Another CV Tele acquisition....

[duhvoodooman]

Just over a year ago, I picked up a used Classic Vibe '50s Tele and have really enjoyed this great and amazingly cheap guitar. As described HERE, I changed the neck pickup to a mini-humbucker and put on a different pickguard, then tuned it to open G. I've enjoyed playing it that way ever since--great for many classic Stones tunes, much of the Black Crowes catalog, and for fooling around with slide (even if I am MISERABLE at it!).

Anyway, I decided that I really needed a second Tele with the classic single coil pickup setup to leave in standard tuning. So what better to get than another CV Tele, this time a Custom with the snazzy bound sunburst body and rosewood neck? I checked in with my favorite music store--same place I bought the CV '50s--but they didn't have one in stock. But while poking around on eBay this weekend, I came across a practically new CV Tele Custom from a very solid looking seller at a fair price (esp. considering it was free shipping!). The auction was set up as BIN, so after considering it overnight, I jumped on it yesterday. The guy is only down in NJ, so am hoping to have it later this week.

Coupla pics off the 'Bay:

 

[Tig]

Sweet guitar! :thumbsup

You guys continue to make me sick (GAS) with these CV Tele's. Stoooooop!

 

[sunvalleylaw]

Nice! I love mine. I am curious how you compare yours once you have it.

Since we are talking about adding teles, Derek (my son) likes my tele, but wants a 'bucker or similar. And he likes the light feel and sound of my buddy's Rickenbacker semi triple. So I am considering finding either a CV Thinline or Squier Vintage Modified thinline http://www.squierguitars.com/products/search.php?partno=0301240544 to mod with TV jones pups like that cool Twang King Jim reviewed. What do you think of that project? I will of course have to see how they are routed to see if it will work.

 

[duhvoodooman]

Will do. Love the looks of this guitar. The only thing I don't particularly care for is the mint pickguard--already have a white MoP on order from GFS. And I'll replace the stock 3-way switch with a 4-way, to be able to add the neck/bridge-in-series combo.

 

[sunvalleylaw]

White mother of pearl will look sweet. I had that same thought in mine when I got it, or maybe a tort guard. But I have gotten used to the mint, and am in no hurry to change it out at this point.

 

[oldguy]

Congrats, Vood.
I think you'll love that guitar. I bought a new one at the local music store awhile back and I'm really liking it.
The neck was a bit thinner and the radius flatter than my '52 FrankenTele, but I adjusted to that pretty quickly.
IMO the stock pickups are fine sounding and it plays great. I intended to stay with the 9's that came on it but I gave in and switched to 10's.

I think the MOP pickguard will look nice. I've gotten used to mine as is, I guess. I can't think of anything I really want to change.

You and Steve may notice one thing if yours are like mine. Everyone who's played mine so far has asked the same question.
" Is it hard for you to see the dots on the side of the neck ? " LOL

I think you'll like that guitar. I'm nearly playing Tele's exclusively these days, with my Agile LP thrown in occasionally for rock.

 

[Perfect Stranger]

Congrats! :thumbsup I have that guitar and love it...

 

[ZMAN]

Will do. Love the looks of this guitar. The only thing I don't particularly care for is the mint pickguard--already have a white MoP on order from GFS. And I'll replace the stock 3-way switch with a 4-way, to be able to add the neck/bridge-in-series combo.

Each to his own, but I really like the mint guard on the 3 color burst. Also what bucker did you use on the 50s that you modded? I am thinking of something along those lines for my CV Custom.

 

[duhvoodooman]

Also what bucker did you use on the 50s that you modded?

THIS ONE.

 

[guitarhack]

Beatiful guitars. Saving up my cash for one now.

 

[duhvoodooman]

Lookee what I found on my front porch....

Checked the FedEx tracking site and found that they had delivered the guitar at 9:20 AM--left the box on the front porch. Unfortunately, nobody was home and wouldn't be for several hours, so I took a quick trip home (I only live about 7 miles from where I work, suburban/rural roads) and picked it up. Glad I did, because there it sat on my front porch, facing right at the street, in a Gibson box!! Great big Gibson logo on it that you could read from about the length of a football field away. :thwap Now, I live in a pretty safe neighborhood, but that's practically like posting a "Steal Me!" sign on it.

Haven't been able to plug it in, but I did unbox it during my lunch hour. Arrived in good shape, though the input jack nut had come loose and the jack cup had fallen out in the box--2 minute fix. The guy said "practically brand new", and he wasn't kidding--in great shape, except for a single rather bad scratch that is fortunately in the black area of the sunburst right next to the binding, adjacent to the control plate. I just blackened it with a Sharpie for the moment and can do a more permanent repair later. Seems to be set up pretty well, except the intonation needs adjustment. First couple of photos:

 

[tjcurtin1]

I see yellow pickguard and white pickguard - no green pickguard! But what I really want is to hear how you like it compared to the CV 50....!

 

[duhvoodooman]

I see yellow pickguard and white pickguard - no green pickguard!

Welcome to the wonderful world of bad digital photography. The yellow-looking one is closer to the real thing--the indoor lighting makes it a little yellower than it really is. The white looking one is just color washout from the camera flash.

But what I really want is to hear how you like it compared to the CV 50....!

Me, too! Won't be able to tell you that until I can plug it in at home tonight, when I get home from work....

 

[duhvoodooman]

New white pearloid pickguard, new pics:

 

[sunvalleylaw]

Looks pretty! Is it all set up now? Did you plug in and play?

 

[Tig]

I like the pick guard. The original was fine, but this makes it more unique and personalized.
:AOK

 

[tjcurtin1]

I've got to agree - the perloid really perks it up - as nice as that model looks already.

 

[duhvoodooman]

Looks pretty! Is it all set up now? Did you plug in and play?

Yes, of course. A real twang machine, as I expected from the CV Tele Custom I'd played several months back. Both pickups are very articulate and typical Tele in tone. I have to roll back on the treble when playing it clean on the bridge pickup, but I really like the tone with some overdrive added. The setup is quite good--possibly the lowest action of any guitar I own, but I've noticed just a tiny bit of buzz a couple of times, so I may adjust it slightly. The intonation definitely needs optimizing, but I just haven't gotten to that yet.

Received the 4-way switch I ordered to be able to add the B-N-in-series pickup combo, but I'm NOT satisfied with what I received. The eBay page specifically said it was a Fender Custom Shop part, but what I received was not in Fender packaging, had no part number sticker on it, and does not exactly match photos of the Fender CS switch that I've seen. I suspect a bait & switch with a cheap Chinese knockoff part. The eBay seller will hear from me today....

 

[riverrick]

Congrats Voodoo. It's a great guitar for the price. I love mine. I put a tortise shell pickguard on mine looks cool!!! Enjoy your new axe.

 

[Tig]

Congrats Voodoo. It's a great guitar for the price. I love mine. I put a tortise shell pickguard on mine looks cool!!! Enjoy your new axe.

I was thinking a tortoise pickguard might work.
Pictures?

 

[duhvoodooman]

....I put a tortise shell pickguard on mine looks cool!!!

I considered that but decided it would look too much like my CV '60s Strat:

 

[marnold]

Two words: diamond plate

Anyway, congrats on the new guitar! Truth be told, I'd prefer no pickguard at all.