Buckers for my Tele

9

95strat

New member
Hey Gang, first post here. I'm looking at replacing my tele bridge pickup with a stack or lil' 59 HB. I use a P90 at the neck (not a Duncan, but will probably replace it with a Phat Cat soon).

So what I'm looking for is something that will balance well with the P90 and has a good mid range crunch to it for lead work. I'm not into the tele twang thang so I'm not so worried about maintaining the "traditional" tele sound.

It seems the lil 59 is a bit dark. I could go for a quarter pound, but not sure if it has enough crunch.

What about the lead stack or the vintage stack? I fear the hot rails may be to much!

Anyway, I have no experience with Duncans so that's why I came to ask you guys.

Thanks in advance.
 
Re: Buckers for my Tele

Welcome!

95strat said:
It seems the lil 59 is a bit dark. I could go for a quarter pound, but not sure if it has enough crunch.
Click to expand...

The QP doesn't lack any crunch. It's a very fat and very warm tone in a tele. It can be a bit dark depending on the tonal properties of the guitar. The QPs in my tele are full, fat, and dark, and they have no trouble pushing my amp. They are as close to a P90 as you'll find on a tele bobbin, and have a few humbucker qualities as well... apart from the noise that is. With any true single coil you're subject to 60 cycle hum with the QP. Any time I someone asks about the QP I recommend the tapped version, as it affords you the full QP tone as well as a more subdued tone.

The Hot Rails for Tele is certainly an aggressive pickup. The top end has plenty (if not too much) sizzle, and I found it to be a bit harsh for overdriven leads. Under gain it did fine with high gain rhythm parts, but I found the top end to be very difficult to control as the gain increased.
 
Re: Buckers for my Tele

ive never used the stacks but i will give a second thumbs up to the QP. Also, as a side note, if the guitar is routed for a p90 then a phat cat will not fit, its full humbucker size.
 
Re: Buckers for my Tele

a qp tele lead sounds like a good option for you

the stacks are cool but probably not going to give you what you want, the vintage will be too traditional and probably wont keep up with the p90, the hot probably wont have enough crunch.
 
Re: Buckers for my Tele

Cool, thanks guys. I'm might go with the Phat Cat in the neck and the QP in the bridge unless someone can talk me out of it!

I'll see if I can find some used ones to play around with.
 
Re: Buckers for my Tele

My tele is ash, and with a lil 59 it was bright, but thats what a tone knob is for. also was a bit microphonic (it has straplocks, and every time you move they squeak throughout the whole body, it seems) just on the lil 59 though, the aph2 neck doesnt seem to do it near as much. I also would like to try the tele lead qp.
 
Re: Buckers for my Tele

Another vote for the QP. I've used them in Strats and Teles, and they are great! Yes, get the tapped. It will give you the option of approximating the sound of a traditional pup.

Welcome to the forum!
 
Re: Buckers for my Tele

Thanks guys for the help. I was also looking at the Hot Lead Stack, but I'm guessing the QP would balance well with the Phat Cat.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top