Telecaster Pickups

[Lu_B]

I've got a MIM Tele and basically it has no soul/umph compared with my 335 with Seths and Strat with SSL1's. To me it sounds very weak, no umph, no definition.

So I got thinking it would probably benefit from a set SD's as they seem to work miracles on most things!

But what to put in? I only know 3 tele players Keith Richards, Jerry Donahue and John 5 and the only one I listen to occasiionally is the stones. Make that 4 I've just seen Graham Coxon plays a tele!

As my other PU upgrades have been down the traditional/vintage route, I thought I might go for something thats not so traditional. I have the opportunity to buy a quarter pounder and hotrails s/h but I'm not sure if these are good paring or too OTT as I'm not into really high gain stuff.

I know I'm being vague but any suggestions, advice or clips would greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Lu_B

[Lewguitar]

I think you'd like the QP...Springsteen used to use them.

However, if you want something really cool go for a Duncan Tele Hot Tapped and install a 5 way switch in your guitar.

You can wire it up so you get:

1. Hot bridge only
2. Hot bridge and neck combined
3. neck only
4. Vintage output bridge and neck combined
5. Vintage output bridge only

Very cool! Lew

[Lu_B]

I think you'd like the QP...Springsteen used to use them.

However, if you want something really cool go for a Duncan Tele Hot Tapped and install a 5 way switch in your guitar.

Cheers Lew, quick off the mark as usual.

Forgot about Springsteen! Configuration sounds initeresting - is the 5 way switch just a regular one like on a strat or do they do special one for tele's, please excuse my ignorance!

What model no is the Duncan Tele Hot, so I can go and have a listen over in the tone wizard

Lu_B

[jdm61]

My MIM Tele sounds fantastic with the Broadcaster/Vintage setup.

[Lewguitar]

Cheers Lew, quick off the mark as usual.

Forgot about Springsteen! Configuration sounds initeresting - is the 5 way switch just a regular one like on a strat or do they do special one for tele's, please excuse my ignorance!

What model no is the Duncan Tele Hot, so I can go and have a listen over in the tone wizard

Lu_B

Thanks! Yes...just a regular 5 way Strat switch. The STL-2T Hot lead is the tapped version. Lew

[tone4days]

i am sure lew's advice is spot on as per usual

you don't say exactly what you are looking for (other than 'not so traditional'), so it's hard to advise

my only first hand experience is with the 'vintage stack for tele' set - which i love!! - but seems the exact thing you do not want

good luck
t4d

[Lu_B]

i am sure lew's advice is spot on as per usual

you don't say exactly what you are looking for (other than 'not so traditional'), so it's hard to advise

t4d

cheers T4d thats the problem I don't know what I want, just that i don't want what I have.....TThink its a thing that only effects girls!

[Lewguitar]

i am sure lew's advice is spot on as per usual

you don't say exactly what you are looking for (other than 'not so traditional'), so it's hard to advise

my only first hand experience is with the 'vintage stack for tele' set - which i love!! - but seems the exact thing you do not want

good luck
t4d

Thanks! The thing about the Tapped Tele Hot is that in the tapped mode it sounds just like a Broadcaster lead pickup...but at full output it's hotter and ballsier than a vintage Broadcaster. So you get the best of both worlds: traditional '51 Tele tone and more modern hotter tone for pushing your amp harder.

I use one...but I use it in a Stratocaster because Doc Barlo uses a Tele pickup in his Strat and I like that idea!

Lew

[tone4days]

sounds great, lew ... i might need another tele just to try it

yeah lu - i understand the 'don't know what i want, but know what i dont want" thing that goes with the double X chromosome .. i think lew's call is the lu b's knees

t4d

ps - of course, one hears tell about custom shop "duncan a la barden" yummies ... could be fun indeed

[Mephis]

If you want a tele with alot of character, stay far far far away from a quarter pounder, its the dullest most boring pickup I've ever heard.

I can't get enough of my rio grande Muy grande bridge, but its not for everyone... But if you want a south western tone with bucketloads of character, go for the muy grande. Sings like crazy for lead work and has a super agressive bite. Its 8.4k and will keep up with a PAF.

I believe the SD Tele hot will do the same tones but without the western vibe.

[Kelsey]

I like the JD and 5/2 lead, but I would pair either of them with a non-traditional rhythm pickup. As a set, I would recommend the Antiquity I flatpoles -- great vintage tone with a surprisingly solid low end for alnico 2 mags. If you want something hotter, then I would recommend the STL-2 Hot Tele set -- tapped or standard, depending on the switching you prefer. However, in case it matters, you should know that the Antiquity sets and the 5/2 Nashville Studio set are the only ones that come standard in RWRP configuration for hum-canceling in the combined/middle position. I think you'd have to special order a RWRP STL-2 set -- but I believe that's a factory floor mod that costs little or nothing extra to order.

[idsnowdog]

QP's are a good choice but they can be a bit raw. I have a tele with a QP at bridge, middle and a GFS Bigmouth at the neck. They are a perfect match. With a 250k volume QP's sound too dark and mushy. With 500k volume they are powerfull and bright but may sound a little clanky. A 250k tone rounds off the tone a bit but you might need a heavier capacitor.

QP's are good for slapping around a lower gain amp and getting AC/DC tones but aren't the greatest for high gain.

[Lu_B]

Thanks for everyones input I've purchased a secondhand QP off a forum bro called Henrystone. I think I'm going to match it with Lews suggestion of a Hot Tele and a 5 way switch as the configuration sounds very versatile. And I'm not that sure what I want so it should cover a few bases.

[RockNRoling]

I have Vintage Stacks in my Tele. I play modern rock stuff at a higher gain, and can not stand any 60 cycle humm. Those really have a great vintage tone. I have been thinking about switching to something a little hotter like a hot rails... Something else you may want to think about, EMG's! There Tele set is supose to be the best pickup they make, vintage tone with really hot output. I saw Keith Urban a few months back and his main Tele is a Nashville Tele turned Esquire with a single EMG in the bridge. And you gotta admit, his tone is fantastic.

[Luke Duke]

Thanks for everyones input I've purchased a secondhand QP off a forum bro called Henrystone. I think I'm going to match it with Lews suggestion of a Hot Tele and a 5 way switch as the configuration sounds very versatile. And I'm not that sure what I want so it should cover a few bases.

I had a set of non-tapped QPs. The bridge was GREAT! The neck was alright, but too hot for my taste. I think tapped they would be really versatile.

Luke

[teleblooz]

I've beat this dead horse to death, but once again I'll throw out my 2 cents worth for the Dimarzio VV hot T bridge and VV neck pups. No noise and excellent tone. They are a great match for my guitar and style anyway. Others milage may vary.....And...the big shocker....? This is coming from someone who never cared much for Dimarzio pickups.

I realize you already have the 1/4lbr's ( congrats ) and I hope they work well for you....the VV recomendation is perhaps for future consideration.

I had a sweet alder bodied hombrew tele back in 1982. Put aset of 1/4lbr's in it. While not a twanger by any stretch of the imagination, the guitar was spot on pefect for the rootsy rock, 50's/60's, country stuff we were doing. To this day, the 1/4lb tele neck pup remains one of my favs'. I used that pup for nearly 80% of the solos I did. Great fat, dry, meaty tone. Played clean with a dab of verb or delay, the tone was very inspiring. With a lower gain, TS type overdrive, that baby just sang. Ditto for the bridge 1/4lb's....I've just been more a neck pup player over the years.

The fore mentioned VV Hot T has made me do a 180. While I still use the neck pup more than the bridge, the tones I can dial in with the Hot T are very inspiring indeed.

[James Rock]

But what to put in? I only know 3 tele players Keith Richards, Jerry Donahue and John 5 and the only one I listen to occasiionally is the stones. Make that 4 I've just seen Graham Coxon plays a tele!

Add jimmy page, george harrison, both guitarists in status quo, david gilmour and syd barret to that list all of them played teles (some more then others).

[JohnnyGuitar]

Good Tele tones you can listen to:

Roy Buchanen, Albert Collins, Muddy Waters- for blues Tele.
Mike Stern (some of his old stuff)- for jazz/fusion. Today he uses a Yamaha Tele copy.
Steve Cropper for something R&B Tele...
Danny Gatton for his unique combination of jazz, country and rock and roll...

And that's just for a start...

[doveman]

I have Vintage Stacks in my Tele. I play modern rock stuff at a higher gain, and can not stand any 60 cycle humm. Those really have a great vintage tone. I have been thinking about switching to something a little hotter like a hot rails... Something else you may want to think about, EMG's! There Tele set is supose to be the best pickup they make, vintage tone with really hot output. I saw Keith Urban a few months back and his main Tele is a Nashville Tele turned Esquire with a single EMG in the bridge. And you gotta admit, his tone is fantastic.

I have a Schecter PT Vintage (Tele) that I really like. It came with Duncan Designed that I replaced with Texas Specials ... didn't really do it for me.

Then I put in SD Vintage Stacks. I have it set up to coil tap both pickups with one switch. The single coil setting is a bit louder and pretty nice vintage sound with a little noise (not bad). The noiseless setting is quiet and while very tele sounding has a hint of the mini-humbuckers I used to have in my LP Deluxe. Totally satisfied.

[Lu_B]

Gosh this thread is a blast from the past.....Tele has had its QP and Hot for tele for 5 months now and I am well chuffed with them. Seem to find new tones everytime I play it.

Add Eric Clapton to the list - I've just seen him play a butterscotch tele on the promo video for his new album with JJ Cale.