Telecaster pickups

[Black Dog 574]

I've decided to make a partscaster Tele. I'm looking for a vintage tone. It will have the traditional single coils in both positions. What do you recommend?

[zigzag 335]

I'm not really a single coil user, but everything I've tried from Lindy Fralin has been amazing, and he made his reputation on single coils. I'd call him.

[Dub-T-123 542]

I did a partcaster Strat with Tonerider pickups and if I were doing a Tele I wouldn’t hesitate to try theirs. I’m not really an expert on what’s “the best” pickup but I feel like they met my expectations from their description and what I wanted.

 

I have always loved the sound of my ‘08 American Standard Tele with stock pickups. Those pickups do not necessarily ooze that classic country twang but they have a nice clear and defined sound that seems to work for any style

 

I guess my experience overall is that it’s almost hard to go wrong with the Tele. It’s sortof an economical design by nature, so no need to spend a ton of money to get it right. Whether you go Fender, Duncan, etc etc it will probably meet your expectations. I would almost be more wary of the suggestion that says ______ pickup is the BEST although I realize my comment is basically aimless

[ksdaddy 545]

I've had Fender Vintage Reissues, Seymour Duncans, Dimarzios in my 1977 Tele. In 2009 I put it back 100% stock and never looked back. I even put the original 1 meg pots back in. I may go back to 250 so I can more easily do Buchanan swells.

[AngelDeVille 132]

I have 3 of the Fender 51 nocaster bridge pickups, I haven’t felt the need to look further.

[zigzag 335]

I have always loved the sound of my ‘08 American Standard Tele with stock pickups. Those pickups do not necessarily ooze that classic country twang but they have a nice clear and defined sound that seems to work for any style

 

I agree. I have a stock 2007 AS Tele, and I think this is how a Tele should sound. BTW, I frequently use the neck pickup for jazz.

[Retired 971]

The only single coil guitar I've ever had and still own is my Vintage Modified Jaguar and I love it as it is.

[Versatile 465]

Seymour Duncan has 'vintage correct' offerings in his arsenal.....

 

Or a wildcard suggestion would be one or more P90's.....:blink:

 

V

 

 

[Mr. C.O. Jones 34]

I have the CS 51 noCaster set in mine and love them, they have exactly the right output. Only got compliments on how nice that guitar sounds from players and non guitarists.

Can go from smooth to doom, and always sound's good.

[Black Dog 574]

Thanks for all the recommendations, yeah I was wondering about Fenders. Noiseless maybe?

 

I know I said vintage but then I came across these which are interesting:

 

https://www.fralinpickups.com/product/steel-pole-42-telecaster/

 

https://www.fralinpickups.com/product/steel-pole-43-telecaster/

 

they're over-wound and with ceramic magnets, supposedly more of a P90 tone according to Fralin.

[rct 1,659]

I've put everything in a Tele you can. Like, dozens and dozens of Teles over 48 years playing.

 

Thanks for all the recommendations, yeah I was wondering about Fenders. Noiseless maybe?

 

No. I use Seymour Duncan Vintage Stacks. Quiet, twang, grunt and grind. The Noiseless are nice, but they just don't quite do it and they sit up too high.

 

rct

[Black Dog 574]

 

I use Seymour Duncan Vintage Stacks. Quiet, twang, grunt and grind. The Noiseless are nice, but they just don't quite do it and they sit up too high.

 

rct

 

Well, I am a fan of SD pickups. The Vintage Stacks sound really good. I also like the SD Hot for Tele's. Right now I'm leaning toward one of those.

 

 

 

[uncle fester 461]

I'm pondering trying to do a tele partscaster as well... Anyone have any experience with Seymour Duncan Hot P'ups T3W for a Tele? Or, if getting a decent sound for the least amount of $$s, what would folks choose?

 

billroy

[rct 1,659]

I chuckle about things like this.

 

A Telecaster already is a Partscaster!

 

lolz

 

rct

[Black Dog 574]

 

A Telecaster already is a Partscaster!

 

rct

 

Absolutely. There's almost nothing you can't do to them. That's why if you're a tinker'r they're practically irresistible. I've tried for a while, but I finally gave in. And, that's why I'm not just buying a Fender.

[rct 1,659]

Absolutely. There's almost nothing you can't do to them. That's why if you're a tinker'r they're practically irresistible. I've tried for a while, but I finally gave in. And, that's why I'm not just buying a Fender.

 

I will say this though. Nobody makes a Telecaster like Fender does. Nobody. You never see a guy who says "yeah man, this partsPaul is the best I've ever played..." because nobody makes a Les Paul like Gibson does. Even the Stratosphere guitars are great, they feel like a Fender for the most part, but you don't save any money at all. Might as well buy a Telecaster and put the pickups in it you want. And White Pearl. Needs White Pearl. Screams for it.

 

rct

[merciful-evans 946]

the Yardbird from Bare Knuckle is a Tele pickup and its a favourite of mine.

 

'oddly' I have one on a strat at the neck. Its a classic sound essentially.

[Black Dog 574]

Just Gibson uses glue and Fender uses screws.

 

which makes all the difference in the world if you want to put one together yourself