Installing new pickups in my Telecaster 72' Deluxe

[ohgeewhiz]

Hello There, I would just like some opinions on my choices for a pickup install in my 72' Telecaster Deluxe Reissue. I'm thinking a SH-1 59' in the bridge and a Neck "Phat Cat" in the neck. I'm thinking that it will sound real nice for the blues / Classic Rock stuff that I'm playing at the moment. I ordered a "Warmouth" pickguard that will be suited for standard humbuckers and I'm anxious to get these in it. Your thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks in Advance:scratchch

 

[zenmindbeginner]

Re: Installing new pickups in my Telecaster 72' Deluxe

You should have kept the original pickguard and ordered a set of custom shop WRHB pickups from Maricela.

I don't see any advantage in a '59B over the Phat Cat bridge, but that's just my opinion.

 

[ohgeewhiz]

Re: Installing new pickups in my Telecaster 72' Deluxe

The stock wide range pickups are way too dark and a little muddy, even after replacing the pots with 500k instead of the 250k. I play through an all tube Carvin "Belair" amp. I like it set as clean as I can and use pedals for overdrive and everything else. The reason that I was going to try the 59B was because I have one that's not being used at the moment. I've had "Phat Cats" in the past and I really like the tone of the neck pickup and wasn't real impressed with the bridge. I've never heard the 59B that I have, it was given to me. I Joe Walsh playing a guitar on TV with some type of humbucker in the bridge and a Phat Cat in the neck and it sounded very good.
Thanks for the reply.

 

[formula73]

Re: Installing new pickups in my Telecaster 72' Deluxe

I think it sounds like a great combo, though you *may* have a problem with the 59b's brightness against the Phat Cat's warmth if you don't like using your tone controls.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Installing new pickups in my Telecaster 72' Deluxe

The question here is whether the guitar should end up as a generic HH Tele or preserve the unique sound of Fender Wide Range humbuckers. (The MIM reissue pickups are notorious for failing to do this.) Also, even if money were invested in accurate replica WR pickups, would the rest of the guitar do them justice?

In my opinion, ohgeewhizz is probably wise to deviate from the original design. My own choice for the neck/Rhythm position pickup would be a DiMarzio Bluesbucker. It would capture some of the "not quite HB, not quite Strat" quality of the original CBS/Fender instrument.