AV62RI pickup question

I've had my AV62 reissue for a few months now, and while I really like its liquid tonality and the "snap" that I guess comes from the threaded steel saddles, the output from the pickups, though well-balanced, seems very low overall. Much less than the GFS I29/I37 combination in my other Tele, which is itself not as hot as any of my Kinman-equipped Strats.

Has anyone else here found the same? If so, what recommendations could be made for possible replacements to try and keep the sweetness of tone but beef up the output a bit? It's vital to me to keep the volume balance between the two pickups.

Maybe raise both pickups 1/2 turn at a time, perhaps favouring the treble and bass side to taste.

Tony, you have the 50's repro and the Fatbody neck in one tele.
You have the stock pup's in your 62ri.

I have the 60's repro and Fatbody neck in one tele.
And the 62ri pup's in another (Alder tele)

The 62ri pup's are really chimey, but low output.
I find the GFS pup's to have less chime, but more beef.

I personally welcome the disparity. I don't want my tele's to sound the same, but I do want them to work with the style's that I emulate, so the combination of beef in one tele, and chime in the other works for me...so I could not be happier.

The 60's repro is exactly that, it is a beefy, and less chimey 62ri. Maybe this is what you are looking for to replace the 62ri. If I get the tone I am looking for with my 60's repro guitar, and pop it the 62ri equiped guitar, it will slice you in half. Very cutting. I have to roll the tone off about 40 percent, or more. (I like it)

It just depends on what you want.

Thanks, gents, for your comments. I've adjusted the pickups up a touch from Fender's recommended settings but I don't want to overdo it. Perhaps a wee bit more.

Darrell, I understand completely your point about maintaining the sonic disparity. If it's at all possible, that's what I'd like to preserve while achieving a similar output level from each instrument.

I've decided to pull the stock pups out of my AV62 RI, they are just not cutting it for leads in the band situation I'm in.

While they are sweet and chimey sounding they are also thin and lacking in midrange. Fine for strumming but they lack punch for my leads against the other guitarist's Lollar equiped tele, TV Jones equiped Gretsch or Lollar equiped SG

I could see that being an issue.

Tony, one more thing to remember. If you use the tele with the 50's, and jump over to your 62ri, turn the compression down and the sustain up. The 62ri pup is already compressed enough. You may consider turning the bass up as well.

i replaced my bridge av62ri with a don mare pickup and could not be happier, he also changed my slotted saddles to steel barrel saddles. amazing sounding now. he even wound the bridge reversed in conjunction to the neck for the hum cancelling effect. it is deffinietly better now.

I could see that being an issue.

Tony, one more thing to remember. If you use the tele with the 50's, and jump over to your 62ri, turn the compression down and the sustain up. The 62ri pup is already compressed enough. You may consider turning the bass up as well.

Thanks, Darrell, that makes sense, except I generally keep the amp clean and usually run through an outboard multi-effects unit (an old Zoom 2020) straight into the front end. Clean sounds are no problem; I can just turn the amp up when using a low-output guitar. But since all my patches are pre-programmed, ideally all the instruments I use would have similar output levels to avoid awkward volume jumps when switching to overdriven patches. I'm sure you'd agree that it would be a pain to keep having to bend down and adjust patch levels mid-gig.

But your input's much appreciated and all information's worth taking note of.

Sounds like you are dialed in on the 50's, and not the 62ri. Just copy all of the 50's patches over, and have a 62ri patch group with the compression lowered and the bass raised a tad.

Sounds like you are dialed in on the 50's, and not the 62ri. Just copy all of the 50's patches over, and have a 62ri patch group with the compression lowered and the bass raised a tad.

As it happens, I do have a spare patch bank, so what you suggest could be worth a try...

However, this would still be less than perfect; I'd really like to have the AV62 putting out a level similar to or greater than the GFS-equipped Tele and ideally about the same as my three Kinman-equipped Stratoids and Ibanez BL300, while still retaining some of its present character.

This may, I appreciate, be a tallish order but I'm receptive to any sensible ideas. The possibility of Kinman 48s or indeed 62s has not escaped me but I want to look at as many options as possible.

I think copying the patches from your 50's, raise the preset volume level on the respective patch to compensate, and raise the bass, and cut some of the compression level. You should be set.

I personally, leave one set of patches, and just compensate on the guitar by rolling back the tone, and raising the volume...but then I don't gig.

Or, just get another pup...like the 60's repro or the Kinmans. (Since you have a 50's pu...get a 60's to replace your 62)

I love the whole pup thing (that is why I like this forum). So this is a great plan too...if you have the extra coin.

Tony, I have my little back up tele REALLY dialed in with my 60's repro. I NEVER though my main axe with the 62ri would be "sittinig in the back seat". As it sits today, this is where things stand.

Over the next few weeks, I will see if I can get that 62ri back in the line up by basically doing exactly what I recommended to you, creating another set of patches.

If this doesn't work out as I describe...I may be off to GFS in the near future. I have a real interest in going into uncharted waters...Fatbody Overwound. (I love the neck pup on my 62ri guitar, but the mp3 of the Lil Puncher Cool Vintage neck pup sounds wonderful.)

Now I see your demise...the 62ri can't touch it. A tad more chime and absolutely no beef.