software

I just had an Ant I Tele bridge and Ant II Firebird neck installed in my CIJ '62 Tele (the one Falstaff junior is playing in my avatar).

It's a great combo...while Brisk wrote what has to be the definitive review of the Antiquity bridge earlier this week, I must agree that it is a great pickup. Very responsive to pick attack and nicely 'rock and roll' sounding for a Tele pickup. It also responds well to height changes (still working on finding the ideal spot for me); it sounds wonderful but in different ways depending on how high or low it is. My other Tele has a Voodoo 60's pickup (set up as an Esquire) and the Ant is a great compliment to it...the Voodoo has a bit more chime/steely twang and harmonics (some of that might be due to lack of the neck pickup) while the Duncan has a bit more girth and warmth. Both sound like a Tele should.

The FB is a GREAT Tele neck pickup. It sounds Strat-like but fuller, with sweet highs and nice lows...it great for both overdriven soloing and jazzy double stops (as close as I can get, at least). With some distortion, it has a very recognizable 60's vibe.

The middle position rocks. It is great for jangley stuff and would probably be great for reggae or funk as well.

Good stuff, Seymour and MJ!

sweet!! i love the firebird pup in the neck!!! round but with clarity

Sounds like a great combo. I have an Antiquity I Tele lead paired with a SM-3 Seymourized neck mini-HB, and it is very nice. Any installation issues with your combo? Did you stick with the stock pots and cap? I can't tell how it looks in the tiny avatar, so I'd love to see an enlargement if possible, not to mention any clips you might have.

Pics?


Originally Posted by KelseySounds like a great combo. I have an Antiquity I Tele lead paired with a SM-3 Seymourized neck mini-HB, and it is very nice. Any installation issues with your combo? Did you stick with the stock pots and cap? I can't tell how it looks in the tiny avatar, so I'd love to see an enlargement if possible, not to mention any clips you might have.Yours must sound pretty much like mine (with other variables, of course)...are you liking yours?

I am too much of a hack to try this kind of install, so I had a true professional do it. I stuck with the stock pots and cap; that's what I usually do unless I find that I can't do something I want to do with the stock stuff (same with pickups, I guess). I haven't experimented with it enough to decide if I will keep the electronics stock yet. I'll try to take a couple of pics tonight.



Very nice, indeed!

Yes, I really like the SM3n in my ash/maple American Series Tele. It can get a little dark sounding, but that's primarily on the wound strings, which have a rather dark, woody tone in this guitar. The Antiquity flatpole Tele lead is an improvement over the Nocaster lead that I had in it before, and matches the output of the SM-3 a little better (this Antiq Tele is around 6.9K). The combined tone is really nice, but the bridge tone might still be a little too bright for this guitar opposite the SM-3 neck. I love the low end of the Antiq Tele lead, but this guitar might benefit from a bit more mid-range and a lower resonant peak. I'm debating about trying another STL-2 Hot Tele lead or a 5/2 Nashville Studio lead in it. If so, then I'll move the Antiquity Tele lead to my blackguard American Custom Tele in place of the Nocaster set. I would either stick with the Ant rhythm or try the Ant FB or SM-1n in that guitar. I also have a sunburst alder/rosewood Tele with an Antiquity I flatpole set that sounds amazing.

Enjoy your reborn Tele!

holy crap that made me want a mini-hum neck p/u...

BTW, where did you get your pickguard for the mini-HB? Any issues with it lining up with the existing body holes?

Thanks guys.

I just had the tech cut it. The green was too pretty not to keep. I think you could buy one from Warmoth if you wanted to, though.


Originally Posted by KelseyVery nice, indeed!

Yes, I really like the SM3n in my ash/maple American Series Tele. It can get a little dark sounding, but that's primarily on the wound strings, which have a rather dark, woody tone in this guitar. The Antiquity flatpole Tele lead is an improvement over the Nocaster lead that I had in it before, and matches the output of the SM-3 a little better (this Antiq Tele is around 6.9K). The combined tone is really nice, but the bridge tone might still be a little too bright for this guitar opposite the SM-3 neck. I love the low end of the Antiq Tele lead, but this guitar might benefit from a bit more mid-range and a lower resonant peak. I'm debating about trying another STL-2 Hot Tele lead or a 5/2 Nashville Studio lead in it. If so, then I'll move the Antiquity Tele lead to my blackguard American Custom Tele in place of the Nocaster set. I would either stick with the Ant rhythm or try the Ant FB or SM-1n in that guitar. I also have a sunburst alder/rosewood Tele with an Antiquity I flatpole set that sounds amazing.

Enjoy your reborn Tele!I have never had a Tele with any sort of humbucker in the neck before, and I understand what you are saying about the woody thing on the wound strings. It's nice...the FB pickup (and I assume yours as well) has a nice bite when you want it but also manages to be responsive to picking and can mellow out if necessary.

I hope you iron the bridge thing out!

Forgive me for bringing this old thread back to life.

I am considering these exeact same pickups for my US Telecaster. But I don't know anything about mini-humbuckers. So here is my question:

What else do I need (besides a new pick guard)? Can I use the standard pots or do I need 500k ones like I do for regular humbuckers?

I used the stock 250K pots, but my tone control is a no-load pot. I just had the pickguard cut by my tech, but they can be ordered online. If the pickups are both from SD, then hopefully they will be in phase, but a 4-conductor mini-HB will provide an easy work-around either way.


Originally Posted by KelseyI used the stock 250K pots, but my tone control is a no-load pot. I just had the pickguard cut by my tech, but they can be ordered online. If the pickups are both from SD, then hopefully they will be in phase, but a 4-conductor mini-HB will provide an easy work-around either way.

Is the Antiquity II Firebird a 4-conductor PU?

So if you were me you would just change the stock PUs to these new ones without messing with pots or anything?

I doubt the Ant II FB is 4-conductor. I would contact SD to see whether it will be in phase with the Ant Tele lead. If you have good Fender USA pots, then I'd stick with them -- you can always change them later if need be.

I just installed the Ant. 1 Tele in bridge and Ant. 2 Firebird in neck of my Fender '04 US Telecaster. They both sound good. Especially the mini... Wow!

But...

The bridge sounds bright... Almost too bright. And the neck is a little too dark. Is there any way I can get the two pickups to macht a little better? I would very much like to be able to switch between the pickups without ajusting the amp EQ and I cannot do that now.


Originally Posted by GamlejohnI just installed the Ant. 1 Tele in bridge and Ant. 2 Firebird in neck of my Fender '04 US Telecaster. They both sound good. Especially the mini... Wow!

But...

The bridge sounds bright... Almost too bright. And the neck is a little too dark. Is there any way I can get the two pickups to macht a little better? I would very much like to be able to switch between the pickups without ajusting the amp EQ and I cannot do that now.

Probably not. You might want to exchnage your neck mini-humbucker alnico 2 pickup for an alnico 5 version: more treble.

Lew


Originally Posted by LewguitarProbably not. You might want to exchnage your neck mini-humbucker alnico 2 pickup for an alnico 5 version: more treble.

Lew

What if i changed the pot to a 500K? Wouldn't that give me more treble?


Originally Posted by GamlejohnWhat if i changed the pot to a 500K? Wouldn't that give me more treble?

Yes! Switching to 500K will make BOTH pickups brighter though...the bridge pickup will get brighter too.

Lew


Originally Posted by LewguitarYes! Switching to 500K will make BOTH pickups brighter though...the bridge pickup will get brighter too.

Lew

What if I put a resistor (or something) on the single coil? Isn't there a way to keep the 250K value on just one pickup with a 500K pot installed?