Fender Telecaster – Service and Setup

Not really anything wrong with this one, just a routine service and setup.

It’s a nice USA made neck so as expected the frets are nice and level.

While the strings are off I always give the fretboard a good clean.  It wasn’t particularly bad but it’s so much easier without the strings.

The same with the ashtray tailpiece and the pickguard.

With a new set of strings all it needs is a routine setup.  The neck had just a little too much curve in it.

A small tweek on the trussrod to pull it back into shape.

Next the action height at the 12th fret.  Having reduced the neck relief it’s now a little low.  First the outside “E” strings.

Just raise the bridge saddles a little.

With the “E” strings set next adjust the other strings heights so that the curvature across the bridge matches the radius of the fretboard.

The action at the first fret was just fine, as expected.

Lastly the intonation.  Always a little bit of a compromise with these saddles, but that’s one of the quirks of an old school Tele’.

There weren’t an apparent faults with the electrics, again all good quality American parts, but a quick clean can’t hurt.

And there is goes, ready to Rock N Roll….

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