What should I mod or upgrade on my telecaster? I have been reading this thread and realized that I don't think I've really changed anything about my tele since I bought it like 17 years ago. I was starting a band and got a used thinline at Heart of Texas. I didn't have much money and never got into tinkering with upgrades or anything. Now I have some time to do stuff like that, but don't know jackshit about modding these things. I play acoustic most of the time as I have been working on a more folk-centric recording project for a while, and I use the tele mostly to add interesting textures and soft lead lines with the occasional twangy western lead line. I also work on ambient and drone music from time to time, but the tone is just fine for that.
I will say that there is a fair amount of noise when it isn't grounded by touching the strings, so I suspect something in the electronics should be rewired or shielded in some way. I've never even taken the pickguard off to look at the wiring. Around the tone knob, there is a crack that I believe was there when I got it but it has grown over time. I did buy a new pickguard a couple of years ago, but they sent the wrong one. After refunding me, I just forgot about it and never re-ordered it because I got busy or lazy or something.
Here is a track that shows some of what I do with it right now, just some chillaxed noodling with the neck pickup to give it a low-fi tapey sound that blends into a spacey folk vibe.
Obligatory fam portrait: