Single Coil neck pickups suggestions for a Hot Rod '52 ?

Hi folks ... just wondering if anyone out there has replaced the mini humbucker neck pickup on the Hot Rod '52 to a single coil?

This guitar is high on my list of possibles for an upcoming purchase due to it's general specs (although I've found related similar guitars I haven't tracked down an *actual* HR52 to test yet), but I have the feeling that the one thing I may want to change is the neck pickup as I like the woody sounding traditional Tele neck pickup, and I'm not generally into humbuckers.

I've tried an AVRI 52, but I'm coming to the conclusion I'd prefer something with 9.5" neck and larger frets, and the compensated saddles while having a vintage 3 saddle bridge. I played a HR52 neck attached to a redwood Tele and liked it's feel better, thus why I'm thinking about the HR52 and this mod....

I think the cavity is same depth, so all I need is a new pickguard and pickup to drop in ?

I guess I'm mainly fishing for suggestions of what's 'out there' for a good balance with the existing bridge pickup....

Trying to be descriptive about what I want, I like a warm vintage sounding pickup, nice and sweet and woody, but wound a little bit hotter is just fine, which should fit well with that bridge pickup from what I gather. Having tried various guitars, I did like the warmer tone from the pickups on the AVRI 52 much better than the American Standard pickups, and so something like that with just a touch of extra kick is kind of what I'm looking for ... I think.

Fender, Seymour Duncan, Bare Knuckle seem to be the main brands readily available over here. Yes I can google around, and will... but I'd really appreciate some thoughts and suggestions from you guys who've tried so many pickups first hand :)

I was gonna go all nuts on you about why you're doing this ... but then I remembered that I have modded the crap out of most of my guitars and they are no longer at all like their originals (and I coulda just Partscasted, which I now do rather than mod). *ahem* That said ...

The bridge says its a "Custom Vintage Style Single-Coil" ... which I have no idea what that means. It could mean an OV (Original Vintage) or OV-like pickup' that's the pickups in the AV52RI that you seem to like (the neck pickup at least). My advice is that you think about an OV for the neck, but it might be best to get the guitar, see how that bridge pick-up looks (or someone gives you more definitive info) in terms of pole stagger-vs-flat, and ohms/henries readings if they have them, and then match up with a Fender neck pickup.

your other option is to swap out both for a 'matched' pair. That's the only thing I'd do in terms of going with a non-Fender in the neck; if you're gonna go SD or Bareknuckles, or Keystones, or ... ad-infinitum ... then go with a pair and not try the mix-n-match game.

Enjoy the madness!!!

Heh yes, well it may be that when I finally find one , I actually *like* the mini-humbucker, and the whole concept of the guitar 100% as it stands ... but I'm looking at options...

I should add, by way of 'justification', I've been travelling around trying various Tele's finding out what works and doesn't work for me, and no one model seems to have the exact feature set and feel I think I want... but the main one I haven't found yet, the HR52, seems to have it all *but* has the humbucker, which (plus a new guard) seems easy to swap in and out as I need it. I haven't hit the 'go' button yet on anything 'cos I'm still waiting for some specific funds to fall in place which will allow this 'dream' purchase, in the meantime I'm researching and enjoying the chase like crazy :)

Thanks for the info, good thoughts, I think I'm after 'vintage tone, spiced slightly hotter' that matches in with that bridge. :)

So you know ... this is why they're called 'Partscasters' ... because rather than try to find the exact one made by someone (Fender) you figure out what you like and you get the parts and put it together.

I don't want to sound pedantic, so ignore me if I am doing so with you. BUT ... I started out like you, looking at all these different Fender guitars, and I bought quite a few trying to find the right one. Then I'd get close and start to modify them -- different saddles, bridge, pickups, controls, tuners, necks, pickguards, strapbuttons ... Uh ... hello?

So now I know what I like: Lighter weight body, fat neck, 6105 frets (though I really don't mind vintages, medium-jumbos, jumbos, etc.), vintage tuners, Rutters bridge and saddles, 4-way reversed control plate, '62 Custom pickups ... you get my drift. I then go gather parts and put it together and that's a lot of fund in and of itself to have YOUR guitar; not one someone made. Though I know my limitations and if I'm doing something complex (like a Tele Custom) I hire a pro.

Anyway ... just making sure you're thinking beyond the box I was in!:grin:

I just got an AVRI HR 52 a few weeks ago, I'm liking the mini-hb quite a bit, but I like neck p/u s a lot anyway.
Imho, it might be worth a listen before swapping out since it's already there anyway and then decide.
If you DO decide to change to a single coil neck p/u, bear in mind that the volume/tone pots are 375k due to having the mini-hb as stock rather than 250k that s/c usually has.
Who knows tho, the 375k might be ok with a single coil p/u, maybe just a little brighter than 250k would be. YMMV.
Anyway, if you get it, then enjoy, it's really nice to play.