Fender Nocaster vs. SD Broadcaster

[dr space]

I'm looking for some new pups for my tele. I currently have some BL 280's in there and I don't mind them but I feel I can get better 'tele' tone from my USA series tele.

I'm looking for a bridge pup that sounds very 'vintage' and very 'twangy' but that isn't too harsh or weak sounding. I don't like 'hot' sounding pickups, nor do I like some other tele bridge pups which were 'too middy'... looking for something which is JUST RIGHT, bright and biting yet smooth in a way... I've narrowed my choices down to the Fender Nocaster and the SD broadcaster and possibly even the JD model.

Anyone have any comments about these pickups?

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Fender Nocaster vs. SD Broadcaster

I'd go for the Duncan a2 Jerry Donahue over both the a3 NoCaster and the a5 Broadcaster. It has the smoothest highs and most mallable mids and just like Seymour says on the JD box: it's for the consumate Tele player...the player who can shape the tone with his or her fingers and pick. Truly, the mids are almost like modeling clay and allow me to squeeze notes and harmonics out. I searched for 30 years for a Tele pickup that sounded like the lead pickup that came with the best Tele I ever owned: a real '51 Tele. The JD is that pickup...it's modeled after the lead pickup in Jerry's '52 Tele which must have been the pickup in my '51 Tele too. IMO, it sounds best adjusted very close to the strings...closer than most players are used to.

However, for the snappier, twangier, brighter and more traditional Tele tone, the a3 NoCaster will get more of that tone. That's a great tone too and those are the pickups in my '53 RI CS Tele.

The JD's have more quack and the NoCasters have more twang.

Lew

 

[mrfjones]

Re: Fender Nocaster vs. SD Broadcaster

you might want to look at another thread on this forum "ultimate tele tone" it has lots of information.

 

[Kelsey]

Re: Fender Nocaster vs. SD Broadcaster

Yeah, check out the thread mentioned by mrfjones and started by Lew. I have the Nocaster bridge pup in 2 different Teles -- it has a very sweet, full midrange and smooth high end in the lighter one and somewhat less midrange but more high end bite in the heavier one. I also have the JD in another, even heavier Tele. It has the strongest low end (although not quite as tight on the lows as the Nocasters), smooth midrange, and smooth high end (although not a lot of real bite). All 3 of these pickups are bright, but not harsh, and they have good output and vintage tone. A lot of people seem to like the Broadcaster, too, but I haven't used one.

 

[dr space]

Re: Fender Nocaster vs. SD Broadcaster

thanks, i will definetly check out the other thread... while wer here, does the nocaster have a a5 or a3 magnet? i remember someone telling me it was a5, but i've heard its a3 from other sources, can anyone confirm?

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Fender Nocaster vs. SD Broadcaster

thanks, i will definetly check out the other thread... while wer here, does the nocaster have a a5 or a3 magnet? i remember someone telling me it was a5, but i've heard its a3 from other sources, can anyone confirm?

I believe the NoCaster has A3 polepieces. It's an excellant, classic Tele pickup in a lightweight ash guitar...I didn't like it quite as much in my heavier alder bodied Tele, but it still sounded very good. Just a brighter, snappier and twangier tone than I prefer.

I can tell you this: I owned an original '51 Tele and the lead pickup sounded like the Jerry Donahue...NOT the NoCaster. At least in that particular '51 Tele.

Lew

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Fender Nocaster vs. SD Broadcaster

I believe the NoCaster has A3 polepieces. It's an excellant, classic Tele pickup in a lightweight ash guitar...I didn't like it quite as much in my heavier alder bodied Tele, but it still sounded very good. Just a brighter, snappier and twangier tone than I prefer.

I can tell you this: I owned an original '51 Tele and the lead pickup sounded like the Jerry Donahue...NOT the NoCaster. At least in that particular '51 Tele.

Lew

I'm a Nocaster user in both of my Teles and I really like em..They are A3 poles and I have an earlier 10k model and also the more recent 7.3k model..I normally like Duncan pickups for everything,but I also like these Nocaster pickups.. :dance: (Loud and Proud) pretty much explains them..

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Fender Nocaster vs. SD Broadcaster

I'm a Nocaster user in both of my Teles and I really like em..They are A3 poles and I have an earlier 10k model and also the more recent 7.3k model..I normally like Duncan pickups for everything,but I also like these Nocaster pickups.. :dance: (Loud and Proud) pretty much explains them..

I like them too. I've heard them in two of my Teles: the alder bodied James Burton and also the featherweight ash '53 Custom Shop Tele Relic I recently purchased. The '53 came with the NoCasters and I put a set in my James Burton.

They'll stay in the '53 for the time being...but I removed them from the James Burton Tele and replaced them with the Jerry Donahue model.

It's nice to have a choice...tho I wind up playing the cheaper James Burton Tele just because that JD pickup sounds that much better to me.

I'll probably end up replacing at least the NoCaster bridge pickup in my '53 with either an Antiquity or JD, because the '53 really is a nicer guitar!

Lew

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Fender Nocaster vs. SD Broadcaster

I like them too. I've heard them in two of my Teles: the alder bodied James Burton and also the featherweight ash '53 Custom Shop Tele Relic I recently purchased. The '53 came with the NoCasters and I put a set in my James Burton.

They'll stay in the '53 for the time being...but I removed them from the James Burton Tele and replaced them with the Jerry Donahue model.

It's nice to have a choice...tho I wind up playing the cheaper James Burton Tele just because that JD pickup sounds that much better to me.

I'll probably end up replacing at least the NoCaster bridge pickup in my '53 with either an Antiquity or JD, because the '53 really is a nicer guitar!

Lew

Lew...And ya know,I've not tryed a Duncan Tele pickup...I'm afraid to! :burnout: Everyone knows that Teles and Tele pickups are Seymour's forte! I stole these Nocasters though cheap and I really do like them.I guess if it ain't broke,don't fix it..

John