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I play blues, rock, and a bit of country on a '96 B-Bender Tele. I'm thinking about upgrading the stock pickups, looking for a smoother tone, with higher output.

Recommendations?


Originally Posted by adamsjI play blues, rock, and a bit of country on a '96 B-Bender Tele. I'm thinking about upgrading the stock pickups, looking for a smoother tone, with higher output.

Recommendations?The JD is Alnico II, so it's a bit smoother that alnico 5 pickups, and is also a little hotter thatr most stock Tele pickups...it might be just what you are looking for, as for the neck I personally have been pretty unhappy with most Tele neck pickups, so just hold out for some other ideas. Also, do a search on the forum for quot;ultimate Tele tonequot; you'll find a very good, pretty long thread with lots of great info in it!


Originally Posted by the guy who invented fire

as for the neck I personally have been pretty unhappy with most Tele neck pickups, so just hold out for some other ideas.
I feel the same way about Tele neck pickups. Adamsj, grab a pickguard that has been cut to accept a Strat pickup. Insert tasty/smooth APS…and enjoy. The combination of quality Tele bridge with Strat neck is not to be missed.
I'll cast another vote for the Jerry Donahue model. I think you'll find it the ticket for your Tele bridge pickup needs. As for the neck pickup? Well, if you're going for a stock look, I would install either a Fender Texas Special Tele neck pickup or a DiMarzio Twang King Tele neck pickup. Those two are the best I have heard. Some folks will put Strat pickups in the neck position of their Teles. I have done that with nice results; however, I like the stock look of a Tele neck pickup.

Now, for something really cool, you could do a bit of routing and get a new pickguard and install a mini-humbucker in the neck position. Talk about a great sound....

I have 2 Teles. One is a California Tele which came stock with a Strat PUP in the neck and Tele Bridge. The PUPS are Fender Tex Mex. I really like this combination. I tend to lean more towards a Strat anyway. My other Tele is a '52 RI. The PUPs in this guitar have been problematic since I have had it. I waxed them to eliminate microphonics and now they sound and play much better (stock Fender PUPS), but I have already ordered a JD Bridge which I am going to pair with a Vintage '54 neck. I am waiting on the JD as soon as I get it I am putting it in and within a week I will post my review of this combination. Should be a great setup!

In a few weeks I can give you a report on the 5/2 (alnico 5 mags on the low strings, and alnico 2 on the high strings) and I've also got a Alncio 2 Broadcaster on order which should sound pretty similiar to the Jerry Donahue but more nasal.

Luke


Originally Posted by Luke DukeIn a few weeks I can give you a report on the 5/2 (alnico 5 mags on the low strings, and alnico 2 on the high strings)

Luke

I can give you a review right now. I owned one a couple of years ago and didn't really hear anything special. I traded it for a Vintage Stack and thought the tone was much better. YYMV....

if you play more rock than country, I'd go with a Hot Tele Lead tapped and a SM-1 Vintage mini in the neck. The tapped lead will give you good traditional tele tones and when in full coil operation, it's hot and fat enough to keep up with most humbuckers.

Smoother tone with higher output sounds like the following combo's that I've used:

1. Antiquity I Tele set -- although the DC resistance says vintage output, the tone is huge, open, and smooth.

2. JD Tele lead with Phat Cat neck -- would also work well with SM-1 or SM-3 neck mini-HB or Antiquity I Tele rhythm pickup.

3. STL-2 Hot Tele lead (tapped or not) with a PAF-style neck HB -- would also work well with a mini-HB or the STR-2 Hot Tele rhythm.

I also liked the 5/2 Tele lead, but I thought the 5/2 Tele rhythm was dull and underpowered despite the specs -- same goes for the A2P Tele rhythm I heard in a Lite Ash Tele.

The Fender Nocaster Lead can sound good in the right guitar, but the neck Nocaster is bright rather than real smooth -- perhaps the Texas Special Tele neck would match better.

BTW, something like the Fulldrive 2 will fatten up and smooth out the tone very nicely, too, and all of the pickups I listed sound great running through my FD2.

Good luck!