Neck Humbuckers for a Tele?

[TimmyPage]

Hey everyone, I've realised I need a little more punch from my tele as much as I love the feel and general tone of it. I've had the neck pickup switched out for other singles a few times, and all of them kept a familiar character that came from the guitar.

I play through all sorts of amps, usually solid state or older fender tube amps. I'm going for a jazz sound, as a matter of fact I have a video that accurately represents the kind of tone I'm looking for from it. Something warm but still very clear and accurate sounding.



He states somewhere in the comments that he uses an 'old gibson pickup', just like one of my telecaster heroes Ed Bickert (though I couldn't find any clear sounding recordings of Bickert on youtube to show you an example)

 

[TattooedCarrot]

Re: Neck Humbuckers for a Tele?

I had a Dimarzio 36th Anniversary PAF in this ash tele and it was pretty damn nice. Hollow, woody, and very fat but not muddy.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Neck Humbuckers for a Tele?

A friend of mine has an ancient DiMarzio PAF in his equally ancient MIJ Hohner Telecaster copy.

I liked the sound of the SD SM-1 mini-HB in the Fender Hot Rod '52 Telecaster that I used to own.

Have you tried a Fender Nocaster neck/Rhythm single coil yet?

 

[6stringer]

Re: Neck Humbuckers for a Tele?

I put a early 60's PAF in a '59 Esquire once (who knew, it was 1967 and I bought that "old" Esquire for $100). Very versatile guitar, it was stolen a few years ago so I've been on a quest to find something that sounds similar. I have several Teles, The one that is closest to the original PAF-in a- Tele jazz sound has a Tom Anderson stacked coil in the neck (that was a surprise but it sounds great), I also have a Tele with an old SD mini humbucker, similar to the Antiquity II mini humbucker with the adjustable poles that can sound very jazzy. I heard a Lollar neck pickup that had the sound too. I bet a SD SH-2 (Jazz) or SH-55 (Seth Lover) might do it.

 

[TimmyPage]

Re: Neck Humbuckers for a Tele?

A friend of mine has an ancient DiMarzio PAF in his equally ancient MIJ Hohner Telecaster copy.

I liked the sound of the SD SM-1 mini-HB in the Fender Hot Rod '52 Telecaster that I used to own.

Have you tried a Fender Nocaster neck/Rhythm single coil yet?

I have that set in there right now actually, only because I found a really good deal on them. The sound is great but again, it's lacking some 'push' and also the hum is a little bit of an issue.

 

[astrozombie]

Re: Neck Humbuckers for a Tele?

For the longest time, I was going to go 59, now i'll probably go with a covered Dimarzio PAF.

 

[Gatormike]

Re: Neck Humbuckers for a Tele?

Hello. I know it might be unfaithful, but as I have a custom set of Antiquities on order from SD now, I think one stray might be okay...

I'm going to be installing a Dimarzio Bluesbucker in the neck position of my Mahogany body Tele this next week. We'll see how it goes. It might be too "single coil" sounding for what you are going for, but thought I would throw it out as an idea. Peace

 

[TimmyPage]

Re: Neck Humbuckers for a Tele?

I'm still looking for other opinions on this, thank you for the help those who have already posted. Those 36th Edition pafs seem really good, but I have a bit of an issue in terms of almost noone has posted clips of them with close to what I look for in guitar tone.

 

[ParameterMan]

Re: Neck Humbuckers for a Tele?

Hmmmm... I listened to your clip, and I think the Dimarzio 36th will be too Dimarzio-ish for you. They won't compress like that and will have slightly stiff 3D edge.

That clip sounds uncannily like a Gibson 490r to me. I think you should try one of those or a 57 classic. A covered '59n can get very close as well but with a rounder more hollow sound. For a clearer airer sound with less of that Gibson throaty jell I'd look into Duncan Antiquities or the Seth Lover.

 

[SFW]

Re: Neck Humbuckers for a Tele?

Seth.

 

[IanBallard]

Re: Neck Humbuckers for a Tele?

If you want to stick with Duncans, I'd say a Seth would keep you in the 50's in terms of tones. But if you want the closest to a real-deal Fender Wide Range 'bucker, aside from finding a real one, get a Lollar Regal.

 

[Agileguy_101]

Re: Neck Humbuckers for a Tele?

If you want to stick with Duncans, I'd say a Seth would keep you in the 50's in terms of tones. But if you want the closest to a real-deal Fender Wide Range 'bucker, aside from finding a real one, get a Lollar Regal.

Jesus tapdancing Christ, $200 for a pickup? I know that the SD CS shop gets up there, but actually seeing a pickup pass the $199 mark is just crazy to me. My whole last guitar cost less than that - including shipping.

 

[JohnnyGuitar]

Re: Neck Humbuckers for a Tele?

It sounds like you just need a low output PAF style humbucker.

Zhangligun makes a humbucker that is meant to balance well with a Tele bridge pickup - the "Telebucker". So you might also enjoy the combination between this pickup and your bridge pickup.
http://www.zhangbucker.com/humbuckers.html

 

[TimmyPage]

Re: Neck Humbuckers for a Tele?

It sounds like you just need a low output PAF style humbucker.

Zhangligun makes a humbucker that is meant to balance well with a Tele bridge pickup - the "Telebucker". So you might also enjoy the combination between this pickup and your bridge pickup.
http://www.zhangbucker.com/humbuckers.html

About that.. I've actually lowered my bridge pickup about as far in as it'll go so that it doesn't interfere with string vibration. I never actually switch over to it and as a matter of fact I haven't used anything but the neck position on any of my guitars for about 3 years now except as a test every once in a while when I'm trying a new guitar. Really I don't care much about balance or how well it'll mix with a bridge pickup because in my mind there is only one pickup on the guitar.

 

[ParameterMan]

Re: Neck Humbuckers for a Tele?

Bwahahhahaa... I love TattooedCarrot's "post".

 

[jbear]

Re: Neck Humbuckers for a Tele?

I was going to put a Seth in my Thinline, but I decided to put a pair of Gatton's in it. If that doesn't work out then...Seth goes in. I know...totally different tonal qualities, but...that's me...all over the place.

 

[Mark Cearlock]

Re: Neck Humbuckers for a Tele?

Seth.

^very nice, open and woody sounding. Can do some very nice overdriven blues, imo.

 

[TheLivingDead]

Re: Neck Humbuckers for a Tele?

I dare say the Humbucker From Hell is what you're looking for. Sounds almost exactly like that clip if you lower it a bit and raise all the pole pieces.

 

[Powdered Toast Man]

Neck Humbuckers for a Tele?

I recently tried an Alnico II Pro HB in the neck of my Tele and hated it. Picked up a under covered 59n and love it.

 

[IndySG]

Re: Neck Humbuckers for a Tele?

Hey everyone, I've realised I need a little more punch from my tele as much as I love the feel and general tone of it. I've had the neck pickup switched out for other singles a few times, and all of them kept a familiar character that came from the guitar.

I play through all sorts of amps, usually solid state or older fender tube amps. I'm going for a jazz sound, as a matter of fact I have a video that accurately represents the kind of tone I'm looking for from it. Something warm but still very clear and accurate sounding.



He states somewhere in the comments that he uses an 'old gibson pickup', just like one of my telecaster heroes Ed Bickert (though I couldn't find any clear sounding recordings of Bickert on youtube to show you an example)

Now it just so happens that I have an 'old Gibson pickup' laying around that I'm thinking about selling one day soon....
I have an old Gibson T tops humbucker, came out of a late 60's 335, its just what you're looking for, right up your street as they say.
Let me know if you're interested...:cool2: