Who's using '51 Nocaster Pickups?

ajgus · December 4th, 2008, 05:20 PM

Here is why I ask. Are they worth the price tag? Specifically, is it worth puting a $150 pair of pups in, lets say, a $300 Tele like a CV or something? How do you like yours & what guitar (if other than an actual Nocaster) are you using them in? Thanks!

Telehackster · December 4th, 2008, 05:29 PM

I like the Nocaster pickups. They came with my 60th Anniversary Tele, and I dig the sound.

If you like the $300 Tele and you like these pickups, I'd say it's worth dropping them in. But if you sell the guitar, I'd say take them out and use them elsewhere (unless someone offered you a good price).

getbent · December 4th, 2008, 05:30 PM

if you hunt, you can find those pickups for 100-110. I always keep my eyes open for them and really like them. I have them in two teles and two that I'm building.

superbadj · December 4th, 2008, 05:33 PM

I've heard a lot of good things about them. I'm tempted to try a set in my MIJ '62 Tele (made in 1985). I generally like the pups that are already in there, but then again, I've only really played these and the pups in my '72 Custom reissue. So I wonder if I'm missing out and not even realizing it!

FatTeleTom · December 4th, 2008, 05:41 PM

I love the the way my set of Nocaster pickups (courtesy of Rice Custom Guitars in the giveaway a couple of years ago) sound in my Glendale Tele. I've also been knocked out by every Nocaster guitar I've tried. How much of that is down to pickups versus the rest of the guitar, I can't say, but I don't think there's any question that the sound of Nocaster pickups really appeals to me.

As for putting them in an inexpensive guitar, in my very limited experience, pickups can make a huge difference. If you like the playability of the guitar in question, there's a good chance a pickup upgrade will get you a good portion of the way towards a great guitar tone.

As an example, I recently dropped a Seymour Duncan Jazz humbucker in the neck position of my Ibanez Arcore AS3 (a $299 335-style guitar). Huge improvement. The old pickup sound fine, but the SD Jazz sounds much, much better to me.

Maddog53 · December 4th, 2008, 06:09 PM

I personally have had them in only one guitar... a nocaster relic, and loved them..couldn't get along with the 7.25" radius, but loved their sound. Like getbent said ...you don't have to drop 150 to get 'em. Watch ebay daily for BIN's.

vanguard · December 4th, 2008, 06:12 PM

best pickups around. i've been through a lot of the top dollar boutique stuff, and always come back to nocasters.

Durtdog · December 4th, 2008, 06:28 PM

It's the heart of your Tele's sound. If you like your guitar and you like Nocaster pickups, I'd say it's well worth it to put them in.

mistermullens · December 4th, 2008, 06:39 PM

I've got a set. Well, the bridge pup is in my Esquire, and I like it a lot. The neck pup is not my favorite, but its not bad. The neck pup will be for sale soon. I play mostly blues and some classic rock, and they're perfect for that. I got mine for $110. Can't remember where, but it was some place on the internet. It was not a major online retailer. I wouldn't hesitate one bit to install them in any Tele.

Joe M · December 4th, 2008, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maddog53

I personally have had them in only one guitar... a nocaster relic,

Yup, that's what's in my Nocaster Relic and I like 'em a lot.....

Big Mike Simpson · December 4th, 2008, 07:52 PM

I have them in my pinecaster and they sound great... I think I paid $110 on ebay.

I did a quick search on ebay and found a set for $120 + $9 shipping

http://cgi.ebay.com/Fender-Custom-Sh...1%7C240%3A1318

yegbert · December 4th, 2008, 08:07 PM

I have a set I pieced together from garage sale deals with a couple of TDPRI members. The neck is the most clear and trebly Tele neck pickup I've played. I bought it first and didn't like it paired with any of my other bridge pickups, but I like it with the Nocaster bridge pickup I just bought recently. Not sure how much of my coming to like the neck is because it works better with that particular bridge pickup, or just that I got acclimated to it.

I think they are worth the $125 per set I see them going for from some ebay dealers regularly. If you can find them for the $100-110 some others have lucked into, even better.

There's one ebay dealer who sells the neck and bridge individually, but I think he's breaking up a set. I think this for two reasons: 1) my local Fender dealer said they could only order them for me in a set; and 2) when that ebay dealer puts them out there individually, I see both neck and bridge listings at about the same time. The bridge pickup tends to sell first and with buy it now, then the neck takes longer to sell and he won't put another set up until after the neck has sold.

So if you buy a set, don't like them and want to flip them, you're likely to find a buyer for the bridge more quickly than for the neck.

Mine are the current spec, both pickups in the low 7k range, not the earlier ones with a higher DC resistance (~10k?) bridge.

Astro1176 · December 4th, 2008, 08:34 PM

Hope this isn't a stupid question, but...

From what I read, historically speaking, Fender didn't particularly change the way they made pickups into the nocaster period, althought there was huge variance from one pickup to another. Hence I would imagine that original broadcaster and nocaster pickups were the same but varied a lot from one particular example to another.

So anyway - Fender make a Broadcaster and Nocaster pickups. I guess the Broadcaster is based on one specific broadcaster pickup, and the nocaster on a particular nocaster pickup? Are they very similar in construction and detail to each other?

My Baja has Broadcaster in the bridge position - if anyone has tried the nocaster PU and broadcaster - how do they differ and are they pretty similar?

Thanks

ajgus · December 4th, 2008, 09:01 PM

Good question Astro...I thought they were the same.

ajgus · December 4th, 2008, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yegbert

...The neck is the most clear and trebly Tele neck pickup I've played...

I would think that is on account of the Nickel/Silver cover. Supposedly the Custom Shop devised it as a way to brighten what they felt was an inherent "darkness" that Tele neck pups posses. I have a pair of Vintage Noiseless pups in my Tele (no comments please

). It, like the Nocasters, has a Nickel/Silver cover. I believe this is to off-set & compensate for the inherent darkness of stacked coils. Ha, look at me playing Mark Davis over here

. What the hell do I know...

Keep 'em coming, boys! I'd love to hear more thoughts...

vanguard · December 4th, 2008, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajgus

I would think that is on account of the Nickel/Silver cover. Supposedly the Custom Shop devised it as a way to brighten what they felt was an inherent "darkness" that Tele neck pups posses. I have a pair of Vintage Noiseless pups in my Tele (no comments please

). It, like the Nocasters, has a Nickel/Silver cover. I believe this is to off-set & compensate for the inherent darkness of stacked coils. Ha, look at me playing Mark Davis over here

. What the hell do I know...

Keep 'em coming, boys! I'd love to hear more thoughts...

wait, nocaster necks come with nickel/silver covers? are you sure of this?

mistermullens · December 4th, 2008, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Astro1176

My Baja has Broadcaster in the bridge position - if anyone has tried the nocaster PU and broadcaster - how do they differ and are they pretty similar?

Thanks

I recently played a jam with my Esquire with the exception of one song where I played a Baja. They sounded very, very similar. The jam was recorded and I might be able to dig up the song where I played the Baja and post tracks with each guitar. I'll get back to you guys.

Astro1176 · December 4th, 2008, 09:44 PM

thanks for that mistermullens, clips would be a bonus, but knowing they are pretty similar is great.

taterhead · December 4th, 2008, 10:16 PM

I have 'em in a tele I put together. I like the neck alot because it sounds more stratty to me, roll the tone back a little and it sounds fat and sweet. When you roll the tone off for the bridge it doesn't make the neck TOO dark. They work together well for me. I like 'em.

ajgus · December 4th, 2008, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vanguard

wait, nocaster necks come with nickel/silver covers? are you sure of this?

Well, this is from the Fender website regarding the Fender Custom Shop '51 Nocaster Pickups...

"...The neck pickup is the perfect companion to the 'Nocaster' bridge pickup with its nickel-silver cover..."

And for reference...this is the verbiage on the Fender Vintage Noiseless Telecaster Pickups...

"...Neck pickup has nickel silver cover for added clarity..."

Granted, the Fender site isn't exactly as reliable as the Encyclopedia Britanica when it comes to accurately recording their specs, but yeah...I'm pretty sure.

teleguitar · December 4th, 2008, 11:25 PM

I have a CIJ '52 Tele with the OV pups which sound too thin to me. Can I expect a different / fuller sound with the Nocasters?

Thanks

spicolli · December 4th, 2008, 11:40 PM

i have the nocaster pups in both of my 60th anniversary limited inlay teles and i love them. they are both different sounding too but in good ways. 1 set has a bit higher output on the ohms meter, i'm sure thats also a reason for the different sound/tone.

ajgus · December 4th, 2008, 11:55 PM

Hmmm...spicolli, are those stock in the 60th Teles? I wonder how much the guitar itself has to do with the different sound & maybe not so much the pickups themselves...muy interesante..

spicolli · December 5th, 2008, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajgus

Hmmm...spicolli, are those stock in the 60th Teles? I wonder how much the guitar itself has to do with the different sound & maybe not so much the pickups themselves...muy interesante..

they came stock in the guitars. there is about 1/2 pound difference in weight between the 2 guitars also.

Maddog53 · December 5th, 2008, 12:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Astro1176

Hope this isn't a stupid question, but...

So anyway - Fender make a Broadcaster and Nocaster pickups. I guess the Broadcaster is based on one specific broadcaster pickup, and the nocaster on a particular nocaster pickup? Are they very similar in construction and detail to each other?

My Baja has Broadcaster in the bridge position - if anyone has tried the nocaster PU and broadcaster - how do they differ and are they pretty similar?

Thanks

Check this out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geQSj49oK_o
Fender's Mike Eldred here compares Fender CS's Broadcaster pup in reference to the nocaster pup.

musicmatty · December 5th, 2008, 01:55 AM

God forgive me, but Im not a fan of the 1950s Telecasters. The Youtube link above explains it all. The Flat pole piece bridge pup has a very different sound than the
1960s Teles. The CS 'Vintage Noiseless' and CS 'Texas Specials' pups, have that Burton, Rich, Cropper and Bob Wootton sound that drives me.

The sounds of these Teles from both decades are two different bottles of Bourbon. Obviously the Teles of the Early 1950s wasn't based on Rock-N Roll as Rock-N Roll had not really broke out on the National sceen till 1955-56. Early 50s was still Pat Boone Pop and Jazz and old primative Country..certainly not the Honky Tonk type that would emerge later in the decade. These early 50s Teles sound like they were made just for that..Bluesy Jazz style music.

Rumblebones · December 5th, 2008, 03:34 AM

Could be an improvement for a CV.

atlas · December 5th, 2008, 04:02 AM

I use Nocaster neck pup and OV bridge pup,that`s a great combo

kb1rcefn · December 5th, 2008, 03:16 PM

My friends at "Just Pickups" have them NEW for $98.99. I have used them several times, and they have outstanding service, etc. Great people - you should get to know them!
click on this link:
http://www.justpickups.com/Merchant2...e=099-2109-000

mistermullens · December 5th, 2008, 05:50 PM

Here are your sound clips.

The first is the Baja. I'm the 2nd guitar on this one. I take a solo at about 3:02 to just past 4:00. The next solo is a slide solo at the end starting at about 7:00.

Basement Blues

Next up is my Esquire w/Nocaster pup. I'm the only guitar on this one.

Thrill Is Gone

Astro1176 · December 5th, 2008, 10:11 PM

cool jams, mistermullens. Its a bit tricky to tell how similar they sound with the different songs, but they certainly have similar characters

casadyrocks · December 5th, 2008, 11:53 PM

I have a 51 Nocaster as the bridge pickup in my 50's Classic, and while I don't use a bridge pickup in any guitar that I have , it really is awesome. Bright but not ice picky. I have a Five Two Duncan Nashville in the neck.

ajgus · December 6th, 2008, 04:01 AM

Mullens, great clips...Thanks!

kb1, thanks for that link...I've not seen that site.

TDPRI, thanks for all of the input!!!

mistermullens · December 7th, 2008, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Astro1176

cool jams, mistermullens. Its a bit tricky to tell how similar they sound with the different songs, but they certainly have similar characters

I agree, it would be easier to compare if the same song was played on both clips. I will say, that they are very, very similar, but I did like my Nocaster better. You never know unless you try though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajgus

Mullens, great clips...Thanks!

Thanks! That was the most fun I've ever had at a jam. It was also very cool that someone recorded it.

frogger · December 8th, 2008, 06:40 PM

I love these pups in my 60th Anni 52 RI. Smooth Tele tone and no ice pick in the ear. The only pups other than the Nocasters that I like are Lollars. Cranked up in a Vibro-King the Nocasters are just plain killer. These pups rock..or twang..or get jazzy so try em guys ..You will not send them back!

titus · December 8th, 2008, 07:10 PM

I have a set in a 2004 52RI. It's been a year and a half. I think they're staying.
The OV's were too bright for me. I also tried Rio Grande (too much oomph), the Duncan Broadcaster (a bit strident) and a set of Dimarzio VV (too strat).
The Nocasters were right for me because they can can cover so much ground.
Like frogger says - they rock, twang, and get jazzy.
-T

68 Shovelhead · December 8th, 2008, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frogger

I love these pups in my 60th Anni 52 RI. Smooth Tele tone and no ice pick in the ear. The only pups other than the Nocasters that I like are Lollars. Cranked up in a Vibro-King the Nocasters are just plain killer. These pups rock..or twang..or get jazzy so try em guys ..You will not send them back!

I have the NoCasters in my HWY-1 with a 4-way switch, like frogger says above, there's nothing it can't do, and with the 4-way (series), it also gets a pretty convincing Gibson HB sound. I love mine

fernando · December 11th, 2008, 07:33 AM

anyone can compare the Nocasters and/or the OV to the Am. Std. pus?

boris bubbanov · December 11th, 2008, 07:55 PM

I think I can. As I installed a vintage style bridge assembly on a black 2005 (Z4) American Series, I can tell you the neck pickup on the American Series is really sweet; very nice pickup. And the "middle" setting (parallel) is also pretty nice. But the bridge by itself, EVEN with a vintage bridge does not carry its own weight. I hate describing any pickup as "thin" but I'm afraid it is apropos on the Am Se Bridge pup. All very quiet, which I like. I will try attaching a brass plated base plate to the bottom of the plastic base and try that. If that don't work, it goes in the pup drawer.

And of course the Am Se "Cubic Zirc" of which I have 2 of the Tele form still with the original OV pickup upgrade, sounds pretty nice with the Callaham bent steel saddles and the last 1 better still with a vintage bridge assembly (not any easy operation to switch bridges).

All of the above are pretty easily beat up by any one of the 8 AV52 FSR "Inlay" Teles I have with the No-Caster pups, which in turn are toasted by a real NOS No-caster.

fernando · December 12th, 2008, 08:37 AM

Thank you Boris.

Would the Am Se neck pu be a good match with either the OV bridge or the Nocater bridge pus? Not just in terms of level but do they give a nice mid position?

December 4th, 2008, 05:20 PM	#1 (permalink)
ajgus Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: chicago Posts: 3,003	Who's using '51 Nocaster Pickups? Here is why I ask. Are they worth the price tag? Specifically, is it worth puting a $150 pair of pups in, lets say, a $300 Tele like a CV or something? How do you like yours & what guitar (if other than an actual Nocaster) are you using them in? Thanks! __________________ "...it's just a wonderful sound..."- GE Smith

December 4th, 2008, 05:30 PM	#3 (permalink)
getbent Moderator Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: San Benito County, California Posts: 13,699 37 Photos	if you hunt, you can find those pickups for 100-110. I always keep my eyes open for them and really like them. I have them in two teles and two that I'm building. __________________ We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are

December 4th, 2008, 06:09 PM	#6 (permalink)
Maddog53 Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Texas Hill Country Age: 56 Posts: 168	I personally have had them in only one guitar... a nocaster relic, and loved them..couldn't get along with the 7.25" radius, but loved their sound. Like getbent said ...you don't have to drop 150 to get 'em. Watch ebay daily for BIN's. __________________ Any club that would have me as a member, I wouldn't want to join! Groucho Marx

December 4th, 2008, 06:12 PM	#7 (permalink)
vanguard Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: salt lake city Age: 28 Posts: 746	best pickups around. i've been through a lot of the top dollar boutique stuff, and always come back to nocasters. __________________ my band's myspace. featuring our new video! http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm...ndid=261142458

December 4th, 2008, 06:39 PM	#9 (permalink)
mistermullens Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Atlanta Age: 32 Posts: 3,601 36 Photos	I've got a set. Well, the bridge pup is in my Esquire, and I like it a lot. The neck pup is not my favorite, but its not bad. The neck pup will be for sale soon. I play mostly blues and some classic rock, and they're perfect for that. I got mine for $110. Can't remember where, but it was some place on the internet. It was not a major online retailer. I wouldn't hesitate one bit to install them in any Tele. __________________ Jonathan ReverbNation Twitter Teles & Esquires

December 4th, 2008, 05:29 PM	#2 (permalink)
Telehackster Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas Age: 43 Posts: 1,163	I like the Nocaster pickups. They came with my 60th Anniversary Tele, and I dig the sound. If you like the $300 Tele and you like these pickups, I'd say it's worth dropping them in. But if you sell the guitar, I'd say take them out and use them elsewhere (unless someone offered you a good price).

December 4th, 2008, 05:33 PM	#4 (permalink)
superbadj Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: roanoke, va Age: 35 Posts: 1,823 24 Photos	I've heard a lot of good things about them. I'm tempted to try a set in my MIJ '62 Tele (made in 1985). I generally like the pups that are already in there, but then again, I've only really played these and the pups in my '72 Custom reissue. So I wonder if I'm missing out and not even realizing it!

December 4th, 2008, 05:41 PM	#5 (permalink)
FatTeleTom Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Evanston Age: 42 Posts: 294 7 Photos	I love the the way my set of Nocaster pickups (courtesy of Rice Custom Guitars in the giveaway a couple of years ago) sound in my Glendale Tele. I've also been knocked out by every Nocaster guitar I've tried. How much of that is down to pickups versus the rest of the guitar, I can't say, but I don't think there's any question that the sound of Nocaster pickups really appeals to me. As for putting them in an inexpensive guitar, in my very limited experience, pickups can make a huge difference. If you like the playability of the guitar in question, there's a good chance a pickup upgrade will get you a good portion of the way towards a great guitar tone. As an example, I recently dropped a Seymour Duncan Jazz humbucker in the neck position of my Ibanez Arcore AS3 (a $299 335-style guitar). Huge improvement. The old pickup sound fine, but the SD Jazz sounds much, much better to me.

December 4th, 2008, 06:28 PM	#8 (permalink)
Durtdog Friend of Leo's Join Date: May 2004 Location: Tennessee Posts: 3,904	It's the heart of your Tele's sound. If you like your guitar and you like Nocaster pickups, I'd say it's well worth it to put them in.

December 4th, 2008, 07:52 PM	#11 (permalink)
Big Mike Simpson Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Gilbert, AZ (PHX) Age: 53 Posts: 1,978 69 Photos	I have them in my pinecaster and they sound great... I think I paid $110 on ebay. I did a quick search on ebay and found a set for $120 + $9 shipping http://cgi.ebay.com/Fender-Custom-Sh...1%7C240%3A1318 __________________ http://www.myspace.com/bigmikesimpson

December 4th, 2008, 08:07 PM	#12 (permalink)
yegbert Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Clinton, Maryland (US) Age: 55 Posts: 5,681 95 Photos	I have a set I pieced together from garage sale deals with a couple of TDPRI members. The neck is the most clear and trebly Tele neck pickup I've played. I bought it first and didn't like it paired with any of my other bridge pickups, but I like it with the Nocaster bridge pickup I just bought recently. Not sure how much of my coming to like the neck is because it works better with that particular bridge pickup, or just that I got acclimated to it. I think they are worth the $125 per set I see them going for from some ebay dealers regularly. If you can find them for the $100-110 some others have lucked into, even better. There's one ebay dealer who sells the neck and bridge individually, but I think he's breaking up a set. I think this for two reasons: 1) my local Fender dealer said they could only order them for me in a set; and 2) when that ebay dealer puts them out there individually, I see both neck and bridge listings at about the same time. The bridge pickup tends to sell first and with buy it now, then the neck takes longer to sell and he won't put another set up until after the neck has sold. So if you buy a set, don't like them and want to flip them, you're likely to find a buyer for the bridge more quickly than for the neck. Mine are the current spec, both pickups in the low 7k range, not the earlier ones with a higher DC resistance (~10k?) bridge.

December 4th, 2008, 08:34 PM	#13 (permalink)
Astro1176 Tele-Holic Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: UK Posts: 734 17 Photos	Hope this isn't a stupid question, but... From what I read, historically speaking, Fender didn't particularly change the way they made pickups into the nocaster period, althought there was huge variance from one pickup to another. Hence I would imagine that original broadcaster and nocaster pickups were the same but varied a lot from one particular example to another. So anyway - Fender make a Broadcaster and Nocaster pickups. I guess the Broadcaster is based on one specific broadcaster pickup, and the nocaster on a particular nocaster pickup? Are they very similar in construction and detail to each other? My Baja has Broadcaster in the bridge position - if anyone has tried the nocaster PU and broadcaster - how do they differ and are they pretty similar? Thanks

December 4th, 2008, 09:01 PM	#14 (permalink)
ajgus Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: chicago Posts: 3,003	Good question Astro...I thought they were the same. __________________ "...it's just a wonderful sound..."- GE Smith

December 4th, 2008, 09:44 PM	#18 (permalink)
Astro1176 Tele-Holic Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: UK Posts: 734 17 Photos	thanks for that mistermullens, clips would be a bonus, but knowing they are pretty similar is great.

December 4th, 2008, 10:16 PM	#19 (permalink)
taterhead Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Fort Payne, AL Age: 35 Posts: 126	I have 'em in a tele I put together. I like the neck alot because it sounds more stratty to me, roll the tone back a little and it sounds fat and sweet. When you roll the tone off for the bridge it doesn't make the neck TOO dark. They work together well for me. I like 'em.

December 4th, 2008, 11:25 PM	#21 (permalink)
teleguitar TDPRI Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 60	I have a CIJ '52 Tele with the OV pups which sound too thin to me. Can I expect a different / fuller sound with the Nocasters? Thanks

December 4th, 2008, 11:40 PM	#22 (permalink)
spicolli Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: 315 Age: 33 Posts: 462	i have the nocaster pups in both of my 60th anniversary limited inlay teles and i love them. they are both different sounding too but in good ways. 1 set has a bit higher output on the ohms meter, i'm sure thats also a reason for the different sound/tone. __________________ Rock and roll around my head Fifty watts happening

December 4th, 2008, 11:55 PM	#23 (permalink)
ajgus Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: chicago Posts: 3,003	Hmmm...spicolli, are those stock in the 60th Teles? I wonder how much the guitar itself has to do with the different sound & maybe not so much the pickups themselves...muy interesante.. __________________ "...it's just a wonderful sound..."- GE Smith

December 5th, 2008, 01:55 AM	#26 (permalink)
musicmatty Tele-Holic Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown Maryland Age: 42 Posts: 871 5 Photos	God forgive me, but Im not a fan of the 1950s Telecasters. The Youtube link above explains it all. The Flat pole piece bridge pup has a very different sound than the 1960s Teles. The CS 'Vintage Noiseless' and CS 'Texas Specials' pups, have that Burton, Rich, Cropper and Bob Wootton sound that drives me. The sounds of these Teles from both decades are two different bottles of Bourbon. Obviously the Teles of the Early 1950s wasn't based on Rock-N Roll as Rock-N Roll had not really broke out on the National sceen till 1955-56. Early 50s was still Pat Boone Pop and Jazz and old primative Country..certainly not the Honky Tonk type that would emerge later in the decade. These early 50s Teles sound like they were made just for that..Bluesy Jazz style music.

December 5th, 2008, 03:34 AM	#27 (permalink)
Rumblebones Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Fullerton, CA. Posts: 409	Could be an improvement for a CV.

December 5th, 2008, 04:02 AM	#28 (permalink)
atlas TDPRI Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: sweden Age: 42 Posts: 42	I use Nocaster neck pup and OV bridge pup,that`s a great combo Last edited by atlas; December 5th, 2008 at 04:53 AM.

December 5th, 2008, 03:16 PM	#29 (permalink)
kb1rcefn Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Prescott, Az Posts: 352	My friends at "Just Pickups" have them NEW for $98.99. I have used them several times, and they have outstanding service, etc. Great people - you should get to know them! click on this link: http://www.justpickups.com/Merchant2...e=099-2109-000 __________________ ".....just 'cause you wrote 'em, don't mean you can play 'em..." - Joe Walsh Last edited by kb1rcefn; December 5th, 2008 at 04:19 PM.

December 5th, 2008, 05:50 PM	#30 (permalink)
mistermullens Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Atlanta Age: 32 Posts: 3,601 36 Photos	Here are your sound clips. The first is the Baja. I'm the 2nd guitar on this one. I take a solo at about 3:02 to just past 4:00. The next solo is a slide solo at the end starting at about 7:00. Basement Blues Next up is my Esquire w/Nocaster pup. I'm the only guitar on this one. Thrill Is Gone __________________ Jonathan ReverbNation Twitter Teles & Esquires

December 5th, 2008, 10:11 PM	#31 (permalink)
Astro1176 Tele-Holic Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: UK Posts: 734 17 Photos	cool jams, mistermullens. Its a bit tricky to tell how similar they sound with the different songs, but they certainly have similar characters

December 5th, 2008, 11:53 PM	#32 (permalink)
casadyrocks Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: colorado Posts: 414	I have a 51 Nocaster as the bridge pickup in my 50's Classic, and while I don't use a bridge pickup in any guitar that I have , it really is awesome. Bright but not ice picky. I have a Five Two Duncan Nashville in the neck.

IMPORTANT:Treat everyone here with respect, no matter how difficult! No sex, drug, political, religion or hate discussion permitted here.

December 6th, 2008, 04:01 AM	#33 (permalink)
ajgus Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: chicago Posts: 3,003	Mullens, great clips...Thanks! kb1, thanks for that link...I've not seen that site. TDPRI, thanks for all of the input!!! __________________ "...it's just a wonderful sound..."- GE Smith

December 8th, 2008, 06:40 PM	#35 (permalink)
frogger Tele-Holic Join Date: May 2003 Location: Lincoln Nebraska Posts: 510	I love these pups in my 60th Anni 52 RI. Smooth Tele tone and no ice pick in the ear. The only pups other than the Nocasters that I like are Lollars. Cranked up in a Vibro-King the Nocasters are just plain killer. These pups rock..or twang..or get jazzy so try em guys ..You will not send them back!

December 8th, 2008, 07:10 PM	#36 (permalink)
titus Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 157	I have a set in a 2004 52RI. It's been a year and a half. I think they're staying. The OV's were too bright for me. I also tried Rio Grande (too much oomph), the Duncan Broadcaster (a bit strident) and a set of Dimarzio VV (too strat). The Nocasters were right for me because they can can cover so much ground. Like frogger says - they rock, twang, and get jazzy. -T __________________ 52ri>57Deluxe-mmm!

December 11th, 2008, 07:33 AM	#38 (permalink)
fernando Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Barcelona, Spain Posts: 676 16 Photos	anyone can compare the Nocasters and/or the OV to the Am. Std. pus?

December 11th, 2008, 07:55 PM	#39 (permalink)
boris bubbanov Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: New Orleans, LA + in the past Posts: 15,223	I think I can. As I installed a vintage style bridge assembly on a black 2005 (Z4) American Series, I can tell you the neck pickup on the American Series is really sweet; very nice pickup. And the "middle" setting (parallel) is also pretty nice. But the bridge by itself, EVEN with a vintage bridge does not carry its own weight. I hate describing any pickup as "thin" but I'm afraid it is apropos on the Am Se Bridge pup. All very quiet, which I like. I will try attaching a brass plated base plate to the bottom of the plastic base and try that. If that don't work, it goes in the pup drawer. And of course the Am Se "Cubic Zirc" of which I have 2 of the Tele form still with the original OV pickup upgrade, sounds pretty nice with the Callaham bent steel saddles and the last 1 better still with a vintage bridge assembly (not any easy operation to switch bridges). All of the above are pretty easily beat up by any one of the 8 AV52 FSR "Inlay" Teles I have with the No-Caster pups, which in turn are toasted by a real NOS No-caster. __________________ When i listen

December 12th, 2008, 08:37 AM	#40 (permalink)
fernando Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Barcelona, Spain Posts: 676 16 Photos	Thank you Boris. Would the Am Se neck pu be a good match with either the OV bridge or the Nocater bridge pus? Not just in terms of level but do they give a nice mid position?