Bridge PUP for 52 reissue Tele than isn't tinny

[floodstage]

I have a 1999 Fender 52 Tele reissue
I love the stock neck pickup.
I've tried a number of pickups in the bridge and they're all too tinny

I'd like something similar to the neck in sound, just a little louder and a little more definition. Not tinny / twanky.

I may be asking to un-Tele a Tele.

I do love that stock neck pickup and if necessary could live with no neck pickup at all, but there's a place for a pickup there and I'd like to put something useful in there.

Currently I have a GFS pickup in there I bought used. The guy said it was a great blues pickup and it wasn't real bright which is why he was selling it and why I bought it. It has that strat single tone and that's not what I want. It's not bad. I got the volume I need but it's a little twanky for me.

Want it similar to the neck, full and warm but able to bight, just a little bit louder and maybe a little more cut/edge without being tinny.

I wonder if I should just put a neck pickup in there and raise it up a bit.

Thanks for listening. I'd love to hear suggestions.

 

[mrturtle_91]

Re: Bridge PUP for 52 reissue Tele than isn't tinny

Well, if you're not looking for something with insane output I'd go for a GFS alnico fatbody: http://store.guitarfetish.com/alfaovpotebr.html

If you don't mind something a little hotter, I'd go with a seymour duncan quarter pound with the tap option, that way you can get fat, almost humbucker like tones, as well as brighter Tele tones. A Fender texas special might do the trick too.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Bridge PUP for 52 reissue Tele than isn't tinny

Do you want to keep the tele tone, or step away from it completely?

 

[Aceman]

Re: Bridge PUP for 52 reissue Tele than isn't tinny

Do you want to keep the tele tone, or step away from it completely?

I was gonna say - it's the Tele that's tinny sounding...

 

[SFW]

Re: Bridge PUP for 52 reissue Tele than isn't tinny

check out the Rio Grande Muy Grande.

 

[eggman]

Re: Bridge PUP for 52 reissue Tele than isn't tinny

Howdy,

Telecasters were designed to twang. Good luck.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Bridge PUP for 52 reissue Tele than isn't tinny

teles are bright in the bridge, kinda the nature of the beast. try something like the hot tele lead. tapped if you want a brighter lower output option

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Bridge PUP for 52 reissue Tele than isn't tinny

Fender NoCaster lead PU or, if you can find a pre-owned example, the Fender '52 Hot Rod. Both of these have more beef than the stock USA '52 lead PU. The '52 HR is kinda Stones-y.

 

[Curly]

Re: Bridge PUP for 52 reissue Tele than isn't tinny

of the fender pickups, I know the Nocaster is supposed to be beefier, although the current ones aren't as hot as earlier ones

as far as SD pickups, I don't really consider either the Broadcaster or Jerry Donahue to be tinny. the Broadcaster is brighter though. also remember that when you mix SD and Fender pickups, you'll have to deal with winding differences.

I'd also suggest posting on the tele forum, TDPRI. There are a LOT of pickups to chose from nowadays!

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Bridge PUP for 52 reissue Tele than isn't tinny

It sounds like you want to take the Tele tone out of the Tele and in that case I suggest a few things...

First off, make sure it is wired up in a more modern fasion...with a neck/neck+bridge/bridge 3 way and a master volume and tone.

Next, you need to move as far away form typical tele pickup specs as possible...the Tele Quater Pounder is rather dark and thick however it's going to SMOKE the neck pickup in output and migh well require you to change the neck pickup as well...

Another idea is a P-90 style pickup like a Fralin Steel Pole 43 for Telecaster, look into one wound to about 10k.

Other ideas are something like a Lil 59 for Tele or Hot Rail.

However, almost all these options are likely gonna be too hot for your neck pickup...