'54 Tele pickup too TREBLY

[paspallum]

Hi guys
I've had a Seymour Duncan '54 tele pickup for quite a few years now, I had it in a 60's (rosewood board) re-issue tele. The guitar sounded sweet 'un-plugged' but always a bit harsh plugged in. (eventually I found the 60's tele sounded better with the stock fender pickup it came with).

I now have the '54 P/up in a 50's repro Tele (maple board) that I put together myself using top notch parts including a lot of Calaham and Fender hardware. This guitar plays really well and has excellant tone un-plugged... but when I plug it in it is 'ice-pick-central'.

I have really good pots and wiring... when I turn down the tone pot until it is over half way off the tone becomes warm and harmonically balanced.

It is like the high frequencys just EAT up all the warm tone.

The guitar is clear and bright (as you would expect from a tele) but wind up any gain it turns to dischordant mush... however roll off the tone 75% and it sounds like a really great tele... even a bit like a Les Paul.

So you are thinking "He's found his fix...turn down the tone...what's the problem?"

Well it's not that simple... some of the 'good' zing and twang goes when you roll off the treble that much... plus the 'correct' setting is fickle to find and changes depending on if you want clean or distrortion.

Have any of you other guys found the Seymour Duncan '54 to 'shrill'?

I've heard the SD broadcaster is a warmer sounding P/up?

GFS have some nice alnico models that are suppose to sound fat and warm and still have nice 'twang'.

Any suggestions?

Paspallum

 

[Curly]

Re: '54 Tele pickup too TREBLY

I think if you look at the description of the '54, then you would expect it to be bright.
the broadcaster is somewhat bright too, but it has more output, so it should have more mids and more oomph.

However, I'd suggest taking a look at the cap value. If you have an .022, try a .05 cap. That would be the easiest, least expensive solution if it works for you.

If that doesn't do the trick, you may have to consider other pickups, such as a JD, which is warmer but still has a vintage tele tone.

 

[jeremy]

Re: '54 Tele pickup too TREBLY

teles can be bright and shrill, painful thru the wrong amp or settings. the '54 is a bright twangy pup. try the jd

 

[ES350]

Re: '54 Tele pickup too TREBLY

The JD is a great sounding pu and cured the icepick in my Teles (I hade been using Broadcasters, A IIs and a few other things).

 

[Fender_Punk]

Re: '54 Tele pickup too TREBLY

I think the V '54 sounds amazing, I find it really bright, but not harsh. I can take it off your hands and trade you a stock Strat bridge pup and my Tele bridge pup for it (also stock)??

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: '54 Tele pickup too TREBLY

Like Jeremy said: try the alnico 2 Jerry Donahue. Or for a few bucks more, alnico 2 Antiquity I Lead. I prefer alnico 2 Tele pickups: more mids and less of that steely twang that the Tele pickups made after '54 are known for.

 

[hamerfan]

Re: '54 Tele pickup too TREBLY

I would first check the volume - is it 250k? Than the strings pure nickels in 10 are great for tele. Than the tone to .05. Hope that helps