Help needed on DCR numbers for custom shop tele bridge pup

[telecast]

So I'm considering a custom shop order for a tele bridge pup. I'm looking for a somewhat darker variation of that Springsteen growl. This is going into a light weight tele ash body with a maple neck. I'm thinking of either ordering a broadcaster pup but slightly overwound to darken it up and boost output a bit, or going for an under wound STL-2 (hot for tele single coil). The fully wound STL2 sounds a bit choked in the mids for me. I'd like something a tad bit clearer.

Any suggestions on DCR figures I should consider? In other words how over or under wound to request? Has anyone done this kind of order before? Thanks!

 

[AlexR]

Re: Help needed on DCR numbers for custom shop tele bridge pup

I'm sure you've heard the saying 'K doesn't equal output'. Also what should be just as readily taught is 'K doesn't equal tone'. If you are doing a custom order the only thing you should be trying to describe is the tonal outcome.....period!

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: Help needed on DCR numbers for custom shop tele bridge pup

I'm sure you've heard the saying 'K doesn't equal output'. Also what should be just as readily taught is 'K doesn't equal tone'. If you are doing a custom order the only thing you should be trying to describe is the tonal outcome.....period!

This. MJ at the Custom Shop is a master at knowing how a pickup will sound. Describe what you're looking for tone wise and she'll put together something that will blow your mind. It seems like you've got an idea of what you want, but narrow it down to something like "I want a slightly darker sounding Broadcaster with a bit more output." Think about what kind of frequencies you want like low mids, high mids, etc. and specify that as well. The more specific you can be with the tone you're looking for, the better the chances of them blowing your mind will be. Don't specify overwound/underwound.

 

[elelpe]

Re: Help needed on DCR numbers for custom shop tele bridge pup

Recipe for a slightly darker sounding Broadcaster with a bit more output: 42 gauge, A5, 8.2 - 8.5k. Or Nocaster recipe: 43 gauge, A3, 10k-ish. Personally I'd like mine fatter/thicker than that but I'm not after twang.

 

[telecast]

Re: Help needed on DCR numbers for custom shop tele bridge pup

This. MJ at the Custom Shop is a master at knowing how a pickup will sound. Describe what you're looking for tone wise and she'll put together something that will blow your mind. It seems like you've got an idea of what you want, but narrow it down to something like "I want a slightly darker sounding Broadcaster with a bit more output." Think about what kind of frequencies you want like low mids, high mids, etc. and specify that as well. The more specific you can be with the tone you're looking for, the better the chances of them blowing your mind will be. Don't specify overwound/underwound.

I think the frequencies question is what I have to work on. It can be difficult to isolate which group of frequencies are causing the pain point. I want it glassy with that tele bite, but right now it's hyper glassy, and I'm not sure if it's too much highs or too much upper mids, or not enough lower mids to smooth things out. I have a para eq pedal at home, so I'll take some time this weekend to experiment and try to isolate which frequencies I should have either reduced or boosted. Thanks!

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: Help needed on DCR numbers for custom shop tele bridge pup

I think the frequencies question is what I have to work on. It can be difficult to isolate which group of frequencies are causing the pain point. I want it glassy with that tele bite, but right now it's hyper glassy, and I'm not sure if it's too much highs or too much upper mids, or not enough lower mids to smooth things out. I have a para eq pedal at home, so I'll take some time this weekend to experiment and try to isolate which frequencies I should have either reduced or boosted. Thanks!

No problem. Do your best to kind of figure out which is missing from your tone and that'll help the custom shop get you what you want.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Help needed on DCR numbers for custom shop tele bridge pup

I've had good success with the fralin 5% overwound flat pole broadcaster pickup in a light weight ash body with a maple neck. The thing is, with any tele pickup, winding it hotter is going to push the tone towards the midrange. You might find that seeing as you reckon the hot is a bit too much, then just a regular pickup rather than overwound will give you closer to that real vintage tone. With tele pickups, what you lose in output you gain in attitude. You might be happy with either the stl-1 or regular broadcaster.
Output is not important, its all about getting the tone you are after. You can always boost the output with something like an RC boost, SHO, bad bob, SD pickup booster or whatever else you like for that job. Its worth seeing how you go with a regular pickup before you order custom. There are many reasons the good folks at Seymour have them in their range. The Jerry Donahue is also a great pickup. Without hearing your actual guitars acoustic resonance it is difficult to recommend a perfect match. Choosing pickups purely by specs on paper doesn't guarantee tonal nirvana either. Then there is the whole matter of signal chain and amp as well as speaker selection too.
I recommend going with a production model first and stick with it for a few weeks at least. You might found some super cool sounds hidden in that vintage style tele that you didn't even realize existed.

5% over does not necessarily mean 5% better.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Help needed on DCR numbers for custom shop tele bridge pup

I think your short description in your first post might help MJ decide on what the formula is. She can and will find the sound that works, that's for sure.

 

[Scott Olson]

Re: Help needed on DCR numbers for custom shop tele bridge pup

This. MJ at the Custom Shop is a master at knowing how a pickup will sound. Describe what you're looking for tone wise and she'll put together something that will blow your mind. It seems like you've got an idea of what you want, but narrow it down to something like "I want a slightly darker sounding Broadcaster with a bit more output." Think about what kind of frequencies you want like low mids, high mids, etc. and specify that as well. The more specific you can be with the tone you're looking for, the better the chances of them blowing your mind will be. Don't specify overwound/underwound.

Exactly. You're more likely to get what you want by specifying the sound and letting MJ use her 30+ years of experience dial in the right wind, magnet, wire gauge and materials. MJ hits it out of the park everytime, even with descriptions that seem like there is no way possible. I remember my buddy Peter asking for " a pickup whose tone feels like sanded maple, tastes like creme brûlée and looks like sunlight through a glass of beer." She nailed it perfectly.