pickup suggestions?

[El Reclusa]

Hello all. First post here!

So...recently decided that, as opposed to buying more stuff, I should start fixing/upgrading what I already have.

My main guit is my trusty '76 Tele. Sounds wonderful, heavy as hell, generally awesome but could use some sprucing up. Thinking it's time for a refret (or at least a dressing, though the frets are pretty dang low now), a better bridge, maybe a Buzz Feiten setup, new pickups...

Before anyone gets grumpy, I should note that the bridge on it now is a six-saddle newer Fender (like the '52 RI), the bridge pup is the same as the '52 RI, the neck pickup is a ceramic from a '70s Les Paul, the machine heads were changed...basically, the neck and body, controls and control plate and ferrules, etc are original, but basically everything else was changed when I got it, long long ago. Even the case is circa '66-70, not '76...so I'm not de-vintaging anything here.

Anyway, said Tele sounds good as it is, but I think it could sound and function a lot better. Don't so much mind the bridge (and like that it's ferrous but intonatable), except that the saddle screws are way too big and not very tight, so I have to periodically Loc-tite 'em, and deal with 'em digging into my hand once in a while.

Basically, I guess I'm asking for advice from some diehard Tele players about replacement bridges and pickups. I actually kinda like the 'bucker at the neck and may keep it (or not), but the bridge pickup needs changed. It's not bad but I think it's keeping this Tele from sounding it's best. I've been looking around, the Antiquities and Suhrs seem possibly cool, but there's SO MUCH STUFF out there..any advice/recommendations/warnings?

The tone I'm looking for is not too hot, not too cool, probably pretty close to original stock...something like the sounds Polly Harvey and John Parish get from their similar-age Teles, or like Marc Ribot's '55 Tele...if you're unfamiliar, look for PJ Harvey on Sessions at West 54th on youtube, and see Le Corde Purdue (the Ribot movie) because it's great. My playing style is pretty eclectic...but I guess a pretty close comparison (at least as far as tone goes) is Mick Turner of Dirty Three- a lot of what I do isn't too far off from that, or John Parish's solo stuff.

I have a Tele I dearly love here, and want to make it play and sound its absolute best, as I know it can...

Thanks! Hope this wasn't too vague...

[Fatmanstratman]

Originally Posted by El Reclusa

Hello all. First post here!

Welcome to the TDPRI, El Reclusa!

There's no need to post everything TWICE! We can see it just fine first time round!....

[Standard]

i like the Seymour duncan little 59 in the bridge

[El Reclusa]

Yeah...sorry 'bout that. Thought my interwebs connection was lost, hit "post" and it in fact was not lost and posted twice...

Anyway...no other suggestions? Wow...and I thought this was a Tele forum? Seriously, peeps, any suggestions would be appreciated...

[jvanhorn]

I am sure that I am in the minority here, but I like Fender vintage noiseless pickups. A friend of mine uses Seymour Duncan quarter pounders on his Tele and they also sound very nice.

[old geezer]

I used Bill Lawrence Keystones in my partscaster and LOVE them. Huge range of tonality with these ! Not very costly either !

[MatteusNova]

Originally Posted by old geezer

I used Bill Lawrence Keystones in my partscaster and LOVE them. Huge range of tonality with these ! Not very costly either !

I have 250K pots in my CIJ Tele, could I put a keystone in the neck without any problems?

[KC]

well, I'm one of the deluded majority around here who thinks that the 3-saddle bridge is a big part of tele tone -- not trying to start anything, really, fellas -- but the Fender replacement part was only about $25 last time I looked & an easy swap -- so I'd try that & see what you think. You might want to upgrade to intonated saddles later on but the basic brass saddles will tell you if its the tone you're after.

and as far as pickups go, I'd just drop Jason Lollar a note and tell him what you're after. I just put a set of Lollar / GVCG alnico 3s into my thinline and wow.

[MatteusNova]

Talking about saddles and bridges, the Glendale, Wilkinson and Callaham saddles are what people mostly go for here, on their vintage/RI teles. (Me too in the future).

[JonesKY]

Originally Posted by KC

well, I'm one of the deluded majority around here who thinks that the 3-saddle bridge is a big part of tele tone -- not trying to start anything, really, fellas ....

Agreed!

The diving board action of the thinner metal bridge attached to the body at one end only, coupled with the "phat" 3-saddle bridge, adds to the volatile, microphonic characteristic of a tele. I once swapped the stock bridge plate for a heavy, 6-saddle bridge plate only to discover I'd lost all of the "vibe" I liked about the guitar. Hassle that it was, I swapped back within a day.

[Tim73]

I'd rate the glendale bridges (& certainly the bridge saddles if you are on a tighter budget). They are expensive but very nice. My guitars sing now! In terms of mods / upgrades, I'm in a similar position to you in that I am enjoying what I have & upgrading. I use the Seymour Duncan 54 Pickups as I like a traditional tone. I also like Tusq nuts. For a couple of hundred I've improved guitars tenfold. Those are my experiences but everybody is different

[El Reclusa]

Thanks for the suggestions, folks!

Still trying to decide what I want...I think dropping Lollar a line might be in the near future. Swapping out for the standard Fender 3-saddle may be cool, too; I think the sort of less-than-idealness of it may in fact be part of the whole shot, but who knows? Guess I'll just have to try it!

As far as frets go, any recommendations/likes/dislikes/warnings there? I think it may be time for a refret soon, and this'll only be the second guitar (and first electric) I've ever had refretted...the other being a '32 Kay/National, which is another animal entirely. I think I want something close to vintage spec, but maybe just a hair taller and wider- not jumbo but slightly larger than stock? I dunno- this is getting into new territory for me...

[boris bubbanov]

Originally Posted by El Reclusa

Yeah...sorry 'bout that. Thought my interwebs connection was lost, hit "post" and it in fact was not lost and posted twice...

That still happens to me, now and again.

I'd recommend a 3 brass barrel type vintage "ashtray style" bridgeplate and saddles, and a set of "Keystones" from Bill and Becky Lawrence. Look up "Editorjuno" on this site, TDPRI, get his address, and send him a money order in Pennsylvania. He's the exclusive source for that one model of Bill and Becky Lawrence. (I use 'Bill and Becky' to get you to the real guy, the genius, and so you will avoid a non-player businessman crook (Wacjmann) who is trying to steal Bill's brand.)

[telered]

Love my set of Keystones in my 2005 Amer.Std.

[WoodyDewar]

I'll probably replace my stock bridge pickup with a Seymore Duncan Hot Stack.

[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

[ac15]

I really like the "54 Special" Tele pickups by Harmonic Design. They're my favorite, and I've had quite a few sets in my guitar. Plenty of twang and bright Tele tone, without the icepick. Slightly punchier than standard Tele pups.

[JazzTonight]

Originally Posted by KC

well, I'm one of the deluded majority around here who thinks that the 3-saddle bridge is a big part of tele tone --

Hey twang-merchants, my name is Rick and I'm new here. Thought the above quote might be a place to dive in. I agree with this fellow, and yet my two best Teles have one of each: 3 saddle and the other a Wilkinson. The Wilk. guitar sounds "better" to my ear, but then again, the body is made from a plank of black swamp ash that's 1200 years old (harvested from a 500 year old barn in Quebec... one of several Ron Kirn guitars I own.) The other is a John Suhr Tele (3 saddle), that is near perfect... who's (whose?) to say.

Any help out there uploading photos and an avatar photo... also my profile... I'm 57, not 51? Never mind... I found the CP button, thanks anyway. I'm a jazz guy, but also a latin, rock, fusion, bluegrass, acoustic, country, pop, blues... and even an ever-so-slight, hip-hop guy... thanks to my man Jason Mraz. So here I am, an old guy whose influences range from Mr. A to Z to Steely Dan (huge influence), and Danny Gatton and Mozart to Keiko Matsui... check her out. Nice to be here...

[Joxter]

Seymour Duncan Five-Two for Tele pups are what I like... but I am a newbie Tele player. They do have a vintage sound.

The guy who set my Tele up and put the pups in said he liked them so much he is going to stock them in his store.

[El Reclusa]

Hmmm...I'm still undecided about which way to go. seems like I heard something about somebody named Rolph that does great pups, but won't pot 'em? was that here? Anyway...still thinking about all this, and have plenty of time to yet, since I keep buying dumb stuff instead of tele parts. Which is pretty dumb indeed, but hey, I've wanted an oilcan delay for a long time! Aside from pups and bridges, I think it's nearly time for the ol' gal to get refretted. Any suggestions there? I've only had one guitar refretted ever, a '32 national that was missing several frets when i got it, and in retrospect, I kinda wish i'd've gone with taller wire. I'd like to avoid that refret regret with the Tele...so what do you kids like? My Tele's a '76, and I'd like easy bending, but not at the expense of nice crisp, clean chording. Don't think I want to go jumbo, but I do lots of complex, hand-munching chords from time to time and kinda think a taller-than-stock wire could be good there?