Quarter pound for tele bridge

[dead_phish21]

Hey all, Im again replacing my tele bridge with what I had decided would be a full sized humbucker. I currently have a sd 59 humbucker in the neck and LOVE it. I use it almost exclusively but occasionally use the middle position which is mixing with a jerry Don in the bridge. My set up guy is suggesting I try the quarter pound for tele bridge before I rout out the body for a full sized humbucker. I would like the Jerry D for true tele twang, or chicken pickin stuff but im not interested in that sound at all. I got the jerry because everyone says its the warmest and fullest sounding tele bridge that is made. But its still to thin for my taste, and not very useful. I really want bigger, thicker, warmer and fuller. Hence the full size humbucker idea. Im not thrilled about the lil 59 idea either. So long story longer, should the Quarter pound for tele bridge do it, or should I just pull the trigger and have him rout out my baby for a humbucker.
Also any info or opinions on the 250k vs 500k would be greatly appreciated.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Quarter pound for tele bridge

Need to be careful. The Quarter Pounders have both bigger magnets and a thin wire high-D/C wind. They are very hot and compressed.

What you might want to try if it existed is normal magnets and medium wind like the SSL-6 for Strat, except they don't have a Tele version.

BTW, re-routing a Tele for humbuckers often has a visible hole from where the Tele pickup was and that isn't covered by the humbucker ring. Plus the sound changes complete if you change the bridge. Finally, unless you have a flatmount you need new holes for string-through body.

 

[marcello252]

Re: Quarter pound for tele bridge

imho reading what you describe, the quarter pound is still too bright for you, I'd go for a full humbucker, with an A2 magnet maybe.
I have a tele with 2 aph and it is sweet.

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Quarter pound for tele bridge

I find the full-wind QP to be less bright than a lot of humbuckers. With 250K pots, it can get into mud. However, I strongly advise against routing out a normal Tele for an HB. It's a lot of hassle, and there is no going back; there'e no normal Tele bridge that will cover the ears of an HB route.

There are plenty of pickups that approximate HB tones in a Tele-bridge format: QP, Lil 59... I think there's even a Lil Pearly Gates. Also look at Harmonic Design - they're reported to have a Tele-style pickup that nails a P-90.

After you consider (if not try) all those options, think about swapping guitars of bodies. There are so many Tele bodies out there already routed for two HBs, that it's senseless to route out another.

 

[bluesbend]

Re: Quarter pound for tele bridge

I've got a Tele with a P90 at the neck and a Quartet Pound at the bridge. I'm using 500k pots. The thing is a rock monster.

 

[marcello252]

Re: Quarter pound for tele bridge

I find the full-wind QP to be less bright than a lot of humbuckers

I had two on a alder strat with maple neck and they where pretty bright on the mid high freqs, not shrill but a sort of a big single coil, something reminding of a P90 without the body of a P90.
I think that in some wood they can work really good, I suspect that in brighter sounding woods they tend to be over the top a little too much.

 

[marcello252]

Re: Quarter pound for tele bridge

However, I strongly advise against routing out a normal Tele for an HB. It's a lot of hassle, and there is no going back; there'e no normal Tele bridge that will cover the ears of an HB route

that's true, I made a hole in mine and the standard tele bridge leave two side hole.
But you could put an humbucker size P90 if you want to return to the single coil (sorry, lately i'm in love with P90, I started thinking it's the best pickup I've ever used)

 

[allstarrme]

Re: Quarter pound for tele bridge

maybe try a hot rails or lil 59 in the bridge? That would get you a thicker fuller sound without a full size bucker. also theres a custom shop lil Pearly gates bridge, that might be it if the hot rails is to much.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Quarter pound for tele bridge

I should also mention that the high-wind coil in the QP can hum like a Mofo. Depends on how much gain you use of course but it is much more than in a vintage style pickup.

 

[pinto79]

Re: Quarter pound for tele bridge

I'll give a +1 for the HotRails. One of my favourite Tele pickups.