Tele pickups for country

BluesJunkie

BluesJunkie

New member
I just bought a Yamaha Tele copy on ebay, and even though it hasn't arrived yet, I'm already making pickup swapping plans. (It's a sickness.)

I'm wanting to get a twangy, spanky, country sound out of it. To give you an idea of the tone I'm after, I love the tones of guys like Brad Paisley, Alan Jackson's guitarist, and Brent Mason.

My guitar has a rosewood fretboard and alder body, and I know the guys I mentioned use maple fretboards and probably ash bodies. However, I bought my guitar because I really love the feel of those Yamaha necks, and the price was good too. Anyway, even with rosewood/alder, can I a decent country tone? If so, what non-boutique pickups would you suggest?

I was thinking about a DiMarzio Twang King neck and Duncan Broadcaster bridge or possibly a pair of Twang Kings. What do y'all think?
 
Re: Tele pickups for country

Best bridge for country I ever played was the SD 5-2. Hands down. A close second would be Joe Bardens, if you can find them. I may be selling a Barden tele neck pup... PM me if you're interested.

Paul
 
Re: Tele pickups for country

BluesJunkie,

There are a lot of pickups that will work for you. The overall concept should be a vintage-type pickup. Higher-output Tele pickups might retain that twang but they're usually a bit on the gainy or middy side. There's a bunch out there. All the vintage-type Tele pickups may have the sameness in overall character; but there will be sbtl differences in tone. For example, a Duncan Vintage 54 Bridge pickup has the same character as a Duncan Broadcaster pickup. But the 54 has raised D & G poles which makes it a little "pingier" sounding. The Donahue model is modelled after Jerry's 52 Tele. It's a little smoother and louder that the 54 but still has that vintage character.

As I said before, there are a tone of them out there that will get you what you want. Brad Paisley uses the Fralin Blues Special. Brent Mason uses the Duncan Vintage Stack (my favorite). Albert Lee uses the Alnico II Pro.

About the Twang Kings.... The neck model is the best Tele neck pickup I have ever tried. The bridge model isn't as good. It is modelled after the Broadcaster; which is a better pickup IMHO. Also, check out the "Ultimate Tele Tone" thread.

Cheers,
 
Re: Tele pickups for country

I think for that spanky country twang that alnico 5 pickups might work best when it comes to non-boutique type pickups.

But if you do want to spend a couple of more bucks and get one of the best sets ever created spring for a set of the alnico 2 Duncan Antiquity I Tele pickups.

These pickups are not typical alnico 2 pickups and have all the sparkle and twang any Tele player could ask for...as well as the slightly less glassy, slightly more shape-a-ble and touch responsive qualities alnico 2 seems to give a pickup.

I was playing and listening to my Antiquity equipped NOCASTER yesterday with my buddy Rondo...blew me away.

I'd go for the Antiquitys.

Lew
 
Re: Tele pickups for country

i have a set of antiquities in one of my teles and they are amazing pickups. they can do almost anything, for your application, country and what looks like a little blues these pickups will shine. if the antiquities are more than you want to spend then i would reccomend a duncan 5/2 or broadcaster
 
Re: Tele pickups for country

The Antiquity I set is real nice, and the II set might fit the bill, too (nobody seems to have much experience with them). The JD is great, but I'm not sure what neck pickup would be best for it -- I'd lean toward the Antiquity rhythm, but the JD could overpower it and most other vintage Tele neck pups. The 5-2 lead pickup is real nice, but I didn't care for the rhythm pickup -- the Antiq rhythm should work well with it. If the Twangking neck pup has 4 conductors, then you should be able to pair it with any of these SD lead pups.

I would also recommend the Nocaster set for a steely Tele tone. The neck pickup in this set is great, too.
 
Re: Tele pickups for country

Kelsey said:
The Antiquity I set is real nice, and the II set might fit the bill, too (nobody seems to have much experience with them). The JD is great, but I'm not sure what neck pickup would be best for it -- I'd lean toward the Antiquity rhythm, but the JD could overpower it and most other vintage Tele neck pups. The 5-2 lead pickup is real nice, but I didn't care for the rhythm pickup -- the Antiq rhythm should work well with it. If the Twangking neck pup has 4 conductors, then you should be able to pair it with any of these SD lead pups.

I would also recommend the Nocaster set for a steely Tele tone. The neck pickup in this set is great, too.
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Absolutely! If that steely type of Tele twang suits you, the Nocasters are great pickups. I like them alot but replaced mine with Antiquitys...all the twang and not quite as steely. Easier on my old ears. Lew
 
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