telecaster p.u. upgrade?

[dogbite]

hey all.
I have a hwy 1 telecaster that I really like. now that I am gigging the guitar is getting a solid workout.
I like the tone of the stock pickups, but whenever I hear someone else' s tele I hear a better tone.
technique and tube amp can be a factor, but I think a simple pickup swap would get me in a better place.
I would swap out the bridge and maybe neck pickup. I just don't know what is a popular change.
there are many choices; it is overwhelming. I definitely would opt for a single coil.
does anyone have recommendations? what is the word out there?

[EzraplaysEzra]

I've heard your playing, so i'm pretty confident in suggesting some p/u's you might like.
I have a custom shop vintage '50's bridge that I like a lot. I paid $42 for it with a vintage Reissue steel bridge included!!! If you're interested in that message me and see if my guy is still pulling those kinds of deals and set up a safe Ebay transaction for ya.
The fender fat 50 and '69 are also very similar in price and tone. The duncan SSL and Antiquity's are as good as actual vintage gems at a reasonable price.
The Fender Twisted Tele neck pick up is the best sounding and usable neck pickup ever, period. I bought one to take it apart and here's the big secret... dum dum dum... jazz bass magnets. But i don't use neck pickups in any of my teles.

Of coarse it could be the grease bucket circuit that you don't like. The hot alnico 3 pickups aren't for everyone but I think that circuit might have more influence on the un-tele sound you are hearing. Maybe, maybe not, but it would be cheaper to try than a new pickup.
But, I urge you, if you are going to try a new pickup to try the GFS custom whatever they call them, they sound awfully good for the price and if you don;t like them you can get just about all your money back selling them.

[dogbite]

thanks for the most useful reply. since my original post I went back to an old Bookmark. it's Seymour Duncan's site.
http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/e ... elecaster/

now my head is spinning. EzraplaysEzra, with your suggestions and more reading I should have a solution.
and from past experience, sometimes ya just have to buy it and try it and make it work.

the 50's Vintage Bridge you mention is on my consider list. the Twisted Tele neck p.u. is popular too.

thanks

[dogbite]

I am thinking of this:

http://www.macdaddymusicstore.com/servl ... 9_KTpHpWnI

I am not sure if the price is current.

[Nuno]

No experience with Tele pickups but when I ask to a friend he always recommend DiMarzio over Seymour Duncan. Surely it is a matter of taste. They have some sound clips: http://www.dimarzio.com/pickups/tele/hum-canceling

And I have read very good comments on Lindy Fralin Tele pickups: http://www.fralinpickups.com/telestyle.asp

Finally, perhaps you could find some reviews or comments in the Telecaster Forum. I have never been registered but I used to read some threads when I want to buy a Tele. I found very interesting advices.

Good luck and enjoy!

[TRGuitar]

I got one of these but I don't think it is what you are looking for.



Took it out of my Squire Tele before I turfed it ....... It cost nearly half what I paid for the guitar!

[dogbite]

TR, there are many tele players that like that double rail p.u.
it is one of consideration, although I worry about size and fit and any cutting.
DiMarzio has gotten good reviews on a tele forum.
I have in the past used Lindy Fralin to rebuild an old lap steel pup. he does excellent work.
his pups are highly recommended too. I will take a look at his tele pups.

thanks.

[EzraplaysEzra]

If you can get Fralin's and can spend the dough - there is no reason to get anything else in my opinion. There are lots of great builders - but he is the oldest of the second wave guys - and the coolest - and very consistent. There is that other big name out there on the other side of the country, but in my personal experience he is a total jerk-***. I'd name him, but he'd probably sue me for slander. (PS it ain't Seymour Duncan)

[dogbite]

I respect and like Lindy Fralin. I sent an old pickup from a 1939 lap steel to him for diagnosis and repair. He telephoned to discuss his plans to repair it. Then after shipping called me to see how it all worked out. a very good man.
I bet I know the other person you mention, not by name, ...BL is a difficult person. some love him, others find him impossible.
I avoid BL like the plague..

[EzraplaysEzra]

No not Bill, Though I have heard he was a slightly prickly to deal with. I was talking about a fella further up the PCH in Washington. I honestly will not mention him because he will sue me, no joke. Kent Armstrong and Joe Barden are also very high in my respect for low volume (production wise - they are plenty loud) pickups and then they're are loads of other like Cooper and Van Zandt and on and on.

[dogbite]

one thing I worry about with a higher output pickup upgrade, is the possibility of unwanted hum.

[CitiZenNoir]

Hey, DB

I'm not sure how you could get 'em, but I heard a Tele that I wanted in the worst way and it had Fender handwound
Abby pups in it.
There's all kinds of craziness out there regarding those.
I know most aren't actually handwound by Miss Ybarra herself, but they still sound pretty darn good!

Ken

[dogbite]

maybe Lindy Fralin knows something about them. he hand winds his pups.

[EzraplaysEzra]

The Abby's are indeed hand wound by Abigal Yabarra. They are available through the custom shop for around the market price of boutique scatter wounds. There is nothing inherently special about them, she personally "hand winds" production versions like the Fat 50 or the '69 and signs them. So it's pretty cool to have a pickups made by a women who worked on the original production line, but they are not unique concerning the sum of the parts. Just her name alone makes them interesting. But I'm in to stuff like that, and sadly the will escalate in value as she is getting on in years.