tele pickup help... Jerry Donahue Vs. AlnicoII vs. Antiquity

dr space

New member
I'm looking for a nice tele bridge pickup which is bright and twangy but a little fat as well, something that sounds great both clean and dirty, and still sounds like a tele should. I dont want something too hot or shrill, I had a Broadcaster in my tele and I didnt like it whatsoever, sounded shrill and thin in a bad way, not very pleasing to me. The JD seems like a good option, but I'm afraid it might be a bit too warm and smooth, and not 'tele' enough, am I mistaken? how about the antiquity? I heard that one isnt wax-potted, does it squeal? thanks for reading.
 
Re: tele pickup help... Jerry Donahue Vs. AlnicoII vs. Antiquity

If you didn't like the Broadcaster... the JD will likely fill the bill... it is very "tele enough" with a little more push in the mids and a smoother high end.
 
Re: tele pickup help... Jerry Donahue Vs. AlnicoII vs. Antiquity

I have 2 Antiquity I flatpole leads and one JD lead, along with an STL-2 Hot and a Fender CS Nocaster set. Although the JD is really nice, the Ant I flatpoles are my favorites. The JD has slightly stronger mids than the Ant I, airier highs, and weaker lows. The Ant I just sounds bigger and more dynamic, even though (or perhaps because) the JD is slightly hotter. I would say that the JD is a bit smoother than the Ant, as the Ant can get raw if you want, but neither is ice-picky at all. I have only briefly tried an A2P Tele lead, and I was not at all impressed. I also tried a 5/2 Tele lead for a few days, and I liked it a lot. However, I did not like the 5/2 rhythm at all, so I replaced the set with an Ant I set and haven't looked back.
 
Re: tele pickup help... Jerry Donahue Vs. AlnicoII vs. Antiquity

I hear it a little differantly...but not much.

I hear the JD as having the strongest output of the three, smooth highs and lots of mids.

I hear the Antiquity I as being a little lower in output than the JD but having more highs and the airier tone. For an alnico 2 pickup, it has plenty of chime...but not as much bottem as an alnico 5 Tele pickup.

And the Alnico II Pro Tele set I had in my test guitar seemed to have the warmest tone of the three and was excellant but my #3 favorite. I only tried them in my test Tele and did not try all three in the same Tele.

I like the JD alot and use it myself but it sounds best to me in a guitar with a bright resonance like my alder Tele has...when used in a guitar with a warm resonance it can sound like it needs to be brighter.

When I play my Teles, my favorite rythym tone is with the neck and bridge pickups combined, and of the two (Antiquity and JD) I like the rythym tone of the Antiquity best...but I like the increased output and stronger mids of the JD best for soloing.

So I have to say that although I love both the Ants and the JD for both soloing and for rythym, I like the rythym tone of the Ants best and the lead tone of the JD best.

Lew
 
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Re: tele pickup help... Jerry Donahue Vs. AlnicoII vs. Antiquity

thanks for the replies.

has anyone experienced any squeal with the antiquity? I ask since it isnt wax-potted. Ive read some reviews online that say it doesnt squeal at all, while others say it can under high volume/gain.
 
Re: tele pickup help... Jerry Donahue Vs. AlnicoII vs. Antiquity

dr space said:
thanks for the replies.

has anyone experienced any squeal with the antiquity? I ask since it isnt wax-potted. Ive read some reviews online that say it doesnt squeal at all, while others say it can under high volume/gain.

No squeeling at all from mine. When a Tele pickup squeels it's almost always because the metal baseplate on the bottem has come loose. Just heat it up so that the wax that holds it on melts and then press it tight until the wax cools. Lew
 
Re: tele pickup help... Jerry Donahue Vs. AlnicoII vs. Antiquity

I agree with Lew ... the Antiquities are a great set, well matched, and the rhythm is great. The JD is a great pickup - fat, warm, and strong.

I don't recall ever hearing a negative comment from anyone who's tried these.
 
Re: tele pickup help... Jerry Donahue Vs. AlnicoII vs. Antiquity

Great detailed comparison LEW... I have not tried the Antiquites so there is no basis of opinion on this end... the JD is definitely a great pickup... the best I have heard along with my Brian Birmingham wound 9k Duncan Broadcaster Custom Shop.
Maybe the SPACE DOCTOR should try the JD first... if it is too warm... then spring for an antiquity?
 
Re: tele pickup help... Jerry Donahue Vs. AlnicoII vs. Antiquity

BachToRock said:
Great detailed comparison LEW... I have not tried the Antiquites so there is no basis of opinion on this end... the JD is definitely a great pickup... the best I have heard along with my Brian Birmingham wound 9k Duncan Broadcaster Custom Shop.
Maybe the SPACE DOCTOR should try the JD first... if it is too warm... then spring for an antiquity?

I think this is what i might end up doing... and I'll end up selling the one I dont use. Im gonna have it paired with a SM-1 mini-humbucker in the neck...
 
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