Stereotypical Tele Pickup Set

[larryguitar]

Howdy,

I'm going to be building a traditional tele for myself in the coming couple weeks (alder body, maple neck and fretboard), and was looking for the 'stereotypical' Tele pickup set. I've tried a number of SD and Fender Tele pickups, but wanted to see what folks thought most epitomized the 'real' Tele tone?


Thanks,

Larry

 

[jeremy]

Re: Stereotypical Tele Pickup Set

what type of tele tone? roy buchanan, keith richards, buck owens, jerry donahue, albert collins?

 

[David Garner]

Re: Stereotypical Tele Pickup Set

I mentioned in another thread, but I played a locally built partscaster once that had the Antiquity Tele set. They were amazing. There are a ton of boutique folks who will wind a nice representative set too, but I guess the problem is as jeremy said above -- which stereotypical Tele tone are you after?

I have Texas Specials in my Tele. It's the only guitar I own that does not have aftermarket pickups in it (I traded my PRS DGT, but it kept the stock pickups the whole time I owned it too). If I was going to replace them, and honestly I probably won't, I'd want something similar. They are pretty far from stereotypical Tele to my ears, though. That guitar is a rock and roll machine. It will twang, but it prefers to bite.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Stereotypical Tele Pickup Set

the antiquity II tele bridge pup is great if you want vintage tele twang

 

[KNUCKLHEAD]

Re: Stereotypical Tele Pickup Set

I'm not a St. country guy though ( Blues , Blues/Rock ~ Rock ) btw

for Neck - Those Vintage type Duncans are great , Mj , Seymour or whoever wound ( speaking from experience ) I'm using a Fender twisted tele Now ( after Ax with Duncan stolen ) it and My Amps can get Anything i need .

Bridge , I Honestly cannot keep a Poled pup in there as i ALWAYS Yank it out for Rails ~ rt. Now Chopper is filling that bill . ( have used Hot Rails , Super-D., jackson Epoxy potted , All with success .

But Jeremy is correct on the subject - btw . . . . 1 last thing ~ I Only think of Ash as Traditional because it is original ( so it's what I do , All others have been Sold + I'm building an Ash Strele as well currently now with 3S bridge tri-Bucker , series / parall.

 

[Supernut]

Re: Stereotypical Tele Pickup Set

Even BB King used a tele in the early days so, stereotypical Tele is a broad range. I just know that I love the SD stacks I have in mine. Hot in the bridge, by the way.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Stereotypical Tele Pickup Set

Screw stereotypical man, just do what sounds good. As many here have pointed out, vintage Teles are extremely varied. You could give everyone who played a Tele before 1970 the exact same Telecaster and get just as many varied tones.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Stereotypical Tele Pickup Set

I mentioned in another thread, but I played a locally built partscaster once that had the Antiquity Tele set. They were amazing. There are a ton of boutique folks who will wind a nice representative set too, but I guess the problem is as jeremy said above -- which stereotypical Tele tone are you after?

I have Texas Specials in my Tele. It's the only guitar I own that does not have aftermarket pickups in it (I traded my PRS DGT, but it kept the stock pickups the whole time I owned it too). If I was going to replace them, and honestly I probably won't, I'd want something similar. They are pretty far from stereotypical Tele to my ears, though. That guitar is a rock and roll machine. It will twang, but it prefers to bite.

Mine’s got Texas Specials too, and I agree, total rock machine! I also would like an Antiquity loaded Tele some day...

 

[mojosman]

Re: Stereotypical Tele Pickup Set

Nobody knew more about Tele tone than the late Danny Gatton. He used Barden pickups, which aren't 100% as twangy as original 50's Tele pickups, but the trade off is zero hum or squeal even at really high volume. They will cover most any ground any other Tele pickup does, you still see a few guys in Nashville using them. Worth looking into.

 

[KNUCKLHEAD]

Re: Stereotypical Tele Pickup Set

Even BB King used a tele in the early days so, stereotypical Tele is a broad range. I just know that I love the SD stacks I have in mine. Hot in the bridge, by the way.

wadr - I've never found a Stack that works as good as the side-by-sides ( to my experience , but I've traded out quite a few and of course some Duncans

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Stereotypical Tele Pickup Set

The Fender Pure Vintage Tele pickups are all excellent sounding pickups: '52, '58, and '64.

FWIW, alder with a maple neck is atypical/non-traditional for a Tele.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Stereotypical Tele Pickup Set

Any pickup from the Antiquity line would get you there. You can split hairs even further, but these sort of epitomize the traditional Tele tone.

 

[KNUCKLHEAD]

Re: Stereotypical Tele Pickup Set

The Fender Pure Vintage Tele pickups are all excellent sounding pickups: '52, '58, and '64.

I wouldn't Doubt that at all . I wired a Fender C S Texas Special set into my early 80's Strat and it Transformed that Ax into a total Thing-of-Beauty . a Friend of mine bugged me about twice a week ( for months) to sell him that guitar so I finally did . I think Randy Chambers still has it . I use a Twisted in my T Neck now .

 

[Supernut]

Re: Stereotypical Tele Pickup Set

wadr - I've never found a Stack that works as good as the side-by-sides ( to my experience , but I've traded out quite a few and of course some Duncans

wadr? Is that English?

 

[zionstrat]

Re: Stereotypical Tele Pickup Set

Nobody knew more about Tele tone than the late Danny Gatton. He used Barden pickups, which aren't 100% as twangy as original 50's Tele pickups, but the trade off is zero hum or squeal even at really high volume. They will cover most any ground any other Tele pickup does, you still see a few guys in Nashville using them. Worth looking into.

Yep, bardens are amazing... A little modern, a bit thicker, but great sparkel and noiseless as mentioned.

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