Keefs fave..............

eSGEe

eSGEe

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A Blackguard Named Micawber: Keith Richards’ No. 1 Fender Telecaster

Telecaster_ffnxdw.jpg


Humbucker neck turned backwards ---5 strings---- whats NOT to like
 
I remember that when the guitar show was on in the National Museum in Dublin in 2006 they had one of Keef's custom guitars, a Rick 330 style in leopard finish with five strings. The fascinating thing about it (if I remember correctly) was that the neck looked like normal width (around 43mm) and the strings were spaced right across the neck. The Tele style bridge had only five saddles with wider spacing that matched the neck but didn't appear to be a cut down version. :confused: Perhaps SG John can confirm? (I'm getting old and infirm and my memory's not what it was!:unsure:)
I would think the wider spacing makes the 5-string open G tuning easier once you get used to it.
 
I remember reading in the book "Up & Down with the Rolling Stones" by Tony Sanchez (who worked for Keef for 10 yrs, keeping him supplied with "substances") about Keef having customs made. That was his reason for having them made, the "equal spacing" of the 5 strings across the neck.
I remember years ago trying to get stones songs down & knowing that I wasn't getting them right. Even when I realised it was open G tuning, songs like "Start Me Up" I just couldn't quite get right. When I found out he removed the low E string (D in open G) it was like BAM, all fell into place. I've kept an open G five string guitar ever since. Actually a banjo tuning. Cheers
 
So...I have a Tele with a small neck and as many Fender guitars seem prone to do the high e slips off the fret at times.

Could I do this 5 string thing eliminating the low E and moving all the other strings up a notch or is there some reason
this won't work? I'm no luthier...
 
Cut a custom nut---- and I dont see why not----WTF does it cost to try it----you might be VERY pleasantly surprised.

I just removed the low E and tuned to open G and ---there ya go............instant KEEF-ish tones. Probably one of the cheapest (free) and fun "mods" I have ever tried.
 
eSGEe said:
Cut a custom nut---- and I dont see why not----WTF does it cost to try it----you might be VERY pleasantly surprised.

I just removed the low E and tuned to open G and ---there ya go............instant KEEF-ish tones. Probably one of the cheapest (free) and fun "mods" I have ever tried.
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Hell yea! I have at least three spare Fender nuts lying around and I've always wanted to try my hand at installing and filing one!
 
Sp8ctre said:
So...I have a Tele with a small neck and as many Fender guitars seem prone to do the high e slips off the fret at times.

Could I do this 5 string thing eliminating the low E and moving all the other strings up a notch or is there some reason
this won't work? I'm no luthier...
Click to expand...
Your strings would be at an angle from the bridge trajectory. This may create some intonation issues, which can likely be compensated for. It may also cause some binding at the nut and/or slipping at the bridge. It can be done, but I would not shift things too much
 
RVA said:
Your strings would be at an angle from the bridge trajectory. This may create some intonation issues, which can likely be compensated for. It may also cause some binding at the nut and/or slipping at the bridge. It can be done, but I would not shift things too much
Click to expand...

Can I just use the standard cut and move all the strings up leaving the high "e" missing and the other strings tuned G D G B D and throw out the largest gauge low "E' string?
 
I guess.....the low E is the one removed by "the man" himself....but hell experiment....see what you like best
 
Sp8ctre said:
Can I just use the standard cut and move all the strings up leaving the high "e" missing and the other strings tuned G D G B D and throw out the largest gauge low "E' string?
Click to expand...
That seems very reasonable, especially if you do the custom nut to accommodate the proper strings. I would be interested to see how it feels after going from a normally strung guitar, instinctual speaking
 
RVA said:
That seems very reasonable, especially if you do the custom nut to accommodate the proper strings. I would be interested to see how it feels after going from a normally strung guitar, instinctual speaking
Click to expand...

Yea, I might have a hard time wrapping my mind around that. It could throw me off for sure. I'll mull it over while I try the easy way first.
 
I move between many guitars----with not always the same string spacings or neck widths --sometimes within minutes of one another-.......bass (4 and 5 strings--thanks RVA) and 6 string.....I know others moving between bass 6 string 12 string --- mandolin--- uke and banjo etc....-- your style adapts....you adjust typically after just a minute or two --- miss a note or three and your hand adjusts...its not the end of the world :) Its a challenge and sometimes even fun.
 
Sp8ctre said:
What guage strings would be best for this? .009's or .010's
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I use 10-46 EB slinky's (46 removed) but Keef uses a custom set, 11, 15, 18, 30, 42. Removing the low E & moving all remaining strings up would work just fine. Having that low E (D) removed lets you just hack away at it the way Keef does. As eSGe said, instant Keef tones. Cheers
 
yup---what he said ;)

this reminds me I am currently surrounded by NO telecasters...........hhhhmmmmm
 
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