12 - 54 String Set on a Telecaster?

[TF]

My beloved Telecaster has had 10s or 9s on it since I bought it new in 2003. Now I'm thinking about trying a 12-54 set, with a wound third.

My fingers are up to it, because I play steel-string acoustic guitar with 12-54 strings every day. My question: will a typical modern Tele stand this gauge? My hope is for a low action setup, done by a professional.

Thanks to any Tele players who reply.

[AllanAllen]

I have 13s on mine. The nut will need to be adjusted and the truss rod might need a tweak. Structurally, the guitar was built do withstand string tension, it'll be fine.

[orri]

Just try it and see if it you like it.
Then change it back if you don't like it.

(I like normal 11s in my tele, and flatwound 12s in archtops, but that's just my preference, you should have yours (you're ofcourse welcome to share mine))

My question: will a typical modern Tele stand this gauge?

Yes

[alltunes]

11’s on my Danocaster since day one. And lately it is the D’Addario XS strings…fantastic they are.

[mr. beaumont]

I've used .012s on my tele, went back to .011s in the past few years, but the .012s definitely work.

I had to widen the nut slot slightly to accomodate the wound G. You may or may not need to do this...

[kris]

I have 16s GHS Pat Martino on my jazz Tele.

[Tal_175]

My strat had 15's on at one point. I generally use 12 or 13s on my Tele's.

[lammie200]

It's a Tele. You could put suspension bridge cables on it and it will be fine. I use 13-52 on mine. Stopped using a wound G though. I am liking the plain G.

[brm]

The guage should be fine. For added goodness try flatwounds. They sound great on a tele.

[TF]

Thanks for the great responses.

[sgosnell]

Heavier strings allow lower action without buzzing.

[kris]

Be careful with flatwound strings.

[mr. beaumont]

Be careful with flatwound strings.

Why do you say that?

[kris]

Why do you say that?

Sometimes the locking machines in the Telecaster can easily cut the STRINGs.
It happened to me several times/ I mean strings G D A E/.
Bridges with strings threaded through the body-strings breaks.
Now I have a Tele with a bridge where you can hook strings to it. It"s OK.
Standard machines are safe.

[Little Jay]

The guage should be fine. For added goodness try flatwounds. They sound great on a tele.

I second this! All my teles have flatwounds (and still have twang, btw).

[Cunamara]

Sometimes the locking machines in the Telecaster can easily cut the STRINGs.
It happened to me several times/ I mean strings G D A E/.
Bridges with strings threaded through the body-strings breaks.
Now I have a Tele with a bridge where you can hook strings to it. It"s OK.
Standard machines are safe.

I have vintage Kluson style tuners on all of my Fender-ish guitars and have never had this happen with flatwounds or roundwounds. I cut the string to length and poke it down the little hole in the center of the capstan so there isn't a sharp end sticking out. I have also not had a flatwound string break at the bridge.

I had one Tele with a top-stringer bridge and really liked that.

[lammie200]

All of my Teles are string-thru with locking tuners. I have never had the flatwound breaking issue. Not saying it can't happen. Just has never happened for me. BTW, this is for my next build/assembly. Not a Tele body shape, but Tele-esque. Hollow body mostly cedar front and back. Super light weight. Last piece I need to acquire is a neck. Probably be a Warmoth mahogany with a rosewood fretboard. '59 profile. I have that exact same neck on another Tele and really like it.