Candidates for Tele sounding, hum-canceling bridge pickup for LP humbucker route?

[Jack_TriPpEr]

Re: Candidates for Tele sounding, hum-canceling bridge pickup for LP humbucker route?

The Bill Lawrence website has always been a mess. I'm not sure which model this is?

View attachment 105701

Found it. I downloaded that image and then used Google Lens to search the internet for it. It came back saying that image was part of Page 3 of the thread below from the MyLesPaul forum. Quoting from Reply # 47:

"That pickup you have a picture of is an early L-490, which became the L-609, (more confusion.) The slanted polepieces were an option, but I don't think they make them that way anymore ."

LINK: https://www.mylespaul.com/threads/bill-lawrence-pickups.39197/page-3

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Candidates for Tele sounding, hum-canceling bridge pickup for LP humbucker route?

Found it. I downloaded that image and then used Google Lens to search the internet for it. It came back saying that image was part of Page 3 of the thread below from the MyLesPaul forum. Quoting from Reply # 47:

"That pickup you have a picture of is an early L-490, which became the L-609, (more confusion.) The slanted polepieces were an option, but I don't think they make them that way anymore ."

LINK: https://www.mylespaul.com/threads/bill-lawrence-pickups.39197/page-3

The Wilde website isn't much better. But if you're looking for Bill Lawrence pickups that are Lawrence family made, check these out: https://www.wildepickups.com/products/noisefree-tele-lead

 

[Jack_TriPpEr]

Re: Candidates for Tele sounding, hum-canceling bridge pickup for LP humbucker route?

Feel like I'm late to this party, but Jack, if you can get me accurate measurements of the mounting plate and the clearance you need for the pickup - and don't mind doing a little sanding and finishing work to make it look nice - I could possibly 3D print you a piece to perfectly fit the "bulge" of your tele pickup - if you're even still considering that route

Thanks for that very kind offer, Rex. I really appreciate it. I have, however, decided to pursue humbucker sized pickups. I will explain more about that in an upcoming post.

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: Candidates for Tele sounding, hum-canceling bridge pickup for LP humbucker route?

Send an email to Becky Lawrence she would be able to give you an answer. She was winding those ten years ago so I don't know why she couldn't now?

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Candidates for Tele sounding, hum-canceling bridge pickup for LP humbucker route?

Do you want the sounding portion to be single coil form factor? Because I think the WLH and JB have good Tele character.

Based on the bridge PAF in my '62 LP, I wouldn't be surprised if the WLH has some Tele-characteristics. Mine is extremely bright and cutting, and if I played some faux-pedal steel licks, could probably fool a lot of people.

 

[Jack_TriPpEr]

Re: Candidates for Tele sounding, hum-canceling bridge pickup for LP humbucker route?

So I've got an update to share about my "quest" here. I decided to try the Fralin Twangmaster first. If that doesn't work out, I'd probably try the T-Deco next. And there are a few other good suggestions in this thread that would be the next choices if I need to keep re-trying, so thanks eveyone.

I decided to forego the route of cramming a traditional sized Tele singlecoil into a humbucker route because I didn't feel there was a high enough likelihood that the tonal result would be what I wanted, for the extra effort involved just to get it to fit in that slot. Since the sound of a traditional Tele singlecoil is shaped by it being in contact with all that metal on a Tele style bridge and the vibrations of the strings as they pass through the saddles on that Tele style bridge. Whereas the Twangmaster is advertised as managing to sound like a Tele despite the lack of that specific type of bridge design.

I'll post back after the pup arrives and I've wired it up. I was told 1-2 weeks lead time for the pup to be made.

By the way, it happened to be Lindy Fralin himself who picked up the phone when I called yesterday. He was a pleasure to talk to. He said he appreciated being able to talk on the phone while working to break up the monotony of winding Tele pickups non-stop for the last couple days -haha.

Finally, for anyone who is interested in an adaptor plate *made of metal* to fit a Tele singlecoil into a humbucker route, I discovered a guy named Joe Bence who is making them and selling them on Reverb.com - made out of aluminum instead of plastic. These being metal should help add back some of the sound missing from lack of a Tele style bridge. I exchanged a few messages with him with questions about measurements/dimensions and he was quick to respond. So I recommend anyone interested in this kind of product, to check out his listings on Reverb.com

 

[Jack_TriPpEr]

Re: Candidates for Tele sounding, hum-canceling bridge pickup for LP humbucker route?

I don't know how the Tele pup in that pic is fitting without having to either enlarge the humbucker route in the guitar or trim material off the baseplate. I just did a fourth fit check where I placed the Dimarzio Area T 615 into the bridge humbucker route of my guitar. It fits in there only if the pickup is allowed to sit with no slant angle - in either direction. I would post a pic of it but i haven't been able to attach photos to posts since the last forum software update. I actually have no problem personally with the pickup positioned without a slant, but I am not finding any adaptor rings for Tele pickups without that slant. Now that I have confirmed that my Dimarzio can definitely fit in the guitar's route, I am less apprehensive about attempting to customize a blank PVC ring piece with a Dremel to have the cavity and screwholes positioned to allow the pup to fit in there.

Now that I re-gained capability to Attach a Pic to a post, here is a pic of that Dimarzio Area T 615 sitting in the bridge humbucker route of my guitar. There's not enough free room on the four sides to slant the pickup diagonally - in either direction - like a Telecaster bridge singlecoil normally is positioned.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

 

[Jack_TriPpEr]

Re: Candidates for Tele sounding, hum-canceling bridge pickup for LP humbucker route?

Now that I re-gained capability to Attach a Pic to a post, here is a pic of that Dimarzio Area T 615 sitting in the bridge humbucker route of my guitar. There's not enough free room on the four sides to slant the pickup diagonally - in either direction - like a Telecaster bridge singlecoil normally is positioned.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

... and same limit on free space with the pickup facing the other way.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

 

[jeremy]

Re: Candidates for Tele sounding, hum-canceling bridge pickup for LP humbucker route?

mount it straight then. the rev does that on some of his bolins. a tele pup in a lp isnt gonna sound like a tele but i bet itll be cool

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Candidates for Tele sounding, hum-canceling bridge pickup for LP humbucker route?

You have a couple of options if you're going for more tele twang in a humbucker format. I started with the T-Deco as the S-Deco is a killer all around bridge humbucker. If you're going for a blackguard/broadcaster vibe, I say add an A3. Right now, I'm using more "standard winds" for a "tele on steroids PAF" at 7.7K -8.3K, still using an A3. I've had great results in a '67 SG Melody Maker which already *had a great single coil tone. I was able to play a lot of RHCP with that guitar (*think "Suck My Kiss" or "Can't Stop"). *It definitely had a single coil twang that reminded me of A3 Broadcaster pickups.

You can commission a build from MJ and the SD Custom Shop, but the wait might be long. James at Rewind Electric can wind the same pickup I used in the SG Melody Maker. Right now, I have the 8.3K Tele bridge in a Korina Flying V that I recently put together. Just haven't plugged it in yet.

Here's James description/design of the humbucker: "Yes, I do make a pickup just like that. I don't really have a name for it, but it's basically a lower output humbucker with an A3 magnet and high coil offset, along with some brighter sounding steel screws and slugs. It's definitely a PAF-style humbucker, but you'll certainly think of a Tele when you play it. It's got a very "Fendery" vibe and will bring out many of the same frequencies and that same punchy, full clarity".

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

James winds some great stuff. He made me my favorite-ever neck humbucker, a custom wound A3 that sounds fantastic.
I have number of his other winds too.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Candidates for Tele sounding, hum-canceling bridge pickup for LP humbucker route?

James winds some great stuff. He made me my favorite-ever neck humbucker, a custom wound A3 that sounds fantastic.
I have number of his other winds too.

I use an A3 in my favorite neck humbuckers too! A3 is too weak for me as a bridge humbucker put perfect in the neck.

 

[YeRedHouseOverYonder]

Re: Candidates for Tele sounding, hum-canceling bridge pickup for LP humbucker route?

Quick derail:

I have a set of the "Blackguard" PAFs w/ A3s. I reluctantly sold a set of Low Output humbuckers that were NOS Wire. I absolutely loved them in a '69 ES 335. Wow, were they spectacular. No need for a Les Paul with that guitar and pickup combo. I also have his 65 Hendrix strat pickups wound in NOS REA Wire. I love them, never selling this set. Having owned many '52-53 P90s, James' Cool P90 aim captures the essence and tone of an early p90. I can't justify paying $300-400 more for a vintage p90, if his is about 95% of the way there. The vintage magnets do make a difference.

James is a super cool dude to work with. He'll listen to what you want and need to give you his best work/product. He also likes to smoke cigars and drink scotch \m/

James winds some great stuff. He made me my favorite-ever neck humbucker, a custom wound A3 that sounds fantastic.
I have number of his other winds too.

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

 

[YeRedHouseOverYonder]

Re: Candidates for Tele sounding, hum-canceling bridge pickup for LP humbucker route?

I use an A3 in my favorite neck humbuckers too! A3 is too weak for me as a bridge humbucker put perfect in the neck.

I think that is why I love the early '52-53 p90s for the neck position. They exclusively use the A3s and begin to switch soon after. A3s are lovely in a flatpole tele bridge. My favorite tele pickup.

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

 

[Jack_TriPpEr]

Re: Candidates for Tele sounding, hum-canceling bridge pickup for LP humbucker route?

mount it straight then. the rev does that on some of his bolins. a tele pup in a lp isnt gonna sound like a tele but i bet itll be cool

All of the adaptor plates for Tele pickups have the hole slanted... except for Joe Bence's aluminum adaptor plates I mentioned a couple of posts back but the location of his screwholes that mount the plate to the pickup ring, aren't in alignment with the spacing of the screw holes on my guitar.

I mentioned a couple posts back I decided I would get a humbucker sized Tele style pickup, but if in the future I have the time and willingness to mod one of those plastic adaptor plates myself with a dremel, yeah, I could mount a Tele singlecoil without a slant and make it work. Currently I don't have the time or patience to undertake it.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

 

[Jack_TriPpEr]

Update:

I received and installed the Fralin Twangmaster Bridge Pickup.

I have found the Twangmaster to sound very Tele like and live up to its claims.

I happened to opt for the 2% underwound version, to help ensure it would be as snappy as possible given that it was being installed in a Les Paul style guitar.