American Vintage Series '62 Custom Tele Bridge Pickup...Opinions?

[momotrucker]

anybody like them?...looking for the classic Bakersfield sound.

[Tony474]

This is a pickup I like a lot - nice spanky twang with a bit of body behind it, good strong bottom end, never shrill or harsh. Overall I prefer it to the GFS Alnico Vintage 50 in my other Tele - itself an excellent pickup with somewhat higher output and slightly brighter tonality.

[Jim W]

I like mine. Both pups are great. I think you could get the sound you are looking for

[Tony474]

Jim's right - it's not what you asked about but the AV62 Custom neck pickup is an especially nice one as well. Needs to be set on the high side for me, but it complements the bridge unit perfectly. The combined switch position produces a particularly satisfying "cluck" or "quack".

[momotrucker]

thank you both...

[TeleHawg]

Of my four Teles, my AV '62RI is the only one whose pickups I haven't swapped out. No complaints at all.

[mbutler]

I agree. I fully intended on replacing mine when I got the guitar, but after a rehearsal with it stock, I ordered another one to put in one of my other Tele's. Its one of the best pickups Fender has put out in a while.

[momotrucker]

i recently found this on the net:


The AV 62' pickups were based on a gold sparkle Tele that hung on the wall in Fender R&D before it was donated to the Fender Museum. The Tele was one of two that were sent to Buck Owens. Buck kept one and sent the other back to Fender.

Your AV 62' pickups are very typical of that era. Underwound by as much as a thousand ohms, they were brighter and snapier then previous Tele pickups. I enjoyed working on that project because it gave me a chance to produce an authentic 60`s Tele tone knowing it was on the money. One of my favorites.

Bill Turner

[Stylemaster]

Originally Posted by momotrucker

i recently found this on the net:


The AV 62' pickups were based on a gold sparkle Tele that hung on the wall in Fender R&D before it was donated to the Fender Museum. The Tele was one of two that were sent to Buck Owens. Buck kept one and sent the other back to Fender.

Your AV 62' pickups are very typical of that era. Underwound by as much as a thousand ohms, they were brighter and snapier then previous Tele pickups. I enjoyed working on that project because it gave me a chance to produce an authentic 60`s Tele tone knowing it was on the money. One of my favorites.

Bill Turner

I just got a brand Fender spankin' new '62 AV bridge pu off of eBay for $37 total (including shipping! - after Microsoft/Bing Cashback)!

[Stylemaster]

Reviving this thread (again) to see how people feel about the AVRI '62 tele custom pups lately. I'm impressed with the bridge pup and wondering if I should get the neck pup.

[Tony474]

Originally Posted by Stylemaster

Reviving this thread (again) to see how people feel about the AVRI '62 tele custom pups lately. I'm impressed with the bridge pup and wondering if I should get the neck pup.

See my earlier comments... I haven't changed my opinion at all - both pickups are really excellent and match each other well in output. Actually the neck pickup is particularly sweet-sounding to me, a very clear yet rounded sound, but with no mud, if you know what I mean. Wonder no more; yes, you certainly should!

[Stylemaster]

Originally Posted by Tony474

See my earlier comments... I haven't changed my opinion at all - both pickups are really excellent and match each other well in output. Actually the neck pickup is particularly sweet-sounding to me, a very clear yet rounded sound, but with no mud, if you know what I mean. Wonder no more; yes, you certainly should!

Actually the bridge pup is pretty strong in output. Does the neck pup measure up?

Also did you ever try OC Duff's Buckeroos or Don Mare's Hayrides? I wonder if the AVRI '62s hold up to them.

I'm looking for getting as close as I can to an early - mid '60s tele sound.

[Tony474]

I wouldn't agree that the bridge pickup is particularly high in output... I mean it's OK but not as strong as, for instance, that GFS Vintage Alnico 50 I mentioned, or the Tonerider Hot Classic. And neither of those is in turn as beefy as any of the three different kinds of Kinman bridge pickups in some of my Strat-type guitars.

In fact, I read somewhere recently that these '62RI pickups were deliberately underwound by 1,000 turns or so, to capture the essence of the era we're talking about.

I have no experience of the other pickups you mention. Fellow TDPRI member Rick J. has (or had) Owen Duff's pickups in his AV62RI, but I don't know what type, and when we compared our respective guitars at his place I thought mine sounded better...

[Stylemaster]

Originally Posted by Tony474

In fact, I read somewhere recently that these '62RI pickups were deliberately underwound by 1,000 turns or so, to capture the essence of the era we're talking about.

The quote is above in post #8. It was "underwound by as much as a thousand ohms" not turns, but I catch your meaning.

Originally Posted by Tony

Fellow TDPRI member Rick J. has (or had) Owen Duff's pickups in his AV62RI, but I don't know what type, and when we compared our respective guitars at his place I thought mine sounded better...

Gee I wonder which OCs he had. Are your '62 pickups in an AVRI '62 custom reissue? My '62 bridge is in a bastard partocaster which sounds pretty good.

[Tony474]

Duh!! Silly old me - I should have looked back through the thread.

Yes indeed, Mine is indeed an American Vintage '62 Custom reissue, which I bought on the strength of seeing and hearing Rick's of the same model on a gig. I had previously had a CIJ version bought from an eBay seller, but the transaction was reversed when it turned out that he had unwittingly misdescribed it. I was underwhelmed with the Japanese guitar for a number of reasons, hence my purchase of a brand new AV reissue when a bargain opportunity arose. They normally cost a lot of money here in the UK, but mine was, while still quite expensive, considerably less than the best regular retail price.

As regards Rick's pickups, I can only suggest dropping him a PM. He's quite knowledgeable about this kind of thing.

[Tony474]

Something else has occurred to me which may be a bit of food for thought. It seems to me that a lot of the tonal character of the AV62RI - my example at least - is down to more than just the pickups themselves. The body timbers, the threaded steel saddles, etc. - the overall physics of the instrument all contributing to a particular responsiveness and what I describe as a certain percussive attack in the sound.

Now, two of my Strats both have identical electrics, but differing body woods and hardware. They sound distinctly different from each other. Similarly, your Partscaster, even if fitted with the same pickups as my '62 Custom AV reissue, will sound like itself and not necessarily the same as my guitar.

Nevertheless, reverting to the original questions, I still think the AV62 pickups are very good indeed and I'm confident that you would be very far from disappointed in the neck item to match the one at the bridge.

[Stylemaster]

Originally Posted by Tony474

Nevertheless, reverting to the original questions, I still think the AV62 pickups are very good indeed and I'm confident that you would be very far from disappointed in the neck item to match the one at the bridge.

Thank you so much! I just bought the '62 AVRI neck pickup on eBay for $45 new and I'm excited! I installed the '62 bridge pickup over the weekend and love it.

[pbenn]

This sort of raises the question of how much all early-'60s Tele pickups were underwound.

[polvotone]

I have the 62 bridge in my 60's esquire. it is great, and has a really distinct quality compared to any other telecaster bridge pickup.

[68thinline]

I'm glad this thread got bumped. I was just thinking about buying one for the neck position of my tele. Glad to hear it's getting good reviews.