New Pickups for Telecaster

[Butch Snyder]

I have a Fender James Burton Standard Telecaster. Currently, it has the stock pickups in it. They are Fender Custom Shop Texas Specials. They sound good. I have changed the guitar a little. I replaced the stock 6-saddle ashtray bridge with a new Wilkinson ashtray bridge with three compensated brass saddles. I also replaced the stock maple-fretboard neck with a rosewood fretboard neck. The guitar is much better now; for both a feel and sound perspective.

I bought a Duncan Broadcaster set some time back and didn't like it. The neck pickup was nice; but the STL-1b was too thin for me. I waited beyond the 21-day exchange window to trade them; but have sold them. I was actually looking at a Hot set (STL-2/STR/2). I like the video of Lyle Watt from the STL-1 webpage. However, my guitar is vastly different from his. In comparison, his Tele body is ash. Mine is alder. His fretboard is maple. Mine is rosewood. I can se getting that set and the pickups might be too dark. I was also thinking about an APTL-3JD/APTR-1 combo. The sound samples are pretty decent; but again, with my guitar's makeup, may be too dark.

The Pickup Wizard, while nice, doesn't really help me. I am looking for a tone that's somewhere in between vintage and modern. The bridge pickup can twang but I use this guitar for much more than chicken picking. I use it for Blues, Pop, Jazz, and some Country.

 

[jeremy]

Re: New Pickups for Telecaster

i love the jd in the bridge and it shouldnt be too dark. the hot might be too dark depending on what you are looking for. i prefer alnico V neck pups if im going to use a tele neck pup and the str1 and jd will match well

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: New Pickups for Telecaster

Have you considered Bare Knuckles? Their Yardbirds or Brown Sugar may be what you are wanting...just a thought.

 

[Butch Snyder]

Re: New Pickups for Telecaster

Have you considered Bare Knuckles? Their Yardbirds or Brown Sugar may be what you are wanting...just a thought.

I really want to stay with Seymour Duncan with this guitar.


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[treyhaislip]

Re: New Pickups for Telecaster

I really want to stay with Seymour Duncan with this guitar.


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Then I'd suggest a single coil sized humbucker for the bridge position

 

[Butch Snyder]

Re: New Pickups for Telecaster

i love the jd in the bridge and it shouldnt be too dark. the hot might be too dark depending on what you are looking for. i prefer alnico V neck pups if im going to use a tele neck pup and the str1 and jd will match well

Thanks Jeremy, always liked the JD. It's the neck pickup I guess that concerns me. I like the tone of the Alnico II Pro single coils but I like the look of the Tele neck pickup. Maybe I need to get over that.


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[jeremy]

Re: New Pickups for Telecaster

i love the look of a tele neck pup but never have loved actually having one in my teles. these days its a strat pup (or antiquity II jaguar) or firebird or mini humbucker but i like to stay on the vintage toned side of things. you may want to get a little more modern

ive never heard a single coil size humbucker do chicken picking right but the lil 59 for tele is a cool pup.

 

[Mincer]

Re: New Pickups for Telecaster

I think the JD is the right choice for your guitar. You'd get slightly higher output yet a sweet twangy sound. For the neck, I'd consider a Five Two Tele neck to balance. You'd get great neck pickup that balances well, and still has some cut. It isn't as bassy and some Tele rhythm pickups, and you would have sweet high end.

 

[chadd]

Re: New Pickups for Telecaster

i love the look of a tele neck pup but never have loved actually having one in my teles. these days its a strat pup (or antiquity II jaguar) or firebird or mini humbucker but i like to stay on the vintage toned side of things. you may want to get a little more modern

ive never heard a single coil size humbucker do chicken picking right but the lil 59 for tele is a cool pup.

I love a good mini-bucker in the neck of a tele, really underrated tones from that combo

 

[dystrust]

Re: New Pickups for Telecaster

i love the look of a tele neck pup but never have loved actually having one in my teles. these days its a strat pup (or antiquity II jaguar) or firebird or mini humbucker but i like to stay on the vintage toned side of things. you may want to get a little more modern

ive never heard a single coil size humbucker do chicken picking right but the lil 59 for tele is a cool pup.

I love a good mini-bucker in the neck of a tele, really underrated tones from that combo

SM-1n FTW!

 

[Butch Snyder]

Re: New Pickups for Telecaster

Thanks for the replies guys. I appreciate it. I have had many a Tele with a mini-humbucker in the neck position. I really like it; but not for this guitar. I want a Strat pickup for sure. As far as pickups, I will stay with the CS Texas Special in the bridge. With a rosewood fretboard and alder body, it really sounds good. I have a Texas Special Strat neck pickup that I will install. The wiring is where it gets cool. I bought a wired control plate from the 920D Custom Shop. It has the Jerry Donahue wiring. Check it out.

Looking forward to installing everything.