Springsteen's Tele Pickups

[mgutier]

Does anyone know what pickups Springsteen uses in his '52 Teles -- they appear to be hot rails, but they may be vintage or cool. Also, anyone know a good strat and tele pickup to get his sound. Thanks.



Matt

 

[xerxes]

Re: Springsteen's Tele Pickups

i allways thought they were the stock pups.....

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Springsteen's Tele Pickups

Mr. Springsteen is currently using Joe Barden pickups in his tele's.

 

[mgutier]

Re: Springsteen's Tele Pickups

No, took those out on his '52s and his Classic 50's Telecaster and replaced them with some kind of Duncan rails (Nils did the same for The Rising tour with his custom strat). The only Springsteen guitar that has the stocks is the '53 Esquier.


Matt

 

[mgutier]

Re: Springsteen's Tele Pickups

Oh ok, thanks (my last reply was for the stock pickup comment)



Matt

 

[jmh151]

Re: Springsteen's Tele Pickups

I've read that they were Bardens too. I saw a close up of his 50's tele at the MTV and the rail pickups resembled barden rails moreso than Duncan rails

 

[tone4days]

Re: Springsteen's Tele Pickups

iirc, guitar player article about him and little steven circa 'the rising' tour said bardens only

 

[Evan Skopp]

Re: Springsteen's Tele Pickups

The Boss used STL-3 Quarter Pounds for many years. Switched over to Joe Bardens recently. But MJ's been busy in the Custom Shop making some new stuff... I'm not sure I'm allowed to talk about it though. Just keep your eyes peeled.

 

[mgutier]

Re: Springsteen's Tele Pickups

New stuff for the boss? That would be great to have some custom shop springsteen model...

 

[mongrollo]

Re: Springsteen's Tele Pickups

No, took those out on his '52s and his Classic 50's Telecaster and replaced them with some kind of Duncan rails (Nils did the same for The Rising tour with his custom strat). The only Springsteen guitar that has the stocks is the '53 Esquier.


Matt

Actually the only stock it is the bridge pickup. The 53 model didn't have a neck pickup, it was added after he bought it. Probably a fender tele pickup was used, I don'd know.

 

[yigba]

Re: Springsteen's Tele Pickups

The '52 reissue and the other tele's he uses are equipped with Bardens. His old Esquire (The guitar) uses Phil Petillo pickups and electronics.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Springsteen's Tele Pickups

Bruce used Duncan QP's for a long time. These days, I think the guys are right about him using Joe Bardens.

Nils has been a Bill Lawrence user for a long time...he might be using something differant these days, but I assumed he was still using Lawrence.

Lew

 

[yigba]

Re: Springsteen's Tele Pickups

You sure about that Lew? Did the QP's always have the Duncan name embossed on the front or is that recent? Bruce has only been using the Bardens since 1999, and he's been using the Petillo stuff since the early 70's. If he was using the QP's, they didn't have the Duncan name on them.

 

[BS123]

Re: Springsteen's Tele Pickups

Switched over to Joe Bardens recently. But MJ's been busy in the Custom Shop making some new stuff... I'm not sure I'm allowed to talk about it though. Just keep your eyes peeled.

Being a true blue Seymour Duncan user for over 20 years, I do have to say that Barden's Tele pickups are indeed something special. Joe isn't in the business anymore for the most part and the Bardens people are selling on eBay are fetching anywhere from $300 - $500 per set. I hope you guys are coming up with something to take the place of Bardens. Even the Fender Danny Gatton signature Tele isn't going to be made with Bardens. Willie Stitch (Bill Lawrence) is going to be designing with Fender producing the new pickups. IMO, a Danny Gatton Tele without Bardens is not a Danny Gatton Tele. Sorry for the thread hijack...

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Springsteen's Tele Pickups

You sure about that Lew? Did the QP's always have the Duncan name embossed on the front or is that recent? Bruce has only been using the Bardens since 1999, and he's been using the Petillo stuff since the early 70's. If he was using the QP's, they didn't have the Duncan name on them.

Yep. And here's what Evan said too:

The Boss used STL-3 Quarter Pounds for many years. Switched over to Joe Bardens recently. But MJ's been busy in the Custom Shop making some new stuff... I'm not sure I'm allowed to talk about it though. Just keep your eyes peeled.