A3/A5 Tele

[CountFunkula]

Since the treble side is closer to the bridge, do you think an A3/A5 tele bridge pickup (or A2/A5) would be too weak on the treble side? It would be nice to tame the icepick, but would it disrupt the output balance of the strings?

[AlexR]

The 5/2 strat pickup is supposed to work well like that.

However....remember that most RH stock pups will be the wrong way round once you flip it for lefty. And if its a Tele Bridge you can't just put it in backwards under the plate (like strat pickups) as the screw pattern is uneven.

[Funkfingers]

If your Tele bridge PU has a plastic bobbin instead of vulcanised fibreboard plates, it is possible to gently slide the magnets out.

I once tried a Five-Three experiment with a Fender Am Std Stratocaster pickup. I found the three strings sensed by the A3 magnets much quieter than those sensed by the A5. (This might explain why Fender's H1 pickups need such a hot coil to obtain a decent output.)

The SD Five-Two will eliminate the "icepick" on the plain strings and retain the twang on the wound strings. I imagine that a left-handed Five-Two would be a Shop Floor Custom Order.

[AlexR]

If your Tele bridge PU has a plastic bobbin instead of vulcanised fibreboard plates, it is possible to gently slide the magnets out.

I once tried a Five-Three experiment with a Fender Am Std Stratocaster pickup. I found the three strings sensed by the A3 magnets much quieter than those sensed by the A5. (This might explain why Fender's H1 pickups need such a hot coil to obtain a decent output.)

The SD Five-Two will eliminate the "icepick" on the plain strings and retain the twang on the wound strings. I imagine that a left-handed Five-Two would be a Shop Floor Custom Order.

The A3 is a curious beast. I'm not surprised at your findings with it, as it seems thinner mids wise and would not drive the amp hard. Its usually described as 'chimey'

The Jerry Donahue is a pretty good pup if you want a recommendation. I've got an alder/maple tele and it does a great job of turning it into a rock guitar. Matches output with a PAF neck bucker too.