Back on the Pickup Hunt...

While I love my Duncan JD, I'm thninking that I would like to, more or less, individualize my tone a little more. I don't want to "sound" like a knock-off of Jerry Donahue, Brent Mason, Albert Lee, etc... While I love all those guys and their playing and tone, I wan to have more of my own tone. I realized this when, over the weekend, I installed a new Duncan Vintage Stack in the bridge of my Tele. I had owned this pickup a few years back and I realized why I did like it. I also realized why I don't use it. It just doesn't have the drive and punch I want. It also lacks a bit of sparkle and edge that I want.

I was thinking about one of these three:
1. Duncan Broadcaster
2. Duncan Hot model for Tele (tapped)
3. Duncan Quarter Pound for Tele (tapped)
4. DiMarzio Twang King

These are 4 pickups that, unfortunately, I have never tried (and I've tried just about all the rest). I want something with a bit more punch and edge than the JD. I have read that a tapped Quarter Pound in the bridge of a Tele is really cool. I have heard of players using them tapped for rhythms and then kicking in the full pickup for solos. It's been said that the Quarter Pounder is kind of like a cleaner P-90. I did a search on Quarter pounders here on the TDPRI and came up with some interesting threads. However, none of the players were doing any Country playing.

Any thoughts?

I've thought about the quarter pounder, but I just think it's ugly... Of course, that's JMHO.

Y'know Duncan used to wind those B'casters a bit hotter. I bet if you contacted the custom shop, they could wind one a bit hotter for you.

Of course, I think that the stock B'caster is just the greatest tele pup ever in its stock form. I would like to have my old one from the mid 80's, though, when they were wound hotter.

I talked to Scott Miller - Duncan Technical Lead, and he said the 1/4 lber probably wouldn't work for me. Those guys have know me and have heard my playing; so I do trust them. I am leaning on either a Broadcaster or a Twang King. From what others have told me, the Twang King is a Broadcaster only with bigger tone and more punch.

Actually, you would be better served with the Dimarzio Pre B-1. The Twang King is not like a hotter broadcaster...
(at least not the one's I've had ) it's a nice sounding pickup, but it's a bit on the polite side. Check out the reviews on the Pre-B 1. It may be just what you're looking for.

Actually, you would be better served with the Dimarzio Pre B-1. The Twang King is not like a hotter broadcaster...
(at least not the one's I've had ) it's a nice sounding pickup, but it's a bit on the polite side. Check out the reviews on the Pre-B 1. It may be just what you're looking for.

The Pre B-1 huh? I have actually thought about that one. I'll look more into it. Thanks...

...you've tried the Rio Grande Muy Grande. you probably have, but in the event you haven't, try one. it has a bit more punch but still stays in the Country twang ballpark without being out of bounds, IMO.

it seems to border on hot/not hot, though. to me it sounds right on the cusp. other folks may definitely find it to be one way or the other.

i like that it's round enough at full bore for pedal steel emulations. back off the vol. a touch and it cleans up really nicely.

IMO a flexible enough pickup that allows more of the individual player to slide through...

i got one purely by accident a few years back and can't bring myself to remove it from the Tele it's in - that's how satisfied i am with it.

might be worth a shot (if you haven't tried it already).

Actually, yes, I have owned the Muy Grande. Nice pickup, but like the Duncan Quarter Pounder, it's a little too much.

I would mic my amp with my new Weber LD and show you how hot this Broadcaster gets now in a clip. But, I am really low on funds right now. It cost me 200 big ones to get the dog out of the vet yesterday.

I've been wanting to try the JD. I've got a Duncan Broadcaster
in my spare tele. I'll trade you just to satisfy curiosity.

I've been wanting to try the JD. I've got a Duncan Broadcaster
in my spare tele. I'll trade you just to satisfy curiosity.

A swap would be good; except I would have to clip the ground baseplate wire on your Broadcaster.

A swap would be good; except I would have to clip the ground baseplate wire on your Broadcaster.

Just an idea... Instead of clipping it, you could simply desolder it from the eyelet at the ground wire -- if you're very careful.

That way, it could be reattached if necessary.

As long as it's reversable in function, I could care less
what it looks like underneath. Besides if both parties are
agreeable, it might be yours to keep.

Send me an e-mail w/ your address & I'll break out the
tool kit.

By the way, I'm running a Broadcaster in my #1.
I think you'll like it.

Remember when we had the discussion on the other forum, and Don Lace said the Broad in a AS tele is a magical thing.

He was right. I only wish I had done this before

Hey Darrell,

Are you using your Alnico II Pro right now?

At this moment, no. I was considering pulling the 52ri and trying the Alnico II pro to just see how it responds now that my amp runs hotter with the Weber LD.

Why? Do you want to borough it? I thought you tried one recently?

Why? Do you want to borough it? I thought you tried one recently?

Yes, I would like to try the Alnico II Pro. If you want, I'll trade you the JD so you can try it.

I don't mind letting you borrow it. I am interested in trying the JD. We do have some things to workout

1) I am in over my head this week. The dogs sick, I have been sick, work it beyond busy, I am leaving town for Sat and Sun....so the earliest I can fiddle with this is next week.

2) You cut your JD. Which means I will have to resolder it to use it...right?

3) My II pro is not cut.

Darrell

I can resolder the JD. I can unsolder the AII Pro and solder it back when I'm done. It's really easy.

Write me on Monday and we can put this together.

You got it.

Tossed aside for that little strumpet of an Alnico.

No real tossing, more of a testing the waters, or flirting.

Technically, I don't see how I would like the JD but, I always like to try different pu's. To me it seems like it would be too dark for a poplar guitar. I trust Butch on this stuff, because we have done these types of trials before. Butch and I have different tastes too, and that plays a factor.

I'm using the broadcaster as a benchmark. My two teles are near
identical in tone, both with Broadcaster bridge pups. Makes for
easy A/B comparisons without other variables. I occasionally
want a little more girth. How does the Alnico II compare?

Darrell has both the AII Pro and the Broadcaster. I have heard clips and the AII Pro seems to have more mids to my ear. Now, that was in a 52RI. Don't know what it'll sound like in my Poplar B-Bender Tele. I also have a line on some Kinmans as well. I've got a lot of people bending my ear about those; including Chris Kinman himself.

Actually the Alnico II is extremely scooped. The mids are almost non existent. Even more scooped than the 52ri.

It is my favorite pu, tied with the Broadcaster. The 52ri is a close second.

Don't get any ideas. I have no desire what so ever to get rid of any of the three pickups. Between the three, they cover the hole spectrum for me. Now, if I only had a third tele....hum.

<li>Find a 70s staggard pole P/U and haff L. Fralin re-wind it jes a liddo over. ----------WOW!!

---0.F.---

which I understood the JD to have. I do think you need
a Tele to go with each pup. That would be the Fuzzy thing to do.
How about a WWFD bumper sticker?

That is the criteria for a JD; but the JD has very airy highs.