Best Replacement Humbucker

I recently bought a Fender Modern Players Tele which has a full-size humbucker in the bridge position. I would like to replace this humbucker with something that will produce more of a twangy telecaster sound for country music. Does anyone have any recommendations as to what model pickup might do the trick?

Tv jones classic they make it in a paf size

Humbucker sized P-90, I like Seymour Duncan Phat Cats

A P90 in a humbucker size like a GFS Mean 90

P90s are more ballsy and thick sounding than twangers - I got the mean 90s in a flying V, and while I rate them highly as rock pickups they're the complete opposite of a country tele sound.

GFS Dream 180s, Memphis or Surf 90s are probably a better bet. I run Dream 180s in a strat of mine and they definitely have a chimey plunk tone about them - moreso than any regular humbucker or p90. I play rockabilly, country and surf music - i'm very happy with the tone... but it's not 'the' classic single coil Fender sound.

I think if you stick with a 'vintage' output humbucker you can find a few options. The hotter the pickup you install, the less country your tone will sound.

A P90 in a humbucker size like a GFS Mean 90

I have a Mean 90 in one of my guitars and I am not impressed at all! I heard such great reviews, but I just dont like the thing. I play a lot of bluesy music and it definitely doesnt do it for me. Just my .02!

I do love my Seth Lover Seymour Duncans though! They do everything just fine.

P90s are more ballsy and thick sounding than twangers - I got the mean 90s in a flying V, and while I rate them highly as rock pickups they're the complete opposite of a country tele sound.

GFS Dream 180s, Memphis or Surf 90s are probably a better bet. I run Dream 180s in a strat of mine and they definitely have a chimey plunk tone about them - moreso than any regular humbucker or p90. I play rockabilly, country and surf music - i'm very happy with the tone... but it's not 'the' classic single coil Fender sound.

I think if you stick with a 'vintage' output humbucker you can find a few options. The hotter the pickup you install, the less country your tone will sound.

I tried one of those Dream 180s in a tele, and I thought it was an awful pickup. Very clunky and overdriven sound.

GFS do a small humbucker sized plastic mount for a proper tele bridge pickup so try that route possibly.You then can choose all those great Tele pickups by the great winders with any mods to the guitar.
OR
Tonerider Rocksong humbuckers will do a bit of country .They are not overpowered so twang a bit .perhaps enough .They are a great price too

DiMarzio Eric Johnson, Seth Lover.

P90s are more ballsy and thick sounding than twangers - I got the mean 90s in a flying V, and while I rate them highly as rock pickups they're the complete opposite of a country tele sound.

GFS Dream 180s, Memphis or Surf 90s are probably a better bet. I run Dream 180s in a strat of mine and they definitely have a chimey plunk tone about them - moreso than any regular humbucker or p90. I play rockabilly, country and surf music - i'm very happy with the tone... but it's not 'the' classic single coil Fender sound.

I think if you stick with a 'vintage' output humbucker you can find a few options. The hotter the pickup you install, the less country your tone will sound.

You know GFS might just overwind everything...

My Epi LP Jr produces great country sounds, and it's probably not got the best vintage wind P90's in it.

I have a GFS liverpool set and they are way too hot as well. The neck pickup is nice and jangley though. I might just stick GFS neck pickups in the bridge spot instead from now on... :cool:

Tv jones classic they make it in a paf size

This! This!

Get a Joe Barden Two-Tone humbucker. In humbucker mode it's approximately the output of a PAF style humbucker. In the other mode it's a Barden S-Deluxe strat type pickup. It sounds great in both modes, totally noiseless in both modes. You need to add a switch, which can be on a push-pull pot, or you can drill a hole in the control plate for a mini DPDT switch. I prefer the latter. The guitar pictured has two of them.

Get a Joe Barden Two-Tone humbucker. In humbucker mode it's approximately the output of a PAF style humbucker. In the other mode it's a Barden S-Deluxe strat type pickup. It sounds great in both modes, totally noiseless in both modes. You need to add a switch, which can be on a push-pull pot, or you can drill a hole in the control plate for a mini DPDT switch. I prefer the latter. The guitar pictured has two of them.

THis is actually how I'm wiring my Thinline '72 RI (Although I'm using Push pull's). At this point, the only thing holding me up is the pickguard. Did you use 250's or 500's?

- Filtertron

The Barden pickups work best with 250K pots.

The Barden pickups work best with 250K pots.

That seems to be the consensus so far. (I'm thinking I'm going to wire up an A-B comparison set up, just for fun.)

This! This!

And again....

And again....

Agreed.

I would recommend any rod magnet pickup using alnico magnets.

You can pickups like the "StagMag" in a standard size, or, if you up for some routing, a modified WRHB would fit the bill nicely!