Tele Neck Pickup Q

[mordenme]

Hey all:

Soliciting advice. I'm replacing the neck pickup in my Fender American Deluxe. I play mostly alt-country (Whiskeytown, Neko Case and the like) but would also like the option of getting (close to) a brighter, strat-type sound (think the The Shins). Suggestions w/r/t particular Seymour Duncan (or other) pickups would be much appreciated.

Thanks - MM

 

[More-Gear-Than-Skill]

Re: Tele Neck Pickup Q

Many guys actually put Strat neck pups in that position. You'll need a new pick guard, but i doubt any routing. As for which one, check out Lew's suggestion. Do a search too, on the forum. How about a nice "Antiquity Surfer" in there? or a yummy P-90.? I'm assuming single coil... Is the new Ryan Adams any good?

 

[Dave]

Re: Tele Neck Pickup Q

The Duncan Custom shop has a strat-like pickup for the tele neck cavity. Otherwise, Lindy Fralin makes a Blues Special which I use in my tele neck. It's uncovered and has a wide open, strong, strat-ish sound. I think of it being more about 2/3 chunky-woody tele with 1/3 of the strat chime. It's not quite as tubular and bubbly as a pure strat, but it sends the right message. I've been using one with a JD for years and haven't found anyone who hasn't really loved the tone from my guitar. I can't comment on how faithful the duncan's custom shop is to a strat...I don't even know if anyone here has tried one-except for Lew.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Tele Neck Pickup Q

The Duncan Custom shop has a strat-like pickup for the tele neck cavity. Otherwise, Lindy Fralin makes a Blues Special which I use in my tele neck. It's uncovered and has a wide open, strong, strat-ish sound. I think of it being more about 2/3 chunky-woody tele with 1/3 of the strat chime. It's not quite as tubular and bubbly as a pure strat, but it sends the right message. I've been using one with a JD for years and haven't found anyone who hasn't really loved the tone from my guitar. I can't comment on how faithful the duncan's custom shop is to a strat...I don't even know if anyone here has tried one-except for Lew.

I've tried the CS Tele ala Strat and it's a great Tele neck pickup with a higher output and a tone similar to a vintage Strat neck pickup.

It and the Lindy Fralin Blues Special are my two favorites for Strat tone in a Tele size neck pickup.

Lew

 

[mordenme]

Re: Tele Neck Pickup Q

Thanks all for weighing-in. And yeah, More Gear (good handle, BTW), the new Ryan Adams is pretty good, though I like all his albums, save "Rock N' Roll." I think he just had the (mis)fortune of putting out Heartbreaker right off the bat; that is a hard act to follow, not to mention the Whiskeytown work.