Fender California Series '97 Tele -- want to upgrade bridge pup.

[erock517]

So, I picked up a '97 California Series Tele (Tex-Mex strat style in neck, typical Tex-Mex Tele style in bridge) last week and am loving this axe . . . except the bridge pup sounds a little thin to me.
Would love any suggestions on pup upgrades for the bridge. I play through a Egnater Tweaker, 2x12 cab w/Celestion's. Type of music -- originals in the style of Petty, Mellencamp, REM, Fltwd Mac.

Thanks in advance for any sage advice.

here is a link to the actual guitar: http://stonegroveguitar.com/index.p...rnia-series&catid=14:fender-guitars&Itemid=33.

And, no . . . I did not pay the asking price.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Fender California Series '97 Tele -- want to upgrade bridge pup.

Any of the good vintage style Duncans would be great in that guitar (great guitar BTW!).

If you said there are 3 choices...the Vintage 54, JD and Broadcaster the 54 is the thinnest of the 3 (but would still pack more punch than the stock pickup) and in ways will have the best twang. This is an all around cool pickup but some guys find it a little weak.

The Broadcaster is hotter, fatter and has a nice edgy midrange to it that's great for that sort of subtle rootsy breakup. This is my fav SD Tele pickup that not Custom Shop.

The JD is similar to the Broadcaster but smoother in the top end and a little softer in the bottom...this is not a pickup that I love but it's still a good pickup.

if it were me and I only had one Tele I'd go with the Broadcaster...IMHO it has the widest range of tones and the slight bit of extra output is nice!

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Fender California Series '97 Tele -- want to upgrade bridge pup.

Erm, what style of bridge does the California series have? Vintage stamped or modern machined?

My reflexive suggestion is the Fender '51 Nocaster single coil.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Fender California Series '97 Tele -- want to upgrade bridge pup.

Erm, what style of bridge does the California series have? Vintage stamped or modern machined?

My reflexive suggestion is the Fender '51 Nocaster single coil.

They are a box style bridge with 6 saddles...like this one:

 

[erock517]

Re: Fender California Series '97 Tele -- want to upgrade bridge pup.

They are a box style bridge with 6 saddles...like this one:

Yep -- that is the one. I listened to clips of the (so far) suggested pups and definitely liking alot, the Broadcaster model. Also looking into Zhangbucker (David Zimmer), who winds a really nice Tele pup, he calls the "Paul Bunyon". That sounds pretty good, too.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Fender California Series '97 Tele -- want to upgrade bridge pup.

Any of the pickups you're looking at will be good for you as they are all great pickups!

If you look around on the trading forum here you might find one and if you do give it a shot...if you don't like something about it let us know...

Tell us what you tried and what you did and didn't like about it and we'll help ya find somehting "better" for you...