Fender Telecaster Deluxe P-up ???

[douglas]

I have a 'made in mexico' '72 reissue Tele Deluxe with 2 humbkrs I picked up for use as a back up beater. I am happy with the guitar itself, but the pickups are dark and sound muffled. I realize that the reissue pickups are far different from the original and that the guitar uses different volume pots. I have looked into getting one or 2 original Fender humbkrs, but they are nearly impossible to find and sell for hundreds anyway.
My question is, if I want to change the bridge pickup only, does anyone have any advice? What would sound good in this guitar?
I also play a GMP Flying V with a CustomCustom in the bridge and a 59 in the neck and a Les paul Custom with stock pickups. These 2 guitars sound amazing. I would like to get the Fender to come close, but still retain some of the tele signature. I know that may be impossible, but...

 

[Mojambo]

Re: Fender Telecaster Deluxe P-up ???

I've got the same guitar and I know exactly what you mean about the muddy quality. Unfortunately, it's gonna be kinda tricky to upgrade pups in the Tele Deluxe since the Fender style humbuckers are bigger than standard PAF style ones. You'll need to get a custom pickguard to go along with the new pups.

I can't really give you advice as to what pups to get, but you will need a Trembucker for the bridge (I measured the string spacing on my Tele to confirm this). In mine, I'm gonna put a Duncan Custom in the bridge and a Pearly Gates in the neck, but again, it's up to you what you want. If you want to stay true to the guitar, I would stay away from the really hot stuff and stick with the more vintage style SD models, like the Pearly Gates, 59, Seth Lovers, etc. But there's never any rules for what pups you should get, just get what sounds best to you.

 

[MarkyMarkRox]

Re: Fender Telecaster Deluxe P-up ???

Go to http://www.warmoth.com and they can get you a suitable pickguard for the axe. However, you might want to call and ask if they can get you a trembucker spaced bridge slot, seeing as how I do believe that the string spacing is for trembucker. Go to http://www.fender.com and look up the level that the pots are at and it can help you in deciding which pups you will need.

 

[Voxman]

Re: Fender Telecaster Deluxe P-up ???

Hello!
I`m on it too!
I have tried to get the same answers for some time now.
For the pickguard listen to Markymarkrox,it`s all true.
These reissues have a wider bridgespacing than the originals.I have a original 70`s bridgeplate,it does`nt fit at all. GO for a trembucker in the bridge!!!!
The maple neck are the big issue when it comes to finding a PU.You don`t want this thing to sound to bright.
The pearly gates,alnico 2 pro and custom custom is recommended for brighter sounding guitars....did i forget one?(SD tonewizzard).I`ll go for one of these on my `72 tele deluxe!
Anyway,i have replaced the pots on mine with 1 meg cts pots,it takes away some of the muddy sound.(comes with 250k pots).yes it`s true....!
The only company that makes replacement pu for these guitars are Rio Grande.(72`tele big bottom set).The muy grande neck pu in this set has a very high output.....16k?. a bit to hot for me.
I`m into medium output les paul sound as well!
I don`t think i will get some real answer`s before i have tested one of these pu`s myself.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Fender Telecaster Deluxe P-up ???

Ok gentlemen. Went onlie and found drop in replacements for Fender's Widerange 'buckers. Go to www.riograndepickups.com .

They have what you need.

 

[Voxman]

Re: Fender Telecaster Deluxe P-up ???

hmmmm!

 

[douglas]

Re: Fender Telecaster Deluxe P-up ???

Thanks for the help. I checked out Rio Grande. They sound good on the clips, and seem like an easy, but pricey, solution. Gonna give it some thought and see what I come up with. Might also try switching out the pots as well. See if that gives me the openess I'm looking for.