Best HB option for Tele neck position?

[JBAdamsJr]

After reading on this forum that many of the Fender MIM Standard Telecasters have their neck pickup area routed out to be large enough for a humbucker pickup, I checked and surprisingly mine was made that way. So now I have more options when trying to decide what replacement pickups to put into my guitar.

I have some small hum issues with my current Fender SCN Noiseless pickups, so I am looking at noiseless pickups like the Dimarzio Area T, but a humbucker in the neck would solve that problem for that pickup position.

I want to get a pickup combination that would give me a wide variety of tonal combinations in conjunction with my 4-way switch. I like the modern country clean tones and their tight compressed overdrive/distortion tones, that you can tell come from a Telecaster. I would like those kinds of tones, as well as smooth jazzy tones from the neck pickup. I also like the old 50's/60's Rock 'n Roll/Rockabilly tones like Scotty Moore and James Burton, and classic rock tones from groups like Boston, Journey, Fleetwood Mac, STYX, etc. I like their distortion tones as well as their lead tones. I don't know if I could get all of those types of tones out of two new Tele pickups, but I would like to try, whether they are single coil or humbuckers.

Does anyone have any suggestions on good combinations utilizing a humbucker in the neck position and a noiseless single coil in the bridge position?

 

[saladin]

Re: Best HB option for Tele neck position?

Ive heard good things about the Dimarzio Area T, you might want to give it a try. As far as for the neck, I've used 59's, a PGn and a Jazz. I prefer the 59 'cause I like that deep low end rumble but the PGn is very nice especially if you want a brighter tone. The Jazz didn't do anything for me, I use 59's in the neck for everything, I'm just used to them and have no trouble keeping them from being too bassy which scares alot of people away from them.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Best HB option for Tele neck position?

The screamin demon rocks in the neck of my tele. Split is very nice to boot.

 

[loudriver23]

Re: Best HB option for Tele neck position?

I had a Jazz in mine for a while. Nice PAF type of tones. Very true to the description, very clear and articulate. It is a brighter pickup to my ears, but nothing a little roll of the tone knob couldn't fix.

 

[JBG]

Re: Best HB option for Tele neck position?

Try the Jazz bridge.

 

[dr. ad]

Re: Best HB option for Tele neck position?

can't make any recommendation specific to a neck HB/noiseless SC bridge, but i fitted a GFS dream 180 in the neck slot of my tele and was very surprised by it; it blends very well with the airzone in the bridge. it's very much a neck PAF but has a lot of upper mid and top as well, i often blend both pickups and use that tone. i believe it's the dual-screw thing that give it the extra top but i'm not 100% on this.

 

[Mark Cearlock]

Re: Best HB option for Tele neck position?

I use a 59n in my ash tele partscaster, and a aph5n in my squier custom tele. Both are very usable, and very blusey. Not sure if this helps, just my 2cents. Note: The 59 requiered some creative routing to fit because of the long baseplate legs, but mine was orig. routed for a single.
Short leg baseplates not a problem, though.

 

[TomCray]

Re: Best HB option for Tele neck position?

Seth Lover! I paired mine with a Lil 59 and it sounds great!
I'd also recommend a full sized '59 too.

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Best HB option for Tele neck position?

SM-1 Mini. Like a 59n but with more clarity, and it balances well with normal Tele pickups. If you want to use a 4-way switch, make sure you order it with the 4-wire option.

 

[Laughing Kookaburra]

Re: Best HB option for Tele neck position?

Ive heard good things about the Dimarzio Area T, you might want to give it a try. As far as for the neck, I've used 59's, a PGn and a Jazz. I prefer the 59 'cause I like that deep low end rumble but the PGn is very nice especially if you want a brighter tone. The Jazz didn't do anything for me, I use 59's in the neck for everything, I'm just used to them and have no trouble keeping them from being too bassy which scares alot of people away from them.

I think that the DMX Area T is the replacement for the DMZ Virtual Vintage T n, and, if it is, I highly recommend it. Reminds me very much of a mini bucker, lots of clarity. I, along w/a few friends, think that is the best Tele neck pup we've heard.

Of course, a mini bucker would also do the trick. Seriously!

 

[pzaxtl]

Re: Best HB option for Tele neck position?

There's a lot of options available to you, some already mentioned, but I don't think you're gonna find a single pickup that can cover as much tonal territory as you're looking for. The tonal criteria you've given is awfully broad.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Best HB option for Tele neck position?

There's a lot of options available to you, some already mentioned, but I don't think you're gonna find a single pickup that can cover as much tonal territory as you're looking for. The tonal criteria you've given is awfully broad.

TRust me, the Demon with a split or spin-a-split in the neck WILL cover all the bases.

 

[hamerfan]

Re: Best HB option for Tele neck position?

Why hummers? I had several of them in my Custom made Tele (all mahagony body and one piece maple neck). I liked the Phat Cat type (made by Duesenberg/Rockinger) of P90 in humbucker shape best. Most hummer were to bass boomy and did not go well with the SC in the bridge.