Output of tele neck pups?

[Stringbender]

Hello folks,

I'm curious if anybody has experience using the various "vintage style" tele neck pickups that Duncan makes. I've got a 52 reissue tele with a Donahue and an alnico 2 neck and I want to keep the vintage tele tone. I'm wondering if the output (not tone) between the various vintage tele neck pickups (vintage rhythm, alnico2 rhythm, and antiquity neck) is much different.

I realize that A2 magnets inherently have less output than A5 magnets. But I notice(according to specs page) that the A2 rhythm has a higher resistance than the vintage rhythm or antiquity neck, so I would think that the A2 neck output would be pretty close the the other two.

So the question is: has anybody used these three pups(or even two of them), and what is the difference between their outputs(not tones), if any?

Thanks

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Output of tele neck pups?

I love my a2 JD and Antiquity Tele lead pickups...but I wish the a2 AIIPro and Antiquity Tele neck pickups were a little louder and a little brighter. I've never really liked the tone of covered Tele neck pickups...the cover muffles the tone, IMO. Personally, I think alnico 3 or 5 sounds clearer, louder and a brighter than alnico 2 in a covered Tele neck pickup. Right now, I'm getting a great tone with the alnico 3 Nocaster neck pickup and alnico 2 Jerry Donahue in my Tele. But MJ is winding me a special a5 Duncan Custom Shop Tele neck pickup that she says will be comparable to a Strat neck pickup...that's the tone I'm looking for. The Fralin Blues Special gets close but it's not covered. The Fender NoCaster gets close too, but it's a Fender and I want a Duncan to go with my JD. So MJ is making me a Duncan a5 neck pickup for my Tele. Hope this helps! Lew

 

[Stringbender]

Re: Output of tele neck pups?

Thanks Lew,

Yeah, I figured the tone would be alot different, but I was mainly more concerned about the output. I don't want to put a hot or quarter pounder in the neck to match the JD, but I didn't know if the vintage rhythm or antiquity were any louder than the alnico 2.

Basically, I'm looking to get some of that sweet rhythm pickup tone that Roy Buchanan gets on the live recording of "Hey Joe", and I like my A2 in the neck, but I didn't know if the other two were any closer to Roy's tone.

I'm kind of on the edge of getting some antiquity's for the neck and bridge just to get that completely traditional tele sound like Roy had. I really like the old time vibe of the 52 reissue so I'm seriously thinking about the antiquity's, although the JD and A2 are no slouches in the vintage tone department either.

From what I've seen you (Lew) say on other posts the JD is warmer than the antiquity bridge right? Man, it's tough to chose between those two also.
well.......I'll have to mull it over.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Output of tele neck pups?

Yes I think the JD sounds like a slightly overwound Antiquity...which means it has a slightly thicker tone and is not quite as bright. Personally, I think Seymour had Roy in mind when he designed the Antiquity Tele pickups.

As far as neck pickups go, the Antiquity neck sounds like a nice, vintage Tele neck pickup...which, being a Strat player for so many years, I have always thought were a little to warm and low in output compared to a vintage Strat pickup.

You see so many old Teles with humbuckers and other pickups in the neck slot because so many players find vintage Tele neck pickup lacking.

My '54 Tele came to me with the neck slot enlarged beacuse a previous owner had installed a Strat neck pickup there...it's very commen.

If you want the tone of a vintage Tele neck pickup, the Antiquity is an excellant choice. But I want something "better", and more Strat like, but in the same size.

That's why I like the Fralin Blues Special or A3 Fender Nocaster. But, as mentioned, MJ is making me a Duncan Custom Shop Tele neck pickup wound for a brighter tone and higher output than the Antiquity...and a tone more like a Strat neck pickup.

Lew

 

[Stringbender]

Re: Output of tele neck pups?

Very cool Lew,

You're exactly right, so many players put a better neck pup in a tele. Like Clarence White and Jerry Donahue with their strat pickups and Albert Collins and Keith Richards with their humbuckers. I think I'm gonna get myself a set of Antiquity's though, I really want to hear em in my guitar.

Do you know what a set of new tele Antiquity's cost normally in street prices?
Just wondering what other people are getting them for.

Thanks again Lew for your help!

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Output of tele neck pups?

Very cool Lew,

You're exactly right, so many players put a better neck pup in a tele. Like Clarence White and Jerry Donahue with their strat pickups and Albert Collins and Keith Richards with their humbuckers. I think I'm gonna get myself a set of Antiquity's though, I really want to hear em in my guitar.

Do you know what a set of new tele Antiquity's cost normally in street prices?
Just wondering what other people are getting them for.

Thanks again Lew for your help!

$154 is what I sell a set for...I think John at Blackrose sells them for the same. $77 each. Thanks! Lew