Should I replace Telecaster pickups

[alex1fly]

Been going back and forth on this one. I have a knockoff 50s Tele (SS) that just sings. Fat neck, butterscotch body, resonant as heck, pretty amazing guitar.

Pickups are microphonic, unlabeled bar magnet types - I can tap on the guitar anywhere and hear it through the pickups. This gives the guitar a kind of "alive" and "raw" sound which is cool, but at the same time pretty unrefined and rough and I don't feel like I can trust it for anything beyond songwriting.

1. How can I figure out what pickups I have? There's no distinguishing marks.

2. What pickups should I be looking at? The bridge is clear and gutsy and very rock-and-roll, moreso than the dozens of other Teles I've played. The neck is warm and dark and snappy and fluid under high gain, again moreso than any other Tele I've played. I really like these sounds and how they play together. I wonder if they're Broadcaster voiced pups just based on internet reading, and also based on the 50s details.

3. Should I shield the guitar? There's no shielding whatsoever.

4. Is the "microphonic pickups feel more alive" theory legit?

 

[hwiho2002]

I would properly shield it, that should help some. If its not enough, and you're REALLY set on those pickups I'd invest in one of these

https://www.ilitchelectronics.com/

Suhr guitars used to use these before they branched off into their own.

As for your theory if you believe it, then it's completely valid for you, shouldn't matter what others think.

Edit: wait, I misunderstood your statement. The issue is hum? Or microphonics? If its the latter you'd need to wax pot it, which will probably kill the mojo that you're enjoying.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

I’ve taken apart a few pickups, clawed most of the wax out, and found them to be more present.

That said, I bet you can find any number of aftermarket sets that sound great, without the squealing.

 

[Mincer]

I don't change good sounding pickups, but I always suggest shielding if you intend to play the guitar in different locations.

 

[Benjy_26]

#4: Yes. I think so.
#3: I don't shield guitars. I usually use a noise gate #2: Got any resistance figures? Seems like they're ceramic, so they'll likely be hotter than alnico types of the same resistance.
#1: Who made the guitar?

 

[jeremy]

shielding wont really help with microphonic pups but its a fine thing to do. you could have those pups lightly potted to try and control the microphonics if you really like the tone. im sure being that microphonic is adding to the liveliness a bit but if its not really usable as it is, doesnt do much good

 

[chadd]

#2: Got any resistance figures? Seems like they're ceramic, so they'll likely be hotter than alnico types of the same resistance.

My thoughts as well. "Bad" pickups can be really useful.

 

[alex1fly]

Thanks all. I could check out resistance figures. Kind of tempted to just order up a Noiseless Stack/Hot Stack set from Duncan and call it good. The Fender Tex Mex set is also tempting as it's only $80 for the set and is slightly overwound. Then there's the Twang King set (haven't tried but it's widely loved in forums) and the Twisted Tele set which I have tried in a borrowed axe and enjoyed quite a lot.

As for who made the guitar? No idea. The neck has a Fender logo, but no serial number and the upper frets have been sawed off - like the builder took a 24 fret neck and cut off the top frets with a hack saw and added a faux decal. The jack isn't a standard Tele one, there's no identifying marks in the cavities or the neck pocket, and the nut (which has been replaced) looked like it was cut with a pocketknife. But the bridge is the traditional 3-brass-saddle bridge with bent screws for intonation, so there's definitely some thought put into it. My bet is it's an Ebay special with cheap parts made by somebody as a quarantine project. Just my luck that it absolutely sings and is super fun to play.