New Pickups for Tele

[ummagumma]

Hi. I've recently been looking into buying new pickups for my Tele. I joined the forum because I know there's experienced guys on here and I want to get a good opinion. I listen mainly to 70s classic rock artists (Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Pink Floyd) to early 90s rock (Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Alice In Chains).

For the Bridge pickup, I'm looking for something along the lines of the Jimmy Page sound in the Zeppelin 1 album, preferably something with a high output. Something that combines the tones of Alvin Lee and Ritchie Blackmore but mainly Jimmy Page.

For the neck, I'm leaning towards a Jazzy sound. Something similar to the Hendrix tone on "Little Wing" for clean and "Purple Haze" for dirty with a low output and good mids. Something really smooth.

Overall I'd like it to be really twangy on the Bridge and really smooth and deep on the Neck. Thanks in advance for you help.

Ummagumma

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: New Pickups for Tele

Here's a good thread to check out:

https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?t=4044

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: New Pickups for Tele

For the Bridge pickup, I'm looking for something along the lines of the Jimmy Page sound in the Zeppelin 1 album, preferably something with a high output. Something that combines the tones of Alvin Lee and Ritchie Blackmore but mainly Jimmy Page.

For the neck, I'm leaning towards a Jazzy sound. Something similar to the Hendrix tone on "Little Wing" for clean and "Purple Haze" for dirty with a low output and good mids. Something really smooth.

Of course the bridge pickup in Jimmy's Tele was not high output. Just a stock raised pole alnico 5 Fender bridge pickup wound to about 7K or so. The Duncan Vintage '54 lead and Duncan Vintage Rythym neck would be closest. The tone came from Page's soul, a smallish Supro Amp and great miking technique.

I can get a similar tone from my '54 Tele plugged into a Boss DS-1 and plugged into my '58 Fender Tweed Deluxe.

As for the neck pickup, it's hard to get a Strat tone out of a covered Tele neck pickup. The Duncan Custom Shop Tele ala Strat neck pickup MJ wound for me will get into that territory as will the uncovered Fralin Blues Special neck pickup.

Lew

 

[mongrollo]

Re: New Pickups for Tele

I agree with Lew about the 54 lead. I have it instaled in a strat-type of guitar and it is great for getting close to this Page tones. It is difficult to have that great Lew's equipment but with and an overdriven tube amp you will feel you are almost there (At least I do )
About the neck I don't have much idea of what could be good for you. It seems to me that an alnico pro (or and antiquity) could help you to get a deeper and smoother tone.

 

[BS123]

Re: New Pickups for Tele

While the above suggestoins are great, let me offer something else. A Jerry Donahue model in the bridge will be twangy and sparkly, yet smooth and nice to overdrive. If you want a good smooth neck pickup, the Vintage 54 neck pickup is great; but the Alnico II Pro neck model is very smooth.

My suggestions would be:
Bridge - Jerry Donahue model
Neck - Alnico II Pro

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: New Pickups for Tele

While the above suggestoins are great, let me offer something else. A Jerry Donahue model in the bridge will be twangy and sparkly, yet smooth and nice to overdrive. If you want a good smooth neck pickup, the Vintage 54 neck pickup is great; but the Alnico II Pro neck model is very smooth.

My suggestions would be:
Bridge - Jerry Donahue model
Neck - Alnico II Pro

Good call! I love the Jerry Donahue in a naturally bright Tele like my alder James Burton. I wouldn't call it sparkly though and in a Tele that has a naturally warm or mellow tone, the JD can lack treble and seem to need more edge. The Antiquity reminds me of a JD but is not wound quite as hot and seems to have more treble...for that reason, I think the Antiquity might be an even safer bet. That said, the '54 is still closer to what Jimmy Page has in his Tele...though his pickups are 40 years old and by now may have aged to more of an alnico 2 magnetic strength, possibly resulting in a warmer tone.

Of course Page's Tele pickups were only 10 years old when he recorded Led Zep I! So we're back to the '54 Lead again.

Also: I think the AlnicoIIPro Tele rythym neck pickup is to warm and smooth to get a satisfying alnico 5 Strat neck pickup tone...it's just not bright and glassy enough to sound like a Strat neck pickup.

Lew

 

[crazytooguy]

Re: New Pickups for Tele

This is very timely for me! I'm finishing a Tele that has a padauk body with cocobolo cap and a rosewood neck with Macassar ebony fingerboard, and I'm planning on using the Jerry Donahue bridge and Alnico II neck. Going for a nice clear, well defined round sound with a bit of sparkle (which the rosewood should provide nicely...) I thought about the Antiquity for the neck, but it's a bit more expensive. I've been pretty impressed by the Jerry Donahue bridge, though. I don't like most Tele bridge pickups, but this one has a great sound to it. Much smoother than typical.

 

[Kelsey]

Re: New Pickups for Tele

The Antiquity I set would be a good choice, as would the Fender Nocaster set. Both of these sets have good bridge and neck tones. If you have a 7.25" fingerboard, then you might consider the late 50's Antiquity version or the Antiquity II rather than the early 50's flatpole version. Although Page apparently used a raised pole alnico 5 lead pickup, that doesn't mean it's the best way to come close to his tone today for the rest of us.

BTW, I like the JD a lot, too, but I am always left in a quandary about what Tele neck pickup to use with it. I think the best options for it are the Phat Cat or the SM-3n or SM-1n mini-HB. Those are very cool combos if your guitar is already routed for a neck HB (just pick up a new pickguard).

 

[ummagumma]

Re: New Pickups for Tele

Thanks guys, I appreciate the suggestions. I have to be honest I'm torn between the JD and '54 for lead. I think I'll probably get the A2p for the neck. However I am strongly considering the Fralin Blues Specials as well...

 

[BS123]

Re: New Pickups for Tele

Thanks guys, I appreciate the suggestions. I have to be honest I'm torn between the JD and '54 for lead. I think I'll probably get the A2p for the neck. However I am strongly considering the Fralin Blues Specials as well...

You can't go wrong with any of those....