Suggested humbucker for Telecaster?

Re: Suggested humbucker for Telecaster?

papersoul said:
Cool, thanks bro! Duncan Quarter Pound for Tele and the Dimarzio Chopper T
are the ones I have my eye on!

Right now it has the stock Twisted Tele and "Fender Broadcaster", NOT Duncan Broadcaster..

Yes, my tech recommended the Broadcaster, but he didn't realize this Tele came with one. So, is this a Duncan Broadcaster or Fender's own Broadcaster?
It states, "Fender Custom Shop Broadcaster". Is the Duncan Broadcaster any different?
I got a Tele because I love the feel and natural sound...doesn't mean I have to use it the way Telecasters are typically used. I am picking up another LP, this time a Traditional Plus...so I have that end covered as well! What I really like is when I hear guys use a Tele with a P90! LOVE IT! I may go that route.
Click to expand...

It's the Fender Broadcaster the one you have... as far as it sounding the same as the Duncan Broadcaster I'm not sure, since I've never played a Duncan Broadcaster. I would imagine they are similar.

If you like the P90's on a Tele, then get the whole Quarter Pound set for Tele... they are specifically made for that sound and they are pretty accurate at it! I personally love the P90's in tele's and LP so I'm sure you wouldn't br dissapointed with those. :approve:
 
Re: Suggested humbucker for Telecaster?

ToneScavenger, thanks bro. I am heavily leaning toward the Duncan QRT Pounder set. Are there hum and noise problems with those? I will say, my Tele and Strat, in stock form, are quiet!
Duncan doesn't mention a P-90 tone, they just say a true single coil tone!? Is the P-90 tone more about output han tone? I have a hard time telling them apart.
I tried the Dimarzio Chopper T and thought it was like a P-90 from the few I played. :)\

Quarter Pounder:
application
High-output true single-coil pickup for hard-hitting tones. Great for classic rock, jazz-rock fusion, heavy rock and aggressive instrumental rock.

description
This brute has enough power to compete with humbuckers and hot P-90s. The stronger magnetic field of the quarter-inch diameter pole pieces increases the output and allows use of a special coil winding. It keeps the high-end definition for great treble bite and a full, powerful midrange. It's especially useful for overdriven tones. The STR-3 rhythm pickup matches the lead model in tone and output, but uses 3/16 pole pieces and comes with a chrome-plated brass cover.

Lollar???
My tech said if I want bigger, fatter, more clear, go Lollar. This one!
http://www.lollarguitars.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=LGP&Product_Code=263&Category_Code=telecaster-pickups

The other option is my go to - Rio Grande pickups. Their single coils and rail pickups are very, very good, big sounding!
Rio Grande Dirty Harry bridge single!!!!
 
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Re: Suggested humbucker for Telecaster?

OK, but is the QRT LB a P-90? Duncan calls it a true single coil tone with P-90 output. I want P-90 tone and output. I am also looking at the Rio Grande Dirty Harry, Dimarzio Chopper T and a Lollar. A used Duncan QTR LB is fairly cheap and a great value and if it matches well with my Fender Twisted Tele neck pickup (which rocks) I will be in heaven.

bluesbend said:
If it's P90 tone you want why not go with a QP bridge and a P90 neck?

Although I am 90% a bridge pickup user. I only like neck pickups if they are bright and clear. I tend to hate humbuckers in the neck. Singles and P-90s are better in the neck, if using any gain.

I want to keep my stock Fender Custom shop Twisted Tele in the neck slot. I am removing the Fender Custom shop Broadcaster from the bridge though. I want a P-90 tone from the bridge but will balance with the neck pickup. If not, I will replace the neck p'up also. :)




View attachment 31983
Click to expand...
 
Re: Suggested humbucker for Telecaster?

The QP is as close to true P90 tone as you'll get in a Tele bridge pickup.
 
Re: Suggested humbucker for Telecaster?

bluesbend said:
The QP is as close to true P90 tone as you'll get in a Tele bridge pickup.
Click to expand...

^ x2

I played through the SSL-4 (quarter pond for a strat non staggered) in a Charvel Warren DeMartini signature guitar and at least that quarter pound was as close to a P90 as I've ever experienced in a regular size single coil and I loved it. It was also pretty silent for a single coil pickup too. I'm aware that the description for the STL-3 and the STR-3 (quarter pound for tele) don't mention a P90 sound so I'm not sure if they would respond like the SSL-4, but if they do (which I think they would), then you would be right on the money.

I have played the Richie Kotzen Tele before (those have the Chopper T) and I have to agree there too about being P90-esque. In the neck of my main guitar, the Chopper behaves more like an SD '59, but with slightly more output and a very noticeable single coil attack sound and top end (kind of like a mix between a single coil and a humbucker in a way). Those are also very supceptble to the dynamics and attack, something that I find more often in Seymour Duncan models that in DiMarzio models IMHO.
 
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Re: Suggested humbucker for Telecaster?

Personally, I'd get a bridge that takes a full-sized humbucker, and I'd put a '59 or a Pearly Gates in it.

Going with a single-coil-sized humbucker, I'd go with a splitable stack.
 
Re: Suggested humbucker for Telecaster?

papersoul said:
ToneScavenger, thanks bro. I am heavily leaning toward the Duncan QRT Pounder set. Are there hum and noise problems with those? I will say, my Tele and Strat, in stock form, are quiet!
Duncan doesn't mention a P-90 tone, they just say a true single coil tone!? Is the P-90 tone more about output han tone? I have a hard time telling them apart.
I tried the Dimarzio Chopper T and thought it was like a P-90 from the few I played. :)\

Quarter Pounder:
application
High-output true single-coil pickup for hard-hitting tones. Great for classic rock, jazz-rock fusion, heavy rock and aggressive instrumental rock.

description
This brute has enough power to compete with humbuckers and hot P-90s. The stronger magnetic field of the quarter-inch diameter pole pieces increases the output and allows use of a special coil winding. It keeps the high-end definition for great treble bite and a full, powerful midrange. It's especially useful for overdriven tones. The STR-3 rhythm pickup matches the lead model in tone and output, but uses 3/16 pole pieces and comes with a chrome-plated brass cover.

Lollar???
My tech said if I want bigger, fatter, more clear, go Lollar. This one!
http://www.lollarguitars.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=LGP&Product_Code=263&Category_Code=telecaster-pickups

The other option is my go to - Rio Grande pickups. Their single coils and rail pickups are very, very good, big sounding!
Rio Grande Dirty Harry bridge single!!!!
Click to expand...

The main dfference I notice between single coil pickups and P90 is the mids. P90's tend to have stronger mids than your traditional single coil, which tend to be scooped with an emphasis in the treble in the EQ spectrum. I would say power it's also a common difference, P90's tend to be more powerful, or at least have a higher DC resistance and somewhat lower resonant peak compared to the opposite with single coils.

I couldn't tell you about Lollar and Rio Grande pickups, since I don't have any experience with them, but I've never heard any of my friends that do have them complain about them... they all seem very happy about their tone.
 
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Re: Suggested humbucker for Telecaster?

I have a strat with a Quarter Pounder in the middle position. I've got a set of PhatCats in the neck and bridge. They're sort of P90-ish. This is my favorite guitar I've ever had. The QP blends really well with the PhatCats and is comparable in sound level. The QP sounds a bit more singlecoil-ish but with alot of push.
The real kicker is I have it pull-switched to put the QP and bridge PhatCat in series, a poor mans humbucker. Man does that combo slam the inputs of a Marshall! It screams!
 
Re: Suggested humbucker for Telecaster?

TLNR, the Tele QP is kinda P90-ish, and super duper awesome, just kinda noisy, but if you can deal with that it's hella worth it.
 
Re: Suggested humbucker for Telecaster?

scorch said:
I had a JD in my tele due to raves at this site. I guess I'm just not a traditional tele guy because I just couldn't dig it. Just too bright and thin.

I put in a Lil Tele 59 and was much happier. More mid-range punch, more growl, MUCH less spikey highs. I liked it.

That tele now has a Zuagh (sic) Paul Bunyan (9.5k) tele single coil and I'm pretty happy with that. It barks and snarls - tons of fun.
Click to expand...

Yes. :fing2:
 
Re: Suggested humbucker for Telecaster?

Bare Knuckle Piledriver. Has the twang but has the brutality also. Awesome pickup.
 
Re: Suggested humbucker for Telecaster?

King IzzO))) said:
TLNR, the Tele QP is kinda P90-ish, and super duper awesome, just kinda noisy, but if you can deal with that it's hella worth it.
Click to expand...



Mine isn't too awful noisy. It's the one pictured in my previous post. I'm running them with a 500k pot and .47 cap.
 
Re: Suggested humbucker for Telecaster?

bluesbend said:
The QP is as close to true P90 tone as you'll get in a Tele bridge pickup.
Click to expand...

Cool, thanks. So you checked out the Rio Grandes? How about Lollars? Lollar suggests the Lollar Special T.

Out of the Lollar, Dimarzio, Rio and Duncan......will let you guys know what I do!

I love Duncans....and I bet the Quarter Pounder gets better cleans than the other pickups.
 
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Re: Suggested humbucker for Telecaster?

Just suggestion that haven't mentioned here: if you want no hum - classic look - kinda P90-ish without boutique price, go with Wilde L298TL by Bill Lawrence or Dimarzio Area Hot T.
 
Re: Suggested humbucker for Telecaster?

Hot Rails neck, Little 59 Bridge
2cz7nd1.jpg
 
Re: Suggested humbucker for Telecaster?

SD Custom Shop Lead Stack, Pearly Gates for T, Five-Two Stack or the BG all deliver beefy Tele tone without hum.

I tried a 30kOhm Stack in a Fender MIM 60th Aniversary Tele. Sounded great for Rock. A traditional stamped steel bridge would have provided extra twang.
 
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