Thindly fralin's in a tele

[tele0053]

No offense meant in any way to lindy fralin, but i've got two of 'em in a late 90's mij 50's tele.
Quite honestly i've gotta' say they're anemic, and cheap sounding, these are the ones that have the staggered pole pieces, i have other teles reissues w/SD's that have singing sustain, punchy twang, but the Fralins are well, very thin, and plink plinky.
Anybody else experienced this problem w/these? My bridge is vintage style three piece w/the big brass pieces. But still...
Plinky planky plink... yuuchh!
Where's the beef?
Oh by the way, I bought these were stock replacement pups, they were not underwound customed pups.
Are his strat pups better?

[e-merlin]

Most everyone here that has them raves about them. Hope you have your Nomex suit on 'cause I'm betting there will be some flames.

On the other hand, one guy I knew told me they turned his guitar into the Celene Dion of Teles.

I personally have no experience with them because I'm pretty happy with my Chandlers.

[TheGoodTexan]

Originally Posted by tele0053

Are his strat pups better?

Actually, I've never even tried Fralins in a Tele...specifically because I had the same experience that you've described with a set of standard issue Fralins for Strat a few years ago (1997?).

I'm not familiar with Fralin model names, but the ones I had were not "vintage" or "hot" or anything...just "Fralin replacement set for Strat".

I do know that a lot of folks swear by them (the Fralins). They just didn't do it for me. If I had a chance to try one out again, for a really cheap price (like, free) I would give them another shot. I've just had so much sucess with Duncans and Rio Grandes, I usually don't even try anything else anymore.

[Flipped Mustang]

I have a set of Blues Specials in my Tele and really couldn't be happier with them. Very full bodied and lots of tone and sustain. I think there will be differing sounds in any individual electronic item, be it a pickup, an amp or a guitar even from the same manufacturer. If you're the original purchaser, Lindy would be glad to rewind them for you to your tastes.
FM

[BADFISH]

I had a set of Fralin strat pickups in a 1974 Strat (hardtail, ash body with a rosewood fretboard) it was the BIGGEST sounding strat I have ever had (And I don't like those 70's Guitars. So I got rid of the guitar and kept those Magic pickups..... I put the pickups in my next strat................. NO magic????? It just sounded good. CRAP! I guess pickups take on the character of the guitar, even solid body.
I bet your fralins would not sound just the same in another strat. I have personally heard nothing but really good tone from Fralins.

[Mark Davis]

If the Fralins sounded thin weak and anemic my guess is the polarity was backwards cause they just dont sound like that any of them Strat or Tele all sound great to me.

I have heard about 35 guitars with Fralins in them all sounded great to me.

[TheGoodTexan]

Originally Posted by BADFISH

I guess pickups take on the character of the guitar, even solid body.

I bet this is more true than we know.

BUT

There are just as many people that say the wood makes very little difference in the tone a solid body.

[TheBenLow]

If you don't like 'em then you don't like 'em. I just got a MIJ Tele loaded with Fralin blues and am thinking of switching them as they feed back too much through my rig(Marshall half-stack).

They've got a cool sound, and I test drove them on my friends Teles-all of which got 'em and sound great, but they're not really practical for the type of music I play-loud, bluesy rock n'roll.

What works for one person doesn't work for everyone.
Heck, Hound Dog Taylor played a 5 pickup no name Japanese cheapo and sounded like gangbusters.

[BADFISH]

I have a Warmoth/Fralin/Callaham Tele that sounds Giant... It is a standard (Flatpole) rear pickup. I noticed the pole pieces are real close to the strings...This pickup pushes my amps into distortion much faster then any other Tele I have ever played. The front pickup is a standard (Chrome cover) ,it's lush and thick sounding with less volume then the rear pup, maybe I can raise it up? I hope you don't give up o he fralins, they may still pan-out?