Am. Tele pups??

[FenderStratRock3]

Hey all,

I have an American Tele, my main guitar, that I absolutely adore. After I get my amp, I'll probably be doing some mods to it to make it even better, if nothing else, I'll replace the pickups most likely. I don't know too much about pups, and I wanted some opinions.

It has a rosewood fretboard, if that helps any. I play blues/rock/pop, so some low-moderate output pickups would probably work best. Brand doesn't matter. Price can be whatever, but not something too outrageous. I use the neck pup primarily, and I like round, clear, singing, kinda tones.

Thanks!

 

[SoundAdvise]

Re: Am. Tele pups??

• Antiquity II™ for Tele®, rhythm & lead
Back in the mid ‘60s, Fender was only making Tele®s with rosewood fingerboards. I kept asking Bill Carson to make an all-maple slab board neck for me. These pickups are pretty much the same ones that I wound for that guitar — one of my all-time favorite Tele®s. I keep the tone and look faithful, but I also wax pot them to reduce unwanted feedback when using high powered amps and effects.



Antiquity II™ for Tele® Neck Bridge

magnet pattern: flush top, raised bottom staggered & raised above flatwork
DC Ohms: 7.6K-neck 6.4K-bridge
Inductance: 2.13 henries 2.1 henries
Q : 1.80 2.05

 

[Kelsey]

Re: Am. Tele pups??

I have an Antiquity I flatpole set in an alder/RW American Series Tele, and they sound great. If you want to retain vintage Tele tone but with a bit warmer and rounder flavor, then I think you'll be pleased with them. If you want more bite and twang, then perhaps the Ant II version will work better, but I haven't tried them. The Jerry Donahue Tele lead is also very nice, with more mids than the Antiquity. It pairs well with the Phat Cat (P90-HB) neck pickup, and should also work well with the Antiquity I flat or staggered rhythm pickup. Either the Ant or JD lead also works well with an SM-1 or SM-3 mini-HB (Firebird style) at the neck. Note that most recent, non-vintage American and MiM Teles are routed for a HB at the neck, so a mini-HB, Phat Cat, or PAF will work with a new pickguard.