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I've spent most of the day watching Ben from Crimson Guitars build a guitar. 7 hours in so far. I find it fascinating watching guitar builds. You could win it for £2.50 as well (although it's unlikely as I'm going to win it!). All proceeds to the Red Cross DEC Ukraine appeal.
https://raffall.com/293531/enter-raffle-to-win-1-day-ukraine-guitar-hosted-by-crimson-guitars
So it's just come to my attention that valves aka tubes are not going to be leaving Russia for the foreseeable future (obviously due to their appalling invasion of Ukraine and the related sanctions both ways). This is clearly going to be an issue for many guitar amps (and some bass amps and hi-fi amps).
Extra benefit of owning my Kemper. Not one I’m happy to read about.
So it’s just come to my attention that valves aka tubes are not going to be leaving Russia for the foreseeable future (obviously due to their appalling invasion of Ukraine and the related sanctions both ways). This is clearly going to be an issue for many guitar amps (and some bass amps and hi-fi amps
Yeah, Rhett Schull put out a video on Friday about this which seems to have sent the (guitar) world into meltdown.
Ignoring the hyperbole, the consensus is there's enough out there already to last a long time, China will pick up production and in reality tubes aren't replaced that often so there's no real risk of running out
Another benefit for running tubeless.
JJ electronics in Slovakia make tubes. They supply the Grove Tubes in Fender's up market amps.
The only valves I've replaced were 5 years ago and thats the only ones I've every replaced
Currently have 5 valve amps that I rarely use (nice ornaments though) so I'm not in the least worried - they will outlast me
And what's all this matched set nonsense. I learned about valves from dad who fixed the TV by swapping valves for old ones he'd kept. Four power valves in my Marshall, not even the same brand. Sounds great. Getting the bias right however is important.
Tried a PRS Tremonti 15W amp recently. Sounded great but a bit rockier than I like but round the back were simple pots and probe points for biasing the amp.
Brilliant after playing around with my Boogie MKiv and DT25 for ages with the back off and all the scare stories about the capacitors.
Another benefit for running tubeless.
Well played sir.
OK Tele lover's, I'm fitting locking tuners to my Tele at the weekend and while I've got the strings off I thought I may try the top loading option on the bridge.
Anyone got any views on this based on experience rather than hearsay? And please, no links to the Chris Buck video.
If nobody told you they had changed it you wouldn't know
That's my experience anyway
I went to the trouble of drilling a Tele through, wishful thinking says it's better, my ears can't back that up.
There's so much snake oil in the guitar world - it's a bit disconcerting. Sound advice is intertwined with old wives' tales and it's very difficult to cut through the BS.
Maybe a majority of MTBers have a more scientific bent so we see through this bullshit and it's not so pervasive in this industry. Whereas musicians are perhaps predominantly artsy types who don't inherently distrust this sort of thing(!). Whenever I've heard any comparisons of top load vs string-through, maple vs rosewood etc, I've failed to hear any difference. Perhaps other people operate on a higher plane of tonal enlightenment, recognising nuance that I simply can't.
All that said, string-through is something that intuitively* feels like it could make a small difference vs anchoring the strings on a flimsy metal plate.
*I'm a scientist, I'm not sure I'm allowed to have intuition?
If you change enough things the differences add up and become obvious. my rosewood alder Gotoh bridge tele sounds much more mellow than my maple swamp ash ash tray bridge tele.
Well I'll give it go as its ready for both choices. Just have to adjust the neck angle (one turn of the micro tilt) and adjust the saddles accordingly.
Why do you need to change the neck angle? Does it need more of a break angle over the saddles (for toploading) or something?
Just have to adjust the neck angle (one turn of the micro tilt) and adjust the saddles accordingly.
Scratches head... Puzzled by this. Whilst I can see that if adjusting saddles, you may need to adjust the neck angle, I can't quite follow why the saddle heights need to change (and both changes likely to result in need for minor tweaking of intonation).
Assuming saddles need to go up in order to get satisfactory break angle over the saddle?
(edit) Beaten to the same pondering by @Superficial (endedit)
I've given up trying to understand guitarists, mountain bikers, architects, social media etc etc
Just treated myself to a couple of nice leather straps, both Fender.
I've got a couple of cheaper, multi ply leather straps which have proved to be a false economy. They became a bit baggy at the ends and even with Grolsh type washers they just don't feel secure. So......
Fender Broken in Leather:
They seem to get good reviews so I thought I'd give one a go.
Very nice indeed, soft, 2.5 inches wide, quality feel, secure and comfy.
Fender Ball Glove Leather:
Discontinued, but a reduced price at Thomann for the last few.
A noticable step up. Thicker but just as soft. Again, feels very secure with washers.
Delightful quality, bargain.
Lovely smell, like a new pair of good boots.
I only use leather straps on the nitro Strat and the acoustic, I prefer fabric straps on the Mustang, RG and Tele, but these are by far the nicest leather straps I've tried.
OK Tele lover’s, I’m fitting locking tuners to my Tele at the weekend and while I’ve got the strings off I thought I may try the top loading option on the bridge.
Anyone got any views on this based on experience rather than hearsay? And please, no links to the Chris Buck video.
It will change the sound, based on my experience with the Bullet Mustang.
A bit thinner, with slightly more pronounced harmonics.
Easy way to check is to to string alternately between the bridge and the body. E bridge, A body, D bridge etc
Do all the bits of the guitar resonate in the same manner?
Can you hear a difference?
If you really want to mess with your head, try different saddle materials.
I bought some brass saddles for the cheap Mustang (long story) and they tonal difference is remarkable.
Scratches head… Puzzled by this. Whilst I can see that if adjusting saddles, you may need to adjust the neck angle, I can’t quite follow why the saddle heights need to change (and both changes likely to result in need for minor tweaking of intonation).
They don't.
If you string through the bridge rather than through the body, the string tension will change because of the break angle and shorter strings.
The spatial relationship between the nut, neck and bridge will remain the same, but a lower string tension will highlight any issues with overall setup.
Don't shout at me, just doing what Fender suggest. 🙂
Anyway it's all moot as at the moment Thomann are saying my locking tuners won't arrive until Tuesday.
Back to plan B and take the active pickups out if the Strat and fit the originals back in.
Slowly waking up for a day of doing nothing I came across this clip of some impressive math rock.
Anyone interested in a Les Paul Studio? I've not really touched it since getting my PRS so figured it could go to a better home.
1995, pick up from West Berkshire, special price for STW Guitar Thread readers. Very good condition, more pictures available for anyone who is interested. They go for ~750-900 it seems, so reasonable offers for an easy sale that doesn't involve eBay or FB marketplace.
Message me if interested!
Saddles do indeed make quite a lot off difference. The big fat vintage tele saddles with no grooves give a Zitare effect especially on the high e, junior winces every time I play with them. I like the brass classic vibe saddles which are smaller and have a groove - bright sound but not so much zitare effect and the strings don't end up in the screw holes when abused. I've got a set of ABM VCS-Saddles - compensated brass saddles with a v-groove to hold the string. They need a quick file to clean the sharp edge before use - they have a nice bright sound with a mild zitare effect.
Big, fat compensated saddles on my Tele. Bought a couple of months back but built in 2020, hence the aged look of the brass.
#RustySpanner thanks for the strap PSA. Just ordered a black glove leather strap. My 35yr old Levy strap is getting a bit tired and I ended up buying strap blocks week or so back to stop any chance of coming off during bouncing around.
Whilst on the Thomann site I also got a set of feeler guages and a couple of bits to offset the £8 postage.
Your saddles are machined to a point, eddiebaby, so you won't have the zitare effect of the round saddles. I hate to say but it looks like you've got 55mm saddles on a 52mm bridge which is why your A and B strings are trying to fall onto the screws.
Classic vibe bridge
Compensated with v-grooves - ABM VCS
Fat vintage
I hadn't noticed that Ed. 😳
Anyway seems to work. I'll mention it at Andertons next time I'm over there.
I won't be toploading until the locking machine heads arrive, should be Monday but I did use the time yesterday to polish a tiny ding out of the 11th fret under the B string.
Used a cheap set of micro mesh pads from Amazon and they worked really well. Much better than previous attempts.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0134RO0DI?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
@beej that's a lovely looking LPS, I have a black one of similar vintage. Beautiful guitars.
My advice ? find a way of keeping it, it's only going to increase in value and it will always be a truly special, thoroughbred of a guitar.
I may take your advice - after reading the 1990-96 models are considered some of the best I don't think I'd let it go to a random.
There's a bit of a story behind it. I saw it advertised on a work advert board in about 1999. Turned up to see it and the woman selling didn't really know much about it. However, she worked for the same company as me so I wasn't too worried. Paid £400.
A month or two later she emails me and asks to buy it back. I was quite happy with it so declined.
Fast forward a couple of years and we end up working in the same department. I wasn't sure she remembered me and I never mentioned the guitar to her, but told a couple of friends who had known her longer about buying the guitar and the offer to buy it back. Turns out she'd split up with her boyfriend and he owed her money, so she sold his guitar to cover it. Then a couple of months later they got back together... hence the attempt to get it back.
she’d split up with her boyfriend and he owed her money, so she sold his guitar to cover it. Then a couple of months later they got back together… hence the attempt to get it back.
Ooft. I don't imagine they lasted much longer once he found that out
When looking at second-hand guitars, I always wonder why someone would sell it. Is it just because it’s a bad example? Did someone just not gel with it?
The idea that a scorned woman would sell her ex’s prized guitar is great. And the fact she tried to get it back suggests it was a good one!
Lots of people just collect loads of guitars and then realise they are taking up loads of room and not getting played so they move them on.
Sometimes they will be trying to move on a guitar that is a complete dog but it's rare nowadays because consistency of manufacturing
Lots of people just collect loads of guitars and then realise they are taking up loads of room and not getting played so they move them on.
Too many guitars?
Does not compute 😆
I've just spent the evening trying to put a solo line on a new recording my band did recently.
Switched between 5 different guitars, recorded a couple of lines with each one....can't decide which one I prefer. Too much choice!
I recently bought a rack so I could put all my (electric) guitars in one place. Instead of having guitars in cupboards / under beds etc, they're now mostly* together. I thought this would mean they were accessible so they'd get played more - which they do. But an unexpected consequence is that it's making me self-conscious in an all-the-gear-no-idea sort of way. Also highlights the boring sand colour of my Tele next to the shiny red / blue Fenders. I know was recently whining about how Teles shouldn't be fancy, but this one is as plain (visually) as a guitar can be.
Thinking about selling a couple.
* Out of shot is a Squier Jazzmaster that I'm supposed to have sold.
I also have a guitar rack, It means my normal jazzmaster and strat get played more than my humbucker jazzmaster, and tele because they are closer to my stool
I should probably get a rack. At the moment my guitars are randomly leaning against record and bookshelves (and one is on a little stand). I'd like to hang them on the wall but this is a rented house.
Small guitar room so all three toys live in their soft bags. The hard cases live in the garage. I really should sell them. Anyone want a nice shiny Fender ABS hard case for a Strat or a Telecaster with TSA locks? Never been thrown around in the back of a van…
Something new today - trying to play standing up. I thought it would be a lot more difficult. I shall be trying it more frequently 🙂
https://youtube.com/shorts/ikzU-eqLJ8Y?feature=share
That's high slung like George harrison in Hambourg in 61 or Tom Morello. I prefer a bit lower so I can get my thumb over the top of the neck easier.
Bit of a help request from a non-guitarist...
Hey all, the size of this thread is a bit intimidating! And can't find what I want, so here goes...
My daughter has been learning electric for the past 2.5 years. She just got her first 'proper' guitar, second hand from a decent music shop last week.
It was cheap because the lacquer / shell / case has some cracks. But (apparently) the guitar plays fine and there are no other issues with it.
It's a Mexican Fender Strat in a light blue / turquoise that my daughter loves.
Is it possible to re-cover the body in a lacquer of the same colour. Or repair the cracks? The worst crack runs from the join with the neck to the other side of the body, about 2" long.
Any help / recommendations appreciated.
TIA
Any pictures? Refinishing a guitar professionally will cost a lot of Money (first google hit says £450 for Poly guitar finish (it's a bastard to strip), to the point that it's probably cheaper to buy a new body.
There are others on here who are probably more knowledgeable.
Cracks in the lacquer around the neck pocket are relatively common, even (inexcusably) on some new guitars. Usually they're not 2" long, though. You can take the neck off the guitar by undoing the 3-4 bolts on the back and inspecting the neck pocket. You need to ideally take the strings off but definitely loosen them beforehand. Make sure the wood of the body isn't damaged. If it is, speak to the shop about getting your money back.
You can strip the existing finish off, but it is HARD and I wouldn't really recommend it unless you have a particular reason to want to.
You can read about my experiences of that here: https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/my-lockdown-project-complete-guitar-content
Assuming the wood is OK, you can spray over the existing lacquer fairly easily, and a poly coat is fairly easy to achieve with rattle-cans.
The other option would be to buy a finished guitar body. Then just bolt all the pieces from one guitar to the other which is a quick job on a Strat. You'd have to solder the output jack on again but aside from that it's just using a screwdriver. The only compatibility thing to worry about (as far as I'm aware) is the bridge which will come in 2 or 6-bolt variants. You want the body to match the bridge you have.
https://reverb.com/uk/item/50642701-new-strat-stratocaster-style-guitar-body-in-miami-blue
That’s high slung like George harrison in Hambourg in 61 or Tom Morello. I prefer a bit lower so I can get my thumb over the top of the neck easier.
I will try various positions. I can't get my thumb over the top of the neck full stop so it won't make any difference there 🙂
I can’t get my thumb over the top of the neck full stop
Bet you can 😛
I spent years believing that my hands weren't big enough or flexible enough to do a thumb-over. But I was totally wrong - for me at least it was just a question of getting the hang of it and now it's how I play all the time.
Having said that, I'm now trying to force myself to go back to playing with the thumb at the back of the neck for faster licks.
Cheers robvalentine and Superficial. Daughter has the guitar at school so can't do pictures just now.
Really appreciate the help. I guessed it wasn't an easy fix, hence we got a 'deal' on the guitar. But I'll take a bit more of a look to check that it's not damaged beyond the lacquer.
Thanks again.
Folk will pay £10k for this, so I wouldn't worry about some cracked lacquer if it's purely cosmetic, and I absolutely wouldn't bother getting it refinished
I just re-read your post @andrewreay and as long as the wood is fine, one option is to do absolutely nothing. The lacquer is just cosmetic* so if it's not bothering your daughter then you can just leave it alone. You can fill various dings with nail polish too and I suppose that might stop any cracks from propagating (sometimes chunks of the finish can come off in chunks).
*Some people think the type/thickness of lacquer affects the tone, but this is contentious. If it does, it's very unlikely to be of the magnitude that you/your daughter will notice.
I sanded my bass guitar body down aged 16 and gave up because it was so difficult. I filled the dents with plastic wood, put it back together and played it like that for 20 years.
I finished stripping it and resprayed it with nitro guitar paint. Total cost -£50 ish. Total time- weeks off and on faffing about and redoing things that went badly.
I think I wiped several hundred off the resale value buy refinishing it. It's not a problem as I'm unlikely to sell it after owning it well over half my life.
My band mates thought it looked better as a partially sanded mess!
After all that work I put a decent dent it the front about a month after finishing it.
Given the time again I'd leave it and put the time into learning to play better!
Locking tuners arrived yesterday but couldn't fit them as I've had to do three extra shifts due to staff covid cases.
However today has seen me topload the Tele for no noticiblwcdifference In sound or feel.
The saddles are now higher, not certain if I like the feel of that on the heel of my hand or not. I'll give it a month or so before I make any decisions on whether to change back.
Took the opportunity to swap the Strat pickups back to the passive originals and I restrung the JTV59 and recharged the batteries.
All ready for jam night on Thursday.
What's everyone's playing / practise routine?
I always want to improve my playing. For no real reason other than I like learning and seeing an improvement in myself. I've been trying to push myself to do some semi-structured practise but keen to hear what other people are doing. I often sit down and learn songs / licks but usually I'll get distracted and just start noodling away over a four-chord loop. I'm definitely getting better at improv, timing, and moving up and down the fretboard this way, but not sure if it's the most productive thing overall.
I watch a lot of guitarists on Youtube (E.g. Paul Davids, Rhet Schull and my new favourite Eric Haugen) and I think all of them have their own lesson courses on Patreon. Does anyone have any experiences of these? Are they worth it? Are there better ways?
What's your practice routine?
What’s everyone’s playing / practise routine?
No real routine here. I'll pick a guitar up every day - probably several times - and maybe noodle around for a while. How much actual practice will depend on whether I'm just waiting for the kettle to boil or watching the whole of the Milan-San Remo with guitar in lap! If I'm fiddling for more than about 20 minutes, I'll start practising whatever I'm working on at that moment. (Currently, percussive fingerstyle, and flatpicked folk tunes in Open D, and noodly blues riffs in the same key.). I want to learn some proper classical stuff this year, and maybe buy my first ever electric guitar, which will need an alteration in thinking.
There's usually a tune or tunes I'm working on and that gets played first. Currently Echo Beach and Between the Wars. Then there are things I want to keep up to scratch because I'm likely to use them (but that hasn't been a factor in the last two years). Sometimes I turn on the radio or a TV music channel and play to whatever comes up. Or Youtube.
What’s everyone’s playing / practise routine?
Open Chromebook, click YouTube, ooo there's a guitar lesson for a song I like, I'll try and learn it.
Problem is, I usually spot a lesson for another song I want to learn before I've got very far with the previous one. The upshot of this is that I know lots of song intros and not much else!
I've just started a similar discussion with my guitar teacher. It's performing a piece of music that's my target and riffing on the guitar is just one aspect of it.
I know that when I go for a bike ride, or a windsurfing session, there's a completeness to it, not just a bit of aimless noodling, and therefore a sense of satisfaction. And crap technique (as long as it isn't so crap as to stop the session) doesn't mean that the ride wasn't satisfying. And carpentry: I'd rather finish a piece that's maybe got a couple of rough bits on the inside than just do lots of perfect dovetail joints that never get incorporated into anything finished.
So, whether we focus on recording some multi layered pieces, maybe my own stuff, or simply look at the balance between my voice ("er, you really need to be doing that in a different key John" or "why do you need to be so loud, you've left yourself nowhere to go") and the guitar bit; well I think I'll be getting something more out of it. And the fear of somebody saying "well give us a tune then" or "what are you doing there? It's been 2 years and I've never heard you play more than a few notes" might be less
I might point out that I tested positive yesterday and spent the whole day bingeing on Let It Be and McCartney 321 so that may have given me delusional ambition.
Well the day has finally come. After loving Strats for decades I now find myself picking up the Tele first and I think if I had to get rid of one it would be the Strat.
Simple yet versatile and doesn’t flatter your failings.
It’s basically the singlespeed of guitar.
Well the day has finally come. After loving Strats for decades I now find myself picking up the Tele first and I think if I had to get rid of one it would be the Strat.
Simple yet versatile and doesn’t flatter your failings.
It’s basically the singlespeed of guitar.
My new (old) Tele is lovely but if I had to choose just one of my guitars to keep it would be the Jap Strat I got from @chipps last year. It really is lovely to play. I'm going to have to get some lessons one day as quite frankly it is wasted on me!
https://youtube.com/shorts/IhEQOQ6eUZE?feature=share
It’s basically the singlespeed of guitar.
Surely that would be a single pickup Esquire/Les Paul Jr? If you've got two pickups, it's surely the Brompton of the guitar world, or the fixie with a flip flop hub... 😉
I've recently moved my homemade, single Filtertron, Cabronita to the front of the rack. It's a fun guitar (I went with a MASSIVE untapering neck) and for once, I actually use the volume and tone controls to get different sounds out of it. I used to have a Japanese, Edwards Les Paul Jr copy and loved it, but found I only ever played Clash songs on it... I've never fancied an Esquire for some reason (too much 'honesty' with the single coil, perhaps...), but a single P90 guitar really appeals...
I've always lusted after an early 60s, white SG Junior - but purely (and randomly) due to Jake E Lee playing one in Ozzy's 'Shot in the Dark' video... Now there's a throwback.
It’s basically the singlespeed of guitar.
Surely that would be a single pickup Esquire/Les Paul Jr?
Yeah, the singlespeed of the guitar world would have to be something that's highly specific and nerfed for 99% of people. Esquire makes sense IMHO.
A Strat is a good trail bike. Just kinda good for everything and on the right terrain it's perfect.
A Tele is a steel hardtail. A bit niche, a bit more traditional and simpler, but cool and a riot in use. Can be forced to do a bit of everything but it will struggle in some situations.
Dunno what a Les Paul would be? A DH bike? Great for what it's for but I wouldn't use it for everything.
Dunno what a Les Paul would be?
An all-steel Raleigh "racer" with a non-indexed Huret derailleur, the gear lever being the G-string machine head.
Rickenbacker 330 12 string. Lovely, but only ever used at L'Eroica.
The neverending search for sofware amp and pedal sims led me to these guys.
not heard of them before and not seen them mentioned here.
www.kuassa.com
I have to say I think thier stuff sounds pretty good and I really like the simple interface.
free demos versions available and a couple of freebies too.
have fun
Help me choose a Big Muff?
After a couple of years away from playing my old six string and moving to the dark side by learning the bass I’ve had a bit of a renaissance. I scored an American Performer Strat on the ‘Bay and am having great fun but I’m now feeding my pedal cravings. I’ve got a few Boss pedals (DS3, SD1 and a CS3 plus a digital delay) but I’ve got a hankering for a Big Muff. Now , I wanna play Gilmouresque lead, and so of course I’m looking at a Rams Head reissue. The fly in the ointment is that for the extra cost of a round of drinks I could get a Deluxe Big Muff. Reviews and demos suggest that the Rams Head is the sort of sound I’m after…. Smooth, full, balanced, with scooped mids and articulate attack. But. The Deluxe has a mids control plus a couple of extra options which would make it pretty versatile. Is the Deluxe as versatile as the reviews suggest?
For the record I’m playing the chain direct into the clean side of a Peavey Bandit Silver Stripe. So far I’ve got it sounding pretty good with Boss style Distortion or Overdrive but that fuzz edge is missing.
check out this blog if you have not seen it already.
https://www.gilmourish.com/?page_id=3389
try the EMG's set nice and low if you are using them i think it helps with the sustain and smooth sound, they are high output so no issues driving stuff
try the EMG’s set nice and low if you are using them i think it helps with the sustain and smooth sound, they are high output so no issues driving stuff
I did this with my EMGs. More than enough power and they do sound more Stratty that way. In the end I have swapped back to passive pickups, but am loathe to give up the actives completely just yet.
Wow, that blog is a rabbit-hole! I’ve decided I’ll get the Deluxe. A couple of demos show that it does all I want it to, and gives endless other possibilities for playing around. I can justify the twenty quid premium in my own head…..
I’m still enjoying the pups on the Performer so far, so no intentions of swapping them for EMGs just yet. 😀
Interestingly learning the bass has really accelerated my fretboard knowledge and playing speed, especially for rhythm playing. I also discovered that learning complex and fast bass lines has improved my tenacity to analyse and learn solos on the guitar. Whereas before I would get halfway through some of the longer stuff, lose patience and give up, I’ve somehow gained the Will to stick at it.
If you want the want the Mooer E-Lady flanger to go alongside it then I have one I'm selling cheap as I like the modulation pedals in the Kemper.
Replied.
If you want to read old music mags then this site has loads you can browse.
http://www.muzines.co.uk/
Does anyone hold any opinions on 7.25" (Fender) necks? In my continuing search for the 'One' (a Jazzmaster of some description), I am going to have a look at a Vintera 60's model (not the modified one). It looks great except possibly the traditional bridge (easily/cheaply swappable) and the 7.25" fretboard radius. I'm not a shreddy kind of player, but I think I want a guitar that will do a bit of everything.
I don't think I've ever played a 7.25" guitar, let alone owned one, but it's entirely possible I've done both over the years without realising.
If you want to read old music mags then this site has loads you can browse.
http://www.muzines.co.uk//blockquote >
Wow - a few titles there that take me back a bit..>!
i just ordered my first harley benton guitar one of these (and a gig bag for the grand sum of £348 inc delivery to uk) https://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_fusion_iii_hsh_roasted_fbb.htm
eta 9-12 weeks but i have wanted to get one of these for a long time (i didn't have any way of buying online until now).
if it's anything like as good as people say about them (and harley benton guitars in general) i will be well happy (well i will be anyhoo as new guitar day).
9-12 weeks plenty of time to start learning some guthrie govan,steve vai stuff (not).
That looks rather nice. I bought one of their £200 PRS copies a couple of years back and it's still spot on. OK, I changed the hummy P90s for noiseless, graphite nut and locking tuners but yours won't need those mods, it's up a level!
That Harley Benton ticks boxes that even up market Fenders don't have: stainless frets and a graphite nut. I've got the most basic Tele they do, the "standard series", the neck in particular is much better than you'd expect at the price or even five times the price.
Excellent call. Looking forward to seeing pics of it.