Fender CS '51 Nocaster Tele set, any opinion?

[marcello252]

Hi, any opinion on the Fender CS '51 Nocaster Tele set? I ve seen some interesting priced offer

I have a SD broadcaster bridge and SD vintage rhythm neck on one of my tele (alder body, maple neck) but I've never been completely satisfied with them, the broadcaster is still a bit too trebly, with the neck I had to take the cover off to get a good sound otherwise it was very dull, like a blanket on the amp. How would they compare?

thx

 

[freefrog]

There's apparently several kinds of Nocaster sets... there's a topic on the Gear page about that.

My own experience is limited to the aftermarket A3 set. Bridge measures something around 6.95k and 3.33H. Neck measures +/- 7.15k and 2.07H (averaged data in my archives. NOTE: these values sum up old measurements. I don't know if specs have changed or not in recent sets).

Personally, I find it very good. A3 = less string pull and an even frequency response from each pickup.

YMMV.

 

[marcello252]

I searched for the pages on TGP , found several, the common feeling is this set has high approval rate, many saying it's the best they've found, but with 6.95K, I fear, could it be too low output for good rock tones?
I mean, I've never been so much in ultra twang tele tones, I bought the SD broadcaster trying on purpose to get rid of the overly trebly 'standard' tele bridge tones, and it worked but, maybe, is lacking a bit of pulp on the mid bass.

I've seen a Tonerider A3 set too, even cheaper, I'm not a corksniffer and I think Tonerider make good quality pickup based on my experience (their A2 PAF for example is one of the best HB I've ever tried), they declare for the bridge 9.0K and 4.2H , for the neck 7.5K and 2.7H, a bit more than the readings you suggested for the 51 set , I guess the TR would have a lower resonant peak and a bit more hot output, right?
​

 

[freefrog]

I searched for the pages on TGP , found several, the common feeling is this set has high approval rate, many saying it's the best they've found, but with 6.95K, I fear, could it be too low output for good rock tones?
I mean, I've never been so much in ultra twang tele tones, I bought the SD broadcaster trying on purpose to get rid of the overly trebly 'standard' tele bridge tones, and it worked but, maybe, is lacking a bit of pulp on the mid bass.

I've seen a Tonerider A3 set too, even cheaper, I'm not a corksniffer and I think Tonerider make good quality pickup based on my experience (their A2 PAF for example is one of the best HB I've ever tried), they declare for the bridge 9.0K and 4.2H , for the neck 7.5K and 2.7H, a bit more than the readings you suggested for the 51 set , I guess the TR would have a lower resonant peak and a bit more hot output, right?
​

The 6.95k reading means absolutely nothing IMHO. the 3.33H of inductance measured on this bridge model are higher than what I've measured on a 8.1k / 3H Duncan A2 Tele PU, for instance, and hardly lower than on a Fender Tele Texas Special ( measured for the bridge @ 3.58H and 10.15k. Probably wound with 43 AWG).

The CS51 set as I know it is not twangy thin sounding. And if it was because of how a defined guitar "takes" it, it would be easily corrected by a coily cable (or a cap of the same capacitance from hot to ground of the output jack), giving it potentially the same response than to the Tonerider set mentioned: a cap of 220pF in parallel with the 3.33H PU would drag its resonance at the same frequency than for the 4.2H PU through the same cable and a possible difference of output level would be compensated by putting the "weaker" pickup closer to the strings (without downsides, since A3 = low string pull).

Now, I've nothing against Tonerider: I just find weaker pickups more flexible than hotter ones. YMMV. Do what you want and be happy.

Back to my covid now... :0/

 

[Inflames626]

The 6.95k reading means absolutely nothing IMHO. the 3.33H of inductance measured on this bridge model are higher than what I've measured on a 8.1k / 3H Duncan A2 Tele PU, for instance, and hardly lower than on a Fender Tele Texas Special ( measured for the bridge @ 3.58H and 10.15k. Probably wound with 43 AWG).

The CS51 set as I know it is not twangy thin sounding. And if it was because of how a defined guitar "takes" it, it would be easily corrected by a coily cable (or a cap of the same capacitance from hot to ground of the output jack), giving it potentially the same response than to the Tonerider set mentioned: a cap of 220pF in parallel with the 3.33H PU would drag its resonance at the same frequency than for the 4.2H PU through the same cable and a possible difference of output level would be compensated by putting the "weaker" pickup closer to the strings (without downsides, since A3 = low string pull).

Now, I've nothing against Tonerider: I just find weaker pickups more flexible than hotter ones. YMMV. Do what you want and be happy.

Back to my covid now... :0/

Yay, freefrog.

 

[marcello252]

Back to my covid now... :0/

uuuh, best wishes, get well soon

 

[marcello252]

ok freefrog you convinced me, got here the 51 set, next week I'm going to install it, I'll let you know