Fender Player Telecaster® (Polar White)

Preamble
Now that the made-in-Mexico Standard Series has been phased out, Fender's introduced the "Player Series" (also MIM). For today's post, we'll take a look at a Polar White Fender Player Telecaster with a Pau Ferro fretboard (#0145213515). It's come in for a switch to 10s and setup. Before we take a look at some specs (courtesy of Fender and Swee Lee); do check out this Dawsons Music YouTube Review of a similar Fender Player Series Telecaster PF (albeit in 3-Color-Sunburst).

Body
Body Material: Alder
Body Color: Polar White
Body Finish: Gloss Polyester
Body Shape: Telecaster®

Neck
Neck Material: Maple
Neck Finish: Satin Urethane
Neck Shape: Modern "C"
Scale Length: 25.5" (648 mm)
Fretboard Material: Pau Ferro
Fretboard Radius: 9.5" (241 mm)
Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo
Nut Material: Synthetic Bone
Nut Width: 1.650" (42 mm)
Position Inlays: White Dot
Truss Rod: Standard Truss Rod Nut, 3/16" Hex Adjustment

Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Player Series Alnico 5 Tele® Single-Coil
Neck Pickup: Player Series Alnico 5 Tele Single-Coil
Controls: CTS 250K Master Volume, CTS 250K Master Tone
Tone Capacitor: 0.02uF/Ceramic
Selector Switch: Oak Grigsby Three-Position Blade
Output Jack: Generic Mono Open Frame
Jack Mounting: Metal Retainer Clip/Recessed Metal Cup
Shielding: Conductive Shielding Paint

Hardware
Bridge: Six-Saddle String-Through-Body Tele® with Block Steel Saddles
Hardware Finish: Nickel/Chrome
Tuning Machines: Standard Cast/Sealed
Pickguard: Three-Ply Parchment
Control Knobs: Knurled Flat-Top
Switch Tip: Barrel Style
Neck Plate: Four-Bolt "F" Stamped

Squier California Series Strat Upgrade | Part 8

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Finishing Touches

The upgrade job on Blackie is nearing completion. These are the completed mods at the time of writing:

• Aluminum foil shielding
• CTS 250K pots
• Oak Grigsby 5-way selector switch
• 0.022µF and 0.047µF capacitors
• Fender Tex-Mex pickups
• Switchcraft #11 output jack
• Ground lug from volume pot to body cavity shielding
• Vaughan-Wacker Strat Wiring Mod
• Five tremolo springs
• Wooden tremolo block

The Vaughan-Wacker Strat Wiring Mod incorporates two wiring schemes: the Fender Jimmie Vaughan Stratocaster and "Gibson ‘50s wiring on a Stratocaster," the brainchild of guitar guru Dirk Wacker. By the way, I'm going with a .022µF cap for the neck pup tone pot and a .047µF cap for the bridge pup tone pot. Now, on to the pics.

Vaughan-Wacker Strat Wiring Mod

Pots and Switch Wired In

Closer view of the switch and pots.

After wiring in the pickups.

Fender Tex-Mex Pickups

Closer view of the pickguard wiring.

Wiring Completed

Five springs and a wooden tremolo block.

Awaiting Aged White Fender knobs

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Squier California Series Strat Upgrade | Part 6

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Part 6 | 7 | 8 | 9

Replacement Parts

Many thanks to YusTech for his invaluable advice concerning the appropriate replacement parts for the Squier. Muchas gracias to Mei Ling and Kenny of Bentley Music, as well as PosLaju; for making it happen. Oh yes, a big fat thanks for nothing to the two major guitar stores in Kuantan. Isn't it time you guys stocked what players really need instead of what you THINK we need?

Parts Have Arrived

Fender Tex-Mex Pickups

Switchcraft #11 Mono Output Jack

Oak Grigsby Five-Way Switch

CTS 250K Potentiometer

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