totally given up on ceramic pickups,I just have never heard a good one,monoprice stock Tele ceramic pickups aren't half bad, but my favorite are fender tex mex, they even make them for a strat,which would be perfect for this upgrade, twice as expensive but well worth it, in the end.
Mine came from the main vendor in California and the neck had poor fretwork. It was unplayable due to fretting out on both the E and A strings in multiple locations. I've worked on guitars for thirty years and know what I'm doing. It wasn't a truss rod or bridge adjustment issue - definitely the fret work. Vendor denied paying for return shipping despite their website saying they would cover it for "functionality issues". So I'll have to do a fret level/ crown/ polish on it (and shielding, and replace pickups etc..) Wasn't planning on spending this much time just to have something that is passable. Not a good experience.
I had a similar experience and they tried the same thing. Offered me a $26 discount to keep it or I would have to pay for shipping. I kept the guitar and it took me a whole weekend to repair it. Their Customer Service sucks and that's coming from someone that owns 6 of their guitars in various models. What I learned is don't buy direct from their website. You are at their mercy if you do. Buy from their eBay site. That way you have eBay there to protect you when you have problems. Kind Regards.
I am so glad that you made this video, thank you. I have this same model/color and, after watching your video, installed a set of these pickups. For the wiring I went with a ShotValveGuitars Strat-O-Tele switching plate. That took the guitar to a completely different level. Even my wife commented on how great it sounds. Now I want to build another one, but put a Firebird mini humbucker in the neck position since the body is already routed for a humbucker. Keep making great videos, they are very helpful and entertaining. Kind Regards.
The purveyor of all things… Taiss 10PCS SPST Mini Toggle Switch 2 Pin 2 Position ON/Off Miniature Toggle Switch 6A 125V Toggle Switch MTS-101 www.amazon.com/dp/B0799LBFNY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_FX34MBHWDQNSCJYTVFBP?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
A cool, cheap, experiment you should try; take a cheap ceramic single coil and change the magnet to a neodymium. It makes a great neck or middle pup as long as there's not too many winds.
It seems like the same idea behind G&L's MFD pups. I really like the sound, but I like a clear wide range neck pup. I haven't made a P90 yet, but plan on it.
I'm wondering if you had any problems with the neck pickup fitting into the Firefly pickguard opening? I recently upgraded my FFTL with Yosemite pickups and the neck pickup was too long for the FIREFLY pickguard...I actually had to enlarge the pickguard opening. Just curious ..thanks in advance if you respond. Cheers
@@TheTapeFarm I hope I didn't come off as a dick there or anything! I'm really enjoying your videos on the Firefly as I might be grabbing one soon. Just personally I'd rather listen to guitars and not pianos when watching videos on guitars! Keep up the good work!
Nice mod, but I would like to hear the pickups by themselves after the mod, and emulating the strat sound. Also, in the recording I kinda prefer the stock pickups, especially on the clean tone.
My Firefly FFTL has the worst microphonic pickups I have ever experienced. The bridge pickup is horrible. The switches aren't wired properly. Horrible. Now I have to spend money to fix it. I'm not a guitar repair expert.
Wilkinson Low Gauss Nashville Sound Ceramic Tele Neck and Bridge Pickups Set for Telecaster Electric Guitar a.co/d/e6YT0nc Wilkinson LOW GAUSS Vintage Tone Ceramic ST Strat Single Coil Pickup for Stratocaster Guitar Middle, White a.co/d/2FcRMpe Everything else was either stuff I had on hand or generic easy to find items.
Do you think a humbucker could work in a Nashville style Tele/Tele clone? If so, what position do you think it would work best in? I am considering a Nashville style in addition to my Les Paul and ES-339.
I think it would work. I'd put it in the neck position, but that would depend on what you're using the guitar for. Bridge would also work but it would have some fairly extensive modding and a new bridge.
@@TheTapeFarm, I was specifically thinking about a single coil sized humbucker, and I play primarily rock, with some pop influences. Not so much looking for session work as to have a good all around instrument that can fit between the extremes of my Les Paul(Dimarzio Super 2/Super Distortion combo there) and my Epiphone ES-339 Pro. This would be my first fully custom build, if I build from scratch. I like the classic Tele twang over the Strat quack, but need something a touch more versatile that is kind of a hot rodded Tele at the same time, so to speak.
I'm literally modding my exact same one with Slick GFS Lead Pickups and a 7 Way Coil-tapped wiring harness from Starr Systems as we speak.
Sweet!
No single pickup comparisons? Nothing I could use here.
@@markgordoncreamer7279 did that in the original video. ruclips.net/video/rAmMa8-8Tos/видео.htmlsi=bmUSCcIyPuhbECST
Just used the track as the comparison in this one.
That’s a good example of AlNiCo vs ceramic pickups with the A/B track.
1) This guitar is somehow much better looking in your video than it is in the photos on their website!
2) Good call on replacing that middle pickup with a WHITE one-I think it looks a lot better with a pickup that actually matches the pickguard!
3) I wonder how much this guitar weighs, since it is supposedly made of mahogany and maple instead of the alder, ash, poplar, or basswood that Telecasters are usually made of. Is this Telecaster too heavy as a result?
4) I really love that FLAT Wilkinson bridge they use as opposed to the vintage “ashtray” style! Apart from the whole 6 vs 3 saddle debate, I just don’t like those walls on the sides of the vintage ashtray bridge, which I find tend to impede strumming and palm muting near the saddles. Maybe I’m the only one.
5) I’d say you definitely accomplished the goal of making this into a truly serviceable Nashville Tele, and for under $70 not counting the tuners, not bad!!!!!!
It is kind of heavy. Not 13 pound Les Paul heavy but heavier than my early 2000’s MIM Tele. I really need to get a scale. This seems to be a question a lot of folks have. My guess is it’s in the 8 to 9 pound-ish range. Sorry I can’t be more exact. The Wilkinson bridge on this guitar is an really nice addition. It is officially the first of my Firefly’s that I have not had to replace the bridge on.
Thanks for the kind words and encouragement!
I've never been a fan of ceramic pickups,and these didn't disappoint my opinion, to me the stock pickups sounded better, and that's the first time I've ever had to comment about a set of pickups,useally a cheap alnico set will mimic the sound of a better pickup,or at least brighten up a dull sounding set of stock pickups, I was looking at low g pickups, and even seen these on Amazon, but I went with an alnico2 set of Tele pickups for a mod on a regular tele I'm doing,every stock pickup I've ever had to change out, has been ceramic,and they still sound dull to me, low g didn't help much,but thanks for reviewing them for everyone,I haven't totally given up on ceramic pickups,I just have never heard a good one,monoprice stock Tele ceramic pickups aren't half bad, but my favorite are fender tex mex, they even make them for a strat,which would be perfect for this upgrade, twice as expensive but well worth it, in the end.
Awesome. Well put. That’s exactly why I reviewed them. Thanks for checking out the video!
Mine came from the main vendor in California and the neck had poor fretwork. It was unplayable due to fretting out on both the E and A strings in multiple locations. I've worked on guitars for thirty years and know what I'm doing. It wasn't a truss rod or bridge adjustment issue - definitely the fret work. Vendor denied paying for return shipping despite their website saying they would cover it for "functionality issues". So I'll have to do a fret level/ crown/ polish on it (and shielding, and replace pickups etc..) Wasn't planning on spending this much time just to have something that is passable. Not a good experience.
I had a similar experience and they tried the same thing. Offered me a $26 discount to keep it or I would have to pay for shipping. I kept the guitar and it took me a whole weekend to repair it. Their Customer Service sucks and that's coming from someone that owns 6 of their guitars in various models. What I learned is don't buy direct from their website. You are at their mercy if you do. Buy from their eBay site. That way you have eBay there to protect you when you have problems. Kind Regards.
I am so glad that you made this video, thank you. I have this same model/color and, after watching your video, installed a set of these pickups. For the wiring I went with a ShotValveGuitars Strat-O-Tele switching plate. That took the guitar to a completely different level. Even my wife commented on how great it sounds. Now I want to build another one, but put a Firebird mini humbucker in the neck position since the body is already routed for a humbucker. Keep making great videos, they are very helpful and entertaining. Kind Regards.
Awesome James!!! It’s such a fun hobby. Happy tinkering!
F in the chat for RadioShack
Great video! I'm just curious where did you find the 10 toggle switches? I like the size of it, it's a small switch. Thank you!
The purveyor of all things…
Taiss 10PCS SPST Mini Toggle Switch 2 Pin 2 Position ON/Off Miniature Toggle Switch 6A 125V Toggle Switch MTS-101 www.amazon.com/dp/B0799LBFNY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_FX34MBHWDQNSCJYTVFBP?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
@@TheTapeFarm Thank you!
the rear plate is grounded by the screws that pass through the bridge, isn’t it?
Yes. Teles are grounded through the backplate of the bridge pickup.
A cool, cheap, experiment you should try; take a cheap ceramic single coil and change the magnet to a neodymium. It makes a great neck or middle pup as long as there's not too many winds.
Yup. Thought about something like that. I have enough cheap pickups just sitting around.
It seems like the same idea behind G&L's MFD pups. I really like the sound, but I like a clear wide range neck pup. I haven't made a P90 yet, but plan on it.
I'm wondering if you had any problems with the neck pickup fitting into the Firefly pickguard opening? I recently upgraded my FFTL with Yosemite pickups and the neck pickup was too long for the FIREFLY pickguard...I actually had to enlarge the pickguard opening.
Just curious ..thanks in advance if you respond. Cheers
Just a suggestion....Shouldn't your montage music be guitar driven?
Fair assessment. I’ve thought about that as well. I’ll see what I can do going forward.
@@TheTapeFarm I hope I didn't come off as a dick there or anything! I'm really enjoying your videos on the Firefly as I might be grabbing one soon. Just personally I'd rather listen to guitars and not pianos when watching videos on guitars!
Keep up the good work!
Nice mod, but I would like to hear the pickups by themselves after the mod, and emulating the strat sound. Also, in the recording I kinda prefer the stock pickups, especially on the clean tone.
My Firefly FFTL has the worst microphonic pickups I have ever experienced. The bridge pickup is horrible. The switches aren't wired properly. Horrible. Now I have to spend money to fix it. I'm not a guitar repair expert.
Have you ever featured affordable hand winders like Bootstrap and Tone Hatch?
Not yet. But I’d like too. Maybe some day soon.
Hi from the UK! Do the Low Gauss pickups have less string pull? I'm modding a Modern Player Tele and the neck & middle stock have a LOT of pull....;
That’s the theory.
Thanks for the great video! I got the turquoise one and I'm planning on a very similar mod. Can you share the wiring diagram you used?
I made one. The link is in the description.
Hey Keith! Would you happen to have all the links to the mods? Looking to do this to my Fftl! 😁👍🏾
Wilkinson Low Gauss Nashville Sound Ceramic Tele Neck and Bridge Pickups Set for Telecaster Electric Guitar a.co/d/e6YT0nc
Wilkinson LOW GAUSS Vintage Tone Ceramic ST Strat Single Coil Pickup for Stratocaster Guitar Middle, White a.co/d/2FcRMpe
Everything else was either stuff I had on hand or generic easy to find items.
What guitar does the Firefly Aerosonic replicate? Thank you.
Not sure. There’s a few versions of that one as well 6,7, and 12 string versions. I’m sure it’s based on some sort of Gibson. An ES-275 maybe?
Do you think a humbucker could work in a Nashville style Tele/Tele clone? If so, what position do you think it would work best in? I am considering a Nashville style in addition to my Les Paul and ES-339.
I think it would work. I'd put it in the neck position, but that would depend on what you're using the guitar for. Bridge would also work but it would have some fairly extensive modding and a new bridge.
@@TheTapeFarm, I was specifically thinking about a single coil sized humbucker, and I play primarily rock, with some pop influences. Not so much looking for session work as to have a good all around instrument that can fit between the extremes of my Les Paul(Dimarzio Super 2/Super Distortion combo there) and my Epiphone ES-339 Pro. This would be my first fully custom build, if I build from scratch. I like the classic Tele twang over the Strat quack, but need something a touch more versatile that is kind of a hot rodded Tele at the same time, so to speak.
I'm so sick of seeing videos of nice guitar but if you do this and that . Just buy a guitar that's already there .
I get that. But some folks like to tinker. If you don’t, I’d suggest doing it your way. Different strokes for different folks.
Why do you keep watching them.
@@cmet8280they like to torture themselves 😂😂😂