What is the Muddy Waters neck pickup?

mojo2001 · June 25th, 2008, 09:18 PM

Just loaded up a pair of Muddy Waters tele pickups. Nice punchy set but not sure if they are what I'm looking for for this particular guitar (Fernandes TE-1N).

For some reason I'm finding that I like brighter, more chimey pickups in slim neck teles and fat punchy ones in fat neck teles. Simplistic, perhaps, but I think I convinced myself.

In any case, I am wondering what the neck pickup is from the Muddy Waters set. I can see that the bridge pup is special, with the raised magnets and all. Is the neck pup a special one off also, or is it a familiar product recycled for the Muddy Waters tele?

Curious because the neck pup has a rather distinctive flavor unlike anything I've tried from the Fender line previously. For that matter, so does the bridge pickup.

These pickups seem to be quite popular so maybe I should try them in another guitar since I am not really feeling them in my Fernandes.

So, is the MW neck pup a special one off?

yegbert · June 25th, 2008, 11:02 PM

I had an MW bridge pickup a few years ago, decided it was a bit hot for my tastes, sold it to a buddy and installed it in his '52 reissue Tele.

I don't know anything about the MW neck pickup, but think there was some discussion here about it being the same as one from another set, maybe the early AlNiCo V version of pickups for the '52 reissue Tele? I'd love to play an MW Tele sometime, but I don't think I've ever seen a real one, only pictures.

What's the tonal character of your MW neck pickup?

mojo2001 · June 26th, 2008, 12:12 AM

Pretty hard to describe but I'd say this neck pickup is on the hot, somewhat dark side. Hotter than CS Nocaster, definitely more "damped" than a nocaster.

My first impressions was that it sounded a bit muffled even "Muddy"... heheheheh

Later got to picking seems like a lot of complex sounds come out of this thing, including some cool nasal flutey effects. Actually kinda twangy in a fat dark hot sorta way. Interesting pickup.

All in all, I am more impressed with the neck rather than the bridge. although I can appreciate how the bridge is a real rocker and can surely appeal to many.

This is an interesting set and delivers what is promised-- a beefy & punchy, deep voiced blues/rock presentation . I can hear the Muddy Waters in these things. I personally prefer the Nocaster set because it is a little livelier although perhaps not as powerful and driving.

June 25th, 2008, 09:18 PM	#1 (permalink)
mojo2001 Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Colonial Virginia Age: 49 Posts: 231	What is the Muddy Waters neck pickup? Just loaded up a pair of Muddy Waters tele pickups. Nice punchy set but not sure if they are what I'm looking for for this particular guitar (Fernandes TE-1N). For some reason I'm finding that I like brighter, more chimey pickups in slim neck teles and fat punchy ones in fat neck teles. Simplistic, perhaps, but I think I convinced myself. In any case, I am wondering what the neck pickup is from the Muddy Waters set. I can see that the bridge pup is special, with the raised magnets and all. Is the neck pup a special one off also, or is it a familiar product recycled for the Muddy Waters tele? Curious because the neck pup has a rather distinctive flavor unlike anything I've tried from the Fender line previously. For that matter, so does the bridge pickup. These pickups seem to be quite popular so maybe I should try them in another guitar since I am not really feeling them in my Fernandes. So, is the MW neck pup a special one off?

June 25th, 2008, 11:02 PM	#2 (permalink)
yegbert Friend of Leo's Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Clinton, Maryland (US) Age: 54 Posts: 4,661 77 Photos	I had an MW bridge pickup a few years ago, decided it was a bit hot for my tastes, sold it to a buddy and installed it in his '52 reissue Tele. I don't know anything about the MW neck pickup, but think there was some discussion here about it being the same as one from another set, maybe the early AlNiCo V version of pickups for the '52 reissue Tele? I'd love to play an MW Tele sometime, but I don't think I've ever seen a real one, only pictures. What's the tonal character of your MW neck pickup?

June 26th, 2008, 12:12 AM	#3 (permalink)
mojo2001 Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Colonial Virginia Age: 49 Posts: 231	Pretty hard to describe but I'd say this neck pickup is on the hot, somewhat dark side. Hotter than CS Nocaster, definitely more "damped" than a nocaster. My first impressions was that it sounded a bit muffled even "Muddy"... heheheheh Later got to picking seems like a lot of complex sounds come out of this thing, including some cool nasal flutey effects. Actually kinda twangy in a fat dark hot sorta way. Interesting pickup. All in all, I am more impressed with the neck rather than the bridge. although I can appreciate how the bridge is a real rocker and can surely appeal to many. This is an interesting set and delivers what is promised-- a beefy & punchy, deep voiced blues/rock presentation . I can hear the Muddy Waters in these things. I personally prefer the Nocaster set because it is a little livelier although perhaps not as powerful and driving.