The 5/2 Nashville Studio set for Tele is in, and

[Kelsey]

I really like the bridge pickup. It delivers the low end thump and twang and smooth mids and highs as advertised. It seems to have a bit more bite and be a bit more open sounding than the JD lead, while still sounding very fat -- absolutely no ice pick with this one.

On the other end, the 5/2 neck pickup is a real disappointment. It is much more muffled than I expected from the specs and has trouble keeping up with the output of the lead pup. I like the Nocaster neck pickup much more alone and in the middle position. So, what neck pickup do you think would be a better choice? I'm leaning toward another Firebird-style mini-humbucker like the SM-3n I have in another Tele -- perhaps an SM-1n Vintage mini this time around. I would also consider a good Strat pickup, but I would like it to be RWRP with respect to the 5/2 Tele lead. I'm not sure the 5/2 has enough output to keep up with the Phat Cat neck pup.

BTW, the DC resistance values were quite a bit lower than advertised for the 5/2 Tele set -- 7K for the lead pup in or out of the guitar, and 7.4K for the neck pup out of the box but only about 6.9K after installation (measured from a short cable in the output jack with V & T controls full up). Another set in the store measured even lower out of the box (6.5K bridge, 7.3K neck). These values seem more discrepant than I would expect.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: The 5/2 Nashville Studio set for Tele is in, and

I don't know how SD winds pickups, but I know Lindy Fralin counts the number of turns and feels that is the ticket to having a uniform tone from pickup to pickup of the same model. I would think that's how Duncan does it too. So the DC resistance could be a little higher or lower between two "identical" pickups and the pickups could still both be wound with the same number of turns of wire. The bridge pickup in my '54 Tele measures about 6.5K, BTW, and most of those old guitars do not have real hot bridge pickups. Joe Barden told me the lead pickup in Roy Buchanan's old '53 Tele measured about the same! So it's a fallacy to believe that early 50's Teles all had hot bridge pickups...most did not. Lew

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: The 5/2 Nashville Studio set for Tele is in, and

As for Tele neck pickups, I prefer alnico 5. Alnico 5 sounds brighter and clearer and has more highs and more bass and less mids. Every alnico 2 neck pickup I've owned has sounded just a little muffled to me. The Tele-ala-Strat neck pickup MJ wound for me is the best covered Tele neck pickup I've ever owned...it's alnico 5. Lew

 

[Kelsey]

Re: The 5/2 Nashville Studio set for Tele is in, and

Lew,

The 5/2 lead sounds really nice and has enough output to satisfy me. The neck pickup is the problem -- it's rather dull sounding and just can't keep up with the bridge pup (which is only set to 3/32" from the E's), even when raised to within 1/16" on the treble side. The alnico 2 mags under the plain strings may be part of the problem, but the alnico 5 mags under the wound strings aren't much better. I've heard many complaints about the alnico 5 vintage rhythm pup being a bit dark, too, so I'm thinking about going with a non-traditional neck pickup again. I'm not sure that I want to spend custom shop $$$ at this point.

Kelsey

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: The 5/2 Nashville Studio set for Tele is in, and

I think the nickel cover really muffles the tone of most neck Tele pickups. The only ones I've used that did not sound muffled were the Nocaster (which I just didn't love: to edgey and metallic sounding for me), the Duncan Custom Shop "Tele ala Strat", and the Fralin Tele Stock neck pickup.

My favorite sounding uncovered Tele neck pickup is the Fralin Blues Special....sounds alot like a Strat neck pickup. Very rich, full, clear, powerful and pleasing tone.

But I use the Fralin Tele Stock...which is covered! Why? Because although the uncovered Blues Special sounds better, especially when used by itself for chords or soloing, when the covered Tele Stock pickup is combined with the bridge pickup the tone is chimier and closer to the classic Tele tone I'm used to.

I rarely play rythym with the Tele neck pickup by itself...I almost always play rythym with both pickups on.

So I'd say my favorite covered Tele neck pickup is the Duncan Custom Shop "Tele ala Strat" and then the Fralin Tele Stock.

But my favorite Tele neck pickup of all is the uncovered Fralin Blues Special...though I still use the covered version because I like it combined with the bridge pickup better.

Lew

 

[jeremy]

Re: The 5/2 Nashville Studio set for Tele is in, and

tele neck pups have never done much for me, same reasons lew stated, dark muffled tone. ive been using strat pups in the neck of my tele for a few years now and i really like the results, a ssl2 with a jd was a great set. the mixed sound isnt quite the same but its very usable