Solid all Hard Maple tele S/H bridge suggestions

[BlackLantern]

I recently came across a tele-like body that I know for a fact is hard maple. I have a neck/board to match it. It's already been routed for a standard (strat) sized single in the neck and a humbucker (trembucker spacing) in the bridge. I'm looking for suggestions on the bridge-bucker.

I guess I should start with my initial thoughts: All maple tele, Prince comes to mind. But the humbucker? I would like something that has a sound not too far off from a telecaster bridge pickup, but so far the best sonic match I have come up with in an Alnico II Pro Trembucker. I'm happy with that choice but I thought I'd ask the gallery. You never know, maybe somebody has a better idea!

Last note, I'm using a "Texas Special" style pickup in the neck.

Thanks ahead of time!

 

[appar111]

Re: Solid all Hard Maple tele S/H bridge suggestions

If you want to keep a very tele like bite, probably an A2P, 59B, Dimarzio PAF, Pearly Gates. Maybe a Phat Cat if you want to keep more single coil tone in the bridge.

What sort of bridge does it have on it?

 

[BlackLantern]

Re: Solid all Hard Maple tele S/H bridge suggestions

The bridge is one of those standard Tele convert to humbucker bridges. (similar to this: http://store.guitarfetish.com/assets/images/products/bridges/C04_b.jpg)

I thought about the Phat Cat briefly, but I already own one P-90 equipped Tele-clone and it's perfect, so no need for another p-90 guitar. So far, sounds like the TB-APH-1b is the way to go....what about the Pearly Gates? Probably cuts a bit more. Like I said I was thinking of something Prince-esque at first, and I know the APH-1 well, and it is quite funky.

 

[Breogan]

Re: Solid all Hard Maple tele S/H bridge suggestions

What do you mean by Prince tone? Funky clean or heavily distorted leads?

 

[BlackLantern]

Re: Solid all Hard Maple tele S/H bridge suggestions

Good question. In theory, if you get the clean tone down you can get the "drive" tones too. I can get whatever lead tone I need with pedals/amps/processors, so as long as I nail that funky clean tone, the rest is a piece of cake. But, I'm not trying to totally recreate his sound either, just get close. My own spin on it if you will. That sound he gets on "When You Were Mine" or "Uptown" from the Dirty Mind album would be the goal, but I know that I can't perfectly match it up.

"Tone is in the hands of the player"

But just having a Humbucker alone will change things, as will the single coil I'm using. He uses a noise-free vintage "broadcaster" in the neck with a matching bridge. I've decided to stick with my favorite single coil, which is a Lace Sensor Emerald (Lace's version of a Texas Special), instead. I'm not fixed to anything, just sort of have a general roadmap idea of what I'm looking for.

 

[King IzzO)))]

Re: Solid all Hard Maple tele S/H bridge suggestions

Ha, I was just thinking that the JB2 would sound awesome in a maple body, so there's my 2 cents.

 

[BlackLantern]

Re: Solid all Hard Maple tele S/H bridge suggestions

Ha, I was just thinking that the JB2 would sound awesome in a maple body, so there's my 2 cents.

Too loud. I would put a Custom Custom in before either JB models. They aren't clear enough for my taste. Besides, not looking to do any custom magnet swaps. Thanks for the suggestion though I have a stock JB in a basswood Fender, and I love the guitar but the pickup sounds like Hell in clean mode. Maybe a trip to the custom shop is in order for that.

 

[MetalManiac]

Re: Solid all Hard Maple tele S/H bridge suggestions

Oy Oy Oy! A maple tele.?
I wouldn't worry about the neck too much, that'll be okay , but i'd go with a hotwound neck pickup to fatten it up and smooth it out.,

To be honest, but the bridgepickup choice is is gonna be a MuthaF*ker with a Maple tele.
I'm thinking a Screamin' Demon.
Lynch had great successes in his maple Superstrats with the Demon bridge.
Good luck, your gonna need it.

 

[King IzzO)))]

Re: Solid all Hard Maple tele S/H bridge suggestions

No way Jose, I've had maple bodied Lynch guitars with the screamin demon in them, I would not recommend that combo.

The JB2 is clearer than the CC by a good bit, I don't know about cleans though, I'm sure they're smoother and not as thin.

 

[LatsMcGee]

Re: Solid all Hard Maple tele S/H bridge suggestions

No way Jose, I've had maple bodied Lynch guitars with the screamin demon in them, I would not recommend that combo.

The JB2 is clearer than the CC by a good bit, I don't know about cleans though, I'm sure they're smoother and not as thin.

What about a JB8?