Hi, I've just put together a Tele with a maple neck and Warmoth swamp ash body. I put in a Jerry Donahue lead, which I love, and an STR-1 vintage rhythm, which I am not fond of. By comparison with the JD, it sounds weak and muffled. Should I have picked one of the higher output rhythm PuPs?
Rhythm PuP for Tele?
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theodie
Guest
Re: Rhythm PuP for Tele?
I am not a tele guy at all but, most teles I have played the neck position sounds weak and muffled. I say, throw a bucker or a P-90 in there and be done with it.
Wait for the tele guys to chime in, they could help you alot more on this one.
I am not a tele guy at all but, most teles I have played the neck position sounds weak and muffled. I say, throw a bucker or a P-90 in there and be done with it.
Wait for the tele guys to chime in, they could help you alot more on this one.
tone4days
Heel Whacker
Re: Rhythm PuP for Tele?
welcome to the forum
there is a whole thread on tele tone solutions in the vault ... lotsa good recommendations there .. i think there is a custom shop wind (tele a la strat, or some such) that gets rave reviews
i used a vintage stack for tele set in my tele clone ... i like the tones (inclusing the 4 way mod) very much ... not sure it is what you are looking for given that you have a JD in the bridge
good luck
t4d
welcome to the forum
there is a whole thread on tele tone solutions in the vault ... lotsa good recommendations there .. i think there is a custom shop wind (tele a la strat, or some such) that gets rave reviews
i used a vintage stack for tele set in my tele clone ... i like the tones (inclusing the 4 way mod) very much ... not sure it is what you are looking for given that you have a JD in the bridge
good luck
t4d
Re: Rhythm PuP for Tele?
welcome to the forum!
ive never found an off the shelf tele rhythm pup that ive liked. usually i suggest putting a strat pup, like the ssl2, or a mini humbucker, like the sm1n, in that position. much better sounds. if you use a strat pup you will only have to widen the hole in the pickguard, the body doesnt need to be modified.
welcome to the forum!
ive never found an off the shelf tele rhythm pup that ive liked. usually i suggest putting a strat pup, like the ssl2, or a mini humbucker, like the sm1n, in that position. much better sounds. if you use a strat pup you will only have to widen the hole in the pickguard, the body doesnt need to be modified.
Re: Rhythm PuP for Tele?
If you are doing the mod for a Strat pu, try a Melody Maker pu with a baseplate---very good match for the JD I use and it still has the 'covered' sound, albeit plastic; I kinda find a Strat pu too bright for a Tele. You do have to rout the pu cavity though...
If you are doing the mod for a Strat pu, try a Melody Maker pu with a baseplate---very good match for the JD I use and it still has the 'covered' sound, albeit plastic; I kinda find a Strat pu too bright for a Tele. You do have to rout the pu cavity though...
Zhangliqun
Questionologist
Re: Rhythm PuP for Tele?
My recommendation is to yank the cover off your existing pickup. That will go a long way toward de-muffling it.
Folks talk a lot about replacing standard Tele neck pu's but they really are a wonderful pickup as is, sweeter than a Strat pu. Just lose the cover.
My recommendation is to yank the cover off your existing pickup. That will go a long way toward de-muffling it.
Folks talk a lot about replacing standard Tele neck pu's but they really are a wonderful pickup as is, sweeter than a Strat pu. Just lose the cover.
loudriver23
New member
Re: Rhythm PuP for Tele?
Is the cover removal a daunting process, or if one has the skills to wire in the pickups, can they give it a whirl?
Is the cover removal a daunting process, or if one has the skills to wire in the pickups, can they give it a whirl?
Benjy_26
25's Nemesis
Re: Rhythm PuP for Tele?
Depends if it's potted or not. If it's not potted, you can unbend the tabs holding the cover to the pickup, desolder the ground, and slide the cover off.
If it's heavily potted, heat the pickup to break the wax seal, and while still warm, do the above process.
Or, you could just call Zhang and get THE BEST pickup for a tele neck slot. :burnout:
Depends if it's potted or not. If it's not potted, you can unbend the tabs holding the cover to the pickup, desolder the ground, and slide the cover off.
If it's heavily potted, heat the pickup to break the wax seal, and while still warm, do the above process.
Or, you could just call Zhang and get THE BEST pickup for a tele neck slot. :burnout:
Zhangliqun
Questionologist
Re: Rhythm PuP for Tele?
It is best to heat it if it is potted and 99% of the time, they are potted. The best way is to dip it in a wax pot for about a minute. Some might suggest a blow dryer or something, but I've never tried other ways because I have a wax pot ready to go at all times.
The cover may also be soldered to the ground lead.
It is best to heat it if it is potted and 99% of the time, they are potted. The best way is to dip it in a wax pot for about a minute. Some might suggest a blow dryer or something, but I've never tried other ways because I have a wax pot ready to go at all times.
The cover may also be soldered to the ground lead.
loudriver23
New member
Re: Rhythm PuP for Tele?
Oh, I'll be contacting Zhang alright. But for the Lead position in my Tele. I'm still on the fence about the neck pickup and what to do with it.
Oh, I'll be contacting Zhang alright. But for the Lead position in my Tele. I'm still on the fence about the neck pickup and what to do with it.
Butch Snyder
ObsoleteChickenPickingologist
Re: Rhythm PuP for Tele?
You have to remember that the Tele neck pickup was invented out of necessity. Leo have the Esquire and folks for forcing him to put a neck pickup in. The results haven't really improved IMHO...
I like a Strat pickup or a mini-humbucker best. Aesthetically, the minihums look too cool...
You have to remember that the Tele neck pickup was invented out of necessity. Leo have the Esquire and folks for forcing him to put a neck pickup in. The results haven't really improved IMHO...
I like a Strat pickup or a mini-humbucker best. Aesthetically, the minihums look too cool...
Zhangliqun
Questionologist
Re: Rhythm PuP for Tele?
You've just got to try one "al fresco", Butch. You'll never go back...
You've just got to try one "al fresco", Butch. You'll never go back...
Butch Snyder
ObsoleteChickenPickingologist
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: Rhythm PuP for Tele?
I've found three that I really, really like: Duncan Custom Shop Tele ala Strat (has a chrome cover and looks stock), the Fralin Blues Special (does not have a chrome cover), and the Joe Barden Tele neck (humbucking rails type pickup with no cover).
All three are superb.
I also like the Duncan Antiquity I and II a lot, but I've only used them with the matching Antiquity bridge pickup.
I've found three that I really, really like: Duncan Custom Shop Tele ala Strat (has a chrome cover and looks stock), the Fralin Blues Special (does not have a chrome cover), and the Joe Barden Tele neck (humbucking rails type pickup with no cover).
All three are superb.
I also like the Duncan Antiquity I and II a lot, but I've only used them with the matching Antiquity bridge pickup.