JD + ? in Tele

[MikeS]

I’m finding the stockies in my MIM 50s RI Tele to be a bit lacking. From the sounds clips and all your accounts I’ve read, I’ve decided to give the JD model a whirl. What matches well with the Jerry Donahue model for Tele? I’m thinking APTR-1 and STL-1 right now.

My tele already seems to be naturally bright (I find the stock pup requires an awful lot of tone knob attention or else it’s way too bright for my tastes). Typical Tele construction: Swamp ash body, maple neck, brass saddles, yadda, yadda, yadda. For that reason I’m sort of leaning toward the APTR-1. What do you think?

 

[Kelsey]

Re: JD + ? in Tele

I like the Antiquity rhythm better than the APTR-1 I heard. Although the JD is real nice and a great choice if you have a hotter than normal neck pickup, I tend to like the Antiquity I Tele lead pickup a bit better (I have both).

 

[Curly]

Re: JD + ? in Tele

this is kind of a perennial question .. the AP looks like it would be great on paper, but Lew and Butch have both said they felt it was a little low output

if you don't care about "tradition", I think it would be interesting to try an SM-1 - IF you have the rout for it already (my AS tele has a hum rout in the neck)

right now, I have a Hot neck, and I think it's a pretty good match output-wise ... but the two pickups do seem to have a little different timbre

 

[MikeS]

Re: JD + ? in Tele

It's got the traditional Tele rout, so I can't even entertain the idea of a SM-1.

I had overlooked the hot on the grounds that I wasn't so sure how well it would blend with the JD. I use that middle position on the 3-way a lot, so I'm very concerned with both balance in tone and balance in output.

Thanks, though Curly. The hot got added to the list of consideration. We'll see if Lew or Butch happen to see this.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: JD + ? in Tele

I do find the Alnico2Pro Tele neck pickup to be a little to warm and low in output for my tastes...especially combined with the JD.

I think the Custom Shop Tele ala Strat neck pickup is a better match.
The Tele Hot neck pickup Curly uses would probably be a good match too.
I like the Antiquity neck pickup better than the A2Pro, too...or the Fralin Blues Special Tele neck pickup.

Lew

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: JD + ? in Tele

ROUTE IT OUT!!!

Seriously, though. The SM-1 matches up really well with a JD in the bridge.

 

[MikeS]

Re: JD + ? in Tele

Cool, thanks Lew...

How "Tele" is this custom shop model or the Tele Hot pickup? One thing I don't want to do is lose the Tele vibe. I want a classic Tele tone, twang and all, but with a little more character than the stock fender pups offer.

My style typically resides in a good ol' fashioned blues-based rock 'n' roll. I don't like to play with too much gain, but I'm also not afraid to push the gain channel on my DSL50.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: JD + ? in Tele

Cool, thanks Lew...

How "Tele" is this custom shop model or the Tele Hot pickup? One thing I don't want to do is lose the Tele vibe. I want a classic Tele tone, twang and all, but with a little more character than the stock fender pups offer.

My style typically resides in a good ol' fashioned blues-based rock 'n' roll. I don't like to play with too much gain, but I'm also not afraid to push the gain channel on my DSL50.

I don't think I lose any Tele vibe at all with the Custom Shop Tele ala Strat. It looks like a covered Tele pickup and sounds more like I always wished my Tele neck pickup would sound in the first place. Truthfully, it sounds alot like the Fralin Blues Special but the Fralin doesn't have a nickel cover...just the black of the bobbin top.

When I ordered my Tele ala Strat from MJ she said: "I'm going to wind you the best telecaster pickup you've ever heard!" And she probably did! :dance:

Kinda silly, but on my vintage style Teles I want them to look like a classic tele: covered neck pickup and all. For $80. the Fralin Blues Special would be a great choice too...but only if you don't mind an uncovered neck pickup.