Telecaster pickups for stoner/doom/post-metal?

[Entangled]

Hi guys! My band plays a mixture of post-metal, doom and stoner (think Pelican mixed with some Elder and Mars Red Sky riffage). I'm using a Telecaster Deluxe (with stock Fender humbuckers) through Laney VH100R head and Orange 212 cab.

I am fairly happy with the sound, especially with the pedals, but I was thinking about investing in new pickups or maybe a new guitar. I'd be very grateful for any recommendations of pickups that would suit this gear set-up and musical style. If you think I need a new guitar instead of pickups, let me know as well. The second guitarist uses a Les Paul through a Rockerverb.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Telecaster pickups for stoner/doom/post-metal?

Well doom metal isn't exactly tight in the bass, so I'd opt for maybe an Alnico II Pro in the neck, and a Custom Custom in the bridge. You get a lot of mids which works well for that music.

 

[Entangled]

Re: Telecaster pickups for stoner/doom/post-metal?

Well doom metal isn't exactly tight in the bass, so I'd opt for maybe an Alnico II Pro in the neck, and a Custom Custom in the bridge. You get a lot of mids which works well for that music.

Thanks for replying! The thing is that a Telecaster is not a typical choice for this type of music, do you think those pickups would suit a Tele in this context?

 

[The JEM Ghost]

Re: Telecaster pickups for stoner/doom/post-metal?

The thing is that a Telecaster is not a typical choice for this type of music, do you think those pickups would suit a Tele in this context?

I personally think that's a great combo for your tele!

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Telecaster pickups for stoner/doom/post-metal?

Aaron Turner is a Tele user....

Your combo sounds as good as any.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Telecaster pickups for stoner/doom/post-metal?

It's not everyday I get to say this, but you need The SLUG.

 

[Despair]

Re: Telecaster pickups for stoner/doom/post-metal?

Well doom metal isn't exactly tight in the bass, so I'd opt for maybe an Alnico II Pro in the neck, and a Custom Custom in the bridge. You get a lot of mids which works well for that music.

While that can certainly work, there's a wide range of pickups that can, depending on your taste in gain/distortion/fuzz...

If you want gonzo high output, The PATB-2 Parallel Axis Distortion bridge pickup is insane. Some people complain about the low end tending to be too woolly for speed metal, but for sludgier stuff that can be an advantage.

If you are into fuzz, lower output pickups can work better, depending on your fuzz of choice. A '59, or PATB-3 can work terrifically. With enough gain, pickup affects texture more than distortion.

If you want a variety of tonal options, a P-Rails set bundled with matching Triple Shot pickup rings would do it. Woolly high output series modes, PAFy parallel mode, and rail single and P-90 split modes.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Telecaster pickups for stoner/doom/post-metal?

Thanks for replying! The thing is that a Telecaster is not a typical choice for this type of music, do you think those pickups would suit a Tele in this context?

Well, I have that exact combo in a Strat, and I can't imagine it would be so completely different in a Tele, so yeah. That would be my most obvious choice. I don't think you'd want pickups any hotter, or with different magnets.

 

[elelpe]

Re: Telecaster pickups for stoner/doom/post-metal?

Telecaster is a great platform for modding. I'd go with medium output HB bridge and vintage sounding P-90/P-90 in HB-sized.

 

[Entangled]

Re: Telecaster pickups for stoner/doom/post-metal?

Thanks for all the replies! I'll definitely consider Custom Custom and others. I guess I'm leaning towards lower output pickups for this guitar and music