59 Model Humbuckers in Am. Std. Tele - Does it Work?

[nigelcummings]

Hey gang,

just wondering if anyone has some experience with 59 model humbuckers (we're talking the PAF style, scooped mid style used in the 59 Les Paul) in an American Std. Tele.?

The Tele has an Alder body with maple neck and fretboard.

Conversely, I've heard the 1972 Tele Thinline with humbuckers - very nice sounding guitar. But I don't like 3 bolt neck - causes a bit of wobbly-ness sometimes, and can break easier.

Just wondering if it would be better to buy the Thinline, or upgrade my current Tele.

[spankdplank]

I put a GFS alnico 59 humbucker in the neck of an MIM tele and paired with a GFS tele bridge pup and it worked well. I think I replaced the volume pot with a 500k, so that the neck humbucker wouldn't be muddy. The bucker was fuller and a bit louder than the bridge pup, but because of the greater treble response of the tele bridge pup, the comparative difference in pickup output was not a problem. For me, the real problem with pairing humbuckers and single coils in a two knob tele configuration is getting the pot values right. Two 250K pots may be perfect for the bridge single coil but not bright enough for the neck humbucker. Two 500k pots may be perfect for the bucker but two bright for the single coil. Two 1megs and treble bleed cap and resistor may work for some but not for others. I depends on what you like in top end response and in pot taper. I would suggest 500/250 or 500/500, to get the most out of the humbucker. If the bridge is too bright, you can always roll of treble from the tone pot.

[robt57]

Originally Posted by nigelcummings

Just wondering if it would be better to buy the Thinline, or upgrade my current Tele.

Have multiple Teles ?? The hell you say!

Not if you want the git to have all that twangy goodness the standard bridge/pup gives in your tone/use for that git.. Not to mention the additional departure from the solid body that exists IMO.

A Tele Custom would be the ticket for that, IMO.

I built a Pine Tele Deluxe with 2 wr MIM humbuckers, and it rocks and sounds great. But I say it twangs minimally in the middle switch position mostly, but not twangy goodness like the standard bridge/pup setup certainly. And I used a cut vintage bridegplate with steel vintage saddles to move it ore to the twangy areana. ;)

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I say of you are going to stick with less guitars [imagine?] and do not fear messing the value of your instrument up with routing mods to do a HB...

Put a big neck PUP route that will allow a P-90, a wr HB, and gibby HB, and everything else would be just swapping pup and pot etc.

Oh, and a different pick guard of course.

[MulliganChebichev]

I have a SD Seth Lover in the neck and a SD Lil 59 in the bridge of my Tele, I always absolutely love the combo. Warm neck and hot bridge.

I also have a SD '59 on the neck of my Strat which I also love.

I just like PAF pickups.

[Martinp]

I put a Gibson T-Top in my Fernandes Beater Tele, along with a 52 reissue in the bridge.
sounds like a million bucks, sorta like Mick Ronson on those early Bowie records.
It makes it a whole 'nuther guitar

[sjtele]

I have a SD '59 in the neck and Dimarzio Pre B-1 in the bridge and love the tone from both. The Pre B1 is pretty hot so it's a good match for the '59. I can still achieve some bit of twang when needed but not like a standard setup. I play more blues and rock so it's perfect for me.