Pickup choice for Standard US Tele - Help?

skefton

New member
I've got a Standard US Telecaster (Rosewood fretboard), with 2 single coil Fender pick ups. I play through a Marshall TSL 100 Valve amp, but often stuggle to be heard above the rest of the band. If I turn up they all moan I'm too loud. We play Indie Rock type stuff (Think Radiohead ish) and often the dynamic of the songs suffers because my guitar sound lacks a bit of oomph.

I still want to maintain some of the Tele sound, but would like to get some more bottom end and more guts. I'm thinking of changing one of the pick ups but really don't know where to start. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Cheers
 
Re: Pickup choice for Standard US Tele - Help?

I took Lew's advice a few months ago and put a Jerry Donahue in My Fender James Burton tele and it's great. If a little extra "oomph" is what you want without straying too far away from a vintage tele sound then that pickup is perfect.
 
Re: Pickup choice for Standard US Tele - Help?

The JD is a great pup for some more oompf, but to my ears it doesn't have as much low end as the Antiquity I flatpole Tele lead. They are both great clean or overdriven -- roll the tone off a bit and you can tread in P90 or HB crunch territory. The CS Hot Tele should be similar I would think. Any of these should match well with a Firebird-style mini-HB at the neck, and the JD and HOt Tele will match well with a Phat Cat or vintage P90 at the neck. I'm less sure about a full-size PAF neck HB -- the JD should come close, so I think the Hot Tele will be on the money. I mention these neck pups because they will deliver more punch and low end than a standard Tele neck pup, and a mini or full HB (or Phat Cat) will fit in a standard HB route (unlike a P90) -- the newer American Teles have 'em, so check under the hood of yours.
 
Re: Pickup choice for Standard US Tele - Help?

Same setup I use in my tele, Rio Grande Tallboy neck and Muy Grande bridge
 
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