Best pup for that '52 sound

I play a highway one and I love it but I wish it had a more pure bright tele sound like the '52 RI, what pickups are in that, or what pickups do you think achieve that sound best?

You will see a lot of posts here in a little while, but, IMHO
-nocasters
-Broadcasters

52 reissues come with Original Vintage pickups.

BK Blackguard 52

https://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/main/pickups.php?cat=teles&sub=vintage&pickup=flat52&series=blackguard

Check the 'clean' soundclip.

Just put a pair of the 55s in my H1. Happy with them :smile:

Klein 52s, Duncan Antiquities, OC Duff Guardsmen, whatever Don Mare's got going on... The world's your oyster...

Lollar 52 is my choice--it has become my fave bridge pickup ever.

Here's a good demo (sound kicks in after intro):

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Fred Stuart Black Guards !

52 reissues come with Original Vintage pickups.

A fantastic pickup. The '62 AVRI RI bridge pup is also really nice.

I play a highway one and I love it but I wish it had a more pure bright tele sound like the '52 RI, what pickups are in that, or what pickups do you think achieve that sound best?


What you described above..sounds more like a 60s Tele sound :shock:
For me, that formula would be, a lower output Bridge pup @ around 6k-6.5k with height staggerd poles and a 500k volume pot...this is a 'Bright Tele and not a Phat sounding early 50s black guard.

I think there is some confusion over what constitutes an "early 50's sound." For some it's a slightly overwound, fatter tone. But there were plenty of "pure bright" classic twangy early 50's pups as well. I would put the Fender OV and Nocaster in that category, and the Lollar 52 definitely is. It's the first Tele bridge pup I've owned that I can honestly say is very bright IN A GOOD WAY. Responds wonderfully to the tone knob.

Seriously, I was never a believer in "boutique" until I tried this pickup. I'd owned lots of Fenders, Duncans, DiMarzios, Lawrences, etc., but the Lollar 52 is in a different category to my ears.

Here's their description, and it's dead on:

Wound to 1952 specs. Overall tone is traditional Tele with clear bright tone, round bass with soft attack. Definition will hold together with heavier amp distortion. Great rock tone with an AC 30 or Fender Tweed amp. Alnico 2 flat poles. Vintage style cloth covered lead wire. Wax potted.
6.7K

Here's a sweet clip:

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What you described above..sounds more like a 60s Tele sound :shock:
For me, that formula would be, a lower output Bridge pup @ around 6k-6.5k with height staggerd poles and a 500k volume pot...this is a 'Bright Tele and not a Phat sounding early 50s black guard.

The OP is coming from a HWY 1, which has very dark pickups. OV '52s will sound very bright compared to HWY 1 pickups.

I play a highway one and I love it but I wish it had a more pure bright tele sound like the '52 RI

I have a Highway One and a 52RI, so I know what you're talking about. The Highway One does a certain thing real nice, but sometimes you want some traditional TELE.

I went for a Fralin "stock" wound bridge pickup, in my American Standard Tele, and frankly -- I like that tone better than the stock Fender pickup that came in the 52RI. The Fralin gives you "pure bright tele sound," and no monkey business. Plus Lindy Fralin is just a joy to deal with.

I will say, though, that if I had never heard a Fralin, I would have been 100% satisfied with the AV52!

Original Vintage or the 60s. I favor the former.

BK Blackguard 52

https://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/main/pickups.php?cat=teles&sub=vintage&pickup=flat52&series=blackguard

Check the 'clean' soundclip.

Just put a pair of the 55s in my H1. Happy with them :smile:

+1 on Bare Knuckles.

I have the Flat 50s in my tele and a set of Mules in my LP and both are fantastic.

Yeah, I'm a convert to the BKs ... got the '55 Blackguard with staggered poles (given my other favorites are the '62 Custom and the Texas Special). The bridge is bright -- much more so than any others I've got (including OVs); not too bright; just right. The neck is smooth. I did a review (of sorts) recently.

If I build another Tele, I'll get another set of BKs. If you want to go really bright, they have a couple others (Tim says the '68 Blackguard is, on an Ash/Maple body/neck ... potentially fierce; I like that) including the Country Boy.

Fred Stuart Black Guards !

+1. Have a spare pair on the way