Re: Tele pickup recommendations?
Smoother tone with higher output sounds like the following combo's that I've used:
1. Antiquity I Tele set -- although the DC resistance says vintage output, the tone is huge, open, and smooth.
2. JD Tele lead with Phat Cat neck -- would also work well with SM-1 or SM-3 neck mini-HB or Antiquity I Tele rhythm pickup.
3. STL-2 Hot Tele lead (tapped or not) with a PAF-style neck HB -- would also work well with a mini-HB or the STR-2 Hot Tele rhythm.
I also liked the 5/2 Tele lead, but I thought the 5/2 Tele rhythm was dull and underpowered despite the specs -- same goes for the A2P Tele rhythm I heard in a Lite Ash Tele.
The Fender Nocaster Lead can sound good in the right guitar, but the neck Nocaster is bright rather than real smooth -- perhaps the Texas Special Tele neck would match better.
BTW, something like the Fulldrive 2 will fatten up and smooth out the tone very nicely, too, and all of the pickups I listed sound great running through my FD2.
Good luck!