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Hi, I'm just another guy who's not certain in his next pickup choice. You see, last automn, I bought the Fender Highway 1 Telecaster and the Marshall 100hdfx. Sounds great. However, I'm not satisfied with the pickups; the neck is a little muddy without highs, and the bridge is far, far too bright (the rest of the band screams when I play on the brightest strings). I'm certainly going to try the Jerry Donahue for my bridge position.

So here's my problem: which pickup for the neck? I want more output than a typical Tele neck pickup, but not more than the JD can cope with. I heared that the antiquity sounds terrific, but they are not so easy to find here in Norway. Also, the A2P could fit, but I read that Lew wasn't completely satisfied with it. Are there any humbuckers that can do the job? Or will a single-coil be better? Which one? HELP!

Hey man, WELCOME TO THE FORUM!

With a Donahue in the bridge you still have quite a few options for the neck. If you want a tele neck pup sound then only a tele neck pup will do. You should really listen to the Vintage 54, it will be chimey but have less mud than your stock neck pup. The A2P series pups are very smooth sounding, the neck version pairs well with the JD bridge, however it migh have more mids than you want.

Luke


Originally Posted by Uncle UnbornHi, I'm just another guy who's not certain in his next pickup choice. You see, last automn, I bought the Fender Highway 1 Telecaster and the Marshall 100hdfx. Sounds great. However, I'm not satisfied with the pickups; the neck is a little muddy without highs, and the bridge is far, far too bright (the rest of the band screams when I play on the brightest strings). I'm certainly going to try the Jerry Donahue for my bridge position.

So here's my problem: which pickup for the neck? I want more output than a typical Tele neck pickup, but not more than the JD can cope with. I heared that the antiquity sounds terrific, but they are not so easy to find here in Norway. Also, the A2P could fit, but I read that Lew wasn't completely satisfied with it. Are there any humbuckers that can do the job? Or will a single-coil be better? Which one? HELP!

Welcome to the forum!

I like a Tele neck pickup that's a little brighter and less muffled than typical Tele neck pickups. The Alnico 2 Pro Tele neck is a nice warm pickup...but not bright enough for me. When it comes to Tele and Strat neck pickups, I much prefer alnico 5 pickups.

My two favorite stock size Tele neck pickups to use with the Jerry Donahue are the quot;Tele ala Stratquot; neck pickup MJ wound for me in the Duncan Custom Shop and the Fralin Blues Special Tele neck pickup. The Fralin has no nickel cover...that makes a big improvement in the tone, IMO.

But my very favorite neck pickup in my tele with the Jerry Donahue bridge pickup is a Duncan Antiquity Surfer Stratocaster neck pickup. If your guitar has a one size fits all rout under your pickguard, you can order a new pickguard cut for a Strat neck pickup and then use a Stratocaster pickup for the neck pickup.

IMO, the Duncan Antiquity Surfer Stratocaster pickup is the ultimate neck pickup in a Tele. My Fender Tele Custom sounds incredable with the Jerry Donahue bridge and Surfer neck pickups.

Lew

Thanks, both of you. Well, I live in Norway, so it's not that easy to get the proper pickups for my guitar (my local dealer tells me it will take at least six months to get the JD). I think I'll go for the A2P...

Oh, another question: can I remove the cover on the A2P?

One more thing: although I love the tone Albert Collins got using a neck humbucker in his Tele when he combined the neck and bridge pickups together, a neck humbucker is alot louder than a Tele bridge pickup and will overpower it, IMO. If you take a solo on your neck humbucker and then switch to the bridge pickup, the bridge pickup will sound weaker and lower in volume. I can't get comfortable with that, so I don't like a neck humbucker in a Tele. There are lots of good choices for neck tele pickups these days and, IMO, there's no need to go to a neck humbucker to improve the tone of the neck pickup in a Tele.

Back in the 50's and 60's we didn't have the many pickups options we have today and there were only two choices: Fender or Gibson.

Lew


Originally Posted by Lewguitar

If you take a solo on your neck humbucker and then switch to the bridge pickup, the bridge pickup will sound weaker and lower in volume. I can't get comfortable with that, so I don't like a neck humbucker in a Tele. Lew

I concur.


Originally Posted by Uncle UnbornOh, another question: can I remove the cover on the A2P?

I wouldn't. They're easily damaged and if the E string slides under the top lip of the bobbin it'll sever the windings. Better to get an uncovered Tele neck pickup right from the get go with black cloth tape protecting the windings.

Out of interest, what's that amp? a solid sate marshall from the MG range? If it is, I'd splash my cash on improving that end of things rather than the pups (mainly cos i really dont like marshall MGs ) Even if u use a Pod, V-amp or one of those blue boss multieffects things, I reckon you could get more bang for your buck.... but i know ppl here will bring me to cause if they disagree!

Thoughts, anyone?

out of curiousity, what if he was interested in doing a humbucker combo... say for instance, an A2P in the neck and a hot rails in the bridge... how would that combo sound together?


Originally Posted by deftgalaout of curiousity, what if he was interested in doing a humbucker combo... say for instance, an A2P in the neck and a hot rails in the bridge... how would that combo sound together?

Not my style...someone else will have to answer that one! I'm more of a vintage pickup type of guy. Lew

It would probably sound fairly balanced. The hotrails is a hot enough pup it should make up for the difference in magentic field size. Of course the rails will have alot more grind than an A2P bucker.

Luke


Originally Posted by LewguitarOne more thing: although I love the tone Albert Collins got using a neck humbucker in his Tele when he combined the neck and bridge pickups together, a neck humbucker is alot louder than a Tele bridge pickup and will overpower it, IMO. If you take a solo on your neck humbucker and then switch to the bridge pickup, the bridge pickup will sound weaker and lower in volume. I can't get comfortable with that, so I don't like a neck humbucker in a Tele. There are lots of good choices for neck tele pickups these days and, IMO, there's no need to go to a neck humbucker to improve the tone of the neck pickup in a Tele.

Back in the 50's and 60's we didn't have the many pickups options we have today and there were only two choices: Fender or Gibson.

LewI always thought that Albert got his *icy* tone from his bridge pickup alone


Originally Posted by gripweedI always thought that Albert got his *icy* tone from his bridge pickup alone

I'm sure Albert did use the bridge pickup by itself, as well as combined with the neck pickup. When I play my own Teles, I find that I'm able to get that Albert Collins or Mike Bloomfield quot;honkquot; when I combine the neck and bridge pickups. Whereas the Roy Buchanan thing, like the solo on The Messiah Will Come Again, is the bridge pickup only. When I play my Teles I spend alot of time in the middle switch position with both pickups on, especially when I play rythym, but I use that setting for soloing too. Lew

I think alot of Albert's icey tone also came from those 4 bright JBL's in his 100 watt silverface Fender Quad Reverb! Talk about an ice pick bright amp! Lew

i think Hot-tele neck would fit to bridge pickup what you are thinking to buy..

i heard that Seymour`s favorite pickups for tele is;

STL-2 Lead Hot Lead tapped (bridge)
STR-1 Vintage 54 Rhytm (neck)

and 5 way switch and a special wiring..

does anyone have a schematic for that tapped tele wiring?

My favorite traditional Tele neck pickup is the Antiquity I rhythm. That should work fine with the JD. I didn't care for the 5/2 Nashville or A2P rhythm pickups I tried. However, my favorite neck pickup to go with the JD is the Phat Cat neck -- but you need a full-size HB rout and new pickguard. An SM-1 or SM-3 mini-HB neck pickup will go well with the JD, too -- again, you'll need a HB rout and new pg. The PC and Firebird-style mini-HBs sound great when combined with a good alnico 2 Tele lead pickup. As for a full-size HB, I would go with the lowest powered one you can find -- perhaps the A2 Pro HB -- otherwise it will over power the JD, as indicated above.


Originally Posted by Luke DukeIt would probably sound fairly balanced. The hotrails is a hot enough pup it should make up for the difference in magentic field size. Of course the rails will have alot more grind than an A2P bucker.

LukeWhat neck humbucker (reg. sized) do you believe would be the best match with a hot rails in the tele, in your opinion?

Angelo.

The 59 would give you lots of bass and highs, but combined the two pups might sound woofy. I think the A2P might sound pretty good, of course these pups are two completely different animals. The PG if you wanted more midrange honk. For and aggressive sound you could look into a screaming demon for the neck, full sized or strat sized.

Luke

Well, thanks for your opinions, it really helps! Yes, it's an MG, Jimbojsr... And yes, I like the amp...