New Tele PUPs

[mitchewr]

So I just traded my Epi Les Paul Classic for MIM Tele and let me say that I love that Tele way more than I ever loved the Epi. This thing sounds amazing. I love how versatile it is. Anyways, since I now know that it will be sticking around for a long time I want to start shopping for upgraded PUPs. I don't think these stock ones sound "bad" at all but I know that I could do better and I generally like Duncans for everything else so I just figured I'd stick with them for the tele. Contrary to what most people might assume about a person with a Tele, I don't play any country music at all. I actually detest the stuff whole -heartedly lol. I love blues and jazz (I already have a Strat) and I also play for my church's worship team. We play anything from rock songs in drop c (My Schecter with Duncans handles these songs ) to standard tuning songs. I play through a Bogner Alchemist 112 combo mic'd, gain at 3/4 on the punch mode, along with the clean channel and occasionally throw a wah on it.

What would you recommend for Duncan pickup replacements? I want to keep that warm, creamy smooth tone that the stock neckup already posses (just improve on it) and I would like something in the bridge that isn't too trebly but not muddy either. Something that can give good strong crunch and rock tones and good lead tones as well.

Since I've never used Duncans in a Strat let alone a Tele, I thought I would come to you guys for your expert opinions and wisdom =)

**By the way, here's the new guitar! It actually has a subtle flame to the grain of the wood, you just have to look in the light.**

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: New Tele PUPs

I have recently experimented with replacement pickups in a 2011 MIM Telecaster.

I found that the smooth tone of the Alder body and economy modern bridge went better with a bright pickup. The best so far has been a Fender American Vintage Re-Issue '52. The sound is controlled with just the right amount of snarl. (The same pickup in its original host guitar sounded slightly too wiry for my liking.)

The nearest thing to the Fender AVRI pickup in the SD catalogue is the STL-1 Vintage '54. I would pair this with an STR-52-1r Five-Two model.

For the Rock tones that you describe yourself wanting to play, your best bet is the ST59-1b Little '59 with either an STK-1n Stack or some sort of humbucker in the neck position.

 

[mitchewr]

Re: New Tele PUPs

Overall, would you recommend Fender pickups over the Seymour Duncan equivalents?

Would the ST59-1b Little '59 give good rock tones but still creamy leads? I wouldn't want it to sound to thin with too much high-end. I've been watching a few vids on youtube of Seymour Duncan pickups in teles and with both of the videos so far, the Duncans seem to sound thinner and harsher with more treble than what the stock pups sound like. Is this characteristic of Duncan tele pups? Or just bad recording or bad paring or something in each of the respective videos?

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: New Tele PUPs

Overall, would you recommend Fender pickups over the Seymour Duncan equivalents?

Not necessarily.

I have some very specific tastes in Telecaster tones. Of all the pickups at my disposal to test, the Fender AVRI '52 happened to come closest to my expectations on one specific Fender MIM Standard Telecaster.

My experiments did involve some much more expensive pickups. Although, on paper, these other pickups may be considered "better", they did not happen to suit the guitar being modified. The point is to balance the sonic qualities of the wood and the pickup to get a pleasing overall result.

Another brand worthy of your consideration is G&L. Their MDF pickups for ASAT Classic would do most of what you require. Despite not conforming to traditional Fender design or construction, these deliver convincing tone - even on import instruments.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: New Tele PUPs

If it sounds "amazing" you might not want to change a thing.

On the other hand, if you can fit a vintage style Strat neck pickup in it and a Duncan Jerry Donahue you might wind up with a Tele that's even more "amazing".

That's what I have in my alder bodied Tele, and it sounds truly amazing.

 

[RockStarNick]

Re: New Tele PUPs

+1 on Lew's suggestion. the Duncan Donahue pickup is just incredible.

 

[Powdered Toast Man]

Re: New Tele PUPs

Overall, would you recommend Fender pickups over the Seymour Duncan equivalents?

Would the ST59-1b Little '59 give good rock tones but still creamy leads? I wouldn't want it to sound to thin with too much high-end. I've been watching a few vids on youtube of Seymour Duncan pickups in teles and with both of the videos so far, the Duncans seem to sound thinner and harsher with more treble than what the stock pups sound like. Is this characteristic of Duncan tele pups? Or just bad recording or bad paring or something in each of the respective videos?

The characteristic you describe is because there are so many players out there who either refuse to learn or don't understand what this knob right here is for:

TONE. Use it. If you roll back the tone knob even just a bit, it tames the treble and gets thicker sounding. I myself do not play country (hate it) but I play on the bridge pickup nearly 100% of the time.

The crazy thing is that there's so many variants of every pickup available. I've had experience with a number of Tele pickups. Here's my thoughts:

SD Broadcaster: Currently in my MIM Tele. I LOVE this pickup! If I had to pick my favourite ever, it would probably be this one. It is mean, gnarly, and just the right amount of nasty. Great cutting sound that stands out. It's bright, but as I mentioned above, with judicious use of the tone knob you can tame it and it gets sweet. This one is loud and proud.

SD Alnico II Pro set: I had these in my MIM Tele for a year or two. They're very nice pickups, but in the end I grew to find them too polite - to the point of being sort of anemic sounding. Just not inspiring. However, they are very clear and articulate.

SD Little '59: Here's the thing, this pickup is not a bad pickup by any means. It's actually very good at what it is. However, I found this pickup not to be true to what you would expect a Telecaster to sound like at all. So, if you're looking for something different, this pickup could be for you. If you want to retain that expected character of a Tele bridge, then this isn't the pickup for you. This isn't just a different flavour, it's a totally different animal. Do some guys like it? Yes. Did I like it? No.

Fender American Standard set (pre-2012): Came stock in my AS Tele. Best word to describe them: Meh. Just kind of generic sounding.

Fender Custom Shop Nocaster set: EXCELLENT Telecaster pickups. Just great sounding all around. Balanced and not too nasty or too generic. You can't go wrong with these. Currently in my American Standard Tele.

Fender AV'52 bridge: Currently in my '52 Tele. Overall, very similar in character to the SD Broadcaster. Not quite as brash, but close. Good vintage sounding pickup. Fairly low output.

 

[Frankly]

Re: New Tele PUPs

If you like the neck pickup, keep it.

Thank you.

 

[mitchewr]

Re: New Tele PUPs

The characteristic you describe is because there are so many players out there who either refuse to learn or don't understand what this knob right here is for:

TONE. Use it. If you roll back the tone knob even just a bit, it tames the treble and gets thicker sounding. I myself do not play country (hate it) but I play on the bridge pickup nearly 100% of the time.

The crazy thing is that there's so many variants of every pickup available. I've had experience with a number of Tele pickups. Here's my thoughts:

SD Broadcaster: Currently in my MIM Tele. I LOVE this pickup! If I had to pick my favourite ever, it would probably be this one. It is mean, gnarly, and just the right amount of nasty. Great cutting sound that stands out. It's bright, but as I mentioned above, with judicious use of the tone knob you can tame it and it gets sweet. This one is loud and proud.

SD Alnico II Pro set: I had these in my MIM Tele for a year or two. They're very nice pickups, but in the end I grew to find them too polite - to the point of being sort of anemic sounding. Just not inspiring. However, they are very clear and articulate.

SD Little '59: Here's the thing, this pickup is not a bad pickup by any means. It's actually very good at what it is. However, I found this pickup not to be true to what you would expect a Telecaster to sound like at all. So, if you're looking for something different, this pickup could be for you. If you want to retain that expected character of a Tele bridge, then this isn't the pickup for you. This isn't just a different flavour, it's a totally different animal. Do some guys like it? Yes. Did I like it? No.

Fender American Standard set (pre-2012): Came stock in my AS Tele. Best word to describe them: Meh. Just kind of generic sounding.

Fender Custom Shop Nocaster set: EXCELLENT Telecaster pickups. Just great sounding all around. Balanced and not too nasty or too generic. You can't go wrong with these. Currently in my American Standard Tele.

Fender AV'52 bridge: Currently in my '52 Tele. Overall, very similar in character to the SD Broadcaster. Not quite as brash, but close. Good vintage sounding pickup. Fairly low output.

Thank man! This is what I was looking for. I do like the base tone of the Tele pickups and would just like to 'improve' on them, so I think I'll look into the Fender American Nocaster set or the SD Broadcaster. I actually play on the bridge pickup for a lot of rhythm stuff with high gain and I never turn the tone knob down. As of right now, I don't really need to. I may not want to have to keep adjusting the tone knob each time I change which pickup I'm using. We'll see.

Anyways thanks for the suggestions and the good straight-up analysis of several different sets. That's why I love this site