Humbucker advise for “classic” Tele sound

[waltschwarzkopf]

Humbucker advise for “classic” Tele sound

Hi guys,

I may soon acquire a Fender Telecaster Custom FMT HH Spalted maple (whoa, that’s a long name) and I’m thinking on replacing the pickups.

The previous owner installed TV Jones’s, which are good pickups, but just not my cup of tea. I need something with a bit of a kick and more output.

I was thinking about the JB/Jazz set for many reasons. Its versatility, the output of the JB, the sound of the jazz with the tone rolled back and because they can be splitted. The tone knob is a push/pull used to split the humbuckers. I don’t know if one should split to the screws or slug coils...

This made me want to attempt to get the classic tele sound. Before you tell me to get a “real” SS tele or else, I’m already sold on the sound of an HH guitar, my former Ibanez RG, the Gibsons Les Paul and SG, and other guitars have proven to me that this is the sound I want. However, since everything to split the coils is already there, then why the heck not give it a try. The JB is of higher output than the Jazz, so this may be on the direction of the “normal” tele pickups when splitting the coils. But I saw another HH tele that had a P-rails on the bridge, which made think if the P90 would sound closer to a tele bridge pickup sound than a split JB.

I’m very tempted to put a set of Duncan Distortion in there, as my LP has AlNiCo Vs and the SG AlNiCo IIs. And I almost bought an Ibanez to use for heavy(er) stuff...

I’m a big fan of Page, Angus and Blackmore and try to learn their stuff. I don’t use pedals of any kind, only rely on the clean/crunch channels fo my amp and use the volume knob on the guitar to clean up the sound if I need to. I’ve got most of that covered with my Gibsons and a Pacifica 604w. So this Tele will try to gain versatility and try to be a do-it-all. BTW, if I get the JB/Jazz set and then decide to get a P-rail, the JB may go into the bridge of the Pacifica to get a real humbucker in there.

One last thing, I saw on the original specs of the Fender, that the neck pickup was RWRP for noise cancelling when both pickups are selected AND the coils are splitted. Do I really need this? Or could I get away with having a normal HH set.

What do you think? any advise and past experience will be greatly appreciated! Although I’d like to get Duncans, feel free ro recommend other brands.

Thanks a lot for your time!

Cheers,
Walter


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[jeremy]

Re: Humbucker advise for “classic” Tele sound

Re: Humbucker advise for “classic” Tele sound

i think you should either focus on having your tele sound like a tele or sound like a great HH guitar. if the HH sound is the priority thats great, youll have the option to split the pups and get other tones. but they are not going to be all that "tele" like. a p90 doesnt sound like a tele bridge pup to me but the p90 sound of the prail is really good

 

[waltschwarzkopf]

Re: Humbucker advise for “classic” Tele sound

Re: Humbucker advise for “classic” Tele sound

i think you should either focus on having your tele sound like a tele or sound like a great HH guitar. if the HH sound is the priority thats great, youll have the option to split the pups and get other tones. but they are not going to be all that "tele" like. a p90 doesnt sound like a tele bridge pup to me but the p90 sound of the prail is really good

Ok, I rather have the tele sound like a great HH guitar. Any experience with the split JB/Jazz or the distorsión set? I could go for a P-rail set, but it’s quite expensive here and I don’t know if that is the sound I want.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[zionstrat]

Re: Humbucker advise for “classic” Tele sound

Re: Humbucker advise for “classic” Tele sound

Agree with Jeremy that you will get your best Tele sounds from a Tele configuration-

However, if you are going for 'Tele like' tones, especially for a cover guitar, I think you're headed in the right direction- Ironically, I posted a note about my JB driven cover guitar a few minutes ago-

My take would be do the JB and Jazz with inner and outer coils split and combined- And you might as well add series for a PRS kind of approach- That setup covers so much ground and the JB really gets nice and single like when combined with other pups.

The other mod I love, and is simple, is a the Half Out of Phase (Hoop) mod- It gets a quakcy sound out of two pickups and you usually see it combining the neck and bridge on a standard tele, but I've had similar 'fenderish' result with humbuckers and you could also apply Hoop to the split coils described above-

I would use a 5 way to get the classic PRS combinations and a push-pull for the Hoop.

 

[waltschwarzkopf]

Re: Humbucker advise for “classic” Tele sound

Re: Humbucker advise for “classic” Tele sound

Agree with Jeremy that you will get your best Tele sounds from a Tele configuration-

However, if you are going for 'Tele like' tones, especially for a cover guitar, I think you're headed in the right direction- Ironically, I posted a note about my JB driven cover guitar a few minutes ago-

My take would be do the JB and Jazz with inner and outer coils split and combined- And you might as well add series for a PRS kind of approach- That setup covers so much ground and the JB really gets nice and single like when combined with other pups.

The other mod I love, and is simple, is a the Half Out of Phase (Hoop) mod- It gets a quakcy sound out of two pickups and you usually see it combining the neck and bridge on a standard tele, but I've had similar 'fenderish' result with humbuckers and you could also apply Hoop to the split coils described above-

I would use a 5 way to get the classic PRS combinations and a push-pull for the Hoop.

Those are great ideas! I once rewired my experimental HSH strat for splitting either coil, series/parallel and phase in/out. Is great to play and versatile, bur I don’t use it that much. A three way toggle is enough for me on a HH, splitting maybe already pushing the limits. So I’m focusing on HH as the main dominant sound of the guitar, and maybe splitting the coils for a tele-kind-of-sound.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[zionstrat]

Re: Humbucker advise for “classic” Tele sound

Re: Humbucker advise for “classic” Tele sound

Got it- no reason to add wires if you don't need more sounds!

On the other hand, if you want more flexibility with your 3 way down the road, and don't mind drilling for 2 mini toggles, there's a relatively simple add on you could do later- ie 3 position switchs for single coil, parallel to self and series-

Or add the triple shot mounting ring and you don't have to drill anything

 

[jeremy]

Re: Humbucker advise for “classic” Tele sound

Re: Humbucker advise for “classic” Tele sound

the prails is a cool pup but my favorite sound is the p90, the humbucker tone is fairly different than a typical gibson style pup, even something with a hotter wind. i dont dislike it at all but it doesnt sound like a custom, jb, or distortion. the versatility of the prails is great but if i was just going for a great humbucker tone, id look else where

 

[waltschwarzkopf]

Re: Humbucker advise for “classic” Tele sound

Re: Humbucker advise for “classic” Tele sound

Gotcha! So I’ll start woth the hot rodded set with the push/pull to split to the screws. After a while I could change to the slug to try it out. In favt, I already tried this with my other guitar with other pickups, so this new guitar wirh new pickups may be a different story.

The triple shots do sound very interesting, but I doubt I’ll ever use all combinations. I also had this in my other guitar and it was fun to play with and experiment.

Any idea of how the distortion set sounds when split? I think the Distorion and the JB are the same, just with different magnets.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[gregory]

Re: Humbucker advise for “classic” Tele sound

Re: Humbucker advise for “classic” Tele sound

JB/Bluesbucker

I don't think you'll get a better split sound than with this pair, at least not better than the Bluesbucker.

I know I mentioned the Bluesbucker to you before.

 

[gregory]

Re: Humbucker advise for “classic” Tele sound

Re: Humbucker advise for “classic” Tele sound

Something else to consider for the neck, or at least something to give you an the idea:
Lace Dually Emerald/Purple
Wire the switch as coil select, rather than series/split.

I the same vein, you could combine something like a Cool Rails with an STK-S4M, where you split the S4M when combined with the JB or run noiseless when by itself. You'll have to get a more sophisticated 3-way to do the auto-splitting but it could be worthwhile.

1: JB (series) / JB (split)
2: JB (series) + Cool Rails / JB (split) + STK-S4M (split)
3: Cool Rails / STK-S4M

I'm not sure what other vintage output singles you can get that are flangeless that won't cost you an arm and a leg, but they will need to be if you want to run them side-by-side with a single-sized humbucker. Banjomikez sells DiMarzio singles (rails, stacks and traditional) without a flange for an extra $14. Maybe there's a dealer that can do that where you live.

 

[waltschwarzkopf]

Re: Humbucker advise for “classic” Tele sound

Re: Humbucker advise for “classic” Tele sound

Something else to consider for the neck, or at least something to give you an the idea:
Lace Dually Emerald/Purple
Wire the switch as coil select, rather than series/split.

I the same vein, you could combine something like a Cool Rails with an STK-S4M, where you split the S4M when combined with the JB or run noiseless when by itself. You'll have to get a more sophisticated 3-way to do the auto-splitting but it could be worthwhile.

1: JB (series) / JB (split)
2: JB (series) + Cool Rails / JB (split) + STK-S4M (split)
3: Cool Rails / STK-S4M

I'm not sure what other vintage output singles you can get that are flangeless that won't cost you an arm and a leg, but they will need to be if you want to run them side-by-side with a single-sized humbucker. Banjomikez sells DiMarzio singles (rails, stacks and traditional) without a flange for an extra $14. Maybe there's a dealer that can do that where you live.

My Pacifica has four identical single coils, two of them side by side in the bridge. I could give those a try either on the bridge or neck and contraste them with the Jazz/JB/Bluesbucker. Is that something like what you meant?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[gregory]

Re: Humbucker advise for “classic” Tele sound

Re: Humbucker advise for “classic” Tele sound

The idea is to get both a traditional single and a single sized humbucker in the neck. The reason being is that a split humbucker doesn't really sound like a single coil, but a Tele needs at least one single coil that sounds like a single coil, right?

The Cool Rails is like a Jazz but in a single-sized form factor. You put that, or something like it, side-by-side against a stacked or true single like the pair of singles in the bridge of your Pacifica. But instead of switching them between one single or both, you select one pickup or the other. It's almost like the best of both worlds, but instead of sacrificing your single coil tone, you get a more focused humbucker with a narrower sensing window, which I don't think is a bad trade-off at all.

 

[zionstrat]

Re: Humbucker advise for “classic” Tele sound

Re: Humbucker advise for “classic” Tele sound

The Cool Rails is like a Jazz but in a single-sized form factor.

A little off topic, I'm a cool rails nut- When on full, I don't find it very cool- kind of a warm sustaining pup- it will overdrive my mm HD130 and sing all night-

Because it has such 'umph' I have a lot of fun spin a splinting and parallels for stratish sounds and putting 1 coil in series with other pups for virtual humuckers-

One incredibly flexible pickup!

 

[stratguy23]

Re: Humbucker advise for “classic” Tele sound

Re: Humbucker advise for “classic” Tele sound

Back to OP's original inquiry, which, as I read it, is basically, "which humbucker sounds most like a Tele when split?" -

From personal experience, my answer would be the SH-5 Custom. I think the ceramic magnet gives some of the metallic clang of a conventional Tele pickup in Tele bridge.

The JB sounds very good split. However, I would characterize its split sound as being closer to a Strat bridge pickup.

I've never split a Jazz neck pickup, but its output is so low that I'd guess that its split sound isn't much of anything. For low-powered neck pickups, the Pearly Gates splits really well. It offers no comparison to a full-on single coil, but it has a nice cluck to it.

EDIT TO ADD: Rio Grande has a humbucker called the Tallboy that is expressly designed to offer full single coil sound when split. However, I don't have experience with this pickup, so I don't know what character that single coil sound has. There is a Tallboy version called Twangbucker that is supposed to offer a true Tele sound when split, as it is literally just two Tele pickups stuck together.

 

[zionstrat]

Re: Humbucker advise for “classic” Tele sound

Re: Humbucker advise for “classic” Tele sound

Back to OP's original inquiry, which, as I read it, is basically, "which humbucker sounds most like a Tele when split?" -

From personal experience, my answer would be the SH-5 Custom. I think the ceramic magnet gives some of the metallic clang of a conventional Tele pickup in Tele bridge.

The JB sounds very good split. However, I would characterize its split sound as being closer to a Strat bridge pickup.

I've never split a Jazz neck pickup, but its output is so low that I'd guess that its split sound isn't much of anything. For low-powered neck pickups, the Pearly Gates splits really well. It offers no comparison to a full-on single coil, but it has a nice cluck to it.

EDIT TO ADD: Rio Grande has a humbucker called the Tallboy that is expressly designed to offer full single coil sound when split. However, I don't have experience with this pickup, so I don't know what character that single coil sound has. There is a Tallboy version called Twangbucker that is supposed to offer a true Tele sound when split, as it is literally just two Tele pickups stuck together.

Kinmans got a twangbucker as well. Good reviews but I have no experience.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk

 

[waltschwarzkopf]

Re: Humbucker advise for “classic” Tele sound

Re: Humbucker advise for “classic” Tele sound

Back to OP's original inquiry, which, as I read it, is basically, "which humbucker sounds most like a Tele when split?"

This is exactly what I meant! Next time I'll try to write than instead of the long block of text.

From personal experience, my answer would be the SH-5 Custom. I think the ceramic magnet gives some of the metallic clang of a conventional Tele pickup in Tele bridge.

The JB sounds very good split. However, I would characterize its split sound as being closer to a Strat bridge pickup.

I've never split a Jazz neck pickup, but its output is so low that I'd guess that its split sound isn't much of anything. For low-powered neck pickups, the Pearly Gates splits really well. It offers no comparison to a full-on single coil, but it has a nice cluck to it.

Very interesting! I found a used TB-14 locally, which I guess is the same as the Custom 5, only F spaced, right? Which will be better for the Tele? I have no idea about this...

It's great that the JB sounds good split AND that it sounds closer to a Strat, I've been meaning to put a real humbucke on the bridge of my Pacifica 604w. I'd have to split to the slug, right?

If the Jazz is agood neck pickup, but not very good when split, I could still use it for the neck and use the push/pull to split just the bridge. I've kinda always liked the SH Tele setup, so this may be an interesting combination either with the JB or the Custom 5.

 

[waltschwarzkopf]

Re: Humbucker advise for “classic” Tele sound

Re: Humbucker advise for “classic” Tele sound

Kinmans got a twangbucker as well. Good reviews but I have no experience.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk

I want to send you a PM and got the following error:

"zionstrat has exceeded their stored private messages quota and cannot accept further messages until they clear some space."

 

[stratguy23]

Re: Humbucker advise for “classic” Tele sound

Re: Humbucker advise for “classic” Tele sound

I found a used TB-14 locally, which I guess is the same as the Custom 5, only F spaced, right? Which will be better for the Tele? I have no idea about this...

It's great that the JB sounds good split AND that it sounds closer to a Strat, I've been meaning to put a real humbucke on the bridge of my Pacifica 604w. I'd have to split to the slug, right?

Yes, the trembucker version of any SH humbucker is denoted by TB. "Better for Tele" is subjective since the particular Tele you're looking at isn't much like a conventional Tele in that it has a mahogany body, set neck, and no Tele bridge. It looks like a Tele, but is probably closer to an SG in base tone.

The Custom 5, being extremely mid-scooped, is well suited to a mids-forward guitar like the SG. When I split a Custom to get a Tele-like sound, that was in an SG-like guitar.

I have not split a Custom 5, so I can't comment on that tone. Some commentators have said that the Custom 5 can twang, but I don't know if they meant in split or full series operation.

You can split a humbucker to either the slug or screw coil. Installed normally in bridge position, the JB's screw coil is closer to the bridge. Search around here, and you'll see a mixed bag of preferences as to splitting to slug coil (closer to neck) or screw coil (closer to bridge). I've only played split JB's that were installed stock in guitars, and I've never bothered to check which coil was doing the split work. I generally don't find split humbuckers to sound all that different, regardless of model, and prefer splitting to the slug coil, as it's warmer and fuller. You may prefer the brighter/thinner screw coil, which can yield cool combinations with another single coil or split pickup.

Come to think of it, the SH-16 Custom/59 hybrid, which I've never played, may also be a candidate for you, because its slug coil is that of the Custom (screw coil is that of the 59). You would thus get the same split tone as the Custom.

Given your particular guitar, you may want to try the Custom 5 first. I find the Custom 5 to be a better tonal match for the Jazz than the JB in that they are both mids-scooped. It's strange to me go from the mids-scooped Jazz neck to a mids-heavy JB, though you might want such a difference for, say, rhythm/lead differentiation.

 

[waltschwarzkopf]

Re: Humbucker advise for “classic” Tele sound

Re: Humbucker advise for “classic” Tele sound

Yes, the trembucker version of any SH humbucker is denoted by TB. "Better for Tele" is subjective since the particular Tele you're looking at isn't much like a conventional Tele in that it has a mahogany body, set neck, and no Tele bridge. It looks like a Tele, but is probably closer to an SG in base tone.

The Custom 5, being extremely mid-scooped, is well suited to a mids-forward guitar like the SG. When I split a Custom to get a Tele-like sound, that was in an SG-like guitar.

I have not split a Custom 5, so I can't comment on that tone. Some commentators have said that the Custom 5 can twang, but I don't know if they meant in split or full series operation.

You can split a humbucker to either the slug or screw coil. Installed normally in bridge position, the JB's screw coil is closer to the bridge. Search around here, and you'll see a mixed bag of preferences as to splitting to slug coil (closer to neck) or screw coil (closer to bridge). I've only played split JB's that were installed stock in guitars, and I've never bothered to check which coil was doing the split work. I generally don't find split humbuckers to sound all that different, regardless of model, and prefer splitting to the slug coil, as it's warmer and fuller. You may prefer the brighter/thinner screw coil, which can yield cool combinations with another single coil or split pickup.

Come to think of it, the SH-16 Custom/59 hybrid, which I've never played, may also be a candidate for you, because its slug coil is that of the Custom (screw coil is that of the 59). You would thus get the same split tone as the Custom.

Given your particular guitar, you may want to try the Custom 5 first. I find the Custom 5 to be a better tonal match for the Jazz than the JB in that they are both mids-scooped. It's strange to me go from the mids-scooped Jazz neck to a mids-heavy JB, though you might want such a difference for, say, rhythm/lead differentiation.

Wow, that was an amazing reply. Thanks a lot!

I’ll have a look at the custom 5 with the jazz and jazz with JB and see which combo sounds better to me. Also, I’ll try to find demos for the split screw and slug coils of those pickups. But it looks like I’m getting somewhere.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Humbucker advise for “classic” Tele sound

Re: Humbucker advise for “classic” Tele sound

Reading through the sounds you like and knowing that an HH will never sound like a more traditional tele, I reckon a pearly gates set would be killer. So touch responsive for a "straight into the amp" kind of player and excellent for getting your dynamics by playing rather than by relying on pedals etc. Page, Blackmore and Angus never used super hot pickups like the JB, custom or distortion, those are best suited to different purposes.
I reckon the Pg set is so good in a tele, and so versatile you probably wont even need the coil splits. 3 sounds, one switch and all the cool tones right there under your fingertips.