Pickup suggestion for a TLAC Telecaster

[seratone]

I picked up a 91' Fender TLAC Telecaster in a trade last week - it's a MIJ Tele slimline hybrid with an acoustic piezo bridge and a Lace Sensor Silver in the neck. I'm not sure if mine wasn't working properly but the Lace Silver in the neck was Way too quiet (I'm pretty sure it was defective) - I swapped it out with an el-cheapo Chinese Strat pickup and the balance is a lot better - but it's sort of basey and lifeless.

I'd like to find something hotter, with more definition. Originally I'm pretty sure the Lace silver was designed to enhance the piezo - meaning the guitar was meant to be used with a PA or an acoustic amp - not to be played through a guitar amp. (otherwise there would be either a stereo out - or two output jacks - like the Hamer Hybrid).

Would it make sense to install a hotter bridge pickup in the neck position - like the JB - Jr?

I've got 12" acoustic strings on the guitar - and I'm primarily a finger style player.

I've got half a mind to create another output jack - or re-wire the existing one to run in stereo.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Pickup suggestion for a TLAC Telecaster

If your current one is basey and lifeless then the JB Jr. would definitely take away those problems...but it might produce others problems as well.

I've never tried a JB or JB Jr. with acoustic strings for one thing and without any info on that bridge my gut would say the JB Jr has the potential to be too hot/powerful?

Do you have a picture of the guitar you could post, I'm intrigued?

 

[seratone]

Re: Pickup suggestion for a TLAC Telecaster

I can post some pictures when I get home - but a Google image search will definitely bring up something for Fender TLAC - Mine's a black one.

I thought about a hotter pickup being overpowering but one of the knobs on the guitar is a 'blend' between the piezo and the neck pickup - so that shouldn't be an issue. The body cavity has a circuit board and a 9 volt battery - I have been told in another forum this is for the piezo pre-amp - and the neck pickup is passive.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Pickup suggestion for a TLAC Telecaster

I can post some pictures when I get home - but a Google image search will definitely bring up something for Fender TLAC - Mine's a black one.

I thought about a hotter pickup being overpowering but one of the knobs on the guitar is a 'blend' between the piezo and the neck pickup - so that shouldn't be an issue. The body cavity has a circuit board and a 9 volt battery - I have been told in another forum this is for the piezo pre-amp - and the neck pickup is passive.

Just looked it up, interesting looking guitar!

SO the specs look like a Spruce Top, Mahogany Body with Maple+Rosewood neck. I had a Semi-Hollow Strat with the same specs.

View attachment 70921

Best pickups for ME in this combo was the Fender Fat 50s; however, (and a BIG however at that) it had a vintage Strat bridge...I would say something Alnico 5 in the neck should be good and more of a Vintage tone but hotter.

JB Jrs have a ceramic magnet if memory servers me right BUT they are voiced to be a JB (A5) in single coil sized–would be a worth a shot in my book.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Pickup suggestion for a TLAC Telecaster

That is a cool guitar! I'd go with something like a Cool Rails. It is open sounding, and quiet. It is like the Jazz pickup in a single coil size- it does clean and distortion equally well too without the compression of a higher output pickup.

 

[dystrust]

Re: Pickup suggestion for a TLAC Telecaster

That is a cool guitar! I'd go with something like a Cool Rails. It is open sounding, and quiet. It is like the Jazz pickup in a single coil size- it does clean and distortion equally well too without the compression of a higher output pickup.

Love the Cool Rails and the description is spot-on. I've had one in the neck position of my Charvel Model 4/2 mutt since 2005 or so; absolutely my favorite single coil sized humbucker for the neck position.

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: Pickup suggestion for a TLAC Telecaster

There may not be anything wrong with the Lace sensor. The Lace sensors have low magnetic pull so they might not be the best choice for sensing acoustic strings which only have a steel core. I imagine that the single coil you put in that position works better because it has a stronger magnetic field than the Lace sensor. I would be curious to know how it would sound with an equivalent gauge of electric strings?

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Pickup suggestion for a TLAC Telecaster

That is a cool guitar! I'd go with something like a Cool Rails. It is open sounding, and quiet. It is like the Jazz pickup in a single coil size- it does clean and distortion equally well too without the compression of a higher output pickup.

Love the Cool Rails and the description is spot-on. I've had one in the neck position of my Charvel Model 4/2 mutt since 2005 or so; absolutely my favorite single coil sized humbucker for the neck position.

I was about to put a Bill Lawrence L250 set in my Semi-Hollow right before I decided I had thrown enough money into it lol

I think a rail pickup is a great suggestion–I always like the Hotrails better BUT the Coolrails is probably a better option here...HRs can be a bit dark and muddy to some people.