Junk PU's!

[trag-o-caster]

Ever get stuck using a junker PU because it's all that was around at the moment - and then you end up REALLY diggin' it?!?

I finally got my old Fernandes Tele copy working again, but I had to use a less than stellar PU for the bridge - it was all there was lying around.

The PU in question, I just learned, came off of a "Dillon" Tele copy. It has flush polepieces, but I was just told that they are not actual pole pieces, and that there is a bar magnet running through the thing inside it. Someone removed it and tossed it aside. It was given to me to put in the bridge position of my Ferdie.

Well, I'll be ding-donged if that isn't a very fine sounding PU! It's not too bright and twangy - probably not good for Buck and Don tones. But the bonus is that I don't have to roll back the tone control when I switch from the front PU to the bridge. Also, it seems to sustain a lot more than a "normal" Tele bridge PU.

Oh, I'll probably change it somewhere down the road. But what a pleasant surprise! I really thought it was going to be a dog, and it turned out quite nice after all.

Ya just never know....

[Darrell]

I actually dig the MIJ low output bridge stock pup a lot. Got it for 15 bucks.
I actually like the MIM standard bridge pup when I want a change. Very smooth, less biting.

[TelZilla]

Dillion actually makes some great guits. Their LPs are well know as pretty good axes.

[trag-o-caster]

Originally Posted by TelZilla

Dillion actually makes some great guits. Their LPs are well know as pretty good axes.

I know someone who has a nice Dill... (is it D-I-L-L-I-O-N?) LP copy in a very eye-appealing blue sunburst. I never played it much, but it seemed pretty nice.

I just finished two nights in a row with the Ferdie and junk PU. I think I'll keep it in there a while. There's no plate at the bottom, so there's a definate lack of twang going on. I have two other "twangy" Teles to make up for it.

[nicktele5150]

ive got some cheap 35 dollar humbucker in my kramer and i love it it doesnt get muddy when i rool of on the volume it actually gets a little clearer and i sounds like a high powerd strat to me

[dijos]

I have a mystery tele pickup in my partscaster that I think sounds great. Noone knows where it came from. 6.7 ohms, copper baseplate, black and white wires waxed, and a hole in the middle of the top, so I'm pretty sure it's a fender-ish product, but who knows. I dig it.

[trag-o-caster]

but who knows. I dig it.

And that's all that matters....

Last night at a basement jam, I realized where my junker PU is going to fall short. In this scenario I'm playing the Tele into the Morley/Award JD-10 as an amp simulator into the PA. That cheap bridge PU sounded real pronounced in the midrange - kinda nasally. It seemed to work better with a "real" amp. I also noticed that using the Rat pedal with the dirt set low helped it out as well. One thing's for sure. It ain't NEVER gonna sound like a Telecaster, no matter WHAT you do with it.

I'll probably keep it in there until I find something else suitable. I'm not going to be a connisseur (sp?) about it. I'm not going to get Fralins, or Bardens, or whatever. I can't afford that. I'll just look for a cheap used back PU that come out of a 52 RI or something like that.

Both my Fernandes Tele, and my Parts-o-caster come with hot rod, Tele sized humbuckers in the bridge, and I immediately ditched 'em for vintage RI replacements of some sort. My Blue Flower Tele is still totally stock except for the three ply black guard. I seem to like those PU's as is.

I've never thought about it much over the years, but I guess that I really don't like to customize guitars unless I ABSOLUTELY have to. I like to plug 'em in and play and not worry about it.