72 Tele Custom with humbuckers
- Thread starter Jackylope
- Start date
JeffB
Let it B
Re: 72 Tele Custom with humbuckers
I love these guitars. I have been threatening to buy one for years. Or for my first warmoth build. Ive played an original, as well as the mim reissues, and while the original wr buckers are bright and have their own thing going on, they still dont sound like a classic tele. The new models sound much different. Some folks put in 1 meg pots like the originals to help.
Either way, Id use normal humbuckers if I built/bought one.
I love these guitars. I have been threatening to buy one for years. Or for my first warmoth build. Ive played an original, as well as the mim reissues, and while the original wr buckers are bright and have their own thing going on, they still dont sound like a classic tele. The new models sound much different. Some folks put in 1 meg pots like the originals to help.
Either way, Id use normal humbuckers if I built/bought one.
F
Funkfingers
Guest
Re: 72 Tele Custom with humbuckers
IMO, the Fender Wide Range humbucker had a distinct sound all of its own. You either want it badly enough to pay to get it or you have to manage without. Something about the materials and construction seems to be impossible to recreate by any other means.
I have tried a few of the Fender AVRI '72 recreations. To my ears, neither pickup sounds period correct.
Lollar in the USA and The Creamery in the UK are having a good go at copping the tone and dynamics of the FWR humbucker but they are only 85% of the way there. I have not tried the SD Custom Shop interpretation of the original pickup.
IMO, the Fender Wide Range humbucker had a distinct sound all of its own. You either want it badly enough to pay to get it or you have to manage without. Something about the materials and construction seems to be impossible to recreate by any other means.
I have tried a few of the Fender AVRI '72 recreations. To my ears, neither pickup sounds period correct.
Lollar in the USA and The Creamery in the UK are having a good go at copping the tone and dynamics of the FWR humbucker but they are only 85% of the way there. I have not tried the SD Custom Shop interpretation of the original pickup.
Jackylope
New member
Re: 72 Tele Custom with humbuckers
Get out of my head :friday: I love the LP-like volume and tone controls on a Fender (which am sure really any build could be made with), and all the vids I've watched of originals sound really great and unique, but yeah... not loving the reissues. Am seriously thinking about a Warmoth using this body, but with hums. Like your sig says, it's a piece of wood - making it sound good is up to the player.
This.
Get out of my head :friday: I love the LP-like volume and tone controls on a Fender (which am sure really any build could be made with), and all the vids I've watched of originals sound really great and unique, but yeah... not loving the reissues. Am seriously thinking about a Warmoth using this body, but with hums. Like your sig says, it's a piece of wood - making it sound good is up to the player.
This.
JeffB
Let it B
Re: 72 Tele Custom with humbuckers
Actually I like the reissue just fine, I don't think the new pickups sound bad per-se, they just sound more like standard buckers and not real WR style. Hell if it was THE right RI, I may not feel the need to swap out pickups. I've enjoyed the ones I played though I did not mess with them through my own rig.
But yeah..Fiesta Red...all maple neck, white guard, black hardware, black buckers, and black witch-hats- that is my dream 72 Custom.
Actually I like the reissue just fine, I don't think the new pickups sound bad per-se, they just sound more like standard buckers and not real WR style. Hell if it was THE right RI, I may not feel the need to swap out pickups. I've enjoyed the ones I played though I did not mess with them through my own rig.
But yeah..Fiesta Red...all maple neck, white guard, black hardware, black buckers, and black witch-hats- that is my dream 72 Custom.
Jackylope
New member
Re: 72 Tele Custom with humbuckers
What I had in mind is very close... sunset orange (Warmoth finish) alder body, roasted maple 10-16 neck with ebony fretboard and 6130s, black/red SDs, white pearl pickguard with gold hardware and bridge. I know the all-maple with the larger frets is the signature Fender, but have been a Gibson guy most of my life... seems an intriguing hybrid between the two, and would be just a killer blues machine. Have wanted a goldtop with P90s for so long I can't remember, but lately I think I like this idea more, the sonics just sound more up my alley. In fact, the more I think about it, the more I want it.
What I had in mind is very close... sunset orange (Warmoth finish) alder body, roasted maple 10-16 neck with ebony fretboard and 6130s, black/red SDs, white pearl pickguard with gold hardware and bridge. I know the all-maple with the larger frets is the signature Fender, but have been a Gibson guy most of my life... seems an intriguing hybrid between the two, and would be just a killer blues machine. Have wanted a goldtop with P90s for so long I can't remember, but lately I think I like this idea more, the sonics just sound more up my alley. In fact, the more I think about it, the more I want it.
Boogie Bill
New member
Re: 72 Tele Custom with humbuckers
I always liked the Custom. I had the original Thinline with Tele pickups and looked at getting a Custom after the Thinline was stolen. But....the Custom was always an "in-between" guitar...neither Fender or Gibson, and that caused some problems for me. Eventually I discovered the Music Man Sabre II, and that guitar was far more versatile than the Custom. It COULD twang like a Tele and still get 2HB woman-tone, combining the best of Fender and Gibson traits.
My ASAT Deluxe is another 2HB tele. Mine has Leo's DF Vibrato, making it a rare bird. It has the '59/TB-4 pickups, 25.5" scale, 12" radius board with medium-jumbo frets. A coil-tap adds versatility. Again, neither really Fender or Gibson...but a little bit of both, and some unique tones of its own. Take a look at the ASAT Deluxe.
Bill
I always liked the Custom. I had the original Thinline with Tele pickups and looked at getting a Custom after the Thinline was stolen. But....the Custom was always an "in-between" guitar...neither Fender or Gibson, and that caused some problems for me. Eventually I discovered the Music Man Sabre II, and that guitar was far more versatile than the Custom. It COULD twang like a Tele and still get 2HB woman-tone, combining the best of Fender and Gibson traits.
My ASAT Deluxe is another 2HB tele. Mine has Leo's DF Vibrato, making it a rare bird. It has the '59/TB-4 pickups, 25.5" scale, 12" radius board with medium-jumbo frets. A coil-tap adds versatility. Again, neither really Fender or Gibson...but a little bit of both, and some unique tones of its own. Take a look at the ASAT Deluxe.
Bill
Powdered Toast Man
New member
Re: 72 Tele Custom with humbuckers
The problem with reissuing the pickups is the magnets are no longer available. The original WRHB was made with ConIfe magnets and they're apparently now extremely rare. There's aftermarket options that come close but the only one I know of who made a true repro is Telenator. They were able to score a small supply of conife magnets but they were limited and extremely expensive ($400 per pickup).
The problem with reissuing the pickups is the magnets are no longer available. The original WRHB was made with ConIfe magnets and they're apparently now extremely rare. There's aftermarket options that come close but the only one I know of who made a true repro is Telenator. They were able to score a small supply of conife magnets but they were limited and extremely expensive ($400 per pickup).
regan
New member
Re: 72 Tele Custom with humbuckers
Or that the polepieces were actually the magnets in WRHB's,
Or that the polepieces were actually the magnets in WRHB's,
Powdered Toast Man
New member
Re: 72 Tele Custom with humbuckers
Yes, and this is where some of the repros attempt to use Alnico slugs as pole pieces to come close to the original tone. Apparently they're pretty good, but if you want true WRHB pickups they have to be conife slugs.
Yes, and this is where some of the repros attempt to use Alnico slugs as pole pieces to come close to the original tone. Apparently they're pretty good, but if you want true WRHB pickups they have to be conife slugs.
Re: 72 Tele Custom with humbuckers
Yep, the CuNiFe was the key.
Telenator has 2 options for the WRHB with degrees of the right threaded polepieces.
For those who have never actually owned a real WRHB guitar to compare it with, the other clones that get most of the way there are generally good enough.
Yep, the CuNiFe was the key.
Telenator has 2 options for the WRHB with degrees of the right threaded polepieces.
For those who have never actually owned a real WRHB guitar to compare it with, the other clones that get most of the way there are generally good enough.