Great Tele neck pickup

There have been a few threads on Tele neck pickups over the last few months, so I would like to add my opinions and experience. Let me preface my comments by specifying what it is that I look for in a Tele neck pickup. Firstly, I mainly play clean – no effects, not even reverb – so I am extremely fussy about the unprocessed tone that a pickup can deliver. I am looking at a good (i.e. pleasing to my ears) clean tone. Second is that I like to use the neck pickup for lead playing. I know that originally the Tele neck pickup was designed as a rhythm pickup, hence the (chromed) brass cover and generally darker overall sound of the typical early Broadcaster, Nocaster, Telecaster neck pickups. I really do not like this. It usually means that I need to have the amp set really bright so that the neck pickup sounds O.K. with the tone wide open, and the bridge needs the tone backed off about 2/3 to get the sounds I am after. Not only do I dislike the inconvenience of having to quickly switch the tone control when changing from bridge or bridge + middle to neck, I usually like to find a specific tone setting where the tone changes significantly depending on pick attack (the ‘sweet spot’). In this way the ‘basic tone’ when picking with a soft-medium attack is clear and distinct but not ‘twangy’; only with a strong attack, a quick bend, a hammer-on or a pull-off does the twang emerge. Yes, I also like to twang on the neck pickup! My idea of Tele heaven is to have a set of pickups where the one sweet spot on the tone control works in all pickup settings.
I have been looking for this for several years now and have tried most of the boutique pickups (some even specially made to my requirements) and came quite close but never really hit the mark. I don't want to denigrate any of these pickup winders by mentioning names, but I have tried the best and the ‘best of the best’, and they were not to my liking. YMMV
Enter Don Mare’s 4709 Joel Foy set. I bought them on impulse about 6 months ago (yes, I have a severe and chronic case of GAS), based on the glowing recommendations of players on this forum. I was absolutely stunned. Not only the bridge pickup (which I LOVE), but also the neck pickup….they have the tone … on all 3 positions!!
I have been playing the guitar with these pickups (Brian Poe swamp ash body, 4lb; USA guitars neck one piece maple 1 inch fat C, Glendale CRS bridge with CRS saddles) every day for the past 6 months and I still find it hard to put down. In a band situation it cuts through the mix very easily and allows all of the nuances of my playing to be heard – yes, even on the neck pickup. I listen to recordings of band live and I am blown away by my sound … every time.
I don’t think words can adequately describe the feeling you get when the sound of your instrument inspires a higher level of creativity. I listen to recordings of solos I have played with the band and it is often like I am listening to another guitarist with this really great sound, and thinking, ‘how the heck did he do that?’….
Thanks Don.

What styles of music would you say this set is geared toward? Are there enough mids for rock and blues, or are they better suited to country and old R&B?

Great to hear that Tony - I know you've tried a few good tele PUs, and I'm really curious about Mares...

Hows about posting some of those clips of that 'other guitarist with great tone' :wink:

Trev

Hi Trevor,
I notice that you are not loath to part with some of the 'best of the best' and 'best' pickups ....'good' tone is such a personal thing.
I also have a set of Don Mare's Super Sport Strat pickups, which Don wound for me after discussing what I wanted. I have only had them in for a couple of weeks, so it is too early to give an unbiased review. Suffice to say, the 'new' Strat has been luring me away from the magnificent Tele quite a lot lately!:grin:
BTW, I don't know how to post clips. :oops: I have a couple of files that I am not too embarrased about, so any advice would be appreciated.

Hi DMace,
As Don says on his website, they are 'bright and steely' - IMO like a pedal-steel guitar. I would say that you could play just about any style with these. Very good for blues, plenty of mids (pedal steel guitars have a nice rich mid tone plus a pronounced treble). Using the tone control you can dial out as much of the highs as you want, and still have a rich mid tone that will also cut through the mix. Anyway, you should talk to Don and tell him what sounds you are after. He seems to have the consistent ability to nail exactly what you describe to him.