How to Repair a '72 Telecaster Thinline Pickup

The '72 Telecaster Thinline has two Wide Range humbucking pickups. Humbucking pickups were designed to eliminate the hum that comes from single-coil pickups. They have two coils that are opposite polarity, which reduces the hum and interference. Humbucking pickups have a higher output than single-coil pickups, which gives the '72 Telecaster Thinline a higher gain output than traditional, solid-body, single-coil models. It's smart to troubleshoot the pickups and wiring if you experience a dip in volume or tone.

• 1

  Identify the problem pickup. Your '72 Telecaster has two pickups and it is very unlikely that they will both require repair at exactly the same time. Plug in the guitar and turn the volume up to full. Toggle the pickup selector down so that it engages the bridge pickup. Hit a chord and let it ring out, listen out for the decay time. If the note dies off quickly or there is interference, this could be the problem pick up. Toggle the selector switch to the top position to engage the neck pick up and repeat. If either pickup is distinctly quieter than the other, that is the likely problem pickup. If either pickup exhibits crackling or a noticeable drop in decay, that is the problem pickup.

• 2

  Troubleshoot the pickup. Before you go the effort of removing and rewiring your pickup, check to see if it has sunk. When the screws at either side of the pickup become loose, the pickup can sink into the cavity. This increased distance between pickup and strings can cause a severe dip in output. Tighten the two screws either side of the pickup to raise it close to the strings. Then test to see if this improves the output.

• 3

  Unscrew the covers on the back of your Telecaster. One cover protects the three-way pickup selector switch and the other protects the volume and dial potentiometers. Inspect the wiring for loose connections and also remove any dirt with a dry cloth. Melt any loose connections with a soldering iron and then reattach the connection. When the solder is dry, spray in some plastic-safe contact cleaner. Toggle the switch and turn the dials to distribute the cleaner.

• 4

  Remove the strings and unscrew the pickup. Gently pull the pickup out of the cavity and then melt the solder connections to detach the wiring. Remove the chrome cover of the pickup and then inspect the interior. Gently lift the ribbon away from the pickup and clean underneath with a dry cloth. If the coils are loose, melt the solder and remove the coil. Then manually rewind it so that it is as tight as possible, then solder it back in place.

• 5

  Reconnect the pickup wiring with your soldering iron and screw the pickup back in place. Put on a new set of strings and test the guitar. The rewound coil should give the guitar a distinctly louder output.