Looking for a good tele neck pickup to go with a Custom/'59 hybrid

[NateGrimm]

Hey everybody! I'm new to the forum and joined because I've been getting really into learning more about guitar, especially pickups and especially SD pickups. I'm trying to learn about building guitars, as I want to not just play guitar, but learn how to make them as a hobby. That being said, I'm thinking of buying a nicer guitar to play while I learn more about building them and have decided on the HSS style Fender Modern Player Tele Plus, shown here: https://www.amazon.com/s/?field-keywords=Fender+Modern+Player+Tele+Plus&tag=ricmen-20

Even if I don't buy it, I want to use an HSS layout with a tele neck pickup for the guitar I do plan on building, so this question would still be pertinent.

I'm looking to create a really versatile guitar and I'm in love with the Custom/'59 hybrid. I often see people saying it should be paired with things like the Jazz, the 59, a hybrid of the 2 and other similar types of pairings, however, I REALLY want a tele sound to my neck pickup, so I'm trying to figure out what to pair it with. I'm saving up to get a set of really nice pickups and after doing research, I've thought of putting a vintage hotstack plus in the middle and for the neck, I'm figuring something like the Jerry Donahue Tele neck pickup, the five-two or the Hot for Tele neck pickup. I want something that's balanced well with a custom/59 hybrid and has a lot of versatility.

I'm also thinking of ordering everything custom, telling them to give it all the Zephyr treatment and having them swap out the magnets for Alnico 8's, which I suppose would make buying the five-two pointless if I did that.

I'm wondering if any of this is a good idea or if there's an alternative recommendation you all would have? So far, all I have for guitars is an HSS squire bullet strat with stock pickups, a cheap pawn shop guitar I'm trying to upgrade and a DIY Jem guitar I'm working on as practice for guitar making. So I acknowledge my limited expertise in this area and appreciate your feedback.

My favourite music is heavy metal, so I want to be able to go heavy, but I have eclectic musical tastes and want to be able to do as much as possible on my guitar. I heard the Custom/59 hybrid is highly versatile especially with alnico 8's in it and alnico 8's do sound interesting what with the whole "aggressive ceramic sound crossed with warm alnico sound" aspect they're said to have.

Also, I remember reading on the SD website that Zephyr pickups get a lower DCR because of the silver wiring or something like that. If so, would that make the pickups a little less hot? And if it did, would that be a bad thing, or would messing with he volume and the amps/effects make it a non-issue?

Whatever advice you guys have though will be greatly appreciated, and I'm looking forward to your feedback!

 

[gregory]

Re: Looking for a good tele neck pickup to go with a Custom/'59 hybrid

Perfect example of how DCR does not equate to loudness.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Looking for a good tele neck pickup to go with a Custom/'59 hybrid

Pro tip: Zephyrs are hella expensive. The JD neck is a pretty sick choice, for a whole lot less money. Or if you want versatility, the right Strat neck pickup with a really small tone cap can give you a convincing Tele neck tone if you roll it off right. Plus you get the classic Strat neck tone, considered by many to be the best position on a Strat.

 

[NateGrimm]

Re: Looking for a good tele neck pickup to go with a Custom/'59 hybrid

Thank you both so far. So Chistopher, you think the Jerry Donahue would be a good tele neck option? Awesome, thanks! I suppose I'll look into your suggestion about the strat neck thing with the tone cap as well! Thank you both so much!

And gregory, you're saying that the DCR isn't something I should be focusing on, but the volume? Got it. Thank you for your input as well!

Just out of curiosity, do you guys think the vintage hotstack plus would be the best middle option for max versatility with this set? OR is there a middle option you think would go better?

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Looking for a good tele neck pickup to go with a Custom/'59 hybrid

I prefer the STK-S4m (The Classic Stack Plus) for the middle position. It's the noiseless version of the SSL-1. The Vintage Hot Stack is a bit powerful for the middle, which is where I like to keep my least hot pickup. That's where I play my cleans.

 

[NateGrimm]

Re: Looking for a good tele neck pickup to go with a Custom/'59 hybrid

Awesome! Thanks again for the suggestion! So, a Custom/59 hybrid on the bridge, an STK-S4m in the middle and a Jerry Donahue tele neck pickup on the neck OR a really cool single coil neck pickup on the neck. I'm thinking if I go with single coil, I might just go with a DiMarzio Air Norton S then. I dunno though... if I go with an SD single coil option, what would you recommend instead? A Cool Rails, maybe?

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Looking for a good tele neck pickup to go with a Custom/'59 hybrid

The Air Norton S and Cool Rails are designed to sound like humbuckers. The Air Norton S sounds like an Air Norton (obviously) and the Cool Rails can be described as fairly similar to a Jazz. Another Classic Stack Plus would work well in the neck, or a Vintage Hot Stack if you want rounder treble in the neck.

 

[NateGrimm]

Re: Looking for a good tele neck pickup to go with a Custom/'59 hybrid

Okay, cool. Which one would you say is smoother sounding?

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Looking for a good tele neck pickup to go with a Custom/'59 hybrid

Definitely the Vintage Hot.

 

[Ascension]

Re: Looking for a good tele neck pickup to go with a Custom/'59 hybrid

Okay, cool. Which one would you say is smoother sounding?

If you want a smooth single try the Alnico II pro Tele neck. Have one in the neck of both my teles. Alnico II Pro full set in my Mutt and a Alnico II Pro tele Alnico II strat middle and 59 Custom Hybrid bridge in my Modern player. I love the smooth top end of that pickup in the neck of a Tele!.

 

[NateGrimm]

Re: Looking for a good tele neck pickup to go with a Custom/'59 hybrid

Definitely the Vintage Hot.

Awesome! Thanks Chistopher! If I get a single coil for the neck, it'll be that.

If you want a smooth single try the Alnico II pro Tele neck. Have one in the neck of both my teles. Alnico II Pro full set in my Mutt and a Alnico II Pro tele Alnico II strat middle and 59 Custom Hybrid bridge in my Modern player. I love the smooth top end of that pickup in the neck of a Tele!.

Are you sure I should go with the Alnico Pro II Tele Neck instead of the Jerry Donahue? Keep in mind that my favourite thing is still metal. I'm wondering if that pickup will play metal well mixed with the other 2? Although I suppose if I want to play metal well, I should worry less about smoothness... It's hard for me to get the right balance figured out, but I'm loving y'all's suggestions!

Also, I know that the Tele Music Player Pro uses a pine body, but if I make a guitar out of Basswood and use this setup, would Alnico II's go well in the setup? Just curious.

EDIT: OR what if I put Alnico II's in the JD neck pickup?

EDIT again: I just realized the Jerry Donahue tele pickup is meant to be put on the bridge. ****. So much for that idea... Also, I feel like an idiot.

What about the five-two? That was another option I was considering, and it's got good aspects of both the Alnico II pro model and their alnico 5 tele necks. Maybe I'll just get that and pair it with those other two suggestions. And I can experiment with Alnico 8's and see what happens. If I don't like it, I can stick with the 5's and 2's. Do you guys think that would provide the right balance? Or maybe just go with the Vintage hot, since that sounds like a good balance as well.

EDIT: Just found out about unoriented alnico 5's being a balance kind of between alnico II's and Alnico 5's. That might be a good thing to take into account. I could put unoriented alnico 5's in a hot for tele neck or possibly swap out the magnets in a five-two for a slightly louder combo, like replacing the 2's with unoriented alnico 5's and the 5's with alnico 6's. That might make for a fairly versatile neck that balances with a Custom/59 hybrid that has alnico 8's in it...

 

[stevie_bees]

Re: Looking for a good tele neck pickup to go with a Custom/'59 hybrid

It may be worth looking at the Fralin Blues Special neck pickup. I think that would balance nicely with the '59/Custom while retaining 'Teleness'.

 

[NateGrimm]

Re: Looking for a good tele neck pickup to go with a Custom/'59 hybrid

Thank you so much Stevie_bees and everyone else who's been helping me out here!

I'll definitely look into that pickup, Stevie_bees! And I'm pretty sure a bluesy pickup will make for a cool metal pickup with the right volume, effects and amp choice! Sounds like a great suggestion, thanks!

 

[Ascension]

Re: Looking for a good tele neck pickup to go with a Custom/'59 hybrid

I have the Alnico II in the neck of both my modern player and a more conventional mutt Tele with an old US1 body. If you are doing metal the Alnico II might not have enough output for you but t does have a very clear tone and good singing smooth solo tone. I think it works well with the 59 Custom in m modern player but you might want something a little warmer. Go to he pickup page and listen to the clips for the different Tele pickups as they do give a pretty accurate representation of what hese pickups really will sound like. That page will allow ou to set up comparisons where you can listen to different pickups with the same riff back to back. That was how I wound up choosing the sets I did as i was looking for a particular type tone. Good luck on finding the set up that works for you man and welcome to the board!

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Looking for a good tele neck pickup to go with a Custom/'59 hybrid

If you can put a Strat pickup in there, a Strat pickup is the best choice, IMO.

I have a Surfer in my Tele...with a Jerry Donahue bridge pickup.

If it’s gotta be a hum cancelling neck pickup, then I’d go with a Duncan Classic Stack.

But I prefer the sound of a Surfer.

 

[NateGrimm]

Re: Looking for a good tele neck pickup to go with a Custom/'59 hybrid

If you can put a Strat pickup in there, a Strat pickup is the best choice, IMO.

I have a Surfer in my Tele...with a Jerry Donahue bridge pickup.

If it’s gotta be a hum cancelling neck pickup, then I’d go with a Duncan Classic Stack.

But I prefer the sound of a Surfer.

Thanks for the recommendation!

I have the Alnico II in the neck of both my modern player and a more conventional mutt Tele with an old US1 body. If you are doing metal the Alnico II might not have enough output for you but t does have a very clear tone and good singing smooth solo tone. I think it works well with the 59 Custom in m modern player but you might want something a little warmer. Go to he pickup page and listen to the clips for the different Tele pickups as they do give a pretty accurate representation of what hese pickups really will sound like. That page will allow ou to set up comparisons where you can listen to different pickups with the same riff back to back. That was how I wound up choosing the sets I did as i was looking for a particular type tone. Good luck on finding the set up that works for you man and welcome to the board!

Thanks again Ascension, for your input! I will definitely look into that!

 

[orpheo]

Re: Looking for a good tele neck pickup to go with a Custom/'59 hybrid

I use the lipstick (the real one from SD) in the neck with a 59/custom and that's amazing. So clean, so much chime....

I also tried the STR1 (54 rhythm Vintage Tele) and that's hands down my favorite. it's so chimey, glassy and articulate. Responds extremely well to the tone pot and volumepot. I prefer this one over the Alnico2pro, to be honest.

Zephyr. I don't think so many folks own that pickup and the majority comments are based on hearsay and clips. I personally own two sets of the zephyrs so I feel I am kinda OK by giving my recommendations because I truly tried them (for 4 years now...).

The zephyrs are amazing and because they sound and feel so absolutely gorgeous, I won't recommend them. They sound so pure, so articulate, so responsive. It's a shame, almost. All other pickups sound bad in comparison. It's not a matter of boosting whatever. It's a matter of clarity. Imagine it like having your windows slightly grimy and dirty and then the windowcleaner comes by (is that a thing in other parts of the world? A guy or gal who comes by to clean your windows from the outside, with a ladder, a long broom and a hose? it is here...) and then the windows are perfectly clean again. You don't see hte outside world with more lighting perse, you don't see it with exaggerated colors. You just see it better. zephyrs are the same.

 

[NateGrimm]

Re: Looking for a good tele neck pickup to go with a Custom/'59 hybrid

I use the lipstick (the real one from SD) in the neck with a 59/custom and that's amazing. So clean, so much chime....

I also tried the STR1 (54 rhythm Vintage Tele) and that's hands down my favorite. it's so chimey, glassy and articulate. Responds extremely well to the tone pot and volumepot. I prefer this one over the Alnico2pro, to be honest.

Zephyr. I don't think so many folks own that pickup and the majority comments are based on hearsay and clips. I personally own two sets of the zephyrs so I feel I am kinda OK by giving my recommendations because I truly tried them (for 4 years now...).

The zephyrs are amazing and because they sound and feel so absolutely gorgeous, I won't recommend them. They sound so pure, so articulate, so responsive. It's a shame, almost. All other pickups sound bad in comparison. It's not a matter of boosting whatever. It's a matter of clarity. Imagine it like having your windows slightly grimy and dirty and then the windowcleaner comes by (is that a thing in other parts of the world? A guy or gal who comes by to clean your windows from the outside, with a ladder, a long broom and a hose? it is here...) and then the windows are perfectly clean again. You don't see hte outside world with more lighting perse, you don't see it with exaggerated colors. You just see it better. zephyrs are the same.

Interesting. And are those pickups good for metal as well?

Also, so the Zephyrs would simply make the pickups more audible, you're saying.

My idea was to take whatever SD pickups I buy and custom order them so that SD does the same stuff to them that they do to Zephyrs. Not that I was going to order Zephyrs themselves. Although now that I've looked at the custom pickup making process on SD'w website, it looks like they wouldn't do that for me anyway. If they did though, you're saying it would make the pickups worse? Fair enough.

I have always been curious about the lipstick neck pickups. I suppose that as long as it balances well with the C/59, has lots of versatility and can be used for metal, I should really look at that as well. So many great recommendations here! Thank you everybody!

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Looking for a good tele neck pickup to go with a Custom/'59 hybrid

What sets the Zephyrs apart from other pickups is that they are wound with silver instead of copper and are "cryogenically treated". You can't just give a normal pickup "the Zephyr treatment". It would be like custom ordering a VW Beetle, but asking them to build it like a Bugatti Chiron.

 

[orpheo]

Re: Looking for a good tele neck pickup to go with a Custom/'59 hybrid

What sets the Zephyrs apart from other pickups is that they are wound with silver instead of copper and are "cryogenically treated". You can't just give a normal pickup "the Zephyr treatment". It would be like custom ordering a VW Beetle, but asking them to build it like a Bugatti Chiron.

not just the silver wire. (cryo treatment has been proven to really do change the structure of metals). The bimetallic polepieces and nylon bobbins also make a huge difference but aren't as easily grasped perhaps. the nylon bobbins are less prone to bobbin flare when winding (the outer parts flaring outwards when winding).

The zephyr is a pickup with those four technologies and a unique wind. that makes the pickup the pickup. you can, however, ask for a custom made pickup with those four technologies. Won't be the zephyr, though, but a 'zephyrized' pickup I guess.