best tele pups

[hellrider77]

i am about to start my tele project. i would like recomendations for the best country twang sounding pups i can put in it, (they gotta be sd) i'm not really looking for versatility because this guitar will be used for country music only. i am going for the older style country sound,ie: johnny cash, junior brown etc.

lets hear some suggestions

 

[Curly]

Re: best tele pups

here's a few suggestions, depending on the wood in your tele:

Broadcaster/ Vintage Rhythm - early 50s tone, alnico 5 mags

Antiquities - warm 50s tele tone, alnico 2 mags

Antiquity IIs - for a brighter, 60s tele tone, alnico 5 mags

the JD is another consideration, though it's wound hotter

I'd also read through Lew's "Ultimate Tele Tone" thread, and the reviews of vintage tele pickups in the Vault.

 

[Artie]

Re: best tele pups

Ironically, I'm about to convert the humbucker bridge in my Tele-clone to a more conventional single, so that I can try out the JD. However, the Custom 5 in there now is one of my favorite bridge pups. Think of it as "adult" twang.

It "twangs", but in a smooth, refined way. Nice Tele-tone without being harsh or ice-picky.

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: best tele pups

I've got a 5/2 neck, and Alnico 2 broadcaster on order, I should be able to report to you on them in the next month.

Luke

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: best tele pups

I would think that just about any Duncan Tele set would give you a good twangy sound. I have a CS Set that MJ wound for me and I play rock with them, they can get pretty damn twangy.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: best tele pups

An alnico 5 Tele pickup like the Broadcaster will be brighter and twangier than most alnico 2 pickups. Alnico 5 Tele pickups with raised polepieces, like the '54, will be brighter and twangier than the flat poled alnico 5 Broadcaster.

My favorite "stock" Duncans are the Antiquity I Tele pickups and that's the set I would recommend. They're very lively, harmonically complex and twangy.