Stratocaster Neck Single Coil vs Telecaster Neck singlecoil

Stratocaster Neck Single Coil vs Telecaster Neck singlecoil

  • Stratocaster Neck Single Coil

    Votes: 38 82.6%

  • Telecaster Neck singlecoil

    Votes: 8 17.4%
  • Total voters
    46
bryan the rocker

bryan the rocker

New member
Hi guys



Stratocaster Neck Single Coil vs Telecaster Neck singlecoil


Which do you prefer in playing clean, dirty and with effects.



1) For you, whats the main difference in tone between a Tele Neck Singlecoil vs Strat neck single coil.


2) Is the Tele neck singlecoil the same as a Strat neck Singlecoil, but the tele neck SC has a metal cover, which may effect the high frequencies, much like the effect of Metal Covers in some Humbucker pickups,


3) Anyone tried to put a Tele SC on a Strat and Vice Versa


Thanks for the replies.
 
Last edited:
Re: Stratocaster Neck Single Coil vs Telecaster Neck singlecoil

i've always thought that a SS style tele had a fatter bridge sound/thinner neck sound, and vise versa for a SSS style strat. that's a very, very generalized answer though. it doesn't really matter much to me though, i like either one. i mean, they're both fender neck single sounds, right?
 
Re: Stratocaster Neck Single Coil vs Telecaster Neck singlecoil

Tele's are generally wound hotter (stock pickup that is). I think they both have the same baseplate dimensions so you should be able to swap them easily. I'm not sure what the look is like under a chrome cover, you would have to do some wax removal I'd guess.

You could probably get a tele neck strength p/u with one of the the antiquity texas hot pups but with the right look too.
 
Re: Stratocaster Neck Single Coil vs Telecaster Neck singlecoil

bryan the rocker said:
Hi guys
Stratocaster Neck Single Coil vs Telecaster Neck singlecoil
Which do you prefer in playing clean, dirty and with effects.

1) For you, whats the main difference in tone between a Tele Neck Singlecoil vs Strat neck single coil.

2) Is the Tele neck singlecoil the same as a Strat neck Singlecoil, but the tele neck SC has a metal cover, which may effect the high frequencies, much like the effect of Metal Covers in some Humbucker pickups,

3) Anyone tried to put a Tele SC on a Strat and Vice Versa

Thanks for the replies.
Click to expand...

1) To me, a strat neck pickup is deep and clear. The Tele neck seems more muffled. These are just generalities as tone will vary with different makes & models.

2) The tele neck isn't quite as long as a strat pickup. The metal cover does affect the highs in my experience.

3) I currently have a surfer strat neck pickup in my telecaster and I LOVE it. I actually use the neck pickup now!
 
Re: Stratocaster Neck Single Coil vs Telecaster Neck singlecoil

I didn't vote because I like both in different situations. A good Tele neck pickup, to me, is open, yet really warm and can even have a smokey tone to it but not muffled. A Strat neck pickup, OTOH, tends to naturally be open due to not having a cover. Sometimes it's the warmth that's hard to attain.

We have to remember though, that the Stratocaster, when developed in 1954, was made as an improvement over the Telecaster. When Leo added the neck pickup the the early Esquire and made the Broadcaster, my thought is that he (or George Fullerton) grabbed the closest thing that would work. Then the Strat pickup was invented. But why didn't Leo put the "improved" pickup (Strat pickup) in the neck of a Telecaster? I have no idea.....
 
Re: Stratocaster Neck Single Coil vs Telecaster Neck singlecoil

im going to talk about the classic fender tele/strat pups here

the tele pup is a smaller bobbin set and uses #43 plain enamel wire and is typically around 8k or so.

the strat pup uses #42 formvar wire and is some where near 6.5k give or take

i hate most tele neck pups. to me they sound weak, muffled and dull where as a good strat neck pup is a clear open sound. tele neck pups have their place, just not in any of my guitars
 
Re: Stratocaster Neck Single Coil vs Telecaster Neck singlecoil

I think that Strat neck pickups can come out boomy in hardtails such as a Tele. They mix better with a trem guitar. I think the only one I liked in a hardtail was the YJM.

The Tele neck pickup seems more like a "mix-in" thing that you use together with the bridge pickup.

IMHO, if you want to play the neck pickup a lot you need a trem block or an SG, or play Jazz.
 
Re: Stratocaster Neck Single Coil vs Telecaster Neck singlecoil

i find a lighter wind works best for strat pups in single cutaway hardtails, say 5.8k to 6k rather than 6.4k to 6.6k for a single trem cutaway guitar
 
Re: Stratocaster Neck Single Coil vs Telecaster Neck singlecoil

Well it depends on the pickup. I've had Strat neck pups that sounded "Eh" but the CS '69 is sublime. I've got Lace Hot Golds in in now and the neck sings. All in the same JV Sig Strat.

As for Teles, most are darker and less open sounding than Strat necks, but, I have a CS Nocaster set and that neck pup is sweet. It's my favorite neck pickup of any type.
 
Re: Stratocaster Neck Single Coil vs Telecaster Neck singlecoil

Tele neck pups I have tried sounded thicker and fuller than the strat necks I have tried. With my limited experience I like tele neck pups better.
 
Re: Stratocaster Neck Single Coil vs Telecaster Neck singlecoil

Somebody, please, get jeremy a Fender Nocaster re-issue PU set to try.

I enjoy both PU types. I could not single out either one as being superior in all situations.
 
Re: Stratocaster Neck Single Coil vs Telecaster Neck singlecoil

I like the tone of a strat neck pup better than a tele neck pup! Tele neck pup just seem to weak and not as full as I like. I dig strat neck pups much more, for rythm and lead!
 
Re: Stratocaster Neck Single Coil vs Telecaster Neck singlecoil

jeremy said:
i find a lighter wind works best for strat pups in single cutaway hardtails, say 5.8k to 6k rather than 6.4k to 6.6k for a single trem cutaway guitar
Click to expand...



That's almost exactly what I use in my Tele: a 5% underwound Fralin Vintage Hot Strat neck pickup that measures 5.7K. I had an Antiquity Surf in there but it had to much push. (Love them in my Strat tho!) The Fralin, which I intentionally ordered 5% underwound, combines better with the Jerry Donahue bridge pickup I use in that guitar. I like the bridge pickup to dominate just a little when the two pickups are combined in a Tele.
 
Re: Stratocaster Neck Single Coil vs Telecaster Neck singlecoil

Wow... You had to go digging to resurrect this thread. LOL

That said, my Teles either have covered humbuckers in the neck or I have one with an SSL-1.
 
Re: Stratocaster Neck Single Coil vs Telecaster Neck singlecoil

Tele neck pickup wound with 43 gauge wire has a rounder tone than a strat pickup
also if you ever examined the size of the bobbin its quite Petit & it's not generally hotter than a strat pup ,the high dcr is because of the 43 gauge wire
 
Re: Stratocaster Neck Single Coil vs Telecaster Neck singlecoil

I guess in my experiences I find that only antiquities, lollars, fralins, etc really make strat/tele pickups that are worth listening to. I am honestly disapointed with a lot of strat/tele pickups.

I have a set of Lollar tweed strat pickups and a set of Fralin tele pickups (2% overwound neck and 5% overwound bridge) and the difference between these and the stock pickups and the various Fender, GFS, Dimarzio, and standard Duncans is staggering.

Maybe that was just my experience but don't hate on the tele neck position til you try one of the boutiques.

I guess for me an ideal tele would probably be a strat neck and an overwound tele bridge, possibly a P90 or MH in the neck instead.
 
Re: Stratocaster Neck Single Coil vs Telecaster Neck singlecoil

I have the BKP Flat 52s in my Tele and I love the tone of the neck pickup - clear, but warmer than a Strat neck pup.

Love the tones this guy gets from the Fender CS Nocasters. Really shows off the range of a nice Tele...

 
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