What Tele Bridge Pickup with SM-1

[jwsamuel]

I have a Tele partscaster that currently has an SM-1 mini humbucker in the neck. I am not sure what is in the bridge but I am not happy with the sound. What Tele bridge pickup would give me a balanced sound with the SM-1? I like the tone of the SM-1 but want a bridge pickup that sounds good with it and has a good volume match. Should I use 500K or 250K pots?

The body is alder and from a Fender Mexican Tele. 3-saddle bridge and a rosewood fretboard.

Thanks,

Jim

 

[jeremy]

Re: What Tele Bridge Pickup with SM-1

i would use 250k pots and get a jd tele bridge pup

 

[jwsamuel]

Re: What Tele Bridge Pickup with SM-1

i would use 250k pots and get a jd tele bridge pup

Thanks. That was my original plan. I think I will stick with it.

Jim

 

[shawn7oh]

Re: What Tele Bridge Pickup with SM-1

Get Hot Lead Stack STK-T2b (Alnico V, best choice) or hot rails for Tele. (ceramic) get a mini switch for the coil split, so you can run it as a single coil if you want, for improved traditional tele sound. you can even run it split, in and out of phase if you get an ON-ON-ON mini-switch. use 250k pots, a .22 cap for starters. Experiment with the lower and higher value caps, and pickup wiring to get the middle position sound you want, if it's important. But just having the option of Alnico V humbucking sound will blow our mind. You'll never look back, and you'll probably play it in HB setting most of the time. Your lead playing ability will eventually become massive and you'll dump it for a Schecter, but after a while you'll regret it, lol. I wish I had a Mexican tele with a mini hb in the neck... lucky bucker! What's the finish, tobacco burst?

 

[shawn7oh]

Re: What Tele Bridge Pickup with SM-1

One other thing. try an aluminum pickguard. The cheapos don't often fit, who cares. They can be hand filed to fit without much difficulty, sandpaper, a file or even emery board and see if it works. bottom line is you'll get rid of the plastic tone. Took me 30 years of playing guitar, one day it dawned on me. when I'm playing a fender or similar, I'm getting the sound of the plastic pickguard. The fender sound is plastic, period. its poly finish and plastic guard. I'm not knocking it, it is what it is, doesn't matter at all some times. but it's not as versatile as it could be, Any quality Duncan humbucker with a split switch and an aluminum pickguard go a huge way toward expanding the versatility. You'll play it more because you can do more. BTW, there are about 3 wiring diagrams that are more or less offical JD. all depends on what you're into, but take my word for it a mid complexity setup with the widest veratility is probably going to meet your needs better than trying to hit a bullseye with a highly complex narrower tonal tool. You've got a mini bucker there, and an opp to get Metal, rock, pop, and country tone from a tele, you should take it.

 

[ravachol]

Re: What Tele Bridge Pickup with SM-1

Hello !
I have make myself my guitar and something like that whit her...
It's an optimal wiring ! 5 tones ,and the middle position of the switch found the telecaster sound !

salutations !