Telecaster, neck humbucker

[harrysmith]

Hi,

I am making my own telecaster replica using stewart macdonald, allparts...
I have routed the body to use a humbucker in the neck position and a single coil in the bridge. I like to play jazz, blues and a little rock. That's why a want a humbucker in the neck?

what pickups dou you recomend for neck (H) and bridge(S)? May be a '59 mini humbucker in bridge, that means HH instead of HS. What's yours opinion?

thanks friends

 

[teleblooz]

Re: Telecaster, neck humbucker

A 59 or Jazz would certainly fill the bill as would a VV PAF or Classic PAF from Dimarzio.

However, I would highly suggest contacting our own board brother
Zhangliqun for a handwond bucker for your tele. I had the pleasure of putting an old bukcer he rewound for me in the neck of my tele the other night. Excellent work, nice price and killer tone. Just what I was looking for.

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Telecaster, neck humbucker

My own Tele has a Duncan Vintage 54 Tele in the bridge, and a SM-1 Vintage Mini-HB at the neck. Mine's a MIM Nashville (with the stock Tex-Mex Strat in the middle). I chose the mini HB mostly because it fits better, but it's a great match for the Tele bridge.

 

[loudriver23]

Re: Telecaster, neck humbucker

HarrySmith,
I have a MIA tele I wanted to do a similar config with. I installed a Jazz neck before I read you "CANT" do jazz with a Jazz neck PUP. Well, while it may not be the purest jazz tone on the planet, when I roll the tone off it gets warm, round, and retains very clean articulation of notes. So while I can't get Wes Montgomery's tone. I can get a very usable tone that works for most of the standards I play.
I also have a LIL 59 in the bridge and absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!!
I think it gets very blusey. And can even do rock tones nicely.
The guitar no longer has all that Twang a Tele is supposed to, but, I guess I havent fallen in love with that tone, that's kind of why I love the Jazz/LIL59 combo in my tele.
Hopefully this summer I'll get some recording gear and start posting clips.
Until then good luck with your TONE QUEST!!!

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Telecaster, neck humbucker

Another vote for 59 neck...people say they're too bassy in Gibsons but I think they fit perfectly for Strats and Teles. My neck tone is juuust on the verge of boomy, more bass than I need but just as much as I want It gets as dirty as it needs to but it can clean up even with my modded DS-1 on.

I always use the neck for totally clean chords, bluesy solos and rythm parts where i need to 'blend in'...the bridge is for cutting thru and soloing above.

Hope that helps.

-X

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Telecaster, neck humbucker

I always use the neck for totally clean chords, bluesy solos and rythm parts where i need to 'blend in'...the bridge is for cutting thru and soloing above.

Hope that helps.

-X

Which is why they used to refer to the two positions as "rhythm" and "lead" instead of neck and bridge the way we do now.

 

[Artie]

Re: Telecaster, neck humbucker

My #1 favorite guitar right now, is a Tele with a Stag Mag in the neck. As a humbucker its full, without being boomy, and split, its the perfect compliment to the bridge. Chimey and sweet. The Stag Mag is a grossly under-rated neck pup.

Artie

 

[loudriver23]

Re: Telecaster, neck humbucker

Artie,
Is the stagmag similar to the 59 with a little less boom? I've always been currious about this PUP.
Sorry for the Hijak.:27:

 

[Artie]

Re: Telecaster, neck humbucker

Artie,
Is the stagmag similar to the 59 with a little less boom? I've always been currious about this PUP.
Sorry for the Hijak.:27:

You know . . . I never really thought about that before. Since I have both right here, I just played them both. They are somewhat similar. The SM has a lot less boom. And thats with my 59 having an A4 mag. The Stag is definitely worth trying.

 

[hamerfan]

Re: Telecaster, neck humbucker

I use a P90 in Humbucker size and SD Broadcaster in my mahogany tele. I can do two great slide sounds out of it. Stingy and real phat

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Telecaster, neck humbucker

I use a P90 in Humbucker size....

Phat Cat?

 

[dr.barlo]

Re: Telecaster, neck humbucker

I am using an antiquity HB in the neck of my tele and could not be happier.

BTW phat cats are also very cool!

B

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Telecaster, neck humbucker

I am using an antiquity HB in the neck of my tele and could not be happier.

BTW phat cats are also very cool!

B

My Phat Cat is underwound to 7.0k and sounds great in my LP.

 

[dr.barlo]

Re: Telecaster, neck humbucker

My Phat Cat is underwound to 7.0k and sounds great in my LP.

I remember.

You know what lately I've been thinking about getting (or modding one) a customized Phat Cat to deliver also a tele-ish tone.

A phat cat bridge as you know can do a great PAF HB tone with the tone rolled off to 4-5 (500K audio pots all around), and also a great p90 tone. What I recently found out and am exploiting all the time is its tone with the mids washed off on the amp, and the volume on the guitar dropped to ~8.5. Then I get a very convincing tele kinda tone.

But I think this can be improved.

The basic idea is getting it tapped (no reverse winding tho). Then one could get a tele setting at 7.50K and all, and a 9.00K (or up) p90 one.

Does this sound crazy?

B

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Telecaster, neck humbucker

Tight but strong bass and sparkling highs = Duncan Jazz Neck.

More mids and less bass and treble = Seth Lover.

I like the Seth...but also the Jazz Neck.

Also the Pearly Gates neck.

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Telecaster, neck humbucker

I remember.

You know what lately I've been thinking about getting (or modding one) a customized Phat Cat to deliver also a tele-ish tone.

A phat cat bridge as you know can do a great PAF HB tone with the tone rolled off to 4-5 (500K audio pots all around), and also a great p90 tone. What I recently found out and am exploiting all the time is its tone with the mids washed off on the amp, and the volume on the guitar dropped to ~8.5. Then I get a very convincing tele kinda tone.

But I think this can be improved.

The basic idea is getting it tapped (no reverse winding tho). Then one could get a tele setting at 7.50K and all, and a 9.00K (or up) p90 one.

Does this sound crazy?

B

Not crazy at all. One little detail I left out: I had MJ rewind this baby to 7.5k with the tap at 7.0k just so I could see which I liked better. 7.5k was still slightly muddy to my ear, 7.0k was perfect so I've had it wired for tap-only ever since.

When I get into winding P90's I plan on offering tapped versions. Need a P90 guitar to test drive 'em in first though...

 

[dr.barlo]

Re: Telecaster, neck humbucker

https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?t=47505&highlight=USA+custom+guitars

I've got the parts of a p90 guitar waiting to be done for the last 3 months :smack: ! I've bought lollar's p90s for it, but definitely would be into that tapped p90.

B :smokin:

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Telecaster, neck humbucker

Then I'll PM you when my P90's are on-line. But just in case, remind this old coot a few weeks from now in case I forget...

 

[dr.barlo]

Re: Telecaster, neck humbucker

Then I'll PM you when my P90's are on-line. But just in case, remind this old coot a few weeks from now in case I forget...

Sure Zhang.

B

 

[Kelsey]

Re: Telecaster, neck humbucker

I use an SM-3 neck mini-HB with an Antiquity I Tele flatpole lead in one Tele, a Phat Cat neck with JD lead in another Tele, and a stock Fender Atomic 2 HB (alnico 2, PAFish HB) with an STL-2 Hot Tele lead in my HS Tele. I think the 59 would work well if you need a strong low end, and the Seth would work well if you needed less low end and/or more mids. I think the JD would keep up with those if you set the HBs low in the rings/pg. I tried and removed an Antiquity HB from a LP -- too weak in the knees for that guitar, but the lower output of that particular Ant HB would have worked nicely with an Ant Tele lead.

I know that the Fender CS recently made a limited run of Nocasters with 59 neck HBs and Nocaster lead pickups, so that combo might work for you, too.