chromium Posted February 23, 2022 Posted February 23, 2022 Seeking suggestions for a bridge pickup to consider for an "Esquire makeover" on this old tele. What are your favorites? I'd like to replace the old EMG 9V system w/something passive, and admittedly don't have much experience with tele pickups. Thanks for any suggestions, and reach out if you have any pickups in the parts-bin to consider.
stonge Posted February 23, 2022 Posted February 23, 2022 My main guitar is a parts tele with a Duncan Broadcaster (stl-1b); I ran it as an Esquire for a few years with a treble bleed and the Eldred mod on the three-way switch for the cocked wah sound. It could cover old school country into rock including the set ending fuzztone freakout, and had a little more thump in the mids on the pine body into my DRRI. I thought it was well worth the $79, and it's probably the one pickup I've never considered replacing. I also have another tele with a Duncan Quarter Pounder in the bridge. It won't twang but it's good for bludgeoning preamp tubes into submission, if that's what you want to do. That's a cool looking tele!
chromium Posted February 23, 2022 Author Posted February 23, 2022 Thanks for the suggestions. 10 hours ago, stonge said: I also have another tele with a Duncan Quarter Pounder in the bridge. It won't twang but it's good for bludgeoning preamp tubes into submission, if that's what you want to do. Good point. For this one, I'm looking for something that does retain some of that characteristic tele sound, still dirties up nicely, and maybe helps complement the range of tele sounds I have today. STL-1B is a a good suggestion, but wouldn't mind trying something different since my ESP below is running one already. These are my other teles, roughly in order of twang-to-face-melt (from L to R). ESP has a Duncan Broadcaster set Robin E-Type has its stock(?) Rio Grande (I don't know which model it is, but I like it!) Schecter has its stock Superocks Charvel has a 70s Dimarzio PAF and an early JB in the bridge
pesocaster Posted February 25, 2022 Posted February 25, 2022 I have about 10 Teles (bit of an obsession) and all of them are loaded with Righteous Sound Pickups....... Josh was a co-worker of mine at Warmoth and he used to wind for "a famous winder in the Pac NW" He branched out about 10 years ago..... his stuff is phenomenal! ..... Contact him about the "Honey Badger" .... not on the regular menu..... https://www.righteoussoundpickups.com/ Also.... Jeff R at https://www.facebook.com/CarondeletPickups I hear wonderful things are going on in Louisiana. Let him know what you are looking for...
Jakeboy Posted February 25, 2022 Posted February 25, 2022 This is easy…both are takes on the 10k Broadcaster pickups in the early Teles. Rumpelstiltskin Original Black Knight & Gravelin Broadcaster. Both wound similarly over an A3 mag. Rumpel a bit hotter.. Both are HEAVY and perfect for classic rock and blues….yet back off the vol knob and both clean up and twang if that is what you want. These are the only Tele bridge pickups I’ll use on a 6 string. My Tele 12 has a Rumpel pre-CBS A5 wound much lower for max twang, jangle, and chime. 10k Broadcaster type over an A3 mag FTW every time on a Tele.
Travis Posted February 25, 2022 Posted February 25, 2022 When I built my Esquire/partscaster a while back, I contacted @JGravelinand had him wind me a bridge pickup. Wired it up to an RS Esquire vintage wiring kit with 3 way switch for tone bypass/with tone/cocked wah settings. It flat out KILLS.
JGravelin Posted February 26, 2022 Posted February 26, 2022 19 hours ago, Jakeboy said: Rumpelstiltskin Original Black Knight & Gravelin Broadcaster. Both wound similarly over an A3 mag. Rumpel a bit hotter.. The Tele bridge pickup from me that you've got, initially wound for Rodi, is an Esquire type. A3, 7.1k if I recall correctly and definitely not the same as a 9k Broadcaster type wind. Warm, clear, and clean with only a mild boost in the mids. A3 (or A5 for more output gain) in the 9 - 10k neighborhood sounds killer tho, yeah!
atomicwash Posted February 26, 2022 Posted February 26, 2022 We have a lot of bars with old wiring and I hate super noisy pickups. I have Kinman pickups in both of my Teles. No hum, it twangs, and it rocks. Who could ask for more? A close runner up in quiet Tele pickups would be the Dimarzio Area T.
chromium Posted February 26, 2022 Author Posted February 26, 2022 Thank you so much for all the great suggestions! A lot to explore... and I do like the Broadcaster sounds. Teles have been my favorite Fender design for a long time, but I haven't ever done any mods on them - so I felt like I'm in uncharted waters with the pickup options. I did have to throw the old JB in that 82 Charvel. I mean a telegib gots to have that, amiright?! I bought that ESP from a guy locally (actually, it was a trade for an ESP strat). He was retired from the Navy, got it in Japan w/the SD broadcaster set in it and had it with him on a nuclear sub for about a year If anyone here has something to offer in the broadcaster realm, feel free to send me a message.
chromium Posted February 26, 2022 Author Posted February 26, 2022 On 2/25/2022 at 1:23 PM, Jakeboy said: Rumpelstiltskin Man I'll tell ya what - the Rumpletrons in this one *kill*. Fantastic pickups.
chromium Posted February 26, 2022 Author Posted February 26, 2022 6 hours ago, atomicwash said: We have a lot of bars with old wiring and I hate super noisy pickups. I have Kinman pickups in both of my Teles. No hum, it twangs, and it rocks. Who could ask for more? The EJ strat I got here from Steve has a full Kinman setup (K9?) and I love it. This is the only traditional strat that has stuck around (likely due to the 12" radius and jumbos )
chromium Posted February 26, 2022 Author Posted February 26, 2022 BTW, love that Esquire build @Travis!
JGravelin Posted February 26, 2022 Posted February 26, 2022 I am such a huge fan of Kinman pickups and promote them any chance I get as it's appropriate. Chris Kinman has really put in the time, holds multiple patents, and is a real innovator with his noise-cancelling machines. If you can find a deal on a used one - or even New! - it will be as good as it can get for a noiseless Telecaster pickup. Or Strat. Or P90.
Travis Posted February 26, 2022 Posted February 26, 2022 1 hour ago, chromium said: Man I'll tell ya what - the Rumpletrons in this one *kill*. Fantastic pickups. Oh… my… god… that top, that finish. I love it…
chromium Posted February 26, 2022 Author Posted February 26, 2022 10 minutes ago, Travis said: that top, that finish. I love it… Hamer was knocking it out of the park in that era for sure. Appreciate Michael B for letting me adopt that one.
kizanski Posted February 27, 2022 Posted February 27, 2022 On 2/23/2022 at 11:29 AM, chromium said: Robin E-Type has its stock(?) Rio Grande (I don't know which model it is, but I like it!) That would be the Rio Grande Dirty Harry (my personal fave).
Hfan Posted March 3, 2022 Posted March 3, 2022 A late reply but I once installed a Custom Shop Texas Special bridge pickup in an American Standard Tele. I was pleasantly surprised to learn they are reverse wound so with both pickups engaged you get hum cancelling. It matches well with the stock neck pickup too. I also installed a 4 way switch while I was at it.
Jakeboy Posted March 3, 2022 Posted March 3, 2022 On 2/26/2022 at 9:32 AM, JGravelin said: The Tele bridge pickup from me that you've got, initially wound for Rodi, is an Esquire type. A3, 7.1k if I recall correctly and definitely not the same as a 9k Broadcaster type wind. Warm, clear, and clean with only a mild boost in the mids. A3 (or A5 for more output gain) in the 9 - 10k neighborhood sounds killer tho, yeah! Thanks for the correction, @JGravelin! I knew it wasn’t as hot as the Rumpel but for some reason I thought I was told it was Broadcaster take. Regardless, it sounds wonderful.
Jakeboy Posted March 3, 2022 Posted March 3, 2022 On 2/26/2022 at 4:08 PM, chromium said: Man I'll tell ya what - the Rumpletrons in this one *kill*. Fantastic pickups. I have set of Rumpel’trons in my Newport and I agree they sound awesome.
JGravelin Posted March 7, 2022 Posted March 7, 2022 On 3/3/2022 at 10:22 AM, Jakeboy said: Thanks for the correction, @JGravelin! I knew it wasn’t as hot as the Rumpel but for some reason I thought I was told it was Broadcaster take. Regardless, it sounds wonderful. Put a good boost pedal on it through a similar amp rig and it'll get in your Beck'dom for that era. Without the boost, shades of super clean classic Tele tones like something Redd V would appreciate.
bubs_42 Posted March 7, 2022 Posted March 7, 2022 I have three telecaster and have been through a warehouse full of pickups. All three are currently loaded with Gravelin Pickups. They are quiet, and sound freaking awesome.
Hamer95USA Posted March 12, 2022 Posted March 12, 2022 On 2/26/2022 at 2:08 PM, chromium said: Man I'll tell ya what - the Rumpletrons in this one *kill*. Fantastic pickups. Do those sound like a TV Jones Filtertron pickups?
Biz Prof Posted March 15, 2022 Posted March 15, 2022 If noise is a concern, consider the SD Vintage Stack for Telecaster (I have one in my Tele and more importantly, Brent Mason has used one in his '68 Tele for over two decades). You could also try one of these:
chromium Posted March 18, 2022 Author Posted March 18, 2022 The eagle has landed. Thank you, @JGravelin! I appreciate all of the great responses here. HFC never disappoints!
Question
chromium
Seeking suggestions for a bridge pickup to consider for an "Esquire makeover" on this old tele.
What are your favorites? I'd like to replace the old EMG 9V system w/something passive, and admittedly don't have much experience with tele pickups.
Thanks for any suggestions, and reach out if you have any pickups in the parts-bin to consider.
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