New pickups for a CVC Tele

Hi eveyone! I am brand new to electric guitars (been an acoustic player for 12 years or so) and have recently bought a CVC Tele. I play mostly at church and have noticed that the output from my stock pups is fairly low and I would like to switch to something with more output. I play very few leads for the time being so good rythmn sound is a must.

Are Keystones higher output than my stock pups? They seem like great pickups for the price. Or is there another Bill Lawrence model I should be considering?

I have also toyed with the idea of putting a GFS Mean 90 in the neck and maybe a GFS Fatbody in the bridge.

I am pretty open to anything as I haven't found "my sound" yet so any suggestions are welcome, but I'm not really looking to spend lots of cash.... thanks!

Seymour Duncan makes lots of Tele pups for a good price. Dimarizo twang kings are inexpensive as well. Check eBay. Mabey something with AlNiCo 5 will help you out. Higher output

I've been thru a million tele bridge pickups. I still haven't been 100% satisfied. But the neck is a different story. i would highly recommend a twang king. Soon as i tried it i knew i wasn't gonna find better. I just sounds great. Oddly, I didn't care at all for the twang king bridge. Can't really recommend a bridge pickup because i still ain't found one ! Plus, i think people are a lot more similar in what they want in a neck pickup, whereas i think they vary wildly in what they want from a fridge pickup.

I've been thru a million tele bridge pickups. I still haven't been 100% satisfied. But the neck is a different story. i would highly recommend a twang king. Soon as i tried it i knew i wasn't gonna find better.

Is the Twang King a fairly versatile pickup?

Hi eveyone! I am brand new to electric guitars (been an acoustic player for 12 years or so) and have recently bought a CVC Tele. I play mostly at church and have noticed that the output from my stock pups is fairly low and I would like to switch to something with more output.

Have you tried adjusting the height of your pickups?

Have you tried adjusting the height of your pickups?

Not yet but I am planning on it before I buy anything new. Will that have a fairly noticeable effect?

Have you tried adjusting the height of your pickups?
+1 Spend some time adjusting and playing with the pickup heights before spendign money on new pickups.

Have you tried adjusting the height of your pickups?
+1 Spend some time adjusting and playing with the pickup heights before spendign money on new pickups. Also, what amp are you using?

+1 Spend some time adjusting and playing with the pickup heights before spendign money on new pickups. Also, what amp are you using?

Has anybody found the sweet spot for pickup height on these CVC Teles?

I've found the spot that I like. I say it takes several days of tweaking to get it just so. After a few minutes of fiddling with the adjustments, you stop hearing subtle differences. Find what sounds best within a few minutes, then just play. Come back the next day and repeat, ad infinitum, or until you're happy.

I'm in the process of putting keystones in my CVC. Can't wait to finish it!

I'm in the process of putting keystones in my CVC. Can't wait to finish it!

What made you go with the keystones?

I tried a few different bridge pups including an A3 from a CV. The stock was too thin, underwhelming. The next was an inexpensive Rose Westerland. Not bad, but I found the user CV and wanted to hear what all the fuss was about. It didn't clean up enough for me. A little soft on the bottom strings. I didn't want to spend a ton on cheaper guitar, so it was between the Keystones and the Rose, but at the time, you couldn't get a Rose neck with a cover. So I ordered Keystones. 1 week later Rose started offering a covered neck. Both are less than $100 for hand wound US made. The Rose are little more polite I think.

Are the keystones fairly versatile in your opinion? Do they go beyond the normal tele twang?

Has anybody found the sweet spot for pickup height on these CVC Teles?

To me, they sound good low, quite a long way from the strings. I was surprised, I thought low output pups would want to be closer to the strings, but apparently it's because the alnico 5 magnets have quite a strong pull.

Are the keystones fairly versatile in your opinion? Do they go beyond the normal tele twang?

I have yet to get them wired in. I ordered and just received a 4 way switch so I hope to get it completed this weekend. The Keystones, from what I've read here on TDPRI are supposed to be pretty versatile. I'll find out soon enough!

I have yet to get them wired in. I ordered and just received a 4 way switch so I hope to get it completed this weekend. The Keystones, from what I've read here on TDPRI are supposed to be pretty versatile. I'll find out soon enough!

Let me know what you think once you get them in.

To me, they sound good low, quite a long way from the strings. I was surprised, I thought low output pups would want to be closer to the strings, but apparently it's because the alnico 5 magnets have quite a strong pull.

^^^^ this was my CVC experience as well. I like the CVC pickups quite a lot - even the bridge pickup, once I got it dialed in - which some don't like as much as the CVC neck PU.

As far as "stronger pickups" , I think pickup output has more to do with the sound or "voice" of the pickup and contol overall loudness with amp & controls. Low output pickups can be very full and sweet sounding when height is optimized - at least ime.

My feeling is most pickups sound better lower then folks think. As long as quality materials were used the lower height, to a point will allow the strings to disrupt the magnetic energy more an create more tone!
I am not sure who promoted the string height to the top should be X. Strat with your pups low and slowly raise them till you hit a sweet spot.

I've found the spot that I like. I say it takes several days of tweaking to get it just so. After a few minutes of fiddling with the adjustments, you stop hearing subtle differences. Find what sounds best within a few minutes, then just play. Come back the next day and repeat, ad infinitum, or until you're happy.

Excellent advice!

To me, they sound good low, quite a long way from the strings. I was surprised, I thought low output pups would want to be closer to the strings, but apparently it's because the alnico 5 magnets have quite a strong pull.

I always heard low output would have more clarity (internet lore) set low. However, my CS '54's have been moved closer lately and sound amazing. I also heard (internet lore) for more quack set them low. My quack suffered immensely until I started raising them and now have more quack than a herd of duck. My middle pu is now my favorite.

My CV50 has Lollar Special T's that sound best around mid range. Love the neck, middle and bridge positions. Wanted to use the bridge for an Esquire build but cannot stand to lose the neck and middle position. Twang and bang, spunk and funk are all in there.