First Tele, need help!

[Thundermtn]

So hell froze over and I now have my first Fender guitar ever.

It's an '08 Hwy 1 Tele, that has been neck routed with an un-potted Seth Lover HB. For all I know it is still factory wired with the greasebucket tone control.

So when I A-B'd it with my brothers '04 American Tele the bridge pickup in the Hwy1 is more sterile and not as twangy while the '04 American has more classic twang and chime. The '04 is also more dynamic in attack response, and when i REALLY dig in it pushes into a wilder sort of P90 sounding type of sound.

I need advice on if I should keep the greasebucket setup, and what replacement bridge pup should I look for to kind of match the Seth, while being more clear/high-fi sounding with some twangy bite that will push into a little distortion if I'm playing it hard, and still stay dynamic when played with a more normal attack.

It remarkably has almost perfect intonation with the stock chrome barrels, is it worth it to try brass? I love the neck tone so I am not sure.

I don't know anything about single coil pickups whatsoever, have no clue who makes what or what's good so any help is really appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: First Tele, need help!

Switching to brass will make it darker and less hi-fi. I think the Vintage Stack meets your requirements, and it's noiseless.

 

[AlexR]

Re: First Tele, need help!

Jerry Donahue. The best slightly beefy Tele pickup in the line that still sounds vintage. It straddles both sides of the line with equal aplomb.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: First Tele, need help!

Congrats on the greatest solid body electric guitar! So many great choices, but if it were my choice I would keep the Seth in the neck, and swap the bridge.

Without having to spend custom shop or boutique money, here are some excellent options

Duncan STL-1 Broadcaster
Duncan Jerry Donahue

Replace the GB circuit with two 250k audio pots and the cap of your choice

No reason to change anything else

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: First Tele, need help!

+1 for Broadcaster and standard wiring. I have that same tele.

 

[Mincer]

Re: First Tele, need help!

Jerry Donahue. The best slightly beefy Tele pickup in the line that still sounds vintage. It straddles both sides of the line with equal aplomb.

If I use a Tele, my this is easily my favorite pickup for it. It gets rid of the stuff I hate (ultra high end) and replaces it with more power and less banshee-like voice.

 

[Thundermtn]

Re: First Tele, need help!

I appreciate the suggestions.

The Seth in the neck on this guitar is my favorite neck tone from any guitar I've ever played. The guy that had it before me knew he had something when he had the thing routed in. I never forgot about it and told him if he ever sold it to put me on the top of the list. Well 8+ years have passed since then and i was able to get it. It sounded good when I tried it out again but after getting it home and adjusting the height and screws, it came alive.

This is one of these times when the guitar and pup together have magic they shouldn't, the type of guitar that will slay almost anything you put up against it. I'll keep my eye out for the JD for sure but am willing to try a no budget limitation, no holds barred killer bridge pup as well. Maybe not silver zephyr money but if it's worth it for the tone, money isn't a big issue.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: First Tele, need help!

The two mentioned are great, but honestly, all of the Telecaster bridge pickups from Seymour are very good. I think the only ones I don't currently have in guitars are the modern noiseless things.

If you want more vintage with and/or something with some grunt. The JD is a winner. The 53 tapped tele bridge is awesome for both a hot rod tone and a vintage tone. The BG1400 is my "go to" stacked hot tele bridge and is a monster for a rock guitar.

Any of the Antiquity models are also great.

Outside of Duncan, most of my experience is with Fender models. I would recommend the Twisted Tele set, the Nocaster set, the Broadcaster bridge (have to find a pullout), and the '62 RI bridge

Unless you have something specific in mind, the JD would be where I would start. I think you will love it, and if you don't there are plenty of people who would buy it.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: First Tele, need help!

The JD is a great Tele pup for sure. But it sounds like you want something that is slightly gutsier. The JD is still very vintage Tele tone. You might want to consider the tapped version of the Quarter Pound. When tapped, it has the more vintage tone when you want it, but when it is played full-coil it is a bit more full and powerful sounding. That is one of my favorite Tele bridge pups (for Teles with humbucker bridge rout, I like a StagMag for its versatility).

 

[Thundermtn]

Re: First Tele, need help!

Thank you all for your advice.

I listened to clips of everything listed and the Antiquity was so close to what I want. Wish it was a little cleaner lightly picked and a little more growl when hit hard but I'm not sure if that's possible. Could The CS achieve this?

The Broadcaster was next and the J.D. third by a nose. They were both great in their own way.

The Fralin Blues Special was really nice too but lacked the growl the Ant had, cleans were spot on though.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: First Tele, need help!

Before doing anything, set the pickup up a few different ways. Start with going higher.

I'm a big Esquire fan, and I rather liked the Highway 1 pickups, on both Strats and Tele.

Also, remember that the bridges on the two guitars are different. That can make a difference. Yours is probably more like a traditional vintage Tele tone, actually. The pickup is probably a lighter toned pickup as well...possibly with A3 magnets IIRC (which are a relatively weak magnet).

If it's intonated well, then don't touch the damned saddles. Be glad that it is, and don't monkey with it.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: First Tele, need help!

My Highway 1 Tele came with Tex Mex hot pickups.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: First Tele, need help!

I listened to clips of everything listed and the Antiquity was so close to what I want. Wish it was a little cleaner lightly picked and a little more growl when hit hard but I'm not sure if that's possible. Could The CS achieve this?

Amp gain is where I get that effect, not so much pickups. But you could ask for a hotter but bright Antiquity.

 

[jeremy]

Re: First Tele, need help!

the tapped '53 is a such a great pup. similar to the antiquity I tele lead when tapped and then you have the full 9.5k output when you want it.

 

[Thundermtn]

Re: First Tele, need help!

Ok, so after reading your responses I got curious on the bridge pickup, called the guy after a ton of height adjustments and he said it was a 5/2.

No wonder it sounded hot and thick in the low end and ok on the skinnies.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: First Tele, need help!

My Highway 1 Tele came with Tex Mex hot pickups.

Not sure, but that might be the Hwy 1 Texas Tele.

 

[Farkus]

Re: First Tele, need help!

I had a Highway Tele for a while and I put a Duncan floor custom Broadcaster with an A2 mag in the bridge position. It was simply fantastic with gain and clean it still sounded like a Tele. Really wish I still had that guitar.

Regarding the 5/2...I have a set of the 5/2 Strat pickups...I think the concept is great on paper but I've had trouble getting the pickups to sound tonally balanced. When I first got them I thought they sounded good but it started bugging me a little so out they came. I've had much better luck with mixing A3/A2/A5 pickups in different positions versus one pickup with different mags in it.

Good luck!

 

[Chistopher]

Re: First Tele, need help!

I had a Highway Tele for a while and I put a Duncan floor custom Broadcaster with an A2 mag in the bridge position. It was simply fantastic with gain and clean it still sounded like a Tele. Really wish I still had that guitar.

Regarding the 5/2...I have a set of the 5/2 Strat pickups...I think the concept is great on paper but I've had trouble getting the pickups to sound tonally balanced. When I first got them I thought they sounded good but it started bugging me a little so out they came. I've had much better luck with mixing A3/A2/A5 pickups in different positions versus one pickup with different mags in it.

Good luck!

What magnet did you find worked best in each position? I've been considering ordering a Custom Shop set with a mixed set of magnets, calibrating each pickup to its location.

 

[Mincer]

Re: First Tele, need help!

I use the Five Two in a Warmoth Strat (maple/swamp ash chambered body) and it is really balanced. It has become my favorite true single coil pickup. It gets rid of the ice picky thing I don't like, and has tight piano-like lows. So if I have to use any single coil, I go for the Five Two first.

 

[Farkus]

Re: First Tele, need help!

What magnet did you find worked best in each position? I've been considering ordering a Custom Shop set with a mixed set of magnets, calibrating each pickup to its location.

My favorite strat pickup for the neck is A3 with A5 in the middle and bridge. But of course it depends on the wind. I had Smit's build me a whole set of A3 strat pickups and they were great. A2 works as well, like the broadcaster pup I was mentioning and it just kills with that wind. You can build a balanced set with any type as long as your winder knows what you want.