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I've got a custom built Tele that I converted into an Esquire. Ever since it was new, the guitar has had a Rio Grande Muy Grande bridge pickup. I have a love/hate relationship with that pickup, leaning towards the hate side.
It doesn't seem to get the Tele sound I'm looking for, it has just a touch too much midrange or something. The sound I'm looking for is wiry yet aggressive.
Now, this guitar is a swamp ash body, a little thinner than a normal Tele and very light, low 6 pound range easily, maybe into the 5's. It also has a three-barrel brass bridge.
What's a good bridge pickup for this guitar? Blues, rockabilly, classic rock, just jamming type of sound. No high gain amps, but I like a gutsy overdrive sound and great cleans.
This the guitar BTW
Thanks for any suggestions!the Vintage 54 is a great pickup...it's kind of wiry but very aggressive IMO...sounds like it might be right up your alley!

BTW...that thing looks cool as hell!

I've been very impressed with the Fender No-Caster pickup I put in my 51 Butterscotch Blonde but I understand that it had more fans when they were wound hotter (10k vs 7.3k). It is one of the few pickups around that uses Alnico 3 for a very distinctive and authentic sound... too bad that a 10k version isn't available anymore.

I think the Nocaster would work well in that guitar, given its light weight, which seems to be the ticket with that pickup. I really like the Antiquity I flatpole Tele lead. Although it doesn't have as much bite as the Nocaster, it has a richer tone overall. For an Esquire, you might also consider the STL-2 Hot Tele tapped or the custom shop alnico 2 version.

I'm torn between the Jerry Donahue lead and the STL-2 Hot tapped. they both rock in each of my teles.

Great suggestions guys! I'm going to look into these models. I like the suggestion of the Nocaster for a light guitar. Sometimes I think that's one of the things that's making the Pio not work well for me since a lot of guys really like that pickup.
Thanks for the props on the guitar, it is great fun to play. The wide open lead switch position truly rocks, and the Rio sounds good in that spot, especially if the amp is really cooking. It lays down on the clean stuff though, IMO.

BTW Steve, I've used your website quite a few times. In fact, I snagged a Sundown schematic from there recently. I've got a project going with a Sundown Artist head

That's a really cool looking Esquire. I think I'd dump a Quarter Pound Tele pup into that puppy. That'll make it twang hard!