Which neck humbucker for Tele?

[JSavisalo]

Hi all,

I'm building a Telecaster type guitar for my friend. Light alder body and maple neck / fingerboard. The bridge pup will most likely be a traditional Tele pup, like Vintage '54 (not attached to the bridge though), but the neck pup will be a humbucker, and for selecting that I would like to get some help.

My friend plays mostly classic rock/blues/roots but likes to get also some quite powerfull and dirty overdrive/fuzz sounds at times, not any heavy metal sounds though. I don't believe he's after the muddy PAF sound, he likes more clarity, but not excessive brightness though.

The local guitar store recommended me the Jazz model for the neck position, but I've started to think that it might have too moderate output for harder distortions, and maybe even too much brightness (based on the specs, I have never tested one). What would you recommend, based on this quite indefinite information I've been trying to give you? You may also recommend some other bridge pup, if you think I could get a better combination with some other model.

Many thanks for any advice,

Juha

 

[Curly]

Re: Which neck humbucker for Tele?

Seth

oh, and welcome!

 

[dr.barlo]

Re: Which neck humbucker for Tele?

Welcome,

"I don't believe he's after the muddy PAF sound, he likes more clarity, but not excessive brightness though."

So he does not like PAFs or muddy PAFs?

B

 

[BS123]

Re: Which neck humbucker for Tele?

Given the info, I would choose from one of the following...

1. Seth Lover - nice and smooth
2. 59 Model - smooth with a little brighter topend
3. Alnico II Pro - very warm and smokey
4. Jazz Model - very clear and articulate
5. Pearly Gates - like a Seth or AII Pro but a tad hotter

 

[pgambon]

Re: Which neck humbucker for Tele?

The biggest problem I have with the Tele/humbacker setup is the unbalanced output. Most standard PAF's overpower a tele bridge pup. Using a mini-humbacker is a better choice in my opinion. The firebird mini would be alittle brighter than the LP Deluxe mini. I think it would be a nice match on a Tele.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Which neck humbucker for Tele?

I agree about a humbucker neck overpowering a single coil bridge. Never has appealed to me. If anything, I've always thot they should be reversed with the humbucker being the bridge pickup.

But if you insist, I'd say go for the alnico 2 Seth Lover or Antiquity...neck models of course.

Alnico 2 HB's usually have a little less bass than alnico 5 HB's like the 59N and Jazz.

Lew

 

[BS123]

Re: Which neck humbucker for Tele?

The biggest problem I have with the Tele/humbacker setup is the unbalanced output. Most standard PAF's overpower a tele bridge pup. Using a mini-humbacker is a better choice in my opinion. The firebird mini would be alittle brighter than the LP Deluxe mini. I think it would be a nice match on a Tele.

While I disagree about the unbalanced output. I've had too many of them and they worked out well. The vintage-style hummers will balance fine. I will agree that the minihummer is a better solution. It sounds great and looks really cool in a Tele pickguard.

 

[dr.barlo]

Re: Which neck humbucker for Tele?

The biggest problem I have with the Tele/humbacker setup is the unbalanced output. Most standard PAF's overpower a tele bridge pup. Using a mini-humbacker is a better choice in my opinion. The firebird mini would be alittle brighter than the LP Deluxe mini. I think it would be a nice match on a Tele.

I disagree.

My muy grande tele lead and 59n worked fine. Now in the same guitar, SD JD lead with ant hb neck works miracles. In fact, regarding the overpowering issue, now it is reversed, the bridge overpowers the neck(which sits quite high in the pickup ring, higher than my neck pickups in my LPs), giving me more quack, the result of which I love.

B

 

[JSavisalo]

Re: Which neck humbucker for Tele?

Thanks to all of you for your comments, they are valuable.

Juha

 

[Byakhee00]

Re: Which neck humbucker for Tele?

Personally, i'd say an Alnico 2, or a PG...

how about a phat cat? Not exactly a humbucker, but a p90 in the neck of a tele sounds awesome

 

[Dave]

Re: Which neck humbucker for Tele?

I disagree.

My muy grande tele lead and 59n worked fine. Now in the same guitar, SD JD lead with ant hb neck works miracles. In fact, regarding the overpowering issue, now it is reversed, the bridge overpowers the neck(which sits quite high in the pickup ring, higher than my neck pickups in my LPs), giving me more quack, the result of which I love.

B

Great point-that sounds like a fantastic combo, Doc.

 

[Fatty]

Re: Which neck humbucker for Tele?

how about a phat cat? Not exactly a humbucker, but a p90 in the neck of a tele sounds awesome

I like that idea a lot.