Little 59 more quiet than standard neck pup?

I recently installed a SD Little '59 in the bridge of my mim tele.
The problem is, my standard neck pup is louder than the new humbucker. Is this normal? It read 17.8K on the meter, so that seems right.
Any ideas?

That's never been my experience. I really like them Lil '59s too!

When played by itself is it quieter? If it's with both pickups selected, I'd look at your wiring it may be out of phase with the neck.

If it's just all around quieter, I'd check pickup height... you may need to lower the neck and/or raise the bridge.

Fender.com has the PDF "Tele setup guide" that tells you the string's distance to the pickup's pole pieces (Seymour Duncan also has info on pickup height on it's site).

Duncan humbuckers are typically wired green + shield to ground, red + white soldered and isolated, black is hot out. As JC sez, it might be outta phase with yer bridge pup - just reverse one pup's hot lead (be careful with Tele bridge pups as one lead is typically wired to the bottom plate, which provides string grounding). IMO, as far as pup height is concerned, letting yer ears be the guide is way better than any "setup guide", particularly one from FMIC. :)

IMO, as far as pup height is concerned, letting yer ears be the guide is way better than any "setup guide", particularly one from FMIC. :)

I'm with you there!

"Normal" setups as recommended by either Fender OR Seymour Duncan (or any manufacturer for that matter), don't take into consideration many things.

Like string guage, playing style, amps used, etc.

Still for this situation it may be a good starting point for the rest of us non-Yoda Jedi Master's like you Rob :)

By the way, I heard you finish up replacement necks? I may be coming to you soon on a Tele I'd like a different neck for :)

... Still for this situation it may be a good starting point for the rest of us non-Yoda Jedi Master's like you Rob :)

Geez Louize, ya got the wrong feller here - if I knew what the heck I wuz doing I'd be dangerous! :lol:

By the way, I heard you finish up replacement necks? I may be coming to you soon on a Tele I'd like a different neck for :)

Um, yes, but you could do a neck finish yerself, ain't that big a deal for the most part. :cool:

Duncan humbuckers are typically wired green + shield to ground, red + white soldered and isolated, black is hot out.

Well, I have 'em wired that way, so I'll fiddle with the height a bit. Just one (or two) more questions tho. If I raise the pup, will it start sounding more trebly or less? And, more important, how high is too high (string pull etc.)?