Telecaster pups

killerteddybear

killerteddybear

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I have a 2003 Hwy 1 Telecaster that I picked up years ago.

I love it except for the weak-assed pups!

I want to stay in traditional Tele tone territory. Any suggestions?

FWIW, I liked the tone of the American Deluxe Tele from that timeframe (early 2000's).

 
In the same boat with a recent American Special. To me, the Texas Specials have too much warmth and not enough snap and twang. I just replaced the ashtray bridge with a heavy brass Gotoh 6-saddle unit and the sustain and resonance about tripled. Now am on the hunt for some noiseless units to replace the TS's. I'm actually leaning heavily towards the DiMarzio Chopper T and an Area neck PU, or maybe I'll drop a hummer or 'Tron-type in the neck slot as it is routed already for that option.

Did the Deluxe you dug have the early "Vintage Noiseless" units on board? I'll bet you can find a set of those for pretty cheap.

 
The DiMarzio Chopper T is a fantastic pickup. It can be wired in dual sound mode to provide a really good P-90ish big single coil tone as well as an excellent dual blade humbucker Tele bridge tone. I use one in my Esquire.

For a more traditional Tele bridge tone, I liked Lindy Fralin's models.

 
I've got a pair of RWRP Rio Grande Muy Grande pickup in my homebrew tele (ash/rosewood) that have been in that guitar seemingly forever. Nice fat tele tone that's pretty versatile when you play with the volume and tone.

I've been considering going with a Chopper T in the bridge just to tinker around/experiment because I love what Richie Kotzen does with his Chopper-loaded tele, but I'm in no massive rush.

 
I put Harmonic Design pickups in my Tele and never looked back. To my ears, they're "bigger" sounding than most Tele pickups but still retain all the characteristics you could want from a Tele pickup.

www.harmonicdesign.net

 
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On the more pedestrian side of the street...

The Duncan Broadcaster and '54 rhythim is a great traditional setup. No icepick in your ear, bit beefier output than what you're used to but plenty of classic tone. They were stock in the T-51. I've put a set in my wife's pretty cheap Pacifica tele type and woke that guitar right up.

Don't laugh, but GFS pickups are used and loved by a lot of folks who can afford to put whatever they want into a guitar. I've put this set in one of my Teles in the past and have known other folks who have done so and thanked me for saving them a boatload of cash.

For the bridge either

http://www.guitarfetish.com/Repro-1960s-HOT-Alnico-Tele-Bridge-Pickup_p_652.html

or

http://www.guitarfetish.com/Alnico-Fatbody-Oversized-Polepiece-Tele-Bridge-Pickup_p_75.html

http://www.guitarfetish.com/Alnico-Fatbody-Oversized-Polepiece-Tele-Bridge-Pickup_p_75.html

For the neck either

http://www.guitarfetish.com/Alnico-Fatbody-Oversized-Polepiece-Tele-Neck-Pickup_p_76.html

or

http://www.guitarfetish.com/Overwound-LOUDER-Repro-Vintage-Alnico-Tele-Neck-Pickup-Our-Best-_p_7923.html

I'd love a pair of Bardens or Fralins, but not badly enough to change out the Duncans. And the GFS punch WAY above their weight.

 
Got a GFS Lil Killer in my esquire style parts guitar. Wired it on a 3 way switch for series , single coil and parallel. Frickin perfect. I can do EVH to Paisley and it sounds great. Currently on duty on a CSNY tribute show

 
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