Humbuckers for an alder tele

boris bubbanov · July 1st, 2008, 10:56 PM

I am the proud winner of a super nice air dried alder body, double bound, and flamed to boot, beautifully made by Tommy & Co. at USA Custom Guitars.

The reason I got it for a very fair price is because it is routed for 2 full sized humbuckers, also it has a Strat neck pocket. This gorgeous vintage style birdseye Strat neck I have right here will look great on there. What I don't know about is humbuckers on a Tele.

I don't play big distortion, so something in the nature of a P A F would be fine. And a bucker sized P-90 would be fine as well.

Anyone have any recommendations for a USA or Canadian sourced pickup suitable for this?

Also, can anyone suggest which of Bill and Becky's Wilde pups would best fit this criteria; low output, musical with lots of clean pure tone?

Some of the ones I have liked are the SD Seth Lover and SD 59 Model. Is there a Bill and Becky or Dimarzio equivalent to either?

Much obliged.

boris bubbanov · July 2nd, 2008, 12:28 AM

Sounds like Bill and Becky's L 490 might be the ticket.

http://www.tdpri.com/forum/just-pick...endations.html

Anyone have anything to say about this as a set; heck, is it even still available?

Much obliged.

Mark-00255 · July 2nd, 2008, 12:49 AM

Nice, Boris! I looked at that body a few times on the Web Specials page and it's a beaut! Please post some pics as you go, or when you're done! As to pickups, I think HB-sized P-90s are a good idea (I do favor singlecoils).

mertzy · July 2nd, 2008, 08:14 AM

I don't have any experience with Lawrence pickups aside from the set of Keystones I have waiting to be installed, and I'm not a big humbucker guy anyway but....I can say I had a set of Fralin PAFs in a PRS singlecut SE and they were just about as sweet as anything I've heard.

Until then the best humbuckers I had were the Super 70's that came in my 1975 Ibanez Artist. Both the Super 70's and Fralins sounded far better than the stock pickups that came in my 1980 and 1993 Les Paul Standards and the 1980's Gibson humbuckers are highly regarded in some circles.

robt57 · July 2nd, 2008, 08:18 AM

P-94s ??

po-boy · July 2nd, 2008, 03:59 PM

check out the fralin p-92s (humbucker sized p-90s) - p-90 sounds without the noise - his gallery show some mounted in tele-styled bodies -

- i'm not a complete idiot ... some parts are missing -

Ron C · July 2nd, 2008, 10:06 PM

Congratulations on your USA Custom score. My electric GAS ended after I built two ash hardtail partscasters from Tommy several years ago.

I've used pretty much the same phrase to describe the bucker sound I was looking for: "low output, musical with lots of clean pure tone".

I tried the Duncan Jazz (neck and bridge) and 59 bridge. All were nice but my favorite is a Dimarzio EJ Custom, which in the bridge position reminds me of a thick single coil. Twangs and chimes nicely. Much less middy than the PAF types I tried.

danocaster · July 3rd, 2008, 01:06 AM

in alder , i'd keep them bright - at least in the neck

look for a old t-top

boris bubbanov · July 3rd, 2008, 01:21 AM

Thanks for all these great ideas, gents!

Wow, I had no idea the Fralin P-92 set was so expensive. I'll be checking out each of these ideas, some really reassuring words here.

boris bubbanov · July 6th, 2008, 12:20 AM

The Bill and Becky L-490 has been superceded by the L-609. I can get that with a fairly low inductance, with Fender spacing, possibly with slanted pole pieces and with a chrome cover.

We'll see what they have from stock on hand. Given the very low price ( $ 60 ), I think this is the best place to look first.

Yeah, I know they aren't humbuckers. The more bucker samples I listened to, the more I wanted to keep those Henries down and stay in single coil/P-90 town.

I think I might try Taipantone's brass bridge plate on this guitar, as well with some saddles from Callaham or Glendale. Maybe I'll order one plate each in brass and in stainless from Vince.

porto leone · July 6th, 2008, 04:43 PM

Boris, just take my word and try the Lace Hemis set. low-output, vintage closer-to-single coils-sound, versatile and unique.

Gone Fission · July 6th, 2008, 08:58 PM

If you can get hands on them, the Harmonic Design Z-90's are all kinds of yummy. I understand there might be a waiting list, though.

Bear

pseudocat · July 7th, 2008, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gone Fission

If you can get hands on them, the Harmonic Design Z-90's are all kinds of yummy.

+1

RomanS · July 7th, 2008, 09:04 AM

How about some HCCs from www.vintagevibeguitars.com - the HB-sized Charlie-Chrisitan types!
Not exactly low output, but the most beautiful clean tone I've ever heard (I only have experience with the neck pickup, though, not the bridge one) - full & warm, yet also transparent, very complex, harmonically rich tone,very BIG, 3D, wide-screen, C I N E M A S C O P E !

JKjr · July 9th, 2008, 02:24 PM

low wind Lollar Imperials are quite tasty as well

e-merlin · July 9th, 2008, 02:35 PM

If you haven't settled on a set yet, there's a set of Peavey Generation EX humbuckers. The EX is from China, but the pickups are wound to the same specs as the USA pickups. They have a really good PAF vibe, and I think they will go cheap. This is not my auction, I just like the pickups. Peavey really knows what they are doing with PAF type pickups. I believe these are the same pickups as in the Hartley Peavey Signature model, which, IMO, gives anything Gibson makes today a run for the money.

EDIT: I suppose a link would be in order:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWA:IT&ih=015

July 1st, 2008, 10:56 PM	#1 (permalink)
boris bubbanov Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: New Orleans, LA + in the past Posts: 7,669	Humbuckers for an alder tele I am the proud winner of a super nice air dried alder body, double bound, and flamed to boot, beautifully made by Tommy & Co. at USA Custom Guitars. The reason I got it for a very fair price is because it is routed for 2 full sized humbuckers, also it has a Strat neck pocket. This gorgeous vintage style birdseye Strat neck I have right here will look great on there. What I don't know about is humbuckers on a Tele. I don't play big distortion, so something in the nature of a P A F would be fine. And a bucker sized P-90 would be fine as well. Anyone have any recommendations for a USA or Canadian sourced pickup suitable for this? Also, can anyone suggest which of Bill and Becky's Wilde pups would best fit this criteria; low output, musical with lots of clean pure tone? Some of the ones I have liked are the SD Seth Lover and SD 59 Model. Is there a Bill and Becky or Dimarzio equivalent to either? Much obliged. __________________ Bubban0v

July 2nd, 2008, 12:28 AM	#2 (permalink)
boris bubbanov Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: New Orleans, LA + in the past Posts: 7,669	Sounds like Bill and Becky's L 490 might be the ticket. http://www.tdpri.com/forum/just-pick...endations.html Anyone have anything to say about this as a set; heck, is it even still available? Much obliged. __________________ Bubban0v Last edited by boris bubbanov; July 2nd, 2008 at 10:44 AM.

July 2nd, 2008, 12:49 AM	#3 (permalink)
Mark-00255 Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Olympia, WA Age: 50 Posts: 166	Nice, Boris! I looked at that body a few times on the Web Specials page and it's a beaut! Please post some pics as you go, or when you're done! As to pickups, I think HB-sized P-90s are a good idea (I do favor singlecoils). __________________ Mark-00255 Red=0; Green=0; Blue=255: All Blues!

July 2nd, 2008, 08:18 AM	#5 (permalink)
robt57 Friend of Leo's Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Lost Yankee in Nashville Age: 51 Posts: 3,217 18 Photos	P-94s ?? __________________ Leo's Great, Leo's Good, let us thank him for our... Twang!

July 3rd, 2008, 01:06 AM	#8 (permalink)
danocaster Tele-Holic Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 507 9 Photos	in alder , i'd keep them bright - at least in the neck look for a old t-top __________________ Louder isnt better - it's just louder ( and better )

July 2nd, 2008, 08:14 AM	#4 (permalink)
mertzy TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Dumont, NJ Posts: 49	I don't have any experience with Lawrence pickups aside from the set of Keystones I have waiting to be installed, and I'm not a big humbucker guy anyway but....I can say I had a set of Fralin PAFs in a PRS singlecut SE and they were just about as sweet as anything I've heard. Until then the best humbuckers I had were the Super 70's that came in my 1975 Ibanez Artist. Both the Super 70's and Fralins sounded far better than the stock pickups that came in my 1980 and 1993 Les Paul Standards and the 1980's Gibson humbuckers are highly regarded in some circles.

July 2nd, 2008, 03:59 PM	#6 (permalink)
po-boy Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: dees, alabama Posts: 189	check out the fralin p-92s (humbucker sized p-90s) - p-90 sounds without the noise - his gallery show some mounted in tele-styled bodies - - i'm not a complete idiot ... some parts are missing -

July 2nd, 2008, 10:06 PM	#7 (permalink)
Ron C TDPRI Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: New York Age: 47 Posts: 57	Congratulations on your USA Custom score. My electric GAS ended after I built two ash hardtail partscasters from Tommy several years ago. I've used pretty much the same phrase to describe the bucker sound I was looking for: "low output, musical with lots of clean pure tone". I tried the Duncan Jazz (neck and bridge) and 59 bridge. All were nice but my favorite is a Dimarzio EJ Custom, which in the bridge position reminds me of a thick single coil. Twangs and chimes nicely. Much less middy than the PAF types I tried.

July 3rd, 2008, 01:21 AM	#9 (permalink)
boris bubbanov Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: New Orleans, LA + in the past Posts: 7,669	Thanks for all these great ideas, gents! Wow, I had no idea the Fralin P-92 set was so expensive. I'll be checking out each of these ideas, some really reassuring words here. __________________ Bubban0v

July 6th, 2008, 12:20 AM	#10 (permalink)
boris bubbanov Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: New Orleans, LA + in the past Posts: 7,669	The Bill and Becky L-490 has been superceded by the L-609. I can get that with a fairly low inductance, with Fender spacing, possibly with slanted pole pieces and with a chrome cover. We'll see what they have from stock on hand. Given the very low price ( $ 60 ), I think this is the best place to look first. Yeah, I know they aren't humbuckers. The more bucker samples I listened to, the more I wanted to keep those Henries down and stay in single coil/P-90 town. I think I might try Taipantone's brass bridge plate on this guitar, as well with some saddles from Callaham or Glendale. Maybe I'll order one plate each in brass and in stainless from Vince. __________________ Bubban0v

July 6th, 2008, 04:43 PM	#11 (permalink)
porto leone Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Greece Age: 38 Posts: 111 66 Photos	Boris, just take my word and try the Lace Hemis set. low-output, vintage closer-to-single coils-sound, versatile and unique.

July 6th, 2008, 08:58 PM	#12 (permalink)
Gone Fission TDPRI Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 31	If you can get hands on them, the Harmonic Design Z-90's are all kinds of yummy. I understand there might be a waiting list, though. Bear

July 7th, 2008, 09:04 AM	#14 (permalink)
RomanS Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Vienna, Austria Age: 36 Posts: 2,713 14 Photos	How about some HCCs from www.vintagevibeguitars.com - the HB-sized Charlie-Chrisitan types! Not exactly low output, but the most beautiful clean tone I've ever heard (I only have experience with the neck pickup, though, not the bridge one) - full & warm, yet also transparent, very complex, harmonically rich tone,very BIG, 3D, wide-screen, C I N E M A S C O P E ! __________________ http://www.pbase.com/romans http://www.myspace.com/romans212

July 9th, 2008, 02:24 PM	#15 (permalink)
JKjr Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: raleigh nc Posts: 187	low wind Lollar Imperials are quite tasty as well