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petebradt · August 9th, 2008, 12:21 AM

Man, this is a GREAT pickup. This is as nice as a T2 and even better than a Hamel. Bright, strong, but no harshness, the nicest Tele neck pickup I've ever heard. Who needs a Strat pickup when you can have this?

Nice and bright, or roll the tone back and you're in ES175 territory.

I put the pickup in the Partscaster I've made out of a Guitar Mill Mary Kay body (3.2 pounds), Mim Classic '50s neck and hardware. Originally I made it into an Esquire but I never bonded with it as an Esquire but since it bore an scary resemblence to Vince Gill's '53, I decided to get a great neck pickup and turn it into a Vinniecaster, which is the guitar's name.

I know they're expensive, but IMO, you get what you pay for. If you want the real deal in Tele pickups, Fred Stuart is your man.

I'm selling my Hamel Strat pickups and getting some Stuarts. I can't in good conscience keep using Hamels, when the guy has screwed so many people.

I'll post pics tomorrow.

Geoff738 · August 9th, 2008, 01:58 AM

Glad you like 'em!

Yeah, the Stuart neck pickup is pretty stunning.

The bridge ain't bad either!

Cheers,
Geoff

petebradt · August 9th, 2008, 03:50 AM

I can't wait to get the Stuart Strat pups!

RomanS · August 9th, 2008, 04:53 AM

What type of Fred Stuart neck pickup do you have?

I've got a Fred Stuart Blackguard neck pickup, and "bright" is pretty much the last word I'd use to describe it. A Fender Nocaster neck pickup is BRIGHT, my Leosounds MudCaster neck pickup is rather bright - but the FS Blackguard is probably the darkest Tele neck pickup I ever heard - gives you an instant hollowbody jazz neck pickup tone without rolling the tone back...

petebradt · August 9th, 2008, 06:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RomanS

What type of Fred Stuart neck pickup do you have?

I've got a Fred Stuart Blackguard neck pickup, and "bright" is pretty much the last word I'd use to describe it. A Fender Nocaster neck pickup is BRIGHT, my Leosounds MudCaster neck pickup is rather bright - but the FS Blackguard is probably the darkest Tele neck pickup I ever heard - gives you an instant hollowbody jazz neck pickup tone without rolling the tone back...

I'll post a clip. Do you have '52 wiring or modern wiring?

Scotland · August 9th, 2008, 08:11 AM

Best neck pickup I have used is a Hamel, very Stratty sounding but not too bright.

nic'o'caster · August 9th, 2008, 10:29 AM

I also LOVE the Stuart set I installed in my thinline. The neck pup is really dark, but because it's slightly microphonic it retains high top details, which makes for a very complex "dark with a spark" tone. I noticed it is a bit brighter set closer to the strings. I use a no load tone pot to gain a slighty brighter tone for rhythm and it's the only guitar where I installed a treble bleed circuit, so the pickup stay clear at any volume. In the other Tele it was in before, I used two 500k pots and it worked also really well.

RomanS · August 9th, 2008, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by petebradt

I'll post a clip. Do you have '52 wiring or modern wiring?

Modern (with 250k pots and a 4-way switch).

tjalla · August 9th, 2008, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RomanS

What type of Fred Stuart neck pickup do you have?

I've got a Fred Stuart Blackguard neck pickup, and "bright" is pretty much the last word I'd use to describe it. A Fender Nocaster neck pickup is BRIGHT, my Leosounds MudCaster neck pickup is rather bright - but the FS Blackguard is probably the darkest Tele neck pickup I ever heard - gives you an instant hollowbody jazz neck pickup tone without rolling the tone back...

I'll second RomanS on this... I actually prefer my Twang King (but I'm hugely impressed by that pup).

Kris · August 9th, 2008, 02:01 PM

I'm with RomanS. I love the FS Black Guard bridge pickup but the neck pickup to me is just about the most useless Tele neck pickup I've ever tried: dark and weak. I took it out and made the guitar into an Esquire.

Kris

RomanS · August 9th, 2008, 05:34 PM

Kris, I don't find mine useless - I just wanted to point out that mine isn't bright (as Pete described), but very dark; but I do actually like that dark, woody, jazzy flavor (though, admittedly, I like a CC-style pickup in the neck position even more).

DMace · August 11th, 2008, 12:16 PM

I've got a Stuart BG neck pickup in my '52RI. It's a very warm, and, yes, dark sounding pickup. I actually prefer more high-end from the neck pickup on a Tele (the 62RI Tele pickup is closer to my taste), but the soundclips I'd heard of the Stuart online sounded great (sounded brighter than the pickup actually is, I think). I've found that more than anything else, after installing the Stuart BG neck pickup the middle setting is really full of pop and dynamics. I prefer it to the neck alone.

Geoff738 · August 11th, 2008, 11:49 PM

I wouldn't call mine bright either. But it's not muddy or indistinct either. Despite being on the "warm" end of the spectrum, it still has clarity and note definition when chording and it has a rich, complex tone (ok, I'm even laughing at this description - did I just turn into a wine snob or something?) and some vanilla and cassis on the nose. I should mention I do like wine.

Er, anyhow, I like it a lot. Wouldn't change a thing really. If I want more treble, I've always got the bridge pickup. It has plenty (but in a really, really good way).

Cheers,
Geoff

Seegs · August 12th, 2008, 05:48 PM

I had my doubts in the beginning as well but after I dialled it in it came to life...I understand the weak low volumn and dark observations but I hung in there with mine and was able to bring out the best in it by ´going with the Glendale non-magnetic bridge plate along with a combo of the Alumium E/A saddle with rest being hardened steel...that and some pup height tweakage made the neck pup punchier and more articulate...just what the Dr. ordered...now it's just about perfect...

it's rich...complex and full of harmonics...I wouldn't classify mine as jazz-box warm or dark as it has more articulation than that but what I really love is how the notes just seem to grow or bloom when I strike a chord and let it ring...very inspirational pup...

Chow,
Seegs

DMace · August 13th, 2008, 10:40 AM

Yeah, I adjusted the pickup height and it made a pretty big difference. Also, I've found that it definitely responds to different amps. Through my Allen Hot Fudge it's much darker, as would be expected through a brownface style amp. Through my blackface Princeton it really sparkles and pops. Maybe if the pickup didn't cost $130 I'd be less demanding of its performance.

ac15 · August 29th, 2008, 05:37 PM

I like the Stuart bridge, but I'm not crazy about the neck pup. I find it to be dull and not punchy. While it's probably true to the original blackguard pup specs, I don't think I prefer this sound. I'll probably switch back to the Harmonic Design neck pup I had previously. One thing I don't like is that since switching to Stuarts, my middle position also sounds weaker and less sparkly than I like. I do like the bridge pup by itself, but I can't say for sure that it's even my favorite Tele bridge pup.

chcknpckngtr · September 17th, 2008, 02:27 AM

i have Stuart BGs in my USA 52RI, and they absolutely KILL in that guitar. just amazing. the first neck pickup that Fred sent had an impedance of 7.07K. needless to say, it was pretty freakin dark. while that was very cool, i sent it back to have it underwound. now it is somehow full, fat, bright, and stinging at the same time. still very much a tele pickup, but it has kept me from reaching for a strat, too.

ac15, i had the same issues with the middle position until i sent it back. now, it's awesome.

oh yeah, and that guitar is for sale if anyone is interested.

791979 · September 17th, 2008, 07:03 AM

Any idea what the impedance was after the under winding?

chcknpckngtr · September 17th, 2008, 10:47 AM

i asked for 6.5ish. he didn't tell me what it ended up at, but the pickup does exactly what i want it to, so i didn't really care.

August 9th, 2008, 12:21 AM	#1 (permalink)
petebradt Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Niner Country Posts: 4,255 12 Photos	Fred Stuart Tele Neck Pickup - WOW! Man, this is a GREAT pickup. This is as nice as a T2 and even better than a Hamel. Bright, strong, but no harshness, the nicest Tele neck pickup I've ever heard. Who needs a Strat pickup when you can have this? Nice and bright, or roll the tone back and you're in ES175 territory. I put the pickup in the Partscaster I've made out of a Guitar Mill Mary Kay body (3.2 pounds), Mim Classic '50s neck and hardware. Originally I made it into an Esquire but I never bonded with it as an Esquire but since it bore an scary resemblence to Vince Gill's '53, I decided to get a great neck pickup and turn it into a Vinniecaster, which is the guitar's name. I know they're expensive, but IMO, you get what you pay for. If you want the real deal in Tele pickups, Fred Stuart is your man. I'm selling my Hamel Strat pickups and getting some Stuarts. I can't in good conscience keep using Hamels, when the guy has screwed so many people. I'll post pics tomorrow.

August 9th, 2008, 04:53 AM	#4 (permalink)
RomanS Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Vienna, Austria Age: 37 Posts: 4,121 22 Photos	What type of Fred Stuart neck pickup do you have? I've got a Fred Stuart Blackguard neck pickup, and "bright" is pretty much the last word I'd use to describe it. A Fender Nocaster neck pickup is BRIGHT, my Leosounds MudCaster neck pickup is rather bright - but the FS Blackguard is probably the darkest Tele neck pickup I ever heard - gives you an instant hollowbody jazz neck pickup tone without rolling the tone back... __________________ http://www.myspace.com/romans212 http://www.myspace.com/theneatpickers http://www.thomassoulriverband.com/

August 9th, 2008, 08:11 AM	#6 (permalink)
Scotland Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Aberdeen, Scotland, Yewrup Age: 55 Posts: 7,428 3 Photos	Best neck pickup I have used is a Hamel, very Stratty sounding but not too bright. __________________ All those who believe in psycho-kinesis, raise my hand !

August 9th, 2008, 05:34 PM	#11 (permalink)
RomanS Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Vienna, Austria Age: 37 Posts: 4,121 22 Photos	Kris, I don't find mine useless - I just wanted to point out that mine isn't bright (as Pete described), but very dark; but I do actually like that dark, woody, jazzy flavor (though, admittedly, I like a CC-style pickup in the neck position even more). __________________ http://www.myspace.com/romans212 http://www.myspace.com/theneatpickers http://www.thomassoulriverband.com/

August 12th, 2008, 05:48 PM	#14 (permalink)
Seegs TDPRI Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Germany Posts: 26	I had my doubts in the beginning as well but after I dialled it in it came to life...I understand the weak low volumn and dark observations but I hung in there with mine and was able to bring out the best in it by ´going with the Glendale non-magnetic bridge plate along with a combo of the Alumium E/A saddle with rest being hardened steel...that and some pup height tweakage made the neck pup punchier and more articulate...just what the Dr. ordered...now it's just about perfect... it's rich...complex and full of harmonics...I wouldn't classify mine as jazz-box warm or dark as it has more articulation than that but what I really love is how the notes just seem to grow or bloom when I strike a chord and let it ring...very inspirational pup... Chow, Seegs Last edited by Seegs; August 29th, 2008 at 06:39 PM.

August 9th, 2008, 01:58 AM	#2 (permalink)
Geoff738 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: May 2007 Location: Toronto Age: 45 Posts: 1,143	Glad you like 'em! Yeah, the Stuart neck pickup is pretty stunning. The bridge ain't bad either! Cheers, Geoff

August 9th, 2008, 03:50 AM	#3 (permalink)
petebradt Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Niner Country Posts: 4,255 12 Photos	I can't wait to get the Stuart Strat pups!

August 9th, 2008, 10:29 AM	#7 (permalink)
nic'o'caster Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: near the mountains and the lake Age: 42 Posts: 458	I also LOVE the Stuart set I installed in my thinline. The neck pup is really dark, but because it's slightly microphonic it retains high top details, which makes for a very complex "dark with a spark" tone. I noticed it is a bit brighter set closer to the strings. I use a no load tone pot to gain a slighty brighter tone for rhythm and it's the only guitar where I installed a treble bleed circuit, so the pickup stay clear at any volume. In the other Tele it was in before, I used two 500k pots and it worked also really well.

August 9th, 2008, 02:01 PM	#10 (permalink)
Kris Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Reykjavik, Iceland Posts: 368	I'm with RomanS. I love the FS Black Guard bridge pickup but the neck pickup to me is just about the most useless Tele neck pickup I've ever tried: dark and weak. I took it out and made the guitar into an Esquire. Kris

August 11th, 2008, 12:16 PM	#12 (permalink)
DMace Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 2,998	I've got a Stuart BG neck pickup in my '52RI. It's a very warm, and, yes, dark sounding pickup. I actually prefer more high-end from the neck pickup on a Tele (the 62RI Tele pickup is closer to my taste), but the soundclips I'd heard of the Stuart online sounded great (sounded brighter than the pickup actually is, I think). I've found that more than anything else, after installing the Stuart BG neck pickup the middle setting is really full of pop and dynamics. I prefer it to the neck alone.

August 11th, 2008, 11:49 PM	#13 (permalink)
Geoff738 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: May 2007 Location: Toronto Age: 45 Posts: 1,143	I wouldn't call mine bright either. But it's not muddy or indistinct either. Despite being on the "warm" end of the spectrum, it still has clarity and note definition when chording and it has a rich, complex tone (ok, I'm even laughing at this description - did I just turn into a wine snob or something?) and some vanilla and cassis on the nose. I should mention I do like wine. Er, anyhow, I like it a lot. Wouldn't change a thing really. If I want more treble, I've always got the bridge pickup. It has plenty (but in a really, really good way). Cheers, Geoff

August 13th, 2008, 10:40 AM	#15 (permalink)
DMace Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 2,998	Yeah, I adjusted the pickup height and it made a pretty big difference. Also, I've found that it definitely responds to different amps. Through my Allen Hot Fudge it's much darker, as would be expected through a brownface style amp. Through my blackface Princeton it really sparkles and pops. Maybe if the pickup didn't cost $130 I'd be less demanding of its performance.

August 29th, 2008, 05:37 PM	#16 (permalink)
ac15 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: May 2005 Location: CHICAGO, IL. Posts: 1,112	I like the Stuart bridge, but I'm not crazy about the neck pup. I find it to be dull and not punchy. While it's probably true to the original blackguard pup specs, I don't think I prefer this sound. I'll probably switch back to the Harmonic Design neck pup I had previously. One thing I don't like is that since switching to Stuarts, my middle position also sounds weaker and less sparkly than I like. I do like the bridge pup by itself, but I can't say for sure that it's even my favorite Tele bridge pup.

September 17th, 2008, 02:27 AM	#17 (permalink)
chcknpckngtr TDPRI Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Nashville Posts: 10	i have Stuart BGs in my USA 52RI, and they absolutely KILL in that guitar. just amazing. the first neck pickup that Fred sent had an impedance of 7.07K. needless to say, it was pretty freakin dark. while that was very cool, i sent it back to have it underwound. now it is somehow full, fat, bright, and stinging at the same time. still very much a tele pickup, but it has kept me from reaching for a strat, too. ac15, i had the same issues with the middle position until i sent it back. now, it's awesome. oh yeah, and that guitar is for sale if anyone is interested.

September 17th, 2008, 07:03 AM	#18 (permalink)
791979 Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 193	Any idea what the impedance was after the under winding? __________________ "I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully." - George W Bush, 29th Sept. 2000

September 17th, 2008, 10:47 AM	#19 (permalink)
chcknpckngtr TDPRI Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Nashville Posts: 10	i asked for 6.5ish. he didn't tell me what it ended up at, but the pickup does exactly what i want it to, so i didn't really care.

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