The Evolution of my Danocaster, Kubicki, Glaser Franken-Tele

The Evolution of my Danocaster, Kubicki, Glaser Franken-Tele - Ask Zac 123

Рет қаралды 12,029

2 жыл бұрын

To Support the Channel:
/ askzac
Tip jar: paypal.me/AskZac
Venmo @AskZac
Or check out my store for merch - www.askzac.com
I bought a Kubicki Telecaster out of a local Nashville Buy/Sell paper called the Trader’s Post in 1997. The purchase was to replace my 52 reissue Telecaster that had just been stolen. I thought the single-bound body was cool, but the ebony fretboard neck was not my cup of tea. At $350, it was all I could afford at the time, and I knew I could hot-rod it when I had more discretionary funds. Over the last 25-years, the guitar has had 7 different necks, 2 different B-bender systems, set up as everything from an Esquire to having a mini-humbucker in the neck, and had a wide variety of wiring harnesses. In today’s episode, I show its latest incarnation with a new Danocaster neck, based on the one on my 57 Esquire, an 80s Seymour Duncan Hot Strat Stack middle pickup, new Glaser convertible bender, Ron Ellis 50/60 neck and bridge pickups, and Joe Glaser’s new 3-pickup wiring with a middle pickup blend control. The Franken-Tele lives!
Gear Used:
1982 Kubicki body, 2022 Danocaster Neck, Glaser Convertible Bender, 80s Duncan middle, Ron Ellis 50/60 Tele pickup set.
Strings: D'Addario NYXL 10-46 Amazon affiliate link amzn.to/3uD1WnZ
Pick: D'Andrea Medium-Heavy
Amp: 2021 Fender Vibro Champ Reverb Effects used: amp verb
#askzac #guitartech #telecaster

Пікірлер: 116

@jaybe813 2 жыл бұрын

You definitely have a Tele as versatile as Brent Mason’s now! There isn’t one sound out of all those pickup options that I didn’t like. Super cool!

@AskZac 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks, Jay!!

@charlief. 2 жыл бұрын

Dude, that tele sounds so good. I especially love the stratiness of the bridge and middle pickups together.

@THEItchybruddah 2 жыл бұрын

As one of this cult, I not only understand the obsessions that took you on this journey but, I heartily approve of all the fantastic choices you made! It took a village to make that guitar. Congratulations on making your option anxiety worse when you visit the guitar boat! Nice work Sir. Props to your “team”. Dem’s weapons grade cats!

@AskZac 2 жыл бұрын

THANK YOU!!!

@brucerobenalt8048 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you, Zac! I’d been dying for more nerdy Tele-centric content and this definitely scratches the itch! I’ve just finished building my second parts Tele and it’s my favorite guitar now.

@vayabroder729 2 жыл бұрын

I’m telling you, Zac, we’re brothers from another mother. I’m all about 7.25 radius and B width on Fenders. I also like the chunkier necks. I have an aversion to flat shredder type thin necks, could never play them. Same with basses; I really dig the vintage radius on my old Japanese ‘51 RI Fender P Bass. You’ve got some killer tones on that B bender Tele!

@TwangThang57 Жыл бұрын

Great sounding Tele!. Personally, I've gone back to standard two pickup/three position switch. I've found that too many choices is not a good thing for me. I just end up playing around with all the different sounds/tones, rather than actually playing! I used to have all my Teles with a five position switch: Bridge - Bridge and Middle out of phase - Bridge and Middle parallel - Bridge and Middle series - Neck.Souned great, but like I said,......

@jonnybeck6723 2 жыл бұрын

Really nifty (my highest praise) ...and love the way you play Cheerios

@louisdombrowski4198 2 жыл бұрын

Cool! A Fender Tele with a 18 speed transmission. Brent Mason would even like that one. I always loved the 7.25 neck.

@roscoenyc 2 жыл бұрын

Hybrid magnet action! Very cool!

@myeyesarewaiting 2 жыл бұрын

Love a Tele with a middle pickup. Trying out a freeway 10 way switch on mine just now. Tempted to try a jaguar pick up in the middle one day

@bddmhopp5 Жыл бұрын

What a versatile setup

@WillyMcCoy50 2 жыл бұрын

Absolutely! Love the 7.25 radius. Most everything else feels planky to me. Don't care much for flamed maple/birdseye however I love quartersawn straight grain necks. You guitar has fantastic voicings. Those blended alnico pickups are well thought out and compliment the various gauge's of string. My compliments!

@nick_shaw_guitarist 2 жыл бұрын

That's a great looking and sounding Tele. I've just put a Nashville style tele together, mine's double bound sunburst with a nice fat maple neck. I'd love to add a B bender to it!

@Symphonyofstars 2 жыл бұрын

Anyone else catch the Roadhog record behind him? Mighty fine!

@jips123 2 жыл бұрын

Looks like a joy to play Zac!

@anthonymcgill8035 2 жыл бұрын

Terrific content, Zac. Great sounding Tele.

@chuckhall1015 2 жыл бұрын

Suberb build...you are indeed fortunate to know and access such iconic resources...and we mere mortals enjoy the daylights out of your journey (and MAY be just a TAD jealous...but hey!) 😎

@AskZac 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks. Yes, I am a bit spoiled...

@stevekampe8979 2 жыл бұрын

That is one sweet tele! Those Ellis 2,3,5’s and the blend....you just sent me back down the rabbit hole! Those really sound sweet!

@cap217cap217 2 жыл бұрын

Is Ellis making those? I thought his 50/60 were A5 and A3, not 5-3-2. Thats what Budz does.

@stevekampe8979 2 жыл бұрын

@@cap217cap217 he said they have three types, maybe they were custom wound for him...watch the video!

@stevekampe8979 2 жыл бұрын

@@cap217cap217 unless I heard wrong...

@brucerobenalt8048 2 жыл бұрын

Just noticed the Ol’ Roadhog back there on the shelf!

@AskZac 2 жыл бұрын

Always watching

@CC-te5zf 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for feeding the gear heads! I hope to get a bender soon in one of mine. I’m awaiting approval from the budget dept… lol.

@AskZac 2 жыл бұрын

Good luck!

@jason_cornelius 2 жыл бұрын

Love that guitar, but especially loved the part at 8:44! 😁

@Martin_Yount 2 жыл бұрын

Man Zac that neck pickup is so nice. I had Joe do the same wiring, really loving it. Awesome episode.

@AskZac 2 жыл бұрын

THANK YOU

@ranchoricardo 2 жыл бұрын

Wow, Zac! Great sounds in ALL positions. "Jack of all Trades" guitars can often feel compromised. But that guitar seems to master so many of the great sounds we're all looking for!

@AskZac 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

@bluesslider76 2 жыл бұрын

I had to borrow a Tele with a glaser bender on it since mine is in the shop….again!! Sending up prayer for it lol. That was a challenge not to bend by mistake. Great tool though

@julius2790 2 жыл бұрын

That is one beautiful guitar Zac!

@guitboy007 2 жыл бұрын

Now I’m inspired to build one with a V neck. Thanks!

@AskZac 2 жыл бұрын

YES

@bhhNC 2 жыл бұрын

Inventive 3-pickup Tele mods always interest me. Mine has a stock neck, 1980's Don Lace in the middle, and a Dimarzio 'TwangKing' in the bridge, w 5-pos Strat switch. No mod yet to get to ALL of the possible pickup combos happening. Your lift-switch/knob seems like a solution.

@cheycasters 2 жыл бұрын

Thats a killer looking Tele color/neck etc....it's that binding

@brownmonkeybananayellow 2 жыл бұрын

That thing sounds awesome!

@WillyPDX94 2 жыл бұрын

You're just like us, Zac. We love our guitars and have to keep tinkering with them. We just can't help it. 🤠

@AskZac 2 жыл бұрын

So true!

@esimms1889 2 жыл бұрын

It’s a sickness!

@guitarguru4492 2 жыл бұрын

Sounds great!

@billycramer8066 2 жыл бұрын

That is beast. Love it.

@Heavenreck 2 жыл бұрын

I have built 4 teles since I started following your channel. The modular nature of bolt on guitars make them such a cool instrument. Thank you for sharing your journey. Any retail pickups you would recommend that are easily available? I have the duncan la brea set after watching your video in one of my Telecasters and they sound great.

@glenkepic3208 2 жыл бұрын

Nice ! Chops helps ! I just wanted a Tele years ago. Sq Black And Chrome looked good but none played well. Look at an orphan Sq 20th anniversary Fat Tele. Think Andy Summers. Got it fixed (fret mill and dress). The HB bit was pretty common apparently so sorta a,,,,well not :)

@justindeming 2 жыл бұрын

There’s something about that guitar body. The 57 is killer but you sound most comfortable on this guitar and your 68. Just my opinion.

@MrTimcoronel 2 жыл бұрын

I have the same strap on my Squier Jaguar. Not 'aged', just old ;)

@AskZac 2 жыл бұрын

YES

@NickRatnieks 2 жыл бұрын

Very classy looking Tele and it sounds great. Bill Kirchen's current Tele has a wide neck- I will have to have a closer look at it. Many years ago I got a close look at his old "coal burner" which had some very interesting play wear on it but is now retired.

@robinbailey3052 2 жыл бұрын

The Andy summers Book is a great read!

@AskZac 2 жыл бұрын

It is fantastic

@anthonytye2591 2 жыл бұрын

this hot rodding stuff went out in the eighties

@ZeppelinUK 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Zac, after your latest mods that Tele really twangs, love it!... 👍

@AskZac 2 жыл бұрын

Glad you like them!

@imannonymous7707 2 жыл бұрын

Fantastic mods ! Im still partial to your esquire. But this guitar can do it all and then sum

@AskZac 2 жыл бұрын

Absolutely!

@rcannonp 2 жыл бұрын

Looks and sounds awesome. I’ve found that if a guitar has more than 3 sounds, I start spending too much time trying to find the right one. I put a mini humbucker with a coil split in the bridge of my Tele. I love the versatility, but having 5 sounds to choose from makes my brain start to go a bit fuzzy.

@fiddlefolk 2 жыл бұрын

I find myself in the same category.

@Ottophil 2 жыл бұрын

I don’t think theres a possible way to have too many options. My favorite is hss, coil split and neck on switch gets me all the choices i need

@BartDietvorst 2 жыл бұрын

I love this guitar!

@AskZac 2 жыл бұрын

I'll use it on the next colab

@BartDietvorst 2 жыл бұрын

@@AskZac Yes!

@telecasterbear 2 жыл бұрын

I was sure to include a treble bleed circuit in my current franken-tele.

@jimbeaux4988 2 жыл бұрын

That really sounds great. I like the 3 magnet pickups. Is that similar to the Brent Mason pickup. I think that one only had 2 "zones".

@AskZac 2 жыл бұрын

Similar

@tomk1tl39 2 жыл бұрын

Native Sons guitar strap on the 'Frankenstein Tele' ?.......I got two and they are great !

@bretolson8484 2 жыл бұрын

As it is today, it’s a dream guitar! So versatile, is it your “number one”? Have you ever played the “Law & Order” theme song on it? I’m gonna have to buy another Tele for mods after this😄 Thank you for sharing the story

@iannicholls7476 2 жыл бұрын

Very nice!

@AskZac 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! Cheers!

@Rigel7WasAlreadyUsed 2 жыл бұрын

I'm not sure I have a radius preference. I've got everything from 7.25 to 12. But I have zero issues with 7.25, my Strat and my best Tele are both 7.25. I have no idea what some people have against 7.25, I can do Gilmour bends on them without issue. Hendrix, SRV, Clapton, and Gilmour himself didn't seem to choke on bends. Sure, this wasn't an interesting comment to make, but I never claimed it would be...

@brucerobenalt8048 2 жыл бұрын

What are you going to do with the Dano neck that was on this one before? Maybe build another partscaster? That would be a fun video series! Sorry to encourage more sickness…

@AskZac 2 жыл бұрын

I had to trade in the old neck to Dan.

@DavidMorales008 2 жыл бұрын

Awesome

@stevehobbs6686 2 жыл бұрын

that is just a great tele

@KB6YAF 2 жыл бұрын

Zac, that sounds wonderful. By adding all of that, it sure would beat the cost of a Franklin Petal Steel!! Thanks for another great demo. ....Russell D.

@nationalduo4945 2 жыл бұрын

Any idea what the widest nut fender ever made for a tele ? I’m thing 52 or 53…maybe ?

@jbognap 6 ай бұрын

I'd like to add a Tele to my arsenal. Which is the most economical Tele which come routed for a middle pickup?

@artisanmetalcraft 2 жыл бұрын

Very nice. I dig that blender. What amp were you using here?

@AskZac 2 жыл бұрын

Fender Vibro Champ Reverb

@cowieson 2 жыл бұрын

Hey Zac, have you tried Lindy Fralin's vintage tele pickup set (or vintage hot)? If so, how do you rate them for vintage tele tones out of interest?

@AskZac 2 жыл бұрын

I think its a great set. I prefer the vintage over the hot

@redbone6950 2 жыл бұрын

At first I thought "You are gonna make this guitar sound better than Leo Fender?" Then I thought "This 74 Fender swamp ash sunburst body will make this Tele sound better than this aftermarket brick." Go figure.

@kevinolear6717 2 жыл бұрын

Nice! What throw did you get on the bender?

@AskZac 2 жыл бұрын

medium

@SELKCOMM 2 жыл бұрын

You are a beast

@collinsstudios7098 2 жыл бұрын

Zac, have you ever tried the Jerry Donahue wiring scheme?

@AskZac 2 жыл бұрын

I have not

@collinsstudios7098 2 жыл бұрын

Just uses a 5 way switch and 2 pickups. The usual tele tones we all love + the neck with the tone rolled back a little (pre dialed in) and a ‘half out of phase’ tone that sounds a little like an in between strat. I loved Nashville wiring when I did it but kinda missed the classic 2 pickup look so for me it trimmed out some of the sounds I didn’t use often. Also, whilst I’m here. I tried your mod to just put the tone control on the bridge pickup and holy cow. I’ve now done it to every guitar I own. Such a difference!

@chrisquinn9104 2 жыл бұрын

Maybe I missed, but why the Duncan Hot Stack wired single choice? Sounds great, but why not a 50s or 60s style Strat? Is it a Brent Mason period correct thing? I figure you do everything for a reason Is the Andy Summers book and Easter Egg for a new episode? Cheers

@AskZac 2 жыл бұрын

The pickups is what Glaser used in the 80s. There are most likely better pickups to use, especially if you are wanting a better middle alone sound.

@chrisquinn9104 2 жыл бұрын

@@AskZac that’s what I suspected. Sometimes you have to have the “official” thing. It does sound good, but it might sound better with a maroon cover, if you know what I’m sayin’.

@ericinms 2 жыл бұрын

Very nice-- what is the bridge?

@AskZac 2 жыл бұрын

50/60 Ellis

@ericinms 2 жыл бұрын

@@AskZac I mean the actual bridge-looks compensated?

@joeldowdy404 2 жыл бұрын

Do you use Franken tele on gigs ever or is just for fun at the house?

@AskZac 2 жыл бұрын

I have gigged with the guitar from 1997 thru today. It was on gigs earlier this year.

@mralgebro 2 жыл бұрын

Man, you’re picky! But if you know what you like why not get it? Cool Tele! With so many options I think I’d lose my mind. I’ve been more into one pickup guitars lately.

@guitareveryone 2 жыл бұрын

Hey Zac, have you ever had any issues or heard of any issues of the cable that attaches the saddle to the b-bender lever breaking and need replacement and if so do you know how hard it is to replace the cable? I assume eventually it will need replacement and was wondering would it be tough job to replace.

@AskZac 2 жыл бұрын

I have not heard of them breaking.

@guitareveryone 2 жыл бұрын

@@AskZac thanks Zac. I did read of one breaking but I’m thinking it’s a rare occurrence.

@soulgamblers 2 жыл бұрын

Why don't you ever mention Bill Kirchen who is most definitely a Telecaster master?

@chipsterb4946 2 жыл бұрын

TL:DW “I kept the body, the pickguard, control plate, knobs (but not pots), and strap pins.” 😛 Those pickups with the A2, A3 & A5 pole pieces are too cool 😎 for this nerd! I still don’t completely “get” the wiring, but every combo sounds great. It’s funny but I ended up with a different way to get to the same place on the mid-bridge pups together. I have a a Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound bridge pickup that is tapped on a Strat. Full power and the middle pup just takes a bit of bite off, but the 3rd knob is a variable coil tap. Turned down it sounds very Strat-like. Same place, different route. (I also put a steel plate under the QP so it sounds more like a Tele.)

@allenmitchell09 2 жыл бұрын

So you turned your tele into a strat.

@AskZac 2 жыл бұрын

Almost

@bloke2201 Жыл бұрын

Hit the nail on the head mate: it's the frets, NOT the radius that makes old guitars hard to play. Put medium jumbo frets on a 7 1/4 radius board and it plays like butter.

@AskZac Жыл бұрын

Agreed. Frets not the radius,

@mjvicc1952 2 жыл бұрын

Frankenstein was a “one-of”. This Tele is more of a Darwin in that it reflects an evolution, it has morphed into many parts and sounds. Either way another great segment.

@AskZac 2 жыл бұрын

Well said!

@outwook 2 жыл бұрын

Did I miss anything? You don't have a tone control, do you?

@AskZac 2 жыл бұрын

No tone

@joeurbanowski321 2 жыл бұрын

Cool guitar..👍🏼..but,ya know? A guitar is actually it’s neck.. and pickups. So you’re not really modding’ yer body.. you’re putting the body on different guitars..hah! I’m so FOS.. but it really is a cool guitar..!👍🏼

@AskZac 2 жыл бұрын

Great point