pickup suggestions?

[El Reclusa]

Originally Posted by Jake D

Welcome El Reclusa, from another Kansas City Memeber!

I would recommend you contact Tim Mills at Bare Knuckle Pickups.

Tell him what you are looking for. They are "across the pond" and it may take a while, but it will be worth it. They also have some dealers in the U.S. I got mine ("The Boss" set) from some shop in Michigan or someplace. I can get the info for you if you need it, but try and hit Tim with an e-mail. He is good at responding.

Everybody I know that has tried a set swears by them.

http://www.bareknucklepickups.co.uk/products.html

These look interesting...just emailed 'em! Thanks!

[aram]

ribot's tele sounds amazing.

i've played it before and it's a ***** to play- the frets are low, and it really pushes back.

but oh the tone!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SoJ9-RyCnB8

[El Reclusa]

Originally Posted by aram

ribot's tele sounds amazing.

i've played it before and it's a ***** to play- the frets are low, and it really pushes back.

but oh the tone!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SoJ9-RyCnB8

That's awesome! How'd you get your hands on Marc's tele? It's a '55, right? What amazes me is how, back in the 80s, he'd get a very similar tone out of ESPs and whatnot...seems like Mr. Ribot gets tone on anything. Sheesh. Probably my favorite guitarist, I aspire to be half as good as Ribot someday...

Still trying to make some pickup decisions, btw. Thinking a lot about potting lately, for some reason, and wondering how big a diff that makes...

[TG]

Thanks to eBay I've tried loads of pickups over the past several years and I've ended up with a Dimarzio Virtual Vintage Tele regular output bridge pickup in one tele and a Dimarzio Area T pickup in the other (because they stopped making the VV regular pickup and replaced it with the Area T...which seems much of a muchness). They are stacked noiseless pickups but they feel and respond 'right'...and I'm the guy who upset Chris Kinman on Harmony Central by saying his Blues Strat pickups were crap....or whatever it was I said. I'm fussy.

In the neck I use Fender Vintage Noiseless pickups. They 'work' too.


I won't be doing any more pickup experiments. These are fine.

[El Reclusa]

Ok...time to revive an old thread!

So here's what I've come up with- haven't done much yet, as that little pain in the ass generally referred to as "life" keeps siphoning Tele upgrade money away, but here's what I think I'm gonna do, in the order I'm gonna do it in, plus some more questions for my esteemed fellow Tele people:

1.)Refret. I think this is the most serious issue to address, and will make the biggest difference. My Tele is as old as I am, and was worn when I got it a decade ago. I've played the jeheezius out of it sense, and there ain't a whole lotta fret left. Think I'm gonna go with Dunlop (I believe it's 6105?) tall vintage. Anybody have experience with this fretwire, or anything to opine about any other options there?

2.)Bridge. I think I'm happy with the kinda cheesy RI Fender 6-saddle bridge's plate, but the saddles suck. The screws are way too long, dig into my hands, and don't stay tight, so I'm having to apply loc-tite every so often to keep it set up at all, since they lower themselves as is. Lame. So, now I'm looking for a 6-set of decent saddles...or maybe I'll ditch the whole thing and go with a good, comp'ed three-saddle bridge? I like being able to intonate each string individually, but I do think three saddles kind of sound better, and then there's always the option anxiety with that piece of the puzzle...too many choices! In any case, something's gotta be done, so I'll likely try new saddles with the existing plate first, and go from there...

3.)Bridge pickup. Down to choosing between a Bareknuckle (likely the '55 stagger) or Rolf...I may just flip a coin on that one. Plus, the exchange rate between $s and Pounds is a little better right now, so there's that tipping in Bareknuckle's favor...

4.)Neck pickup/new scratchplate. I kinda like the old,ceramic Gibson 'bucker in it now, so that's kind of a low priority...

Anyway, guess I'm really just thinking out loud here...

[jefrs]

Re-fret, yes. Buzz-Feiten, no. Having used an Earvana, yes they do work, but they're a solution to something that isn't a problem.
If the saddle screws are protuding then perhaps tilt the neck back a little more (shim)and raise the saddles, the extra angle on the screws may keep them tight.
It it time for some nice new CTS pots?
With vintage stagger, do check, the originals were designed for a wound third.

[boris bubbanov]

Originally Posted by El Reclusa

2.)Bridge. I think I'm happy with the kinda cheesy RI Fender 6-saddle bridge's plate, but the saddles suck. The screws are way too long, dig into my hands, and don't stay tight, so I'm having to apply loc-tite every so often to keep it set up at all, since they lower themselves as is. Lame. So, now I'm looking for a 6-set of decent saddles...or maybe I'll ditch the whole thing and go with a good, comp'ed three-saddle bridge? I like being able to intonate each string individually, but I do think three saddles kind of sound better, and then there's always the option anxiety with that piece of the puzzle...too many choices! In any case, something's gotta be done, so I'll likely try new saddles with the existing plate first, and go from there...

Yuh, I'd ditch the vintage 6 barrel; there are no good saddles, the design is "a bridge too far". I would try an ASAT Classic bridge assembly if I had one handy, otherwise, cheaper to go 3 saddle and be safely home.

[El Reclusa]

Originally Posted by jefrs

Re-fret, yes. Buzz-Feiten, no. Having used an Earvana, yes they do work, but they're a solution to something that isn't a problem.
If the saddle screws are protuding then perhaps tilt the neck back a little more (shim)and raise the saddles, the extra angle on the screws may keep them tight.
It it time for some nice new CTS pots?
With vintage stagger, do check, the originals were designed for a wound third.

Hmmm...now that I think about it, the Tele in question did have a shim when I got it, and it played better with it- it just didn't sound better with it. I seem to remember thinking I should be getting better sustain, then looking at the neck joint and thinking there was too much gap, didn't look like it was making good contact...and pulling out a thick piece of what looked like a section of screen door from the pocket! So...yes, a shim might be good. I don't know anything about doing it RIGHT though. And I think new frets are gonna be a must. I'm also thinking the Feiten business may be cool, but not something I can justify spending $ on right now...

Speaking of...I was going to get all this work done on the Tele this week, having just sold an old Egmond I wasn't playing much, and...

...bought another Tele.

Found a Baja that had some not-terrible issues for way too cheap to pass up. So now I have TWO Teles to tweak and not enough money!

yep...TWO can o' worms now. The Baja was cheap because the prior owner decided to sand pretty much all the finish off the playable area of the neck. Trying to decide if it's ok to leave it that way or not- it actually feels kinda nice, but I dunno how good an idea it is to leave it with NO finish...

Anyway...putting a Jerry Donohue bridge pup in the Baja. Prior owner yanked the S-1 and swapped the pups out for Fender Noiseless. Not the worst pickups, but for as noisy as they still are, I'm not keeping 'em. Could be something else in the wiring, though. So- anybody wants a set of 'em, make an offer! Still deciding what to do re: bridge pup on the '76. Leaning toward Bareknuckle still, just not sure which one yet. Will check re:stagger. I'm not using a wound 3rd anytime soon. Curious about how feasible it would be -and how- to mount a DeArmond Dyna-Sonic in the neck position of the '76. It's already routed for a humbucker, so there's that...

Found a luthier here I haven't tried yet whose prices seem really good, gonna check out the references he gave me, if those look good, refret soon. New 3-saddle bridge plate for the '76 coming, looking at comped saddles for both...got some great brass comped saddles for my Musicmaster, the same guy does Teles of course. Curious if anyone's tried the $10 saddles online that come in brass, aluminum or steel? Mostly curious about Aluminum and steel...

Actually, the pots on both Teles are great as is! Both have very, very musical tone controls and volume pots that are smooth and scratch-free...

Anyway, thinking out loud again...

[El Reclusa]

More thinking out loud...

What're y'all's feelings on potting pickups? I'm wondering how much-if any- potting was done back in the day at Fender, and how much difference it makes, tone-wise. I'm thinking a little bit of microphony would be nice...hmmm.

[sa paine]

Being an older guitar and maybe it has some value, I don't know if I'd do anything that can't be simply removed with out mod-ing this guitar. The Buzz Feiten, will the nut slot have to be wider for that system ?? If so I'd skip doing that !

Just a thought...........

[El Reclusa]

Yeah, I think I'm scrapping the Feiten tuning offset idea. I played a couple of guitars with it since then, and the difference was subtle enough that I'm not going to go through the time and expense anyway.

definitely trying to avoid any further modification that can't be undone. That said, it's already been routed for a humbucker at the neck and had the machine heads, bridge and pups changed, so not worried about those...

[Stratified]

Re refret: I have a 77 Strat, I'm pretty sure that 70s Fenders had the frets installed slid in from the side. I've heard if they are pulled out straight up during a refret, you can get fretboard chipping. Maybe someone can back me up on this, but I had been warned to find someone to do the fretwork who knew how to hand side installed frets.

[thegreatwent]

I have a '72 Tele Custom reissue, though I'm getting rid of it because I was never 100% happy with it and going to build up a partscaster by way of an American Std. Tele as a parts mule.

Anyways, I had a glendale bridge with brass compensated saddles and a Fralin Blues Special in the bridge. This combination sounded great. The brass saddles are a HUGE improvement over the six saddle style bridges.

On the Am. Std. I just put in a Budzguitar Purebred pickup in the bridge and it's amazing, even though I've got the stock six saddle bridge on it which is a toneless piece of crap. I wish I could put the Glendale on it, but it's not a drop-in replacement as I'd have to drill new holes and plug up and finish the old.

You'd be surprised how big a difference a steel bridge plate and brass saddles will make in the tone.

[El Reclusa]

Order placed with OC Duff for Baja bridge pup! Looks like I'm going with a hotter (though not crazy hot) Nancy...

Looking at decent used neck pups on eBay, just for now. Have a cheapie no-name, probably Chinese neck pup somewhere around here that I got for $5 months ago. Was gonna use it in an electric Kalimba, but maybe I'll try it in the Baja- you never know.

Anybdy have anything to say about the Duncan Antiquities/ Antiquity IIs? Again, thinking about what i can get used for not a lot while I'm saving $ for more Duff customs...

Also, thinking about modding bridgeplates for either/or string-through AND toploader...having recently gotten into Jim Campilongo and reading up on him, I'm begining to think the "rubbery"ness of a toploader could be cool...plus, how hard can drilling six holes be? Looking at the bridgeplate on my '78 Musicmaster, I'm confident I can do at least as good a job as CBS Fender did...

Last bit for tonight...anybody tried the RS (I think?) Guitars too-good-to-be-true $10 comped saddles that are availible in brass, steel, or aluminum?

[BadHorsie]

I just ordered two sets of brass and one set of Aluminum. I researched them and read enough good things about them that I was willing to take a chance. I will let you know when I get them.

[kristen]

The seymour duncan antiquity series are nice.
http://www.seymourduncan.com/product...ty/telecaster/

[El Reclusa]

Definitely do re: saddles! They look alright, and at that price...sheesh. That's pretty dang cheap.

I've heard good things about the Antiquities, guess I'd just like to know a little more, in practice, about how they compare with vintage or other "nice" pups...

[Hollmanp90]

Some Plankster hackage:

http://soundclick.com/share?songid=7490210

Ol'Army Green:

http://soundclick.com/share?songid=7393497

[El Reclusa]

Should be about another two weeks 'til the first Duff pickup arrives...I'm pretty excited!

So what's the verdict on the RS saddles?

[bgator]

Originally Posted by El Reclusa

Anybdy have anything to say about the Duncan Antiquities/ Antiquity IIs? Again, thinking about what i can get used for not a lot while I'm saving $ for more Duff customs...

I supposedly have Antiquity IIs in my tele, which I bought off eBay a couple of years ago. Everything else in the listing was accurate, so I have no reason to doubt the pickups, but I've never taken the guitar apart to check.

The pickups are just okay. I like the bridge pickup well enough but I wouldn't say it's any better that other teles I've played. The neck pickup is a little too muddy for my tastes, so it doesn't get much use. I'm not really a neck player anyhow, so this doesn't bother me much.