Tele Little '59 pick-up / wiring question ??

[Uncle Freddy]

dropped a Little '59 into my American standard Tele ....the problem: with both the white & red wires taped off, it does not matter whether I have the black to the switch as the diagram shows or the green to the switch as the diagram states if you get tinty / out of phase sound .....the Little '59, when just selected by itself, has minimal output, sounds glassy and has zero fatness or punch .......with the red & whites taped off, am I getting full humbucker (both coils) ?? .....this Tele has standard issue Fender lipstick pickup in neck position and when I select it & the Little '59 or it by itself, it is big & fat in sound, but as soon as I select just the Little '59, I get less than 1/2 the output, sound, punch & fatness .......????? ......I have all new pots (250Ks), 3-way switch, cap, wiring, etc .......what am I missing guys ?? why does the Little '59 sound like crap by itself ?? ......thanks for the assist !!!

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Tele Little '59 pick-up / wiring question ??

When you write, "red and white wires taped together", is this literally what you have done or are the conductors soldered together THEN insulated with tape?

Correctly wired (in series and in phase), the Li'l '59 should blast the Am Std single coil clean out of the water. Even on a Mexican Fender, the pickup should have plenty of drive. Enough to run it as the only pickup, Fender Esquire style.

 

[orpheo]

Re: Tele Little '59 pick-up / wiring question ??

Funkfingers is spot-on right. You have to solder them together and then isolate them with a piece of tape.

If you are afraid the pickup is broken, simply measure the DC resistance between the coils (black and white, red and green).

 

[hermetico]

Re: Tele Little '59 pick-up / wiring question ??

^^^
Totally agree