Tele pups

italic zero

New member
For a mexican tele, maple fingerboard, alder body. I'm leaning towards the aII pro neck, because I want a very smooth warm single coil rhythm sound. I don't want to sacrifice any clarity however, I also want it to be glassy clear. For the bridge, I'm thinking about either a hot lead stack, a vintage lead stack, or a JD (maybe a Five-Two?). I want something that is equally good clean or dirty, with just the right amount of twang, with warmth and versitility for all styles. Any suggestions?
 
Re: Tele pups

I have a Hot Stack bridge and a Vintage Stack neck pickup in my Tele and they are alot like you describe to want from your Tele.

There are some great choices in the true single coil Tele offerings as well and a JD/APIIn is a tried and true choice.
 
Re: Tele pups

I have a Screamer 50, which is a pretty quiet amp, so at low gain I don't think I'll worry too much about hum. I'm 15, so I don't worry too much about "staying true" to vintage tone. I just want warmth, clarity, and brilliance without any hint of overlybright harshness. I'm leaning towards the APII because the description of the AII mag appeals more to the sound that I want than the AV. For the bridge I want something that can do warm cleans and growly distortion. Things that you liked/didn't like about any of these pups?
 
Re: Tele pups

i think the aII in the neck will get over powered by the bridge when you use them both. the hot stack and vintage stack seems to be a better match. If you want to go AII you should pick a lower output bridge pickup like the JD or the five two.
 
Re: Tele pups

I've said it once and I'll say it again, and I apologize Duncan but the best tele pickups I've ever used is the Rio Grande Muy Grande bridge and tallboy neck. The tallboy is a nice vintage sounding pickup and the muy grande is a beefier single coil. Sounds AMAZING for leads.
 
Re: Tele pups

italic zero...
The best electric I ever owned was a beaten and heavily modded tele that I put a apII in the bridge and LOVED it. I would highly recommend either that or the JD in the bridge... warm, full, with muscle and twang but no ice picks. Great clean and great through a vintage tube screamer. The apII in the neck would be a nice match. As for hum, shield the guitar well and it isn't too bad plus no hum free pickup I've ever heard really captured the sound of a good single coil. It is just a different sound which you either want or don't want. If you want the single coil tele sound, the hum comes with it.
roy
 
Re: Tele pups

AIIP all the way. If you want to get a good idea how it sounds, try out a Fender Lite Ash Tele. They sound fantastic either clean or distorted. I think I understand why Slash uses the AIIP in his Les Pauls now :D. They are warm and very musical. Don't expect quite the chime or brilliance of the traditional Tele, but you get a great tone for rock or anything remotely distorted. I played blues with them and they really shined, same thing with jazz... just wonderful. As long as you don't need country twang, I think you'll be happy with them :)
 
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