what is the best vintage telecaster pick up?

[Dylan]

I just got a American telecaster, and I what to replace the bridge pick up. Only the problem is that I have now idea wich pick up to instal. I only know that I whant that old school telecaster sound. That real power twangy clean sound, that you can only get from a true telecaster. That´s it, I whant that true telecaster sound. The thing is the Americen telecaster is great don´t get me wrong, but it isn´t that real... you know...thing.
Or must I replace some other parts of the guitar, like a new maple neck or something.
So, what the hel should I do.

-Dylan-

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: what is the best vintage telecaster pick up?

There really is no best. What might sound great in a super light swamp ash guitar might not sound great in a slightly heavier alder body guitar.

I'd say go for a set of the Antiquity Tele pickups...that set reminds me alot of Roy Buchanan's '53 Tele and I use them in my Fender Custom Shop '53 Reissue Tele.

For a fatter tone with more mids and slightly less treble, the Jerry Donahue lead pickup is great too and is a repro of the original bridge pickup in Jerry Donahue's '52 Tele. My '51 Tele (an original) had a bridge pickup that sounded like that too: not exactly like a P-90 but it reminded me of one.

Lew

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: what is the best vintage telecaster pick up?

I like the JD in my ash bodied, maple necked tele. It's pretty much as Lew described it. Also, try and get yourself a nice, steel 3 saddle bridge. It'll help your tele sound more like, um.. a tele!

 

[jeremy]

Re: what is the best vintage telecaster pick up?

for the tone you are looking for dylan (albert right?) get the antiquity.
the saddles are a good idea as well

 

[matt99camero]

Re: what is the best vintage telecaster pick up?

I have a vintage tele stack in my MIM. It sounds quite a bit more vintage than the stock pu's. Really shines on the bass strings, really brings the bass out. The highs are not much different than the stock pu's just with the vintage tone. The bass strings on mine are louder than than the high strings. I'm not so great with describing tone but that's what I can hear with my ears.

 

[Curly]

Re: what is the best vintage telecaster pick up?

Dylan,
I've had to think about this a bit ...

I really consider myself more of a strat player, although I own a couple teles ...

I basically asked the same question when I had a custom Warmoth tele built, and used a Broadcaster, since it's the same Alnico 5 composition as early teles. I found that too bright, though, and switched to an Antiquity set, which is great in that ash tele.

In my Am Series tele, I liked the stock pickups at first, but switched to a JD/ Hot neck set, which is also a great set in that guitar. I think everyone here who's tried the JD loves it.

another consideration would be the Antiquity II, but I haven't tried those, and I have the feeling you might find those a little bright.

I have clips of both teles here:

Antiquities

American Series tele

I'd also add that often when folks speak of vintage tone, it's sometimes hard to tell whether they mean warm like a 50's tele, or bright like a 60s tele, and that makes a difference.