What now?

pullchord · July 6th, 2008, 12:30 AM

I have a Tele with a Rio Grande Muy Grande in the bridge, a Gibson P-94 in the neck, and I just added a center Bill Lawrence 280. Sure looks cool, but I am SO disappointed with the sound. First, the Rio Grande bridge is a huge disappointment. I replaced a Fender Noiseless with that because the FN had no character. And I couldn't stand the hum from the stock PUP. I thought the P-94 would give me more "fat" without "mud" instead of a 'bucker in the neck. By itself, the P-94 sounds pretty nice, but it's way hotter than the middle 280 or bridge Muy Grande. At this point I'm even thinking TV Jones, and after listening to some audio samples at the website, I was pretty impressed. Is this some kind of sickness; messing with PUPs and wiring on Telecasters? I'm not even sure I know what the hell I'm looking for anymore. I just know I love Tele's. They stay in tune and sustain forever and are just so ****ing COOL.

boris bubbanov · July 6th, 2008, 01:34 PM

Welcome!

I suggest you get back to a baseline, and try to take much smaller bites this time. I hate to say this, but multiple Teles has really helped my learning curve.

You could, for example, buy a Bill and Becky 290 to go with that 280, which goes to the neck position. Or you can check http://guitarsbyfender.yuku.com and find out which Bill and Becky Tele bridge pickup choice has the heat to stay up with that P-94.

It will always be much easier to slipstream off of other players' pup combinations. Everybody hears things so differently, prioritizes things so differently, it can be hard enough matching 2 disparate pickups, much less 3. Makes me just wanna play Esquires sometimes.

hopdybob · July 6th, 2008, 02:46 PM

maybe, it happend to me to, you have to change a lead/gnd from 1 pickup because they are out of phase with the others you have.
it is always difficult to match diffrent kind of brand pickups.
and the l280 is a known pickup that needs time with ajusting pickup hights.
it is a grand pickup and to me much more favored than a Fender SCN.
but also that is personal

pullchord · July 6th, 2008, 08:08 PM

Thanks guys....and you're right. I've always had good luck with Bill & Becky. Only PUP I didn't like was the L-500 (which I had in the neck of another Tele) but I was looking for the wrong sound. I have a set of 280's in my Strat which I adore. The Muy Grande is such a huge disappointment that I'm taking it out and putting the Fender noiseless back in at the bridge. And I'm almost positive that I'm going to go with the TV Jones Classic in the neck. And I just may eventually go with a TV at the bridge, too! Is it still a Tele? Or a Grelly?

Zhangliqun · July 6th, 2008, 09:50 PM

As you've just learned, it's very easy for even a vintage output P90-ish or humbucker pickup in the neck of a Tele to overwhelm a Tele bridge pu. You need something really underwound.

If you're not afraid to play Pickup Fear Factor, try opening the P94 up and removing about 1,500 turns. Would probably be about perfect.

July 6th, 2008, 12:30 AM	#1 (permalink)
pullchord NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Fort Lauderdale Age: 62 Posts: 3	What now? I have a Tele with a Rio Grande Muy Grande in the bridge, a Gibson P-94 in the neck, and I just added a center Bill Lawrence 280. Sure looks cool, but I am SO disappointed with the sound. First, the Rio Grande bridge is a huge disappointment. I replaced a Fender Noiseless with that because the FN had no character. And I couldn't stand the hum from the stock PUP. I thought the P-94 would give me more "fat" without "mud" instead of a 'bucker in the neck. By itself, the P-94 sounds pretty nice, but it's way hotter than the middle 280 or bridge Muy Grande. At this point I'm even thinking TV Jones, and after listening to some audio samples at the website, I was pretty impressed. Is this some kind of sickness; messing with PUPs and wiring on Telecasters? I'm not even sure I know what the hell I'm looking for anymore. I just know I love Tele's. They stay in tune and sustain forever and are just so ****ing COOL.

July 6th, 2008, 01:34 PM	#2 (permalink)
boris bubbanov Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: New Orleans, LA + in the past Posts: 7,659	Welcome! I suggest you get back to a baseline, and try to take much smaller bites this time. I hate to say this, but multiple Teles has really helped my learning curve. You could, for example, buy a Bill and Becky 290 to go with that 280, which goes to the neck position. Or you can check http://guitarsbyfender.yuku.com and find out which Bill and Becky Tele bridge pickup choice has the heat to stay up with that P-94. It will always be much easier to slipstream off of other players' pup combinations. Everybody hears things so differently, prioritizes things so differently, it can be hard enough matching 2 disparate pickups, much less 3. Makes me just wanna play Esquires sometimes. __________________ Bubban0v

July 6th, 2008, 02:46 PM	#3 (permalink)
hopdybob Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2008 Location: netherlands Posts: 198	maybe, it happend to me to, you have to change a lead/gnd from 1 pickup because they are out of phase with the others you have. it is always difficult to match diffrent kind of brand pickups. and the l280 is a known pickup that needs time with ajusting pickup hights. it is a grand pickup and to me much more favored than a Fender SCN. but also that is personal __________________ Please excuse my poor english

July 6th, 2008, 08:08 PM	#4 (permalink)
pullchord NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Fort Lauderdale Age: 62 Posts: 3	Lawrence Thanks guys....and you're right. I've always had good luck with Bill & Becky. Only PUP I didn't like was the L-500 (which I had in the neck of another Tele) but I was looking for the wrong sound. I have a set of 280's in my Strat which I adore. The Muy Grande is such a huge disappointment that I'm taking it out and putting the Fender noiseless back in at the bridge. And I'm almost positive that I'm going to go with the TV Jones Classic in the neck. And I just may eventually go with a TV at the bridge, too! Is it still a Tele? Or a Grelly?

July 6th, 2008, 09:50 PM	#5 (permalink)
Zhangliqun TDPRI Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Los Angeles Age: 44 Posts: 66	As you've just learned, it's very easy for even a vintage output P90-ish or humbucker pickup in the neck of a Tele to overwhelm a Tele bridge pu. You need something really underwound. If you're not afraid to play Pickup Fear Factor, try opening the P94 up and removing about 1,500 turns. Would probably be about perfect.