Fat Broadcaster Bridge tone - for Strat!

[ebagjones]

Hi all,
Got a sweet deal on a new Suhr Classic Pro SSS. Bad news is I had to sell my old American standard Tele. I really prefer S style for cleans and to be honest most Tele bridges are too bright and twangy for me but that Tele I had had an amazing bridge pickup that was huge sounding, fat and incredibly clear. Reminded me of half way in between a lap steel and a p-90. I am not a fan of plinky Strat bridge pickups, so my question is, for those who have tried them, can the Twangbanger or any similar models do that a convincing impression of that early 50’s steely fat Broadcaster bridge tone?

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Fat Broadcaster Bridge tone - for Strat!

I used to use a Rio Grande Stelly. It was their hot Tele bridge pickup in a Strat form factor and baseplate. I’m not sure how accurate it was to a Broadcaster, but it was big and meaty, no plinky Strat Bridge tone. I may need to put it in a Strat again....

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Fat Broadcaster Bridge tone - for Strat!

Why not just install a real Tele pickup there? Don't like the look and don't want to hack?

I'd install an overwound Strat pickup in the approx. 8K-9K range. My personal favorite is the DiMarzio Red Velvet. I have a Strat with three of those in it, and the tone is pretty darned fierce, without sounding "non-vintage." And DiMarzio uses a great pickup stagger, not the weird old school one with a super high G pole for the loudest string on the guitar, the way most pickup makers are stuck on.

 

[hamerfan]

Re: Fat Broadcaster Bridge tone - for Strat!

I'd install an overwound Strat pickup in the approx. 8K-9K range.

It depends. A standard height strat bobbin with 42 awg wire is crammed and full. With 43 awg wire a 8k bobbin is within vintage specs.