Which tele pickup is the "best"?

S

slayest

New member
I know, this is yet another naive question since "best" is subjective. But it seems that when it's down to PAF-style humbucker, many ppl recommend Tom Holmes, while for P-90, Lollar seems hard to beat. So I wonder if there's such a choice for tele pickup (especially the bridge one) ?

Also, if limit to blues tone (e.g., Albert Collins), what is your take among SD Antiquity tele, Fender custom shop Texas special, Lindy Fralin Blues Special, Lollar Special T, Peter Florance Voodoo TE, Bare Knuckle Blackguard, Joe Barden T-Style, or Suhr Classic T ?
 
Re: Which tele pickup is the "best"?

The Duncan Custom Shop Tele 53 style Tapped JB (an alnico 2 Tele Hot Tapped) or the Custom Shop version of the alnico 2 Jerry Donahue are what I use.
 
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Re: Which tele pickup is the "best"?

Just gimme the Fender '51 No-Caster set every time.

Recently, I was pleasantly surprised by the SD Custom Shop Tele Lead Stack model.

Other than the Nocaster, the "Tele" lead pickup that I use most often is the SD Twangbanger. I currently appear to own three of these.
 
Re: Which tele pickup is the "best"?

Gypsyblue said:
The Duncan Custom Shop Tele 53 style Tapped JB (an alnico 2 Tele Hot Tapped).
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this is my favorite single coil bridge pup. ever. 6.5k/9.6k of #42 pe alnico 2 goodness
 
Re: Which tele pickup is the "best"?

I like the Jerry Donahue bridge pickup. Neck pickups vary depending on what I want. For a stock single coil arrangement I like the Vintage 54 N. For a humbucking design I like the Duncan Firebird paired with the JD!
 
Re: Which tele pickup is the "best"?

Jerry Donahue....all the things you love about vintage Tele tone and none of the things you don't like.
 
Re: Which tele pickup is the "best"?

Well, Albert Collins' tele has CS Texas Special. I currently use SD APTL-1. It's the best for my ash/maple tele that has plenty of low and high tonal responses. My tele seems to love a2 magnet in the bridge (I have tried ceramic, a5, and a3 bridge pickups).
 
Re: Which tele pickup is the "best"?

elelpe said:
Well, Albert Collins' tele has CS Texas Special. I currently use SD APTL-1. It's the best for my ash/maple tele that has plenty of low and high tonal responses. My tele seems to love a2 magnet in the bridge (I have tried ceramic, a5, and a3 bridge pickups).
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His signature model might. I believe that the bridge pickup he had in his 1966 Telecaster was stock.

If you want that Albert Collins tone, this might be as close as you're going to get

http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/electric/telecaster/vintage-output/1102432_33_anti/

You might want to try Don Mare

http://www.buckcannon.com/bridgepusfortele.html
 
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Re: Which tele pickup is the "best"?

Best...

There is no best pickup. All depends on the match between the wood, the tastes (including the amp and pedals to be used) and the abilities of the player, and the pickup. Felt like saying the obvious, but stil...

:)

That said, the best match for me on my tele was Hamel's Blackguard STD-A. Am using it in gigs and all, with a 50W Plexi clone (running an attenuator). A close follower was Duncan JD actually. Very nice pickup...

B
 
Re: Which tele pickup is the "best"?

slayest said:
I know, this is yet another naive question since "best" is subjective. But it seems that when it's down to PAF-style humbucker, many ppl recommend Tom Holmes, while for P-90, Lollar seems hard to beat. So I wonder if there's such a choice for tele pickup (especially the bridge one) ?

Also, if limit to blues tone (e.g., Albert Collins), what is your take among SD Antiquity tele, Fender custom shop Texas special, Lindy Fralin Blues Special, Lollar Special T, Peter Florance Voodoo TE, Bare Knuckle Blackguard, Joe Barden T-Style, or Suhr Classic T ?
Click to expand...

Those are all just trends of the sheeple and the fanboys.

The best is whatever sounds right to you.
 
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