Suggestions for neck HB for a TB-4 bridge

[tvrfan2003]

Building a Custom Tele with a Bigsby, and planning on 3 p/u with a strat 5-way switch...have a TB-4 Bridge, and looking for other pick-up suggestions. I play Classic Rock, Southern Rock (Skynyrd) and also blues.....was looking at Pearly Gates neck, and either a strat single coil mid, or maybe a Retrotron or Gretch like sound for middle? Not sure if the TB-4 will overpower others? Apologize for what is likely silly question and I may have choices all wrong for music I like??? Any suggestions really appreciated. I am a woodworker so doing own body so p.u choice and size not a problem? Thanks in advance...

[CaughtLikeFire]

Building a Custom Tele with a Bigsby, and planning on 3 p/u with a strat 5-way switch...have a TB-4 Bridge, and looking for other pick-up suggestions. I play Classic Rock, Southern Rock (Skynyrd) and also blues.....was looking at Pearly Gates neck, and either a strat single coil mid, or maybe a Retrotron or Gretch like sound for middle? Not sure if the TB-4 will overpower others? Apologize for what is likely silly question and I may have choices all wrong for music I like??? Any suggestions really appreciated. I am a woodworker so doing own body so p.u choice and size not a problem? Thanks in advance...

Pearly Gates neck is an excellent choice for classic rock and blues rock. It really excels at those slightly overdriven, gritty "clean" tones and classic crunch tones. I prefer the PG to the 59 or Jazz in most guitars.

I have one in my swamp ash 72 Tele (paired with a Custom Custom) and one in my mahogany Strat, paired with a TB-4. with some pickup height adjustments, the Pearly Gates is not overpowered by either the CC or JB.

I never use middle pups, so I can't give you 1st-hand experience, but I will offer this: The JB splits very well - makes for a nice strong single coil. I think it would pair well with an hotter Strat pickup.

by the way, for the type of music you're playing, you may want to try an A2 magnet in the TB-4. I personally prefer the JB with an A2 and it's my understanding that Seymour uses A2 mags in his personal guitars that have JB pups. The prototype JB had an A2 magnet too I believe - not sure why it went to production with an A5.

[tvrfan2003]

Thanks, its great to get feedback from someone using the combination in the same guitar...assume by adjusting you mean I may have to raise the PGn slightly closer to strings...Know this is a silly question, but you mention the JB splits well, not sure I understand...would this be splitting wiring to allow it as HB or SC...tks again

[CaughtLikeFire]

Thanks, its great to get feedback from someone using the combination in the same guitar...assume by adjusting you mean I may have to raise the PGn slightly closer to strings...Know this is a silly question, but you mention the JB splits well, not sure I understand...would this be splitting wiring to allow it as HB or SC...tks again

yep, I was referring to pickup height. It may not be a hot wound pickup but as far as output is concerned the PG is far from weak. I don't need to raise it too close to the strings to get enough volume or get good tones.

and with the split JB, I meant running just one of the coils so it functions like a hot single coil pickup. Running one coil of the JB with a Strat pickup in the middle, you could get some cool Strat "quack" tones. If you don't plan on splitting coils, a Strat-sized humbucker like a Lil '59 might be cool.

As long as a Filtertron or other larger pup wouldn't interfere with strumming/picking, anything goes really

[tvrfan2003]

Ok, will do some research on how to split coils to better understand the wiring implications and will keep that as an option..tks. Idea is to get as many versatile sound options as possible. Have looked at double HB teles and certainly room for a third, and would play similar to the Black Les Paul Customs that had three HB side by side....means playing "over" the pickups as opposed to being able to play between them...I like your idea of a strat sized HB, as makes that part easier...will check out the Lil 59, hadn't looked at it...thanks for all of the help.