How are the pickups on the Roadworn Tele's?

[Telecaster2120]

I know they are Tex-Mex but how do they sound? Im sure they aren't the best in the world but are they punchy enough? like for good classic rock. Looking for a backup model and I was going to go with the 2009 Artic White MIM but Im a sucker for the road worn look I know. As long as they have that good punchy sound I don't mind getting one

[Don Mare]

The MIM RW bridge on mine was a "machine wound" 8.2k - loud & proud! it was~
Alnico 5 - plastic chassis with an authentic forbon like ( painted) looking aged bobbin top- there is no base plate - but two large screws to take the place of the added load that the base plates metal adds...
The neck on mine was dead.. / DOA.. or died in action so I swapped them out.

I did rewind the original bridge to 8.5k using my "hand wound" pattern - but its here on the wall - just have not had time to test how they accept rewinding - also my wax potting must have been too hot for plastic chassis - (normally its set for Forbon) and I lost the patina work that was painted on the top of the bridge pickup - and I exposed a seam line thru the center - so if you do opt for rewinding - be sure to tell the person - do not run the wax very hot at all - I do suspect that rewinding them will have very cool results! - they are a worthy base to rewind with!..


Over all - its a well designed "Machine Wound" set of pickups - my hat goes off to Fender for a job well done.

[teleboli]

Hey Don. Having said that the tex mex's are well designed and pretty decent stock p/u's, what would you say the differences would be in a road worn tele with a pair of your 50's vintage modifieds as replacements. Okay I admit it. I'm just fishing for feedback on the vintage modified set.

[Don Mare]

Originally Posted by teleboli

Hey Don. Having said that the tex mex's are well designed and pretty decent stock p/u's, what would you say the differences would be in a road worn tele with a pair of your 50's vintage modifieds as replacements. Okay I admit it. I'm just fishing for feedback on the vintage modified set.

allot of my friends sell machine winds _ I'd like to keep them as friends - hehe
thanks anyways.. nice try ..

[teleboli]

Okay. I feel the need to clarify. I was only looking for thoughts on the 50's Vintage Modified set because they're a new product and I'm considering purchasing a set, as are the two other chaps in my band. I wasn't thinking to compare them, just wondering about their sound. Probably should've worded the question differently. No harm intended.

[Don Mare]

Originally Posted by teleboli

Okay. I feel the need to clarify. I was only looking for thoughts on the 50's Vintage Modified set because they're a new product and I'm considering purchasing a set, as are the two other chaps in my band. I wasn't thinking to compare them, just wondering about their sound. Probably should've worded the question differently. No harm intended.

ahh no prob..

a favor --
I'd feel more "comfy" if i was do this entertaining... etc.. in the - pm's - or on home email, or better yet on the phone -
cause i'm not wanting to push the gray area of commercial rules here at all..
thanks for asking though, Don

[OaklandA]

I don't own a Road Worn, though I'd like to. But I've spent some time with a couple and found the stock pickups to sound really good and would think that most people would be pretty happy with them.

Myself, I'd most likely swap them out, but that's just a habit I have with Teles.

[boris bubbanov]

If you have access to a MIM Dlx Nashville with stock pickups, you can at least hear what the individual neck and bridge pickups should sound like as they're the same, except for the cosmetic appearance Don just mentioned, and the Nashville N + B are not RWRP towards each other. You see this with all the different variants on this non base plated A3 pickup which shows up in about 1/2 of all MIM Tele models; same pickup, even with the same parts number but some differences.

This lil bridge pickup sounds better with a base plate attached. I just stuck one in an Esquire.

[Ricky D.]

The stock pickups in the road worn are ok if you like that muffled, muddy overwound sound. Not to my taste at all. I prefer the Don Mare Supersports in my #1 or the Fender OV's I have in another guitar.