Pickups for Telecaster 52 RI? Help!

[mowcheeba]

I have been reading reviews and forum for months to find the perfect p/u´s for my tele. I can´t decide between classical tele tone or a tone suited for my musical style. Up to now it has been down to either Antiquity or the Fralin Blues Special. Lately I have been reading a lot about the Donahue model which might be the answer. It seems it has the classical tele tone but with some extra power to pull off some heavier stuff. If I go with the Donahue,
what neck p/u should I get? For tone and looks I´m planning on a humbucker altough not sure if I wanna rout the body. What humbucker would be great with the JD? If not a humbucker, what then?
Please help.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Pickups for Telecaster 52 RI? Help!

I have been reading reviews and forum for months to find the perfect p/u´s for my tele. I can´t decide between classical tele tone or a tone suited for my musical style. Up to now it has been down to either Antiquity or the Fralin Blues Special. Lately I have been reading a lot about the Donahue model which might be the answer. It seems it has the classical tele tone but with some extra power to pull off some heavier stuff. If I go with the Donahue,
what neck p/u should I get? For tone and looks I´m planning on a humbucker altough not sure if I wanna rout the body. What humbucker would be great with the JD? If not a humbucker, what then?
Please help.

I'll tell you this...it's hard to go wrong with a set of Antiquitys. I have not tried the JD but some guys here have and they like it. You could also look at the "Hot Tele Lead", you can get it tapped which would give you a more intage Tele tone AND a much hotter tone in one pickup, or maybe even a Quater Pounder tele lead tapped...as for neck pickups you either love Tele neck pickups or you hate them...If they are done right I like them, but a new bucker can be cool too...I would stay with some thine vintage in output so you don't over power the bridge pickup...maybe a seth lover or a 59.

 

[Curly]

Re: Pickups for Telecaster 52 RI? Help!

I think Antiquities are the way to go with a '52 RI.

If you want the Keith vibe, then I'd suggest a Seth neck, but yes, it will require routing.

If you want a good match for a JD, I'd suggest an SM-1 or SM-3 mini humbucker.

 

[Dave]

Re: Pickups for Telecaster 52 RI? Help!

The JD is a great pickup-It's got an Alnico 2 magnet and is smoother than the stock in your 52RI. There's a warm, naturally compressed feeling to it and although it doesn't quite give the vintage spank of an A-5 Broadcaster, it's still quite faithful to the Tele vibe we all love. Sounds great clean, gets nicely dirty and it's heaven with the tone rolled back-just a bit.

Question for the masses..."Is not the JD Seymour Duncan's most foolproof pickup???"