Telecaster Loaded Control Plate vs Wiring Harness: Which Upgrade Is Right for You?

A Telecaster harness contains the pre-assembled electronics without the control plate.

The harness can include the same core components:

• Potentiometers
• Selector switch
• Capacitor
• Wiring
• Solderless connectors
• Output connection

But you install those components into your existing control plate.

This makes electronics-only a particularly useful option if you already have a control plate you want to keep.

It can also be useful if your Telecaster has a custom control plate or a particular hardware configuration you don't want to replace.

Generally, a loaded control plate requires less mechanical installation work.

With a loaded plate, you're installing the complete control assembly.

With a wiring harness, you need to transfer the new electronics into the control plate.

That means removing and installing:

• Pots
• Selector switch
• Hardware
• Knobs

The difference isn't enormous for someone familiar with guitar electronics.

But for a first-time installation, a loaded control plate can be the more straightforward route.

Yes, when using a compatible solderless ObsidianWire system.

The solderless design separates the question of how the electronics are supplied from how the pickup connections are made.

So you can have:

Loaded control plate + solderless pickup connections

or:

Wiring harness + solderless pickup connections

In both cases, the electronics are professionally assembled before installation.

A loaded control plate is designed to make the installation as straightforward as possible.

You aren't starting with an empty control plate and transferring components from the old wiring.

The new assembly is already built.

Faster installation

You remove the existing control plate and install the new one.

That can reduce the amount of work involved in the upgrade.

New hardware

You also get a new control plate rather than continuing to use the original one.

This can be useful if your existing plate is:

• Scratched
• Corroded
• Bent
• Poorly finished
• The wrong specification
• Showing wear around the control holes

A complete visual upgrade

A loaded control plate changes both the electronics and the visible hardware.

That can make it particularly appealing for a guitar that's being refurbished or customised.

Fewer components to transfer

You don't need to remove the existing potentiometers and switch from your old control plate.

The replacement assembly is already prepared.

A bare wiring harness makes more sense when your existing control plate and hardware is worth keeping, and fits your new wiring.

Perhaps you already have a control plate that matches the guitar perfectly, or perhaps your Telecaster has a custom plate that isn't available as part of a loaded assembly.

In those situations, replacing the electronics while retaining the existing hardware can be the cleaner solution.

Keep your existing control plate

You can retain:

• Original finish
• Custom engraving
• Non-standard plate
• Aged hardware

while upgrading the electronics underneath.

More flexibility

The Tele Wiring Harness option also gives you more freedom over the physical appearance of the guitar.

You choose the plate.

The harness supplies the electronics.

Check the Fit

ObsidianWire Electronics for Telecaster use Fender spec pots, and spacing

• Hole Size: 9.52mm (3/8”)
• Control Hole Spacing: 63mm (2.48")
• Cavity Depth: Minimum 34.5mm (1.3”) // (30mm depth required around push/pull pots)
• Knob Size:  Solid Shaft 6.35mm (1/4") US SPEC
• Switch Tip: CRL/OAK type 1.32mm x 4.78mm (.052" x .188")