Telecaster with P90, help choosing pup's

[GoranS]

I intend to build a Telecaster and is thinking of having a P90 in the neck position and a traditional Tele bridge pickup.

I need help matching pickups that will have similar output levels. I have two choices of P90 types:

Either a Vintage Soapbar SP90-1 or a Hot Soapbar SP90-2.

Which Tele-type bridge pickups will match the output levels these pickups respectively?

/Goran

[El CHupacabra]

Tele bridges are pretty hot, so I'd recommend the hotter soapbar if you want matching output. I myself would use the vintage, but hey. A hot soapbar I think will do the trick for you.

Either way that's gonna sound sensational.

[idsnowdog]

I like the Custom P90. I found the Vintage to be too clear and cold. The Fralin Blues 90 is pure silk.

[GoranS]

Looking at the tone charts I find that the following seem to match:

Neck: SP90-1 - SD Vintage P-90 Soapbar
Bridge: APTL-1 - SD Alnico II Pro Lead Tele

Am I right in my assumption that this would work with matching output levels?

By the way here's a link to my site where I descibe my projects: my new Tele project.
/Goran

[bluesbend]

I've got a Tele build waiting out in my shop that'll have a SP90-2 neck and a Qtr Pnd bridge. I'm guessing she'll sound pretty frickin' nice.

[GoranS]

I've got a Tele build waiting out in my shop that'll have a SP90-2 neck and a Qtr Pnd bridge. I'm guessing she'll sound pretty frickin' nice.

That's another option.

I don't want it to be too hot though, I want it to match my regular Strats if that makes any sense... I play mostly blues with some mild OD, and want to be able to swap guitars without tweaking so much.

A sample of my style: "Soul Thang" on SoundClick.

[Zhangliqun]

Tele bridges are pretty hot, so I'd recommend the hotter soapbar if you want matching output. I myself would use the vintage, but hey. A hot soapbar I think will do the trick for you.

Either way that's gonna sound sensational.

I'd give the opposite advice -- most Tele bridge pu's are not hot at all, typically in the low to mid 7's, chock full of vintage twang and jangle.

Unless you're using a 14k Tele bridge, I'd recommend a sub-7k P90 for the neck because most Tele bridges are very easily overpowered by even the mellowest humbuckers and P90's in the neck position.

[Chrismo]

I heard that a Vintage Soapbar should pair well with the Jerry Donahue pickup.

[scottish]

I've got a Tele build waiting out in my shop that'll have a SP90-2 neck and a Qtr Pnd bridge. I'm guessing she'll sound pretty frickin' nice.

thats exactly what i would do. i might even get the tapped QP and roll with the vintage soap in the neck

[Wonker]

IMHO the SP90-2 is the best pickup in the world. Use it...love it.

My $.02

[GoranS]

Lots of good info, thanks guys! Keep 'em coming.

SP90-2 is one of my candidates and the quarter pounder bridge pup looks cool and seem to be just right for the job...
I'm definitely leaning towards that combination.

Although the SP90-1 and the Jerry Donahue combinations sounds very tempting.

[scottish]

i have absolutely no doubt in the world that the soap bar 2 and the QP will be an amazing combo. i absolutely hated tele bridge true single pups until i heard the QP.

[bluesbend]

That's another option.

I don't want it to be too hot though, I want it to match my regular Strats if that makes any sense... I play mostly blues with some mild OD, and want to be able to swap guitars without tweaking so much.

A sample of my style: "Soul Thang" on SoundClick.

I'm a blues player also. I f you check the resistance values of the SP90-2 and the Qtr Pnd br., there's not a whole lot of difference.

[uOpt]

Most Tele bridge pickups should keep up just fine. If you bring them close to the strings actually lay waste to about everything.

The "output" from the higher resistance soapbars isn't that much higher anyway. Remember it's about the same # of winds with thinner wire.

[GoranS]

Thanks!!

You've all helped me make up my mind. SP90-2/STL-3 (Quarter Pounder) it is!

/G

[bluesbend]

Excellent choice. Let us know how it turns out. Unfortunately it'll be a couple of months before I'll be able to start my build.

[GoranS]

I promise! Unfortunately I will have to wait for more incoming cash in my hobby cashbox. Been doing a couple of other projects lately; My Partsocaster II and a Jazz bass project during the spring and summer dug a hole in the wallet...

There's at least $300 of stuff left for the Tele project to get ready. In a month or so it will be time to order some things... Cant hardly wait...

[GoranS]

Now, who said (probably none) this should be easy choosing pickups?

Last night I downloaded clips of all SP90 neck variants and on the Quarter Pounder Bridge pup.
Both the SP90-2 and SP90-3 sounded good in my ears, and the Qtr Pnd Bridge sounds awesome.

I also for some mysterious reason downloaded the Qtr Pnd NECK pickup sound clip...
I regret that now... I fell in love with the sound.

I've always wanted a P90... I saw my chance when having a Tele body with a P90 cavity...
Now I don't know...

Either I go with my first intention or else go "traditional" and then build a new all P90 guitar...
Thinking about it; The bridge position P90 sound is really nice, I might miss it on a guitar
with only a P90 neck pup...