The Best Tele Humbuckers

[MarkyMarkRox]

So to get a fat like humbucking sound from a Telecaster for harder rock/punk type music I've seen there are not too many offerings from Seymour Duncan or DiMarzio. Really it narrows down to the SD Hot Rails, SD Little '59, DiMarzio Tone Zone T, and DiMarzio Super Distortion T. Has anyone used any or all of these?? I need some feedback since I'm trying to fatten up my Tele for harder type music.

 

[Artie]

Re: The Best Tele Humbuckers

The way that I would approach this is, if you want fat humbucker tone from a Tele, start off with one designed for humbuckers. (Or can be easily modded.) Thats what I did with my Peavey Tele, and I'm lovin' it.

 

[Dave]

Re: The Best Tele Humbuckers

I gather you're talking about the bridge position??? I'd recommend a hot rails with a full sized '59 neck. That would give you a nice balance in volume when you switch positions, the 59 is a classic smooth, bright versatile neck pickup and the hot rails would give you the ballsy gain that would suit most hard rock songs quite well.

If you are not 100% committed to a humcancelling pickup, the quarter pounders deliver a very strong fat single-coil sound that totally smoke.

Good luck with the new tele!
Dave

 

[MarkyMarkRox]

Re: The Best Tele Humbuckers

Yeah I'm talking about the bridge position. I have a standard tele so it's not like I can really go into full sized HB's. I got it as a gift recently to join my other guitars, I'm jus tryin to work with what I have without having to completely mod it.

 

[Artie]

Re: The Best Tele Humbuckers

Ah . . . thats different then. The STK-2 and 3 are both humbucking, but I've never heard them to know how "humbucker-ish" they sound. I think Butch S has tried them.

One other possible work-around, is to wire your middle position for the bridge and neck in series. I've got a couple guitars done this way, (including a Strat), and I really like that sound a lot. Just a thought.

Artie

 

[Telesexual]

Re: The Best Tele Humbuckers

I think that dude from NOFX has a Hot Rail In his Tele

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: The Best Tele Humbuckers

Tele's don't need humbuckers to rock hard.

IMHO, if your amp has the gain, a QP, Hot Lead, Jerry Donahue, Classic Stack, or Hot Stack can all handle rock, hard rock, and punk with aplomb.

 

[jimmy_fowler]

Re: The Best Tele Humbuckers

I have a Hot Rails in my Tele and it sounds sweet as. I play punk and a lil bit of metal and it can totally handle both.

 

[bloodswords]

Re: The Best Tele Humbuckers

the Hot Rails rules big time for high gain settings (black metal) as well as smooth midrange (fusion).

 

[teleblooz]

Re: The Best Tele Humbuckers

IMHO, the above suggesstions are all spot on. You really can't go wrong with any of the choice's. Of course, tone is very subjective and what I like may no be the best fit for you. I also agree with the above post that stock pickups can work for higher gain tones.

That said, I think the Dimarzio Tone Zone T is a great sounding pickup for this application. A big bonus ( if this interests you ) is how good it sounds split. A different voice than the Duncans for sure. Not better.....not worse, just different.

 

[MarkyMarkRox]

Re: The Best Tele Humbuckers

Thanks for all the help bros, just one last thing... The standard Tele (which I have) has 250k pots and I was wondering if I had to change those up to 500k's (like typical HB's) in order to have the hot rails or little 59 work properly

 

[MarkyMarkRox]

Re: The Best Tele Humbuckers

Also...I've decided to go with a full sized '59 or Jazz HB in the neck since I pulled up my pickguard and saw that it allows the fitting of a full sized HB as long as I get a custom pickguard made for it. So does this mean i will definitely have to change the pots to 500k's? would the Jazz sound ****ty with a 250k?

 

[teleblooz]

Re: The Best Tele Humbuckers

Again....highly subjective. Personally, I use 250K's with both single coils and humbuckers. Thats what works for me, so thats what I suggest. You, however, may find the 500K's more to your liking. No right or wrong or pat answer. It mayl take a bit of expermentation to find the combo that fits your needs.

I would start with leaving things as is. Give the 250K's a shot. If you want more high end air, try the 500's...or, keep the 250K vol and drop a 1meg in the tone slot.