Looking for Some FAT Tele Pickups...

[Butch Snyder]

Hi guys,

My Fender American Tele currently sports two DiMarzio Virtual Vintage 54 Strat pickups in the neck and middle positions. It has a DiMarzio Area T in the bridge position. I have its stock steel 6-saddle bridge installed and a tortoise pickguard. See pic below.



Decent look but my favorite is below. Same guitar but with an ashtray bridge, mint green pickguard and Tex Mex Tele pickups.



I really don't use the quack tones anymore; so I really don't need three pickups. But, I would like to outfit my Tele with a classic Tele set but fatter-sounding. Classic looks are important and I don't want to stray from that. I need a fatter, warmer tone though. Anybody have any thoughts? As for the bridge position, I'm about settled on the DiMarzio Area Hot T. For the neck, I don't know. I'd like something almost PAFish but a little brighter. I don't know if there's anything available in a chrome or nickel-silver covered Tele neck pickup.

[JeffB]

Check out rumpelstilstkin. Custom winds, for not much more than duncans or dimarzios.

[the guy who invented fire]

you're not going to get anything even remotely PAFish out of the neck with a stock style Tele single coil...it's just not in the cards.

You have to decide whats more important...vintage looks or the tone you want .

Also keep in mind balance issues...a PAF is loud in the neck of a Tele unless you lower it WAY down.

[Butch Snyder]

you're not going to get anything even remotely PAFish out of the neck with a stock style Tele single coil...it's just not in the cards.

I know. I guess it was a pipe dream.

[rumblebox]

hot lead and a neck humbucker!!! the hot lead is wound around 16k. so it keeps up with a humbucker just fine. no balance issues whatsoever.

[oilpit]

Well that sounds epic...why doesn't the hot for Tele get more love?

[rumblebox]

it's a well-kept secret i guess. i just tried it out of a hunch. now it's my favorite tele pup. i can roll off the volume a bit and get classic tele TOANZ.

[PRSfan nym 1985]

I loaded my nashville style tele with fralins....mine has a 2% over covered neck, vintage hot strat middle, and RWRP 5% over blues special bridge. I really like the overwound fralins for a nice vintage tone but with a fatter edge. That was the set he suggested to me.

His SP sets might be more in line with what you're looking for. They are right around the price of antiquties and are made to order. If you call in you can probably talk to Lindy and find a set perfect for you.