59 PAF Too Hot in very lightweight Thinline Tele?

[Harpo]

I'm building a Warmoth based Tele; thinline maple/alder body, canary neck, total weight loaded is 6.2lb. I'm happy with the Blues Sarasceno trembucker in the bridge position, but the 59 PAF in the neck is just too hot. It has as much or even more punch than the bridge!

I want a totally clean, open sound, and the 59 distorts with anything more than the most gentle picking. Height doesn't matter (only affects level, unless close enough to damp), wiring is standard 3-way/1vol/1tone, with no issues.

I'm baffled - any suggestions?

Thank you

 

[Masta' C]

Re: 59 PAF Too Hot in very lightweight Thinline Tele?

Height doesn't matter? So, you've tried lowering the neck and raising the bridge? Are you using a '59 neck model (they make both a neck and bridge version, with the bridge a bit hotter)?

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: 59 PAF Too Hot in very lightweight Thinline Tele?

Exchange or trade it for a Pearly Gates neck. I think that's the one you're looking for.

I find the 59n almost unusable for clean or dirty rhythm. It only performs really well at soloing.
The Pearly Gates neck does everything perfectly.

 

[Harpo]

Re: 59 PAF Too Hot in very lightweight Thinline Tele?

Height doesn't matter? So, you've tried lowering the neck and raising the bridge? Are you using a '59 neck model (they make both a neck and bridge version, with the bridge a bit hotter)?

Pickup height (pu to strings) doesn't matter until the pickup is close enough to significantly damp the strings. The '59 is definitely a "neck" version.

 

[Rockstar216]

Re: 59 PAF Too Hot in very lightweight Thinline Tele?

Pickup height (pu to strings) doesn't matter until the pickup is close enough to significantly damp the strings. The '59 is definitely a "bridge" version.

Are you saying even when the 59 is far away from the strings it's still too hot for you?

 

[Masta' C]

Re: 59 PAF Too Hot in very lightweight Thinline Tele?

Just to clarify...are you saying that pickup height doesn't matter in theory or because you've actually made the adjustment with the '59 and noticed no difference on your guitar?

If your '59 is truly a "bridge" version, then that's half your issue right there. Try the '59N or the Pearly Gates Neck as Gearjoneser suggested or step up to the Seth Lover or Antiquity models for a treat.

 

[Harpo]

Re: 59 PAF Too Hot in very lightweight Thinline Tele?

Just to clarify...are you saying that pickup height doesn't matter in theory or because you've actually made the adjustment with the '59 and noticed no difference on your guitar?

If your '59 is truly a "bridge" version, then that's half your issue right there. Try the '59N or the Pearly Gates Neck as Gearjoneser suggested or step up to the Seth Lover or Antiquity models for a treat.

I've actually made the pu height adjustment, it makes no real difference until string damping is drastic, then of course it sounds like crap.

Sorry, my mistake - the '59 is definitely a NECK version, I corrected my original post. Brain fade.

 

[jeremy]

Re: 59 PAF Too Hot in very lightweight Thinline Tele?

lower should have less output and if its distorting even when very low something else is going on. have you set it with the top of the pup flush with the top of the guitar?

 

[AlexR]

Re: 59 PAF Too Hot in very lightweight Thinline Tele?

I found neck humbuckers in a tele to be very full too. Moving it down until it can go no further would be a start.

 

[Mr. B]

Re: 59 PAF Too Hot in very lightweight Thinline Tele?

Turn the gain down on your amp...

Seriously though, I've played the 59n for years and I've never thought of it as a hot pickup. It can be a little boomy/muddy in some necks. What are you running it through?

If I wanted something cleaner, I guess I would go with a Jazz or Seth Lover, or better yet, a new pickguard and a single coil.

 

[DreX]

Re: 59 PAF Too Hot in very lightweight Thinline Tele?

I just put Dimarzio EJ customs in a Tele, it's a pretty awesome pairing. Not crazy bright, just extremely clear and still 100% humbucker in terms of voicing. It really sounds and feels like a humbucker made for Teles, though it was not. I'd really like to know how it compares to the Jazz. I have to admit the Jazz turns me off just because of the name being suggestive of a particular genre I don't associate with at all.

 

[LtKojak]

Re: 59 PAF Too Hot in very lightweight Thinline Tele?

An A3 '59n is an ideal p'up for a Tele... just sayin'!