Best neck humbucker for Telecaster HS?

[humbuxx]

Hello, all!
I'm in the process of building a Telecaster HS. So far, I have obtained:
- a 1999 MIM maple/maple neck with Fender tuners;
- a 2000 "California Fat Tele" body;
- 6-saddle Gotoh bridge;
I also have my trusty SD STL-1 Vintage for Tele bridge p'up (currently installed in a clone, along with the STR-1).
I would like this to be my main axe for classic rock (Eagles, Floyd) and some blues rhythm work. I'd like it to reproduce the current HS Tele "S-1" set-up, i.e. with a volume knob that you can pull up or push down to have a wide range of sound options.
So I'm thinking along the lines of the SH-1n '59 with 4-conductor wire (I've found a supplier for a reasonable price) for the neck position.
Given that I'd like to keep the STL-1 in the bridge, am I totally off the mark?
Is the '59 not hot enough? Too hot?
I would very much appreciate your help!
Thanx a bunch!
jam on,
humbuxx

 

[Kelsey]

Re: Best neck humbucker for Telecaster HS?

I think nearly all full-size HBs will overpower the STL-1 in the bridge. I have a Phat Cat neck pickup, which seems close to vintage HB output, in a Tele with a SD Jerry Donahue lead that can just keep up with it (works very nicely). I have an SM-3n Firebird-style mini-HB in another Tele with a Fender CS Nocaster bridge pickup that just keeps up (again, a nice combo), and AFAIK the Nocaster is a bit hotter than the STL-1. NOw, some people don't care about the bridge pickup matching the neck pickup, because they are more interested in a certain combined sound (like Keith Richards or Albert Collins).

BTW, I think the Fender CS Albert Collins Tele uses a Texas Special Tele lead pickup and a SD 59 neck humbucker, which might give you some idea of relative outputs.

 

[No effects]

Re: Best neck humbucker for Telecaster HS?

G&L has a semi-hollow Bluesboy tele that has a SD Seth Lover 55 in the neck. I just loved it and wanted to replicate it using a 2001 MIM Tele (didn't feel like paying $2300 Canadian). I put in a Seth Lover 55 in the neck and a little 59 in the bridge. The sound was very full and warm in the neck (very smooth leads), but perhaps a little too warm/bassy for rhythm. I think the pick-up was better suited to the semi-hollow G&L, which had a lot more bite. I never got used to the 59 either; it was thick but too twangy for my classic rock taste. I like more treble in the neck and my current LP neck pick up is a 59, and I still think it's too bassy - gonna go for the jazz soon, it may be the one for you. Trial and error...