Pickup choices for a dual humbucker Tele...

[IndySG]

I just bought the Tele body that Lovers Moon had up for sale, its routed for 2 humbuckers which is good as I have a few sitting around looking for a home. My first thought was to put my Rio Grande Muy Grande in the bridge and maybe my Custom/59 hybrid in the neck. However I do have other pickups sitting around that might work well too so without buying any more do I have a better combination I could use?
Along with the Muy Grande, a monster pickup without a doubt, I have a JB and a RB Smoke Stack 12K with an A4 magnet. Theres also an Air Zone for bridge or neck and a Rio Texas - I have 2 guitars with a Texas in the neck and they sound great. I also have a Dimarzio Breed and a Mo Joe that could be used... I have a SD Custom 8 and Custom UOA5 in other guitars so I'm just looking for something different for the Tele.
What do you think?

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Pickup choices for a dual humbucker Tele...

I believe the first JB was made for a Tele. Just sayin'...

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Pickup choices for a dual humbucker Tele...

I reckon Mr. Duncan himself might have an idea.

 

[IndySG]

Re: Pickup choices for a dual humbucker Tele...

Keep in mind that this is mahogany one piece body - many seem to think that the JB is a bit hit or miss in mahogany... and there are other pickups that could be used. Has anyone tried any of the pups that were mentioned in a Tele?

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Pickup choices for a dual humbucker Tele...

How about some tv jones powertrons for something different?

 

[IndySG]

Re: Pickup choices for a dual humbucker Tele...

No thanks, I don't want to be buying more pups when I have so many spares waiting to be used...

 

[Mincer]

Re: Pickup choices for a dual humbucker Tele...

I'd put that 59/Custom Hybrid in the bridge. It sounds great in the bridge position of mahogany guitars.

 

[dominus]

Re: Pickup choices for a dual humbucker Tele...

Air Zone in the bridge and Mo Joe in the neck, wire both in parallel if you need a little more top end/cut.

 

[IndySG]

Re: Pickup choices for a dual humbucker Tele...

Air Zone in the bridge and Mo Joe in the neck, wire both in parallel if you need a little more top end/cut.

I got the Air Zone with the plan to put it the neck postition, that was my original plan at least - not sure about the Mo Joe as a neck pup but I like your different way of looking at things!

 

[IndySG]

Re: Pickup choices for a dual humbucker Tele...

I'd put that 59/Custom Hybrid in the bridge. It sounds great in the bridge position of mahogany guitars.

Is that so? Like the Air Zone, I bought it with the intention of trying in the neck with maybe a Custom 8 in the bridge....

 

[dominus]

Re: Pickup choices for a dual humbucker Tele...

I got the Air Zone with the plan to put it the neck postition, that was my original plan at least - not sure about the Mo Joe as a neck pup but I like your different way of looking at things!

Air Zone has more bass and mids and chopped treble. Mo Joe is more balanced. Output is about equal on both pickups, but to me the Air Zone seemed louder.

I've got an Air Zone in a guitar in the neck position, but it's wired in parallel and I've got a Super 3 in the bridge.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Pickup choices for a dual humbucker Tele...

Is that so? Like the Air Zone, I bought it with the intention of trying in the neck with maybe a Custom 8 in the bridge....

Actually never tried the 59/Custom in the neck. It is such a great bridge pickup, though.

 

[IndySG]

Re: Pickup choices for a dual humbucker Tele...

Actually never tried the 59/Custom in the neck. It is such a great bridge pickup, though.

Guitar Doc has tried it in the neck and says its a winner!!! He was right about Custom 8 in an SG and my first thought was to try those two together in this Tele body.

 

[IndySG]

Re: Pickup choices for a dual humbucker Tele...

Air Zone has more bass and mids and chopped treble. Mo Joe is more balanced. Output is about equal on both pickups, but to me the Air Zone seemed louder.

I've got an Air Zone in a guitar in the neck position, but it's wired in parallel and I've got a Super 3 in the bridge.

I thought the Air Zone had quite a bit more output than the Mo Joe, on paper at least... I traded a PG neck for the Air Zone a while back but have never used it... never used the Mo Joe either! Soon be time to put them in a guitar or sell them on!

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Pickup choices for a dual humbucker Tele...

I had a one piece Mahogany Strat that sounded amazing with the Gibson 496R&500T set. JB is hit or miss depending on who you talk to BUT I would say it is worth a shot

Also, nothing wrong with trying the ones you have, may be pleasantly suprised

 

[dominus]

Re: Pickup choices for a dual humbucker Tele...

I thought the Air Zone had quite a bit more output than the Mo Joe, on paper at least... I traded a PG neck for the Air Zone a while back but have never used it... never used the Mo Joe either! Soon be time to put them in a guitar or sell them on!

Air Zone is typically supposed to be a bridge pickup (it's a modified Tone Zone):

Ultra-fat PAF® sound with more output. The dynamic range from soft to hard picking is very wide, and the combination of dual-resonance coils with the Airbucker™ magnetic field allows sustained notes to hang on to harmonic overtones longer, instead of becoming muddy as they fade. Will also work as a very warm, full neck pickup for jazz sound, and combine with The Tone Zone®, Super Distortion® and Super 3™ in bridge position.

Mo Joe is based on the Fred (which is based on the PAF Pro, which can be used in either position. )

According to Dimarzio the Air Zone is 323mV, Mo Joe is 320mV

http://www.dimarzio.com/pickups/humbuckers/medium-power?view=grid

For me, I look at the EQ ratings of both pickups to determine where they'd go.

Air Zone - Bass 8.5 / Middle 8.5 / Treble 5.0
Mo Joe - Bass 5.0 / Middle 5.5 / Treble 5.0

 

[IndySG]

Re: Pickup choices for a dual humbucker Tele...

Air Zone is typically supposed to be a bridge pickup (it's a modified Tone Zone):

Ultra-fat PAF® sound with more output. The dynamic range from soft to hard picking is very wide, and the combination of dual-resonance coils with the Airbucker™ magnetic field allows sustained notes to hang on to harmonic overtones longer, instead of becoming muddy as they fade. Will also work as a very warm, full neck pickup for jazz sound, and combine with The Tone Zone®, Super Distortion® and Super 3™ in bridge position.

Mo Joe is based on the Fred (which is based on the PAF Pro, which can be used in either position. )

According to Dimarzio the Air Zone is 323mV, Mo Joe is 320mV

http://www.dimarzio.com/pickups/humbuckers/medium-power?view=grid

For me, I look at the EQ ratings of both pickups to determine where they'd go.

Air Zone - Bass 8.5 / Middle 8.5 / Treble 5.0
Mo Joe - Bass 5.0 / Middle 5.5 / Treble 5.0

I think I am going to try your suggestion in my Schecter S1 Custom that I just started taking apart... I was going to just change over the neck pup but now I think I'll give those Dimarzios a try! Thanks for your input!