Tele Bridge Pickups: Zinc Bottom Plates vs. Copper vs. Brass vs. Steel

[gt5litre]

SteelTele Bridge Pickups: Zinc Bottom Plates vs. Copper vs. Brass vs. Steel

What are the good and bad of each type? Why should I want a particular bottom plate on the bottom plate? I am looking at new Tele bridge pickups for a 3-pickup Tele with 5-way switching.

gt5litre

 

[CountFunkula]

Re: Tele Bridge Pickups: Zinc Bottom Plates vs. Copper vs. Brass vs. Steel

Read this: http://www.tdpri.com/resources/tele-bridge-base-plate-materials/

All of the listed materials give the bridge a fatter tone. Steel gives it higher output, more twang, and makes it more microphonic in addition to making it fatter. Not sure about zinc, but BKP uses it on higher output pickups. My guess is that zinc is more focused, but I'm not sure.

EDIT: BKP pickups are actually just zinc-plated steel

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Tele Bridge Pickups: Zinc Bottom Plates vs. Copper vs. Brass vs. Steel

There are a lot more factors that will, IMHO make a bigger difference than what the base plate is made from...

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Tele Bridge Pickups: Zinc Bottom Plates vs. Copper vs. Brass vs. Steel

The copper ones are just copper coated steel. More than likely the zinc is just a coat too.

 

[gt5litre]

Re: Tele Bridge Pickups: Zinc Bottom Plates vs. Copper vs. Brass vs. Steel

Thanks for the replies. I like to keep the Tele chime. but the Twang is not for me. What bridge p'ups will do the chime and really work well for the grind.

 

[CountFunkula]

Re: Tele Bridge Pickups: Zinc Bottom Plates vs. Copper vs. Brass vs. Steel

Brass will give you less twang, but will probably sacrifice chime as well. I say go with a steel bridge, overwound pickup set, and 500k pots.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Tele Bridge Pickups: Zinc Bottom Plates vs. Copper vs. Brass vs. Steel

Thanks for the replies. I like to keep the Tele chime. but the Twang is not for me. What bridge p'ups will do the chime and really work well for the grind.

Tele's twang...no real way to stop that unless you go with a completely non Tele style pickup...Hot Rails, Lil 59, etc...those don't really twang but they don't chime either...

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Tele Bridge Pickups: Zinc Bottom Plates vs. Copper vs. Brass vs. Steel

I will also add that no matter what base plate you go with it will still twang (unless it is one of the pickups like I mentioned) and changing from zinc or steel or whatever to brass or steel or even going with NO base plate will not stop the twang...