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microphonic squeal · February 19th, 2009, 11:19 AM

Has anyone put a neck humbucker in a '69 thinline reissue?
If so, are there any "gotcha's" to watch out for, and how did it work out?

Chrismo · February 19th, 2009, 04:27 PM

I did. And I regretted it.

The Thinlines are an usual "beast" in the sense that they are very picky as to what you use for them. I had a nickel covered Alnico II Pro that I found to be muddy in that guitar, but an uncovered '59 was too sterile.

Are you going for a Stones/Police vibe with this one? If so, stick with single coils and use a set of Alnico II Pros for Tele. I get great Stones overdrive and warm Police tones as well.

Go overwound before you go with a humbucker in this guitar.

caliban335 · February 19th, 2009, 04:49 PM

I put a pair of Lollar pickups in my '69 RI. The bridge was a Special T and the neck was a Charlie Christian. Great rock tone. I also changed out the bridge for a compensated Wilkinson and replaced the 1 meg pots with 250k. I thought about getting another and putting TV Jones Classics in the neck and bridge, but I need to save up for that.

Good luck.

Chrismo · February 19th, 2009, 05:35 PM

I'd go for a P90 in the neck before a full humbucker.

castpolymer · February 19th, 2009, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrismo

I did. And I regretted it.

The Thinlines are an usual "beast" in the sense that they are very picky as to what you use for them. I had a nickel covered Alnico II Pro that I found to be muddy in that guitar, but an uncovered '59 was too sterile.

Are you going for a Stones/Police vibe with this one? If so, stick with single coils and use a set of Alnico II Pros for Tele. I get great Stones overdrive and warm Police tones as well.

Go overwound before you go with a humbucker in this guitar.

+ 1. Thinlines are a fickle mistress. I have a '69 and a '72. I finally made friends with the '72 after almost a year.

Chrismo · February 19th, 2009, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by castpolymer

+ 1. Thinlines are a fickle mistress. I have a '69 and a '72. I finally made friends with the '72 after almost a year.

Before I bonded with my '72, I sold it.

Love the **** out of my mahogany '69 thinline now, but it took MANY trials to get it just right.

February 19th, 2009, 11:19 AM	#1 (permalink)
microphonic squeal Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2004 Location: Atlanta GA Posts: 260	Neck Humbucker in 69 Thinline Has anyone put a neck humbucker in a '69 thinline reissue? If so, are there any "gotcha's" to watch out for, and how did it work out? __________________ microphonic squeal

February 19th, 2009, 04:27 PM	#2 (permalink)
Chrismo Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia Age: 21 Posts: 1,391 7 Photos	I did. And I regretted it. The Thinlines are an usual "beast" in the sense that they are very picky as to what you use for them. I had a nickel covered Alnico II Pro that I found to be muddy in that guitar, but an uncovered '59 was too sterile. Are you going for a Stones/Police vibe with this one? If so, stick with single coils and use a set of Alnico II Pros for Tele. I get great Stones overdrive and warm Police tones as well. Go overwound before you go with a humbucker in this guitar. __________________ Well let me just quote the late-great Colonel Sanders, who said..."I'm too drunk to taste this chicken." http://thetonechasers.wordpress.com/

February 19th, 2009, 04:49 PM	#3 (permalink)
caliban335 Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2007 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Age: 55 Posts: 402	I put a pair of Lollar pickups in my '69 RI. The bridge was a Special T and the neck was a Charlie Christian. Great rock tone. I also changed out the bridge for a compensated Wilkinson and replaced the 1 meg pots with 250k. I thought about getting another and putting TV Jones Classics in the neck and bridge, but I need to save up for that. Good luck. __________________ Jemima surrender. That's all ya hafta do. I'll bring over my Fender & I'll play all night fer you.

February 19th, 2009, 05:35 PM	#4 (permalink)
Chrismo Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia Age: 21 Posts: 1,391 7 Photos	I'd go for a P90 in the neck before a full humbucker. __________________ Well let me just quote the late-great Colonel Sanders, who said..."I'm too drunk to taste this chicken." http://thetonechasers.wordpress.com/

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