Fender Telecaster neck idea ?

Jazz+

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Is this a good idea?
I bought a white 2018 MIM Standard (muddy mid-range ceramics) and now I think I will put an American Standard (Hot) pickup (part no. 005-0890-000) in the neck , I can get it for $30, and a Fender Custom '62 Tele Bridge pickup, I can get for $40.
So only $70 total
I am a vintage jazz player, I never play rock. I like a strictly clean neck with harmonic clarity , and maybe some blues for the bridge.
 
Re: Fender Telecaster neck idea ?

This 1999 American Standard Tele neck pickup (same as the part number I ordered on eBay for $30) sure sounds articulate and clean to me. If I roll of the tone I think I should get a nice jazz neck tone, no?

 
Re: Fender Telecaster neck idea ?

Interesting comparison: American Standard Telecaster stock pickup (neck) with Seymour Duncan APTR-1

 
Re: Fender Telecaster neck idea ?

I just swapped my neck pu to a Duncan Vintage for Tele STR-1. Really lovely on it's own and really creamy overdriven.

I made this comparsion video. Hope it helps you get an idea…


 
Re: Fender Telecaster neck idea ?

Bad idea for a neck pickup. It sounds muddier than the stock Mexican-made ceramic-mag pickup IME.

Good bridge pickup choice. I would try a Seth neck pickup for the neck position. They are a very good balance to an old-style Tele bridge pickup.
 
Re: Fender Telecaster neck idea ?

This 1999 American Standard Tele neck pickup (same as the part number I ordered on eBay for $30) sure sounds articulate and clean to me. If I roll of the tone I think I should get a nice jazz neck tone, no?


Well, as I perceive a jazz tone, this isn't it. It sounds like a Fender, which isn't a jazz sound at all- it doesn't help that he isn't playing jazz. I was thinking more Joe Pass or Hank Garland.
 
Re: Fender Telecaster neck idea ?

I think roll the tone off that American Standard Tele neck pickup and at the amp then it should come out sounding mellow (jazz) but with clarity (it has a lot of high frequency definition to begin with). My opinion is you can take away highs but you can't add them... for example to a Duncan Alnico II Pro which sounds to me like they already rolled off the treble, it's got that mid range boost that attracts buyers , but the high frequency details are quite subdued to begin with.
 
Re: Fender Telecaster neck idea ?

If you go to 2:50 you can hear what these typically bright Fender American neck pickups can sound like with Tone Rolled Off for jazz: American Strat, Tele and Jazzmaster:

 
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