Would A Copper Clad Steel Plate On The Bottom Of A SD Tele Quarter Pounder Work?

[Jeffblue]

I have an SD Quarter Pounder tele bridge pickup in a Warmoth strat body partscaster and it really doesn't sound like a tele pickup. If I bought a copper clad steel plate for the pickup, would it bring to it more tele-ness and twang if I wanted it? how would I adhere the plate to the pickup and how would I wax pot the pickup/plate? Thanks to my fellow SDUGF members.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Would A Copper Clad Steel Plate On The Bottom Of A SD Tele Quarter Pounder Work?

I doubt it would help- the QP is a very heavy wind and already super fat. Bottom plates can add a bit of mid thickness to a vintage wind pickup, but don't really add bite AFAIK.

Then again, I've never tried a baseplate on an overwound pickup. So I could be entirely wrong.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Would A Copper Clad Steel Plate On The Bottom Of A SD Tele Quarter Pounder Work?

Other than if it was a tapped Quarter Pound, I don't know how it would sound like a classic Tele. It is simply a lot darker and about twice as loud as a normal Tele pickup- it doesn't twang as much as bark.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Would A Copper Clad Steel Plate On The Bottom Of A SD Tele Quarter Pounder Work?

I keep my QP farther from the strings than my other Tele bridges. I'd try setting yours low to see if you like it better that way.
It should still have pretty good output...

That should give you better definition, but I'm afraid nothing's going to make it anywhere near as twangy as a classic Tele bridge.

 

[freefrog]

Re: Would A Copper Clad Steel Plate On The Bottom Of A SD Tele Quarter Pounder Work?

The QP has a dark and loud sound because of its high inductance. Adding steel to it would only increase this already huge inductance and make the tone even thicker, as mentioned by eclecticsynergy.

When I need a thinner and weaker tone from a powerful SC, I wire an inductor in parallel with it. This inductor can be a coil coming from some cheap high gain humbucker (something like a 8k bobbin with the metal slugs left in it). Added benefit: if such a dummy coil is properly wired and placed, it will have an humbucking effect (just like with a humbucker wired in parallel).

If after that the sound is too flat, just pair the PU with a no load tone pot and/or some 1M pots....

Oh, and... the whole thing can be wired through a switch or a blend pot, in order to give several tones.

FWIW.

 

[Jeffblue]

Re: Would A Copper Clad Steel Plate On The Bottom Of A SD Tele Quarter Pounder Work?

Thanks guys, I usually use SD Antiquities, Vintage, Vintage stacked or Five-Two tele pickups. The QPs are something new for me. you are all very helpful and I appreciate your input.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Would A Copper Clad Steel Plate On The Bottom Of A SD Tele Quarter Pounder Work?

Thanks guys, I usually use SD Antiquities, Vintage, Vintage stacked or Five-Two tele pickups. The QPs are something new for me. you are all very helpful and I appreciate your input.

The QuarterPound really sounds almost more like a P90 to me than a classic Tele bridge. You might consider a beefy vintage wind like the Broadcaster. Or something overwound yet a bit less so than a QP, like the RioGrande Halfbreed or Muy Grande. Or the Paul Bunyan from Zhangbucker.

I have a Muy Grande and a Paul Bunyan- they sound big and I like them both. Great choices for rock and blues- maybe not the best option for classic country players of course. While I wouldn't describe twang as being a defining characteristic of either one, they still are recognizably Tele and can twang if you treat 'em right. 500K pots work well with these: a little brighter sounding than the standard 250K ones.