Tele suggestion: I know what I don't want.

Hi all,

I have a Warmoth hollow goldtop Tele (swamp ash) with maple neck/macassar ebony fingerboard and I am a bit stumped for what pickups to put in it.

I already have my two Kinman tele's with Barden and Harmonic Designs in them.
I guess I am looking for traditional tele tone as the Barden's do 'ballsy Gattonesque' and the HD's do 'thick tele-paul' tones.

I currently have Seymour Duncans in there (vintage stacks) which I am pretty unimpressed with. Too muffled and bland compared to what I am used to with the Bardens.

Wondering what people might suggest- budget is a non-issue and I am happy to try.buy a couple of different options.
This is a lovely, lively, resonant guitar and I want to make the best of those qualities.

Thanks ppl.

Get away from the stacks.

I highly recommend Don Mare's single coil Tele pickups - pick yer favorite flavor

I highly recommend the guy who knows about physics and electronics more than any other guitar pickup maker in the market: Bill Lawrence.
Check out his website at www.billlawrence.com and www.wildepickups.com

Have you tried Bare Knuckle Pickups? UK made.

Have you tried 500k pots with the stacks?

Hi guys,

will check all these options.
I have tried 500k pots and 250k as well.
I guess stacks are just not for me.

Jim

I built a Thinline and went for the Tonerider vintage (not hot) pickups for twang, definition, and percussiveness (if that is a word!?).

Short version of the story: I am very pleased with the musicality and complexity of the sonic structure delivered by these pickups. They definitely capture the essence of that "traditional" character you've mentioned. They're fairly priced too!

I'm keeping them. (I also have a Thinline that came stock from Fender with Bardens, and I love them, but "traditional" they ain't!)

I was waiting to put together a review with some clips but something is not working with recording setup.

Anyhow, I have just put together a parts tele and I put in some pickups by Roadhouse. I got the Specials. I am very happy with these. The neck is full and balanced and the bridge does not have that ice picky thing going on. They are very smooth yet have that tele character to em'. A buddy does finger picking and he thought they were great too. Nice percussive sound and even across the strings.

Soon as I can get a clip or two I'll try to share.

Get away from the stacks.

I highly recommend Don Mare's single coil Tele pickups - pick yer favorite flavor

I have and love a Stingray triple tapped Bridge Pickup and am getting a Bigbox neck as soon as I can.

I HATED my Vintage Stacks. Sterile and very dead sounding!
THe Area Ts were not much better, Love the Mares. Worth every single penny!

Jim - Bare Knuckle seems like a good place to start if you're after traditional single-coils. Tim Mills winds them by hand in a variety of flavours, here in England. Why not check out his website www.bareknucklepickups.co.uk and maybe give him a call - I have found him approachable and helpful in the past. Cheers, Tony.

PS - I still owe you a set of business cards - call me.

Budz Tall and 42. Traditional tele tone

Peter Florance voo doo pickups are incredible. www.peterflorance.com