Looking for clean, articulate tones - neck humbucker in a Tele - your thoughts?

[ItsaBass]

Re: Looking for clean, articulate tones - neck humbucker in a Tele - your thoughts?

Thank you. Does your Antiquity II Firebird neck pickup do clean/articulate well? Do you think that the Antiquity Mini Humbucker (non-Firebird) might do clean/articulate better?

I've pretty much decided to go with Mini Humbucker (perhaps N.Y. style) in the neck position and some form of noiseless (twin rails or Little '59) at the bridge.

I've had other people recommend Joe Barden pickups - I guess I really need to check those out! I know nothing about them, at all.

You're right about the aged thing with the Antiquities. I wish Duncan offered that same pickup but with just a regular nickel/silver cover. I don't really care to pay extra for pseudo-aging. That said, if the pickup sounds like what I want, I'll take the aging on the cover, I'm just not thrilled about having to pay for aging that I don't care about. :sad:

You ought to inquire about getting a Shop Floor Custom with a non-aged cover. I've often thought about doing the same myself. I'm curious as to whether or not they'd do it.

They are clean and articulate pickups when you want them to be, but they definitely don't take much coaxing to get real scrappy sounding.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Looking for clean, articulate tones - neck humbucker in a Tele - your thoughts?

the fb pup is clean and articulate (i use 250k pots on this tele) but can be snotty if you play aggressively. the ny style antiquity II is a little sweeter sounding and more polished. both are really great pups

 

[DHart]

Re: Looking for clean, articulate tones - neck humbucker in a Tele - your thoughts?

For the bridge I would look into the DiMarzio Chopper T as well.

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The Chopper T is definitely on my list, as well. Unfortunately, this has become a really difficult decision for me.

For the Tele neck I'm considering a mini humbucker:

Dimarzio PG-13 Mini Humbucker ($100)
Duncan Antiquity II Mini Humbucker ($145)
Gibson Mini Humbucker ($155)
Fralin Mini Humbucker ($160)

For the Tele bridge I'm considering a side-by-side or twin-blade:

Dimarzio Tone Zone T ($70)
Dimarzio Chopper T ($80)
Duncan Little '59 T ($89)
Fralin Split Blade ($125)
Joe Barden Modern T Style ($160)

I'm kind of leaning toward the Dimarzio PG-13 (known for clarity) in the neck, and either the Little 59 or the Chopper T at the bridge. But the decision is really fluid at this time. It's so hard to decide with only words or mostly distorted (heavily overdriven) tone samples to hear on YouTube. Overdriven tone samples are nearly useless for determining a pickup's inherent tone qualities.

 

[zionstrat]

Re: Looking for clean, articulate tones - neck humbucker in a Tele - your thoughts?

Wow, I gotta hear this build... U got me with minihum variations, but I'm also a barden nut.

Here's my take on Bardens... One of the best noiseless sc size designs, but rather different.

Very spanky, clear and articulate, great with gain and have more body than comparable designs.

However, that snap peak translates into a perception of less sustain on my builds.

Not a prob if you want articulate or if u push amp or fx into compression for sustain...

Truly unusual pups and worth trying to see the difference.

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[DHart]

Re: Looking for clean, articulate tones - neck humbucker in a Tele - your thoughts?

Duncan '59 full size humbucker arrived and installed in the Tele, neck position, tonight. Sounds great - full, rich, sparkly but not harsh in the highs.

Duncan Hot Rails arrived tonight and I installed the bridge version in the Tele. I do not like. Too dull and dark. I need something clearer and brighter - perhaps a Little '59.

Fortunately, I can make use of Duncan's 21-day exchange program. I think I'll go with the Little '59 Tele for the bridge position.

And the neck version of the Hot Rails, I won't even install - but will exchange for a Duncan Antiquity II Mini Humbucker.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Looking for clean, articulate tones - neck humbucker in a Tele - your thoughts?

You might try the Hot Rails bridge wired in parallel. I mean, since you have it and all, and it is the weekend.

 

[Dave Locher]

Re: Looking for clean, articulate tones - neck humbucker in a Tele - your thoughts?

I saw the words clean, articulate, and Tele and I came here to suggest Lawrence "Wilde" pickups as well! I have not tried a million different pickups but if you like twin rail pickups and articulate then at least try them. I bought one a year ago just out of curiosity and now have at least one in all three of my guitars. http://www.wildepickups.com

 

[DHart]

Re: Looking for clean, articulate tones - neck humbucker in a Tele - your thoughts?

I'm sure open to alternative noiseless bridge pickups at this point! Wildes definitely get a lot of love on the forums.

The only reason I decided to try twin blade style in the bridge of this Tele was someone who I believe to be quite credible told me that they are excellent for bright articulate tone. Sadly, I have been quite disappointed in the Hot Rails bridge pickup - to the point where I won't even install the neck pickup - they're both going back to the mother ship. I tested the resistance of the bridge Hot Rail and it is 16 as specified, but just doesn't sound nearly as articulate nor as clear and bright as the '59 full humbucker in the neck position sounds.

Is the Little 59 likely to sound like a "bridge cousin" of the neck '59? If so, I'll try one of those in the bridge next. Otherwise, there is always the Area T and Area Hot T to consider for the bridge pick up.

 

[DHart]

Re: Looking for clean, articulate tones - neck humbucker in a Tele - your thoughts?

Here's the Tele American Special with the 59 at the neck and the Hot Rails at the bridge. I'm liking the 59 at the neck, but not the Hot Rails at the bridge.

As a replacement for the Hot Rail pick up at the bridge, I'm considering a Duncan Little 59 T, or a Dimarzio Area T bridge. Any thoughts on how those two alternatives compare?

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Looking for clean, articulate tones - neck humbucker in a Tele - your thoughts?

I saw the words clean, articulate, and Tele and I came here to suggest Lawrence "Wilde" pickups as well! I have not tried a million different pickups but if you like twin rail pickups and articulate then at least try them. I bought one a year ago just out of curiosity and now have at least one in all three of my guitars. http://www.wildepickups.com

Definitely agree! Most of my guitars have Lawrence pickups–both USA and Wildes. Highly highly underrated pickups.

I'm sure open to alternative noiseless bridge pickups at this point! Wildes definitely get a lot of love on the forums.

The only reason I decided to try twin blade style in the bridge of this Tele was someone who I believe to be quite credible told me that they are excellent for bright articulate tone. Sadly, I have been quite disappointed in the Hot Rails bridge pickup - to the point where I won't even install the neck pickup - they're both going back to the mother ship. I tested the resistance of the bridge Hot Rail and it is 16 as specified, but just doesn't sound nearly as articulate nor as clear and bright as the '59 full humbucker in the neck position sounds.

Is the Little 59 likely to sound like a "bridge cousin" of the neck '59? If so, I'll try one of those in the bridge next. Otherwise, there is always the Area T and Area Hot T to consider for the bridge pick up.

Here's the Tele American Special with the 59 at the neck and the Hot Rails at the bridge. I'm liking the 59 at the neck, but not the Hot Rails at the bridge.

As a replacement for the Hot Rail pick up at the bridge, I'm considering a Duncan Little 59 T, or a Dimarzio Area T bridge. Any thoughts on how those two alternatives compare?

I am not an expert...but I definitely agree that Rails are great for articulate tone. Hotrails tend to be more warm to me–but I am a huge fan of Rail Pickups.

Wish I had experience to better answer those. Personally, I have yet to find a Dimarzio that I liked in the bridge–liked them in the neck and middle. Not been a fan of the Hotrails in the bridge either–pair very nicely with a JB in the bridge IMO.

Something else to add to the mix–a Fralin Split Rail. You can get it as: Vintage, Blues Special, Highoutput or Super Highoutput. Very nice classic tones and still noiseless. Also might want to look at Joe Barden pickups.