Which SM For My Telecaster?

JaySwear

JaySwear

New member
simple question, SM-1, SM-2, SM-3. i've listened to the sound clips, but there isn't a HUGE difference between the three. i'm leaning towards the SM-3 right out of the gate since it's a little more balanced towards highs.

the tele is swamp ash with a maple neck with rosewood fingerboard. i'm sure there are a few opinions floating around this forum on which would be best.

i'm looking for clarity above all else. there's nothing much more useless than a muddy neck pickup for me. and which pots should i use? i would think 500k, but i guess this could also affect how much clarity the pickup has. thanks in advance!
 
Re: Which SM For My Telecaster?

IMO, there ought to be a difference between the three SD mini HBs. It lies in the degree of amp drive. Admittedly, with this type of pickup, the overall drive level is low.

Until recently, I owned a Fender Hot Rod '52 Telecaster. Ash body, maple neck, SM-1 mini HB in the neck position, slightly beefed-up single coil bridge position pickup.

I found that the SM-1n struck a nice balance between the expected Tele neck PU sound and a full-sized PAF clone. The guitar would have been ideal for a Stones tribute band.

Personally, I would choose whichever SM model seems to most closely match the output of your chosen bridge position pickup. I would stick with good quality 250k audio taper pots.
 
Re: Which SM For My Telecaster?

+1 I had a Nashville Tele with an SM-1 at the neck. It's a good match.
 
Re: Which SM For My Telecaster?

thanks for the advice. i'm not TOO worried about matching a typical telecaster's neck pickup sound. the pickups will be the Rio Grande Dirty Harry telecaster set. i'll be putting the tele neck pickup into the middle position and the mini hum in the neck. it'll be wired on a separate volume so i can kind of blend it in as i want.
 
Re: Which SM For My Telecaster?

I meant it's a good match for a Tele bridge pickup.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top