Budget Pickups for Tele 12 String

[James Rock]

I've recently purchased a Cozart 12 String Tele Kit that I'm going to start putting together. The main thing I'm thinking of upgrading before building it is the pickups, I cant imagine they are great considering the cost of the kit. As it is a 12 string and I'd be going more for that jangly 60s sound, normal tele pickups might have too much mid range so I am looking for something not too expensive that has a more hifi wide range kind of sound (more even high end). I cant really justify dropping more then the cost of the kit on pickups. Its only routed for tele pickups including the bridge so humbucker and strat route pickups arent really an options..... Pickups I've considered are the GFS Lipstick Bridge (no equivalent neck pickup), the GFS Fatboys (possibly too hot but I thought the larger magnets would give a fatter tone) otherwise more traditional tele pickups with alnico 5s like the Toneriders.

Any suggestions could possibly consider secondhand Duncans or Dimarzios if they do have a more scopped fat sound (less high mid attack)?

Wiring wise Im thinking of adding a bass cut switch and possibly having a 4 way tele switch.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Budget Pickups for Tele 12 String

Something GFS was my first thought too.

But most 12 string guitars in recordings have had pretty typical type pickups in them rather than anything "odd". Your amp will probably be more important getting the tone you want.

 

[thebingopete]

Re: Budget Pickups for Tele 12 String

For the 12 string pole alignment I'd consider a rail style pup. The Lil' Puncher from GFS is actually a great pup. Haven't tried the neck position. Have the 15k modern version bridge pickup in my Tele. Split coil it has the Tele tone. Almost no hum. Full bucker screams. And dead freekin quiet. No 60 cycle hum. You might want the modern/vintage set if you go that route. Dragonfire also offers a set that may be suitable for what you describe.
Another reason I suggest rail buckers is you want jangle. Tele pups twang. They don't jangle. Humbuckers jangle. Filtertrons and the toasters Rickenbacker used being the standard for that description.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

 

[BriGuy1968]

Re: Budget Pickups for Tele 12 String

I'd go GFS as well. They're not Duncans, but they seem to be pretty good, especially for the price. Bought a set of Dream 180s for my H-H Ibanez RG (hated the more metal-sounding stock pups) and turned it into a great classic PAF sound.

Check out their Neovin Tele pups. Noiseless, but not stacked humbuckers. Not sure how they do it, but the clips and reviews I've seen sound pretty good. Also, I wouldn't worry too much about the pole alignment. The 6 courses will end up "straddling" each pole, and are close enough together to not cause a problem. My BC Rich Perfect 10 Bich (10-string... like a 12, but doesn't have the A and Low E doubled) uses standard pickups with no issues whatsoever.