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Amazon Tele (Grote) w/ Successful Mods

Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2020 5:15 am
by Glazecaster
Hey Everyone, So after modding a 63 Hofner Galaxy 174, a few LP Juniors (original and Epiphones), and a few others.. I wanted to try one of these low end / cheap Tele’s from Amazon. I was close to grabbing the BadCat semi-hollow Tele, I ended up buying the Grote Semi Hollow Tele since it seemed like a challenge with the 'not so great' reviews. For $99 I received the guitar, immediately noticed the full Maple Body was a Laminate Top with a Maple flame print. I ordered Wilkinson Tuners with the guitar already knowing the factory ones were garbage, a Graph-Tech Nut, an Orange Cap, and both Aluminum & Copper tape. After replacing the tuners, Nut, a 3 Ply Pickgaurd, setting up the height and intonation via Truss. I noticed the hum, bright tone loss with volume lowered, great playability tho, I have a bunch of pick-ups lying around and before I did that, I copper taped the cavity’s, Wax Potted the pickups, re-wired and soldered everything w/ heavy gauge Stu Mac wiring. The hum was gone and the neck pick up sounded amazing, I replaced the bridge p/u with a Kent Armstrong and a Fralin and ended up putting a Alnico V pickup I had and the tones were actually insanely good, just added the Orange Drop Cap to keep the tones while dropping the vol knob. I also replaced the bridge plate with copper rollers on the stock bridge (better sustain, and intonation). In all, this costs less than $180 and a days work. I’d throw it against my RS Guitarworks CustomTele, and of my Fender Tele’s etc and might pick this $180 build out to use. In 5 years I may update you guys with a guitar that has all it wood and fake wood build peeling apart but, as it is now... I’m blown away.

Re: Amazon Tele (Grote) w/ Successful Mods

Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2020 9:05 am
by Beef
Very cool, sounds like a sweet project. Any pics or clips?

Re: Amazon Tele (Grote) w/ Successful Mods

Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2020 9:37 pm
by ajaxlepinski
Right on! It's amazing how some inexpensive guitars can be turned into a winner!

How were the frets? Any sharp edges? Did you have to tweak the trussrod?

Re: Amazon Tele (Grote) w/ Successful Mods

Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2020 2:05 pm
by itchyfingers
Turd polished! :lol:

It's kind of amazing what you can get for around $100 these days. Especially if you have some soldering and setup skills.

Re: Amazon Tele (Grote) w/ Successful Mods

Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2020 5:11 pm
by Ostinato Rubato
The name Grote just makes me think of Wayne from The Wonder Years.

Re: Amazon Tele (Grote) w/ Successful Mods

Posted: Sun Jan 10, 2021 7:28 pm
by G-Zod
It’s Grote to the max.