Good neck PU match for Jerry Donahue bridge in Tele.

[dr0]

I'm a big Tele fan and have several. My favorite is my Hwy One Telecaster which still has the stock Texas Special pickups in them. It's my #1 guitar

My #2 and backup for gigs is a Fender 1950's Telecaster. Both Tele's have ash bodies and maple necks. The Hwy1 is made in the USA, the 50's is MIM. They are pretty similar in specs, but the sound is no where near the other. The pickups on the 50s Tele, just seemed gutless, especially the bridge. My buddy (who sort of helps me with guitar stuff) suggested and installed a S.D. Jerry Donahue bridge pickup. I really like the sound of it, but I don't use the bridge pickup alot, 75% of the time I'm on the front or middle positions.

One problem I have is that the volume jump from neck to bridge settings as the guitar is set up
now is quite noticeable. And the front PU, while lovely when played solo on a small amp, is just a little too subdued for my typical real-world setting.

I play in a three piece band, basic Rock and Roll. My main amp lately is a 59 Bassman reissue and I use a couple overdrives, a Maxon and an OCD. I sometimes use an old Marshall JCM 800 50 watt combo in place of the Bassman, mostly for the slightly crunchier rhythm.

SO: Given the above what S.D. pickup would you suggest I replace the stock pup on the 50s Tele with. Something that is like the Texas Special and would match well volume and tone wise with the Jerry Donahue?

I think the SD web tool suggests the Alinco II Pro Tele, but there are so many other options. Would the Quarter Pound Tele be closer to the tone I'm used to on my Texas Specials?

 

[Farkus]

Re: Good neck PU match for Jerry Donahue bridge in Tele.

There are a lot of options. Right now what I'm using with mine is an SSL-1 model strat neck model. Volume wise they match very well. Also when they're on together they sound beautiful. I cannot comment on the Texas specials because I have not used those in a Tele.

 

[stratguy23]

Re: Good neck PU match for Jerry Donahue bridge in Tele.

The Alnico II Pro Tele is an interesting recommendation, because I used to have an Alnico II Pro *Strat* in the neck paired with a JD bridge in an ash-bodied, maple-necked Tele. That combination worked very well.

If AII Pro Tele doesn't work out for you, maybe try the Hot Tele. That is intentionally overwound, which may match the overwound Texas Specials you're used to.

Quarter Pound neck will probably overpower the JD bridge. The QP neck is made to pair with the QP bridge, a hot and powerful pickup, which the JD isn't.

 

[dr0]

Re: Good neck PU match for Jerry Donahue bridge in Tele.

The Alnico II Pro Tele is an interesting recommendation, because I used to have an Alnico II Pro *Strat* in the neck paired with a JD bridge in an ash-bodied, maple-necked Tele. That combination worked very well.

If AII Pro Tele doesn't work out for you, maybe try the Hot Tele. That is intentionally overwound, which may match the overwound Texas Specials you're used to.

Quarter Pound neck will probably overpower the JD bridge. The QP neck is made to pair with the QP bridge, a hot and powerful pickup, which the JD isn't.

Thanks for the suggestions and insights.

 

[dr0]

Re: Good neck PU match for Jerry Donahue bridge in Tele.

By the way: why do people like Strat pickups in the neck of Tele's, as both of you, Stratguy23 and Farcus, said that you were running them? I know the Tele-style front pickup is a bit strange with the all metal cover, but if you go with a Strat style don't you have to cut the pickguard (not too big a deal, I guess) and then route the body (something I would be reluctant to do).

There must be some reason to do all that, especially where you are installing a SD pickup like the Quarter Pound, or Texas Special that has both a Tele and Strat version available.

Sorry, I'm pretty green to guitar mods, having relied on my friend to just set them up for me for a long time, so I don't know the secrets of the gurus.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Good neck PU match for Jerry Donahue bridge in Tele.

If you don't mind switching to a humbucker, the Seth Lover matches with the JD bridge pickup really well. That is the best Tele combo I've heard.

 

[Farkus]

Re: Good neck PU match for Jerry Donahue bridge in Tele.

By the way: why do people like Strat pickups in the neck of Tele's, as both of you, Stratguy23 and Farcus, said that you were running them? I know the Tele-style front pickup is a bit strange with the all metal cover, but if you go with a Strat style don't you have to cut the pickguard (not too big a deal, I guess) and then route the body (something I would be reluctant to do).

There must be some reason to do all that, especially where you are installing a SD pickup like the Quarter Pound, or Texas Special that has both a Tele and Strat version available.

Sorry, I'm pretty green to guitar mods, having relied on my friend to just set them up for me for a long time, so I don't know the secrets of the gurus.

Well, it depends on what your scenario is. For example I'm putting the Strat neck pickup in an American Standard Tele, so the wood underneath the pick guard is already routed. I just order a new pick guard from Warmoth that is routed for a Strat single coil in the neck. Very easy and is like $25. I prefer the Strat pickup in the neck to the standard Tele because of the clarity. I certainly have used standard Tele neck pickups in the past, and they are fine, but this is my preference and since I am replacing pickups anyway why not get what I want?

It is my understanding that JD himself (Jerry Donahue) wasn't happy with standard Tele neck pickups and used the SD A2 Strat pickup in the neck of his Telecasters.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Good neck PU match for Jerry Donahue bridge in Tele.

By the way: why do people like Strat pickups in the neck of Tele's, as both of you, Stratguy23 and Farcus, said that you were running them? I know the Tele-style front pickup is a bit strange with the all metal cover, but if you go with a Strat style don't you have to cut the pickguard (not too big a deal, I guess) and then route the body (something I would be reluctant to do).

There must be some reason to do all that, especially where you are installing a SD pickup like the Quarter Pound, or Texas Special that has both a Tele and Strat version available.

Sorry, I'm pretty green to guitar mods, having relied on my friend to just set them up for me for a long time, so I don't know the secrets of the gurus.

Well, I think that it gives people a much more usable sound for the music they are playing. Music has changd a lot since the 2 pickup Tele was introduced, and we don't hear that traditional Tele neck pickup in a lot of music these days. Also, it is fun. A new pickguard is pretty cheap and most Teles these days are routed for it, anyway.

 

[Alex Semple]

Re: Good neck PU match for Jerry Donahue bridge in Tele.

Hi! The APTR-1 is probably the most recommended neck pairing with the JD bridge (which I agree is a killer pup)!.

 

[stratguy23]

Re: Good neck PU match for Jerry Donahue bridge in Tele.

By the way: why do people like Strat pickups in the neck of Tele's, as both of you, Stratguy23 and Farcus, said that you were running them? I know the Tele-style front pickup is a bit strange with the all metal cover, but if you go with a Strat style don't you have to cut the pickguard (not too big a deal, I guess) and then route the body (something I would be reluctant to do).

This is a reasonable question to ask. The "Tele" I had wasn't a Fender; it was a Dream Studios Twang, and it came stock with the AII Pro Strat in neck and JD bridge - very thoughtful combination, and top-shelf for stock pickups.

The Strat neck, Tele bridge combo is a "best of both worlds" scenario. The best sound from a Strat (IMO) is the neck pickup. The best sound from a Tele (pretty much universal opinion) is the bridge pickup. It makes sense to combine the two. Granted, the Strat pickup is now in a non-Strat environment (different wood, probably, and Tele bridge and no trem route, etc.), but I felt that much of the Strat neck pickup character was retained even in a Tele.

I would take a Strat neck pickup over a Tele neck pickup any day. The Strat PU is bigger and meatier, while the Tele PU is wimpier and unnecessarily warm due to the metal cover.