Upgrade for Am Dlx Tele - Robben Ford Tone?

Hi All!

I have a new American Deluxe Telecaster (alder body with rosewood board) with the N3 pickups. I am interested in upgrading the bridge, saddles, and pickups for a more vintage sound.

The N3 pickups are in the general ballpark of what I'm looking for, but am looking for something a bit more detailed and complex and don't require noiseless. This guitar will be used primarily for blues (ala Robben Ford) as well as a little rock and country... Very much classic Tele-tory. :lol: I don't need tons of versatility as I have other guitars for other tones and a variety of nice amps to pair with (Super Reverb, Lonestar, Bludotone Ojai on order, etc). I just want it to do the classic Telecaster thing as well as possible.

One of my favorite Tele tones is Robben Ford's. The clean, hollow, flutey, Stratty neck tone and biting, clear bridge tone on the song, Freedom, is a great example.

Can anyone offer recommendations for pickups? Any comparisons to the stock N3's would be helpful. FYI, I'm considering the Glendale or Callaham bridge and saddles as well (any recommendations here also appreciated).

Thanks!

..

Can't recommend any pickup but you might try a pair of Robben Ford hands

Can't recommend any pickup but you might try a pair of Robben Ford hands

Thanks tweeddeluxe you just brightened up a crappy saturday :lol:

+1 for Ford

Can't recommend any pickup but you might try a pair of Robben Ford hands

I understand the contribution of an individual's skill and uniqueness to their tone, as well as other significant contributors such as amp, effects chain, playing volume, note choice, musical arrangement, mix, etc. However, putting those things to the side for the moment and just concentrating on pickups...

I'm interested in recommendations for pickups that would be appropriate for the sounds that Robben often gets using his Tele, especially songs like Freedom, that display a Strat-like, chimey, bell-like, hollow fluteyness, in the neck and a bright, articulate, but not harsh bridge sound. The inbetween sounds are also very important to me.