Advice on pickups for a Telecaster

[Johnny Nightslayer]

Re: Advice on pickups for a Telecaster

Thanks Lew!
I've decided on an APH-1b, hopefully with a nickel cover. Looks like it is going to cost about 80$. I think I'll order it from you're site, Lew.

I'll go with one of the bridges on ebay, should be around 30$. I'm staying with the same silver color.

I'm also going to get a pearl pickguard. I think the pearl would go well with the Tele's brown sunburst.

Any ideas how much it would cost for someone to install the new bridge and HB? I'm going to contact the guy that my friend knows, and I'll check at the local music store this weekend.

I may change the neck pup eventually too, but I'll stick with the bridge at first and see how I like it.

Thanks again for everyones help.

 

[Johnny Nightslayer]

Re: Advice on pickups for a Telecaster

I just heard back from SD, and yes, Slash does use stock APH-1s, not a custom shop
version.

It will be a little while before I can afford the APH-1, Bridge and pickguard, but hopefully in a few weeks I'll be able to buy them.

Are there any other items that I need to buy that I may have overlooked?

This is probably a dumb question, but does the bridge quality affect tone? I was reading about it and I was not sure...

I took apart my old Squier Bullet tonight. It helped me understand wiring and such a bit better. I'm thinking about modding the Squier too, although even a single SD pickup will cost as much as I got the guitar for...lol

 

[thucydides]

Re: Advice on pickups for a Telecaster

I see by your comments re the Squier that you are catching the 'mod bug' haha!

As far as the bridge, I've always felt that as long as it was a solid piece of hardware, it would do. I have seen some flimsy bridges on cheap gtrs. As your research may have indicated, though, people have different thoughts re bridges, as opposed to my rather casual approach...

 

[Johnny Nightslayer]

Re: Advice on pickups for a Telecaster

Hehe, I've definitely caught the 'mod bug'. It's been a dream of mine for a while now, to learn how to hand craft and build my own guitars. Then I would start a small guitar shop. Maybe someday

I'm looking at this bridge: http://cgi.ebay.com/TELECASTER-FAT-...ryZ41407QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

And this one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/SUSTAIN-Black-B...ageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem?_trksid=p1638.m118

I'll keep researching too.

I think after I get the Tele finished, I'll try to mod the Squier just for practice. I don't want to do the Tele myself, but if I mess up real bad on the Squier its not too much of a problem.

 

[Johnny Nightslayer]

Re: Advice on pickups for a Telecaster

I've decided on a bridge and pickguard, found them both on ebay from GFS.

Its going to be 30$ for both items...which I am happy about. That just leaves 95$ for a nickel plated APH-1. The new pickguard is cut for a HB so if I decide to add a neck HB I can use the new pickguard.
I'm thinking about getting new knobs too..Just for some coolness factor.
Its got a brown sunburst body, so I decided to have chrome hardware, and the pearl pickguard. Hopefully it will look as nice as I imagine it to.

 

[Johnny Nightslayer]

Re: Advice on pickups for a Telecaster

I ask for one final piece of advice. I'd been trying to decide on a Humbucker for the neck. I was debating about just the APH-1 neck model.

And then I stumbled on this guy: http://cgi.ebay.com/GFS-Dream-180-F...hZ008QQcategoryZ22670QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem

What would you think of the APH-1 in the bridge and the GFS dream 180 in the neck? I'm not exactly sure what the GFS would sound like. I may just buy it and find out. I can always swap it for an APH-1n later...

I have a feeling I'm going to be experimenting with lots of different pickups on different guitars for a long time.

If you listen to Slash's solos in the GnR song "Estranged", that is really close to the tone I'm after.

 

[thucydides]

Re: Advice on pickups for a Telecaster

No idea re that pup. I'm not even sure what the filtertron sound is...

 

[Jocelyn]

Re: Advice on pickups for a Telecaster

I ask for one final piece of advice. I'd been trying to decide on a Humbucker for the neck. I was debating about just the APH-1 neck model.

And then I stumbled on this guy: http://cgi.ebay.com/GFS-Dream-180-F...hZ008QQcategoryZ22670QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem

What would you think of the APH-1 in the bridge and the GFS dream 180 in the neck? I'm not exactly sure what the GFS would sound like. I may just buy it and find out. I can always swap it for an APH-1n later...

I have a feeling I'm going to be experimenting with lots of different pickups on different guitars for a long time.

If you listen to Slash's solos in the GnR song "Estranged", that is really close to the tone I'm after.

Ahh the "ESTRANGED" tone honestly when I think GNR that is one of the first things that comes to my mind. I would go for APH1 thouguh I am realy sure if Slash used the APH1 back then. I would still go for the APH1 if thats the tone you are looking at. It would not get you the tone but take you close to that. Even the PG set would sound nice.

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: Advice on pickups for a Telecaster

I don't know if its possible, but I'd love to get a tone similar to Slash's from my Telecaster. I'm not saying I want to sound like Slash, I just mean in the ball park of that kind of tone. I'm not sure if this is what you would call it, but to me its a warm tone with screaming highs. I know Slash uses APH-1s? I don't think those would work in a telecaster though, I would have to cut the body to make them fit?

I was looking at the 59er humbucker for the bridge, and I'm not sure about the neck, maybe the Alnico II Pro rhythm. I have no idea if this would get me the right tone though. I did listen to the audio samples and liked those two as opposed to others.

Anyway, many thanks to any help or advice.

-John

Slash's tone is APH humbuckers and a Les Paul (mahogany body and neck, rosewood fretboard, tune-o-matic stop tailpiece, etc). I don't think your Tele can get there perfectly, but with a couple Alnico II Pro Staggered single coils you might. Have you ever played a Lite Ash Telecaster? That guitar already comes with those pickups: I'd recommend playing one, to see if it's what you want first.

 

[Johnny Nightslayer]

Re: Advice on pickups for a Telecaster

Thanks for the replies.
Hehe yeah, I think that "Estranged" is my favorite GnR song, although they have a lot of really good ones.
I believe Slash has been using APH-1s since Appetite but I could be wrong.
I'm thinking its good if the tone isn't the same. I'm not trying to replicate the tone, just get really close to it and add my preferences to make it my own.

I think I'll stick with the APH-1 Humbuckers. Although the Pearly Gates sound nice too...

There are too many options lol.
My guess is I'll like the tone either way. The guitar I had before the Tele was a Squier Bullet, which I have taken appart now. Maybe I'll put the Tele's bridge pickup in the Squier.

Thanks for the advice TwinReverb, I'll check my local music store and see if they have a Lite Ash Telecaster I could try.

Whats the difference between APH-1 HBs and Alnico II Pro Staggered single coils?

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: Advice on pickups for a Telecaster

Thanks for the replies.
Hehe yeah, I think that "Estranged" is my favorite GnR song, although they have a lot of really good ones.
I believe Slash has been using APH-1s since Appetite but I could be wrong.
I'm thinking its good if the tone isn't the same. I'm not trying to replicate the tone, just get really close to it and add my preferences to make it my own.

I think I'll stick with the APH-1 Humbuckers. Although the Pearly Gates sound nice too...

There are too many options lol.
My guess is I'll like the tone either way. The guitar I had before the Tele was a Squier Bullet, which I have taken appart now. Maybe I'll put the Tele's bridge pickup in the Squier.

Thanks for the advice TwinReverb, I'll check my local music store and see if they have a Lite Ash Telecaster I could try.

Whats the difference between APH-1 HBs and Alnico II Pro Staggered single coils?

They're approximately the same output, just that Slash uses Alnico II Pro Humbuckers, and the Lite Ash comes with Alnico II Pro single coils. In fact, according to the APH description on this website, it was designed to mimic the sound of the APS pickups (APH= alnico ii pro humbucker, APS = alnico ii pro single coil).

 

[Johnny Nightslayer]

Re: Advice on pickups for a Telecaster

Okay, I understand now. Thanks.

I'll definitely checkout the tone of a Lite Ash Tele.

I'm still decided on two APH-1s, unless I really don't like the tone of a Lite Ash Tele.

 

[Johnny Nightslayer]

Re: Advice on pickups for a Telecaster

I just opened up the control plate, and sure enough there is a big enough hole leading to the neck pickup for a full size humbucker.

I think it is safe to assume mine is the same as Tele Gill's, so I'm thinking I might switch the neck pup first, since I won't have to route anything. I'll open up the pickguard to check and be sure though. It feels so weird to be taking the guitar appart. I'm worried I'll break it lol.

All this guitar modifiying stuff is too fun!

 

[guitfiddle]

Re: Advice on pickups for a Telecaster

I've played the Lite Ash, and the tone was beefier than any other Tele in the store with singles.

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: Advice on pickups for a Telecaster

I've played the Lite Ash, and the tone was beefier than any other Tele in the store with singles.

Told ya! That thing rocks. I love the A2P singles in a strat: you still get single coil chime and brightness, but with more beef.

The only reason I don't own a Lite Ash Tele is that I own a Lite Ash Strat, and while I'd own one if I'm rich, I want a diverse collection so that all my "bases are covered". Granted, some day, if I'm rich, sure, I'll own a Lite Ash Tele also

 

[Johnny Nightslayer]

Re: Advice on pickups for a Telecaster

Haha, now I'm really interested to hear the tone.

I took another look under the control plate, and it appears that the bridge is set up for a full size humbucker as well.

I hesitate to take the pickguard and bridge off to confirm both because I have a sneaking suspicion that I am getting a Boss CH-1 for christmas, and I want to be able to test it out.

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: Advice on pickups for a Telecaster

Haha, now I'm really interested to hear the tone.

I took another look under the control plate, and it appears that the bridge is set up for a full size humbucker as well.

I hesitate to take the pickguard and bridge off to confirm both because I have a sneaking suspicion that I am getting a Boss CH-1 for christmas, and I want to be able to test it out.

Ah, the Boss Chorus Pedal, my first love

 

[MVI]

Re: Advice on pickups for a Telecaster

Hey John, welcome to the forum !! I modified my Tele with SD pups as follows wih great results. You might like it too.

I put a SD Vintage Stack in the neck, and a Hot Stack in the bridge. The bridge will get you into classic rock ( or even metal with a gain-monster amp ), and certainly has some "stuff" to it. The vintage neck still lets you do some old style Tele noodling, and both are quiet relative to hum. I love mine, maybe it would work for you.

 

[Johnny Nightslayer]

Re: Advice on pickups for a Telecaster

Hehe, yeah I'm really excited about getting the chorus pedal.

Thanks for the input MVI, I'll keep that in mind. I'm not 100% sure I'll go with the APH-1s but...

I've actually been looking at a Hamer SATF Archtop Flametop guitar on ebay. Looks gorgeous. Not that I have the money to get it.