Neck p'up suggestions - a little more clarity?...

Advice needed!

I'd like to get a more useful neck pickup to replace the stock one in my MIJ 50s RI. It'll be complementing a Duncan Broadcaster I've had in the bridge for ages, and which I'm completely content with. Now, I'm happy with the sounds I get in the middle position, so I'm loathe to wander too far afield tonewise. Basically, I'm looking for a little more clarity whilst retaining that inherent "dark" quality of the Tele neck, so nothing over-trebly or Stratty...just something that sounds unmistakeably Tele-ish, output in the vintage ballpark, with a little less of the woolly muffle going on.

Also, I'm not looking to route for a bucker or anything, and would rather it had the classic chrome cover. Has to be affordable, too.

I would recommand a Duncan Alnico II Pro Rhythm. Would complement well the Broadcaster.

you might try a "nickel-silver" pickup cover to salvage your existing pickup ... they aren't muffled to the extent of the chrome-plated brass.

I personally love the look of an uncovered neck pickup. The GFS fatbody in the neck position sounds amazing.

I personally love the look of an uncovered neck pickup. The GFS fatbody in the neck position sounds amazing.

Absolutely.

I have a GFS Fatbody Alnico neck pup in my CV and I love it.
It is certainly great bang for the buck but however - it is definitely on the 'stratty' side.
And Darnweight had suggested thats not his aim.

I'd also suggest just changing the cover, or, leave it uncovered / semi covered *if* the design safely permits, and you are comfortable giving it a go.

...I have a GFS Fatbody Alnico neck pup in my CV and I love it. It is certainly great bang for the buck but however - it is definitely on the 'stratty' side...The nice thing that I've found with this pickup is that if you roll back your volume knob or turn down the tone a bit, you get right back to stock tele neck pickup tone.

I use a Fender Vintage Noiseless neck pickup and it's clear as a bell.

You can also consider rewiring so that the tone control is only on the bridge pickup, or, even better, do the 'Gibson '50s wiring' trick where you run the tone pot off of the output instead of the pickups. Separating the tone pot from a pickup adds a bit of presence and openness to the sound. Also makes the volume control more usable too by keeping more treble when you turn down.

To do the '50s wiring' you just move the wire going to the tone pot so that it's coming from the middle tag on the volume pot (where the wire from the input connects).

If you are interested let us know and we'll give you a clearer explanation.

Has to be affordable, too.

Please define 'affordable'

Please define 'affordable'

OK, OK, I mean cheap! :wink:

I guess I'm looking at the non-boutique end of the spectrum, by which I mean your Duncans, Dimarzios, etc....right on down to your GFS level stuff.

Before you try anything else set a slightly brighter tone on the amp until you get the sound you want from the neck pickup. Now go to the bridge and roll off the tone pot on the guitar. When this sounds good take the knob off and reattach it so that the screw points straight up at this sweet spot.


You can then adjust on the fly

What pickup do you have in the neck position now?

What pickup do you have in the neck position now?

It's the stock neck pickup in a '94 MIJ 50s Reissue.

It's the stock neck pickup in a '94 MIJ 50s Reissue.

Did you have an out-of-phase condition when you paired that with the Duncan pickup? If so, how did you resolve it?

I would recommand a Duncan Alnico II Pro Rhythm. Would complement well the Broadcaster.

+1

I have that same set in my 50's Classic. Love 'em...

My Duncan STR-1 seems more clear sounding than my APTR-1. I like both, but the OP is looking for something clear sounding.

Did you have an out-of-phase condition when you paired that with the Duncan pickup? If so, how did you resolve it?

Afraid I honestly don't remember...made the change over 10 years ago now, and haven't opened her up since. Part of the reason I'm considering the neck p'up change now is that the 3-way switch is beginning to fail, and if I'm replacing that I may as well consider this upgrade as well whilst I'm at it.

Now, I'm happy with the sounds I get in the middle position, so I'm loathe to wander too far afield tonewise.

Thats the issue for me, I LOVE the middle position, so need to keep that tone at all costs. Many of the "improved" strat-like tele neck pups really take the middle position off-track, IMO. For a budget pup, I'd highly recommend a plain old MIM 50's Classic tele neck, you can get em fopr $20-25 all day on eBay, great tone alone, and keeps the killer middle tone. For higher price, a Barden neck just kills.

Before you try anything else set a slightly brighter tone on the amp until you get the sound you want from the neck pickup. Now go to the bridge and roll off the tone pot on the guitar. When this sounds good take the knob off and reattach it so that the screw points straight up at this sweet spot.

+1

The best, least expensive but most effective way of having a clear rhythm tone !

i have kind of a different approach, the am dxl i play has the "delta tone" no load tone pot. tone knob wide open is a bypass, and it kind of "sits" into place. this thing does wonders for brightening a neck pup. cheaper than a pup swap and you'll get results.

I use a Fender Vintage Noiseless neck pickup and it's clear as a bell.

You can also consider rewiring so that the tone control is only on the bridge pickup, or, even better, do the 'Gibson '50s wiring' trick where you run the tone pot off of the output instead of the pickups. Separating the tone pot from a pickup adds a bit of presence and openness to the sound. Also makes the volume control more usable too by keeping more treble when you turn down.

To do the '50s wiring' you just move the wire going to the tone pot so that it's coming from the middle tag on the volume pot (where the wire from the input connects).

If you are interested let us know and we'll give you a clearer explanation.

Yes the 50s mod sounds intriguing, Presence and open sounding? is it worth the effort?

fwiw, the 50s mod works when turning vol pot down but won't 'brighten' and inherently muddy neck PU.

The cheapest option I can think of is to disconnect the neck PU from the tone pot. That alone adds clarity. Combine this with adding any additional treble at the amp as per fakeocaster's suggestion and leaving the tone pot set the bridge position 'sweet spot' you can achieve what you want for zero expenditure. I've done this to good effect in the past.

Also will +1 on the MIM Classic 50s neck PU for an excellent tele sound - not stratish, or hyped at all, but clear and detailed. A good pickup, regardless of price.

The cheapest option I can think of is to disconnect the neck PU from the tone pot. That alone adds clarity. Combine this with adding any additional treble at the amp as per fakeocaster's suggestion and leaving the tone pot set the bridge position 'sweet spot' you can achieve what you want for zero expenditure. I've done this to good effect in the past.

The cheapest option part was just too tempting, so I gave this a whirl this afternoon. I'll play it a while longer and let my ears adjust a little, but my initial impressions are overwhelmingly positive...a little extra added clarity in the neck, without affecting the middle and bridge positions. Just what I was after.

Still may swap the neck p'up out further down the line, when money's a little less tight, so if anyone has any other suggestions then, please, suggest away!

Basically, I'm looking for a little more clarity whilst retaining that inherent "dark" quality of the Tele neck, so nothing over-trebly or Stratty...just something that sounds unmistakeably Tele-ish, output in the vintage ballpark, with a little less of the woolly muffle going on.

I'd recommend Keystones. The neck pickup has great definition and presence, yet it still sounds like a Tele. The only problem is they are sold in sets, but at the price it would still be inexpensive and you could sell the bridge pickup.

Part of the reason I'm considering the neck p'up change now is that the 3-way switch is beginning to fail, and if I'm replacing that I may as well consider this upgrade as well whilst I'm at it.

If you're going to replace the selector switch, consider installing a 4 way. You can use the extra position to wire the bridge and neck pickups in series, yielding an entirely new tone to your Tele's palette.

Good luck.

I've got a Tonerider Classic Blues strat pickup in the neck of a Tradition J.R. Reid Tele and it's beautiful sounding. I actually like it better than a Twang King neck pickup I used to have in another guitar. Lots of bite and great if you like using your neck pickup for lead.

Glad you got that sorted for no outlay.