Off the wall Tele question

S

SJ318

New member
Hi,
If fitting or space was not an issue, and I hear how great a good Tele pickup sounds, not to mention read about how cool they are and copper or whatever plate it has on the bottom, why have I never heard of a Tele bridge pup used in a Strat bridge position.
Sound wise, it seems like a good idea, and if HBuckers can go there, why not a Tele 5/2?
SJB
 
Re: Off the wall Tele question

I know who Lowell George is, and he is a great player,but I did not follow him that close. Does he use a Tele in a Strat, I gather?
SJ
 
Re: Off the wall Tele question

SJ318 said:
Hi,
If fitting or space was not an issue, and I hear how great a good Tele pickup sounds, not to mention read about how cool they are and copper or whatever plate it has on the bottom, why have I never heard of a Tele bridge pup used in a Strat bridge position.
Sound wise, it seems like a good idea, and if HBuckers can go there, why not a Tele 5/2?
SJB
Click to expand...

Robin made their Ranger model guitars with that configuration for years. Like this one here
rsobl-max.jpg
 
Re: Off the wall Tele question

I have heard that a lot of that twang is from the heavy steel bridge the Tele pickup is mounted in. I got close with an F-spaced (wider spacing) neck position DiMarzio DP-103 36th Anniversary PAF at the bridge on mine. If you could duplicate the steel surrounding the Tele pickup, you'd probably have it exactly.
 
Re: Off the wall Tele question

I used the Rio Grande Stelly in the bridge of my Strat for close to 10 years. Nice beefy bridge with a little more cut.

MGYW.jpg


https://www.riograndepickups.com/scart/ProductPage.asp?ImageLink=MGYW&ProductName=For+Strats

Also, isn't the Duncan Twangbanger along the same lines?
 
Re: Off the wall Tele question

You haven't heard of it because you've clearly not tried to hear of it.

Not only have I seen actual Tele pickups in Strats, but there are things like the Twang Banger and Red Velvet as well, which go for the sound, but while keeping the Strat's stock appearance.
 
Re: Off the wall Tele question

You need to route the cavity a bit and get a pickguard with a tele bridge route. I think its an option at warmoth? You can also buy baseplates for strat pickups. I make them from brass.
 
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Re: Off the wall Tele question

The steel plate bridge, which is magnetic, pancakes out the magnetic field. It is as important as the baseplate in shaping the sound.
 
Re: Off the wall Tele question

Very great answers all,
So, a Tele pup has a baseplate, that part I know, Edgecrusher, that guitar you showed, it must have had a base plate also, but no "Tele" bridge mount, so do you know if it still got that sound w/ out it?
Itsabass, twang banger come with a copper plate? Also the pickup Stelly have a plate? And all of these, do they come close with out the Tele mounting that uOpt talks about?
I have never even played one in my life, but my friend just got a Tele Vintage pup from Onamac and it is in his Tele mount and it just sounds absolutely killer.
I am trying to acquaint myself with the basics here.
So:
1. Tele's have a copper plate, this we know.
2. Tele's don't quite get the total Tele sound w/ out the mounting? Is this also agreed upon?
3. So it would follow if the answer to 2 is yes, then a Strat pup with a copper plate would not
sound as good as a Tele with the plate AND MOUNTING? But better anyway, right?
Does that about sum it up? In general, of course. I have a mad notion of putting one in one of my main Stats, and they all have Warmouth full cavity holes. Bowling allies? Is that what that is called?
I thought I heard that somewhere when the cavity is empty of wood. I did hear a great video on YouTube (choke) and it would go perfect with the mid & neck Strat pups. Really sounded great.
Really, I am quite interested, so thank you.
SJ
 
Re: Off the wall Tele question

SJ318 said:
1. Tele's have a copper plate, this we know.
Click to expand...

Actually, Tele pickups vary and subsequently the sound can vary notably (depending on if you are sensitive to hearing those differences.) For example, Fender's '51 version has a Zinc bottom plate. Fender's '52 version has a Copper-plated Steel plate. Duncan has a number of versions: for example, Broadcaster with larger poles, Tele with normal flat poles, Tele with raised D and G poles, etc. In my experience, these differences, coupled with output differences, also change the sound noticeably, e.g. how twangy, how much bite or midrange, or evenness of string to string which affects how chords sound due to certain notes voicing out more.
 
URe: Off the wall Tele question

URe: Off the wall Tele question

beaubrummells,
Thanks for that. I am afraid I am such a newbie at Teles that these things would be my next series of items to think about. rgand, thanks for the vid!
I could sure use some beginner info like the things I mentioned in my post at 8:41, whatever # that is, it doesn't show that unless I go back.
It figures, I finally find the perfect humbuckers for me, get sort of comfortable with my Strat SC choices, and all of a sudden I find myself looking at a very cool pickup I never really ever explored. I did not realize what went into it till I heard that great Tele pickup and found out about why it is so different from Strats. Again - see my basic questions. I just assumed it was an odd shaped, overwound Strat kind of set up. How off can I possibly get?
So yeah, help me with those starter questions, I'd pay for your trouble if it was feasible.
Thanks,
SJ
 
Re: Off the wall Tele question

It's been a while since I had a strat with a twangbanger in it, but I remember that I liked it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Re: Off the wall Tele question

Not only is the Tele bridge (brass saddles on a vintage one) contributing to the Tele tone, the Strat bridge, springs, etc. contribute to the Strat tone! Even Clapton who blocked the bridge felt that the springs and steel saddles gave the Strat tone he was looking for.

Bottom line, you'll have to try for yourself. The Stelly was a cool beefy bridge tone, but the traditional Tele certainly sounds a little different.
 
Re: Off the wall Tele question

Well the Strat with its massive sustain block for the tremolo is of course entirely different. I was comparing hardtail to hardtail.
 
Re: Off the wall Tele question

uOpt-
yes, I assumed you were. OK, then I am off on a new quest, which I ill start when I can walk again. F'd up my back, actually my back just f'd up all by itself for 4 days running now. can't sleep hardly at all.
Is the Twangbanger close to a Tele, or would purists call it maybe 50%, as it does seem to jump out with "twang" compared to the other pickups in a big way. BTW-the Alnico 2 Pro sounded good too.
Thank you sincerely for the response and the videos-ALL NEWS TO ME!,
SJBuffington
 
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Re: Off the wall Tele question

Jeffblue-
So, how was it? Did you use a standard Fender Tele pup or something else. I don't know this for a fact, but I would assume the copper plate is a permanent feature of any Tele pickup unless you physically remove, yes?
My last question would be this: Can you notice a big difference in the way it sounds in the Strat compared to the way it sounds in a Tele? I am thinking of what uOpt said about the Steele plate bridge, which he says also contributes to the tone and magnetically "pancakes out" the magnetic field? Although your pickgaurd does look metal, I don't think it is same thing uOpt was talking about.
Awesome photo, you must answer this post or I will organize a world wide hunting party and track you down. This is exactly what I was thinking of doing.
Kac & rgand- that twangbanger sounded pretty good, I ran the clip though my exceptionally cool (but quite inexpensive) hand made stereo set up. The aP 2 mid pickup sounded pretty good too btw.
SJ
 
Re: Off the wall Tele question

I use Seymour Duncan Antiquities. I like the fact the magnets were electrically weakened to sound like a 40 or 50 year old pickup. The sound is really good. If you will be playing with high gain, I would consider a different pickup since the Antiquities are not wax potted. I also am using a Tele bridge pickup in a left-hand strat body that I play right-handed which angles the treble side of the pickup farther away from the bridge. I also use P90s in many of my guitars, Teles and Strats. i have photos if you are interested.
 
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