Broadcaster set not what I expected

R

rutledj

New member
I just put this set in a ash telecaster (maple neck). The neck pickup sounds muffled. the B&E strings on the bridge pickup will take your head off compared to the other strings. There is no distinctive sound in the middle position (guess I was expecting something like an out of phase sound or a little quack).

I primarily play on my strat so I'm no expert on what a tele should sound like but it doesn't sound anything like what I expected compared to the may youtube videos I watched.

I'm looking for the classic twang without the icepick highs and more of a jazzy sounding neck that doesn't sound muffled.

I went through the setup a few times varying pickup height but didn't get any better results. Verified the wiring per the enclosed wiring diagrams.

Open to any suggestions.

Thanks,
Rut
 
Re: Broadcaster set not what I expected

Did you possibly overheat the volume pot or tone pot? I had a similar problem with a Epi Casino I worked on and the pots had gone bad.
 
Re: Broadcaster set not what I expected

rutledj said:
I just put this set in a ash telecaster (maple neck). The neck pickup sounds muffled. the B&E strings on the bridge pickup will take your head off compared to the other strings. There is no distinctive sound in the middle position (guess I was expecting something like an out of phase sound or a little quack).

I primarily play on my strat so I'm no expert on what a tele should sound like but it doesn't sound anything like what I expected compared to the may youtube videos I watched.

I'm looking for the classic twang without the icepick highs and more of a jazzy sounding neck that doesn't sound muffled.

I went through the setup a few times varying pickup height but didn't get any better results. Verified the wiring per the enclosed wiring diagrams.

Open to any suggestions.

Thanks,
Rut
Click to expand...

Sounds like you are simply adjusting to the world of the tele. They really are an unforgiving beast and a totally different approach than what you might use with a strat is needed. Just keep working and playing with it. You will start to find that the "limitations" of a vintage style tele will force you to change how you play, but after some time you will find that it gives you sounds and expression that you cannot live without. This includes the "icepick" and "mud".
Enjoy the journey!

ps...here is some Redd Volkaert with Cindy Cashdollar.
 
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Re: Broadcaster set not what I expected

Post the wiring diagram....

Some of the vintage Tele era had the neck pickup as fully tone rolled off (dark circuit). If you've followed that diagram then you'll get nothing but mud from the neck slot. The neck pickup cover naturally deadens tone too.

As to the way I like Tele's I prefer the neck with either no cover, or with no tone control. With the bridge only tone control you can rid yourself of the head slicing treble.....but it also depends on the pickup wind too. Some of the vintage Tele pickups have the full-on Twang thing going on. But other winders distinguish between the older beefier broadcaster with the A3 mags and 43 gauge wire and the later pickups that were lower output and 42 gauge/A5
 
Re: Broadcaster set not what I expected

Frankly, I don't think the Duncan Broadcaster sounds all that Broadcaster-like. It's a decent tele pickup but I went with a small custom winder for a vintage correct (as possible, barring no brass cover for the neck) broadcaster set and it was a night and day difference. No comparison.

If you want authentic, look to the Custom shop or elsewhere.

Edit- also if you are using a more modern radius neck and bridge, the string volume discrepancy will be worse than on a 7.25 radius with old style barrel saddles.. I've had that issue with vintage style pickups and flat radii on strats and teles.
 
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Re: Broadcaster set not what I expected

Maybe you just don't like those pickups??? I thought the same thing about the Broadcaster set & I am a Tele guy...

Personally I just like higher output Telecaster pickups. Or at least a higher output bridge pup & something that will complement it in the neck, like the STL-2 paired up with a A2 neck pup. One of my absolute favorite Tele sets that's made by Duncan is another pieced together one, a Quarter Pound bridge and a Phat Cat neck!!!

Those two pickups sound absolutely amazing together and individually they have plenty of balls while still being quite Tele-ish, Telecastery, Teley??? IDK, I can't phrase that sentence without making up a word but you catch my drift...
 
Re: Broadcaster set not what I expected

I think first we would have to determine if the wiring was right. Post the diagram or a few pics of the wiring. From your description either something is wrong, or you may not like the sound of a Tele. Teles don't really 'quack' like a Strat does. But first I would check the wiring...your description sounds more like something is wrong here.
 
Re: Broadcaster set not what I expected

So I just tried something new and pleased with results. Can't tell which in particular solved the issue but I suspect a combination. I put in 300k pots, added the greasebucket tone circuit, put the original Fender neck pickup back in. Now no mud and the broadcaster highs are much more controllable.
 
Re: Broadcaster set not what I expected

assuming you have 250k controls before, the 300k would open the high end a little. the grease bucket tone circuit rolls of treble and bass rather than just treble. im surprised any of that changed the way the bridge pup sounds for the better but i can see it all helping the neck pup. bottom line is if youre happy then run with it
 
Re: Broadcaster set not what I expected

Mincer said:
So did this solve the issue?
Click to expand...

I think I am happy with it now. Not sure if it was the different neck pu, the higher values pots, or the tone circuit but I'm satisfied. Thanks for your input.
 
Re: Broadcaster set not what I expected

I always hear the Duncan (and original Fender) Telecaster neck pickups are a lot darker than most of the present stock pickups... I do want to try a set at some point, the plastic bobbin/covered stock neck pickup on my MIM is a bit darker and weaker feeling than say a Strat neck, but not totally out of the ballpark. People tend not to like the old style Tele neck, but sounds like it's at least different.
 
Re: Broadcaster set not what I expected

When I wire the controls of a Tele I connect the tone control to the bridge pickup only.

I never need to make the already muffled neck pickup sound even more muffled and having no tone control on the neck pickup brightens it up some.
 
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