American Special Tele CS Texas Special pickups..

Thinking the CS Texas Specials in the American Special Tele may be a one trick pony. ? Looking for some diversity but not sure what to put in. Warm, clear, punchy but not muffed. For some reason I keep coming back to the SD Antiquities. I know the Don Mare's are good just pricey.

Any suggestions. I've covered the forum for all the threads but still unsure.

I have Texas Specials in a Partscaster. They can cover a dark jazzy tone to a bright twang. I love them.

The American Special came with different "Texas Special" pickups... They are NOT the Custom shop version. I have a Custom Shop version in my neck position and it is awesome.. I haven't read a lot of good things about the stock pickups in your American Special Tele. The CS version has a 'outstanding' reputation. If you truly do have the CS versions installed, I can't help much.. I have not heard that many pickups to identify, as I'm mostly a player... not a tech.. Good luck..

Well, that explains it. Obviously, i'm no tech either. Going with the SD Antiquities can only be a step up.

Lots of choices.. I have read good reviews of the Antiquities... Bigger stores/chains might carry teles with the CS Tex. Specials in them.. You could play them to hear what they sound like.

I haven't seen one in a store in 15 years, but the MIM James Burton Standard comes stock with CS Tx Specs. if you can find one of those to play, you'll get a real good idea of what those pups can do.

I have CS Texas Specials neck and bridge on my CS Tele, IMO they are sensational.

Ended up going with a Lollar Vintage T neck and a Special T bridge. The Custom Shop TX Spec I'm sure are way better than the standard.

Ended up going with a Lollar Vintage T neck and a Special T bridge. The Custom Shop TX Spec I'm sure are way better than the standard.

Please post back your thoughts as I have the same guitar and was thinking about the Lollars so I'd be interested to hear what you think or better still hear the guitar with the new PU's.

CS Texas Specials or CS Nocasters-both fabulous !
Oldteleguy

The Lollar's just arrived so I will certainly let you know after their in! :)

I gotta say - in all honesty - The difference in the Lollars is not really night and day. Unless the guy put them in wrong. But it still sounds good.

I gotta say - in all honesty - The difference in the Lollars is not really night and day. Unless the guy put them in wrong. But it still sounds good.

It's nice to see some real honesty in a review.

I don't know about the Antiquities, but I put a set of Seymour Duncan Alnico II Pro's in my MIM standard tele and it now sounds really beautiful; especially compared to how those junk hot ceramic stock pickups sounded.

I also recently put all new Seymour Duncan pickups in my Fender Nashville tele. I put a Jerry Donohue alnico II pro bridge tele pickup in, a black cased strat RWRP middle Alnico II Pro pickup in, and a SD Custom Shop non-reverse wound chrome covered Alnico II Pro neck pickup in. It sounds great, but my five way switch has to be replaced because it won't go into the neck position. I have one coming Monday.