Whats the diff between OVs and Fender Am Std stock pickups?

I know they have changed the American Standard tele pickups and am familiar with those 'older' pickups (versus the 2012). The neck was very nice.

How do those 'older' stock pickups compare to Fender OVs?

anyone?

The OVs have a base plate on the bridge pickup, the AS does not. The OVs are alnico III, and the American Standards are alnico V. I think the American Standards have plastic bobbins and the OV has fiber. The OV pickups from my personal experience has a more robust deeper sounding bridge pickup, that will twang. The AS will twang but you have to force it, and it's not twangy like the OV, it's more subtle.

The AS pickups are just a more modern sound, but sound OK doing country. The OV pickups sound OK doing anything and outstanding doing country. Some will extol the virtues of one or the other, but it's really not that big of a thing. I wouldn't put OVs in an American Standard Tele, (I've played one AS Tele with OVs) and I for sure wouldn't put AS pickups in a '52 AVRI, that would be pretty lame. In my opinion these guitars have the pickups best suited to them.

My opinion has waffled a lot on the AS Tele since buying one, but I think I'm going to just leave it alone. The main reason is that my Tele is the quietest single coil guitar I've ever had, I'm a little afraid to mess with something that's working well.

The neck pickup on the OV runs toward mud a little, and the AS neck pickup is very clear and articulate. I like the neck on the AS better, and probably the bridge of the OVs better.

The AS would probably respond to being overdriven better than the OVs. The OVs will sound more country if you will, but I like the sound of both. I just happen to like the AS Tele guitar better than the '52 AVRI, but most would differ.

TD

I should have stated the American Standard Tele I have is a 2011 model, and has the older style AS pickups, not the broadcaster and twisted tele.

Thanks. Do you know if Fender sells just their 'older' (ie before 2012) stock American Standard pickups?

HOT

Pickup, American Series Tele®, Bridge
Model : 0050888000

Pickup, American Series Tele®, Neck
Model : 0050890000


or they are on ebay a lot. They use them for years, like back to the mid 90's.