Tele tone out of a humbucker size pickup. Does this exist?

FuelGTRX

FuelGTRX

Member
I've been missing my old Fender American Special telecaster and the tone I got with it would be perfect for the project I'm in right now. The twang, snarl, and punch, I miss it all! But sadly, I can't afford a new guitar nor do I want to sell any of my current guitars. I can, however, afford to swap the pickups out of my HH Blacktop Tele. Right now, I have a set of Pearly Gates in that guitar. It gets close to what I'm looking for, but the mids are too aggressive and there's a bit too much compression on the bridge pickup to achieve that Tele twang. The Blacktop Tele has alot of twang on it's own, but with these pickups, it's just not enough.

So my question is, is the there a humbucker sized pickup that can get close to the twang, punch, and snarl of a Tele bridge pickup? Or should I realize it's a pipe dream and figure out a way to get a real Tele?

I really hope the latter of those questions is not the case, lol
 
Re: Tele tone out of a humbucker size pickup. Does this exist?

The problem is that a good deal of Tele tone is due to the fact that the pickup is literally hanging off of the bridge plate, so there's a connection to the bridge and thus the strings that you're just not going to get anywhere else.

If you want to keep it on a budget but don't want a heaping pile of doo, either, scope out this.

http://www.guitarfetish.com/XV-840-Solid-Alder-DOUBLE-Bound_c_435.html

http://www.guitarfetish.com/XV-820-Single-Cutaway-Solid-Body_c_157.html

http://www.guitarfetish.com/XV-620-Series-Semi-Hollow-Cutaway_c_156.html

http://www.guitarfetish.com/XV-825-Solid-Alder-or-Ash-Neck-Mini-Humbucker_c_436.html
 
Re: Tele tone out of a humbucker size pickup. Does this exist?

I don't think a tele with a full size bridge humbucker is going to sound like a tele.
 
Re: Tele tone out of a humbucker size pickup. Does this exist?

try dropping the pickup away from the strings. That usually adds bite and reduces mids
 
Re: Tele tone out of a humbucker size pickup. Does this exist?

The closest thing I can think of is a Phat Cat. Probably won't sound like a Tele bridge, but way closer than any humbucker is going to sound.
 
Tele tone out of a humbucker size pickup. Does this exist?

You could try a Stag Mag. I've used one in the neck of a Tele and it sounded great.

I'm currently working over details of a new project I wantto start. I'm seriously considering putting a three-barrel Tele humbucker bridge on it with a Stag Mag. I bet that would get pretty damn close.

You could always get one of those little plastic adaptor/mounting ring things and put an actual Tele pup in it.
 
Re: Tele tone out of a humbucker size pickup. Does this exist?

Kam said:
You could always get one of those little plastic adaptor/mounting ring things and put an actual Tele pup in it.
Click to expand...

Ding ding ding.

http://www.guitarfetish.com/Humbuck...s-Tele-Bridge-Pickup-THREE-COLORS_p_4350.html

thumbnail.asp
 
Re: Tele tone out of a humbucker size pickup. Does this exist?

I've heard clips of a Suhr DSH+ in parallel get in the ballpark. I'm guessing a JB in parallel might also be in the ballpark.

Added
 
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Re: Tele tone out of a humbucker size pickup. Does this exist?

The real Tele pup in an adapter ring is a good suggestion to get kinda like a real Tele tone. The Stag Mag is an excellent suggestion. The Phat Cat isn't even close unless you put in a couple A5 mags. But NOTHING is really gonna sound like a real Tele except a real Tele.

For the price of a new set of pups you could get one of those Guitar Fetish Teles or something like this:

http://www.rondomusic.com/furrianmnalder3ts.html

And keep all of your other guitars in-tact.
 
Re: Tele tone out of a humbucker size pickup. Does this exist?

Skatterbrane makes some humbuckers that sound like tele pickups supposedly
 
Re: Tele tone out of a humbucker size pickup. Does this exist?

Push to Shuv said:
Skatterbrane makes some humbuckers that sound like tele pickups supposedly
Click to expand...

Yes, but apparently he also hits bicyclists with his car on purpose and is currently dealing with those legal wranglings.
 
Re: Tele tone out of a humbucker size pickup. Does this exist?

Yeah I heard about that. It is upsetting (I am a mountain biker) but that was the first thing that popped in my head when I read the thread title.
 
Re: Tele tone out of a humbucker size pickup. Does this exist?

A Tele is generally bright and metallic/crisp sounding due to a few physical factors...but twang, growl And punch comes from the approach more than anything. Particularly with lower gain tones.This is why some Tele players have no Twang or Growl when they play traditional Teles.

Personally I understand what you are asking, still I can get all of my guitars to twang and growl for days...from Gretsch to PRS to Fender. Single coils, Filtertrons or a split hums help... but honestly many players can get a 'Twang and Punch' sound from multiple guitars...Pete Anderson, Duane Eddy, Brent Mason come to mind. It really is in the approach and technique even though that may not be as sexy as a new axe or even new pickups.

Sure Teles have their own special twang going on when you play them that way, but they aren't the source of the twang. That is the reality of the gig.

Cheers~
 
Re: Tele tone out of a humbucker size pickup. Does this exist?

AlexR said:
try dropping the pickup away from the strings. That usually adds bite and reduces mids
Click to expand...

I would have to agree with this statement since I find that pick up height adjustment can be crucial to tone and the type of sound you want. I own an actual '52 RI Tele in which I just love the sound. I was able to get a sound close to that Tele sound with my 490T humbucker on my Gibby SG by lowering it a bit. It comes pretty close and I call it my TeleHum.;)

TheLivingDead said:
Ding ding ding.

http://www.guitarfetish.com/Humbuck...s-Tele-Bridge-Pickup-THREE-COLORS_p_4350.html

thumbnail.asp
Click to expand...

Here's another great option and I would consider this if you want that true, authentic Tele tone.
 
Re: Tele tone out of a humbucker size pickup. Does this exist?

Have you tried wiring the bridge pup in parallel. (With a switch.) Thats how I've wired my JB/Jazz Tele, and it gets very authentic Tele-tone.
It is, after all, Seymours favorite guitar. ;)
 
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