Need Pro advice on Tele pickups!

fontanaman · October 21st, 2009, 11:38 PM

I recently purchased a Tele Highway one. I've been playing guitar for 17 years, but this is my first Tele. I really like the guitar, and I think the pickups sound pretty good, however I can't stand how noisy they are. I want to upgrade them. I want the Tele sound but without the noise. I know there are noiseless pickups available, and I wanted to know if this is my best option? What are my options?

bingy · October 21st, 2009, 11:49 PM

I'm using Fender noiseless in one guitar.

I'm really happy with them...however in my single coil guitars I'm not overly bothered with noise. Unless the local wiring is bad.

Are you playing high gain through a lot of boxes? 'cause thats where the problem usually gets to be a problem.

Chet Johnson · October 21st, 2009, 11:50 PM

I am VERY pleased with my Dimarzio Area T's. They sound very much a single coil tone, and are hum cancelling. They'll be a HUGE upgrade over those stock pickups.

HOBBSTER01 · October 22nd, 2009, 12:16 AM

I like the spank of Rio Grande Vintage Tallboys.
Can be a tiny bit noisy though.
I also use Dimarzio Area T's and Bill Lawrence pups.
I recommend them all.
Of course Bardens are great if you can stand the price.
It's really hard to recommend a pup since I don't know your style, attack etc.
I use only fingernails and what might work for me might for you.
Best of luck.
Aw hell, just go with the Bardens.

Ronkirn · October 22nd, 2009, 12:29 AM

Bill Lawrence's pups are about the finest out there..

rk

indiobravo · October 22nd, 2009, 01:32 AM

kinda leaning towards bingy's train of thought - frankly i would be more interested in when and how they are noisier. I have a highway one and it's just not that noisy - so maybe there is something going on with fontanaman's particular setup? does he have another guitar that is quieter or also noisy?

Wayne Alexander · October 22nd, 2009, 02:06 AM

Kinman 60's pickups for the thinner brighter 60's tones, or the Kinman Broadcaster set for fatter 50's tones - these sound like good alnico single coil tele pickups but they're noiseless. Joe Barden's tele set sounds less "colored" and more hi-fi, with more bass and treble than regular tele pickups. Bardens have a very good sound and are very versatile if you use your volume and tone controls. Both Kinmans and Bardens are noiseless and will work well in bad electrical environments like dive clubs. I personally don't like the Fender noiseless pickups as much as these two, the Fender ones sound harsh and sterile to me by comparison. I haven't tried the Dimarzios or the Bill Lawrence noiseless ones.

Nash · October 22nd, 2009, 02:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ronkirn

Bill Lawrence's pups are about the finest out there..

rk

+1

I've yet to hear pickups I liked more than Bill Lawrence's

fontanaman · October 22nd, 2009, 11:40 AM

This forum is awesome! So many replies in less than a day. Thanks guys.

Well, I'm a big Bill Frisell (and Adam Rogers) fan, so if I could come close to Frisell's tone, I'd be a happy camper. Basically I'm into jazz and fusion players...

As far as my setup goes, I've been using the Tele pretty much to teach. I'm always using either a roland cube, a line 6 or a small fender amp. No pedals whatsoever. I'm used to playing 335's and les paul's.

So, as far as my taste goes I'm looking for a jazz tone but also need a good rock tone for teaching purposes. Which of the following PUPS that have been mentioned would fit my needs:

-Fender noiseless
-Dimarzio Area T's
-Rio Grande Vintage Tallboys
-Bill Lawrence
-Bardens
-Kinman 60's
-Kinman Broadcaster

Thanks again!

yorick · October 25th, 2009, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fontanaman

This forum is awesome! So many replies in less than a day. Thanks guys.

Well, I'm a big Bill Frisell (and Adam Rogers) fan, so if I could come close to Frisell's tone, I'd be a happy camper. Basically I'm into jazz and fusion players...

As far as my setup goes, I've been using the Tele pretty much to teach. I'm always using either a roland cube, a line 6 or a small fender amp. No pedals whatsoever. I'm used to playing 335's and les paul's.

So, as far as my taste goes I'm looking for a jazz tone but also need a good rock tone for teaching purposes. Which of the following PUPS that have been mentioned would fit my needs:

-Fender noiseless
-Dimarzio Area T's
-Rio Grande Vintage Tallboys
-Bill Lawrence
-Bardens
-Kinman 60's
-Kinman Broadcaster

Thanks again!

I'm in the same situation.
Actually I'm undecided among Dimarzio Area T, Rio Grande Tallboy and Bill Lawrence (maybe L200TN/L280TN and L290TL)

fontanaman · October 26th, 2009, 02:01 PM

Yorick. Let me know what pickups you end up getting.

October 21st, 2009, 11:38 PM	#1 (permalink)
fontanaman NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Miami Beach Age: 32 Posts: 9	Need Pro advice on Tele pickups! I recently purchased a Tele Highway one. I've been playing guitar for 17 years, but this is my first Tele. I really like the guitar, and I think the pickups sound pretty good, however I can't stand how noisy they are. I want to upgrade them. I want the Tele sound but without the noise. I know there are noiseless pickups available, and I wanted to know if this is my best option? What are my options?

October 22nd, 2009, 12:16 AM	#4 (permalink)
HOBBSTER01 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Ringgold, Ga. Age: 47 Posts: 1,631 4 Photos	I like the spank of Rio Grande Vintage Tallboys. Can be a tiny bit noisy though. I also use Dimarzio Area T's and Bill Lawrence pups. I recommend them all. Of course Bardens are great if you can stand the price. It's really hard to recommend a pup since I don't know your style, attack etc. I use only fingernails and what might work for me might for you. Best of luck. Aw hell, just go with the Bardens. __________________ The Hobbster

October 22nd, 2009, 12:29 AM	#5 (permalink)
Ronkirn VENDOR Friend of Leo's Join Date: May 2003 Location: Jacksonville, FL Age: 63 Posts: 3,924	Bill Lawrence's pups are about the finest out there.. rk __________________ www.ronkirn.com

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October 21st, 2009, 11:49 PM	#2 (permalink)
bingy Tele-Holic Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Champlain Valley,Vermont, USA Posts: 737	I'm using Fender noiseless in one guitar. I'm really happy with them...however in my single coil guitars I'm not overly bothered with noise. Unless the local wiring is bad. Are you playing high gain through a lot of boxes? 'cause thats where the problem usually gets to be a problem.

October 21st, 2009, 11:50 PM	#3 (permalink)
Chet Johnson Tele-Holic Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Woodsfield, OH Age: 32 Posts: 523 15 Photos	I am VERY pleased with my Dimarzio Area T's. They sound very much a single coil tone, and are hum cancelling. They'll be a HUGE upgrade over those stock pickups.

October 22nd, 2009, 01:32 AM	#6 (permalink)
indiobravo Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Raleigh NC Age: 44 Posts: 459	kinda leaning towards bingy's train of thought - frankly i would be more interested in when and how they are noisier. I have a highway one and it's just not that noisy - so maybe there is something going on with fontanaman's particular setup? does he have another guitar that is quieter or also noisy?

October 22nd, 2009, 02:06 AM	#7 (permalink)
Wayne Alexander Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA Posts: 1,351	Kinman 60's pickups for the thinner brighter 60's tones, or the Kinman Broadcaster set for fatter 50's tones - these sound like good alnico single coil tele pickups but they're noiseless. Joe Barden's tele set sounds less "colored" and more hi-fi, with more bass and treble than regular tele pickups. Bardens have a very good sound and are very versatile if you use your volume and tone controls. Both Kinmans and Bardens are noiseless and will work well in bad electrical environments like dive clubs. I personally don't like the Fender noiseless pickups as much as these two, the Fender ones sound harsh and sterile to me by comparison. I haven't tried the Dimarzios or the Bill Lawrence noiseless ones.

October 22nd, 2009, 11:40 AM	#9 (permalink)
fontanaman NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Miami Beach Age: 32 Posts: 9	This forum is awesome! So many replies in less than a day. Thanks guys. Well, I'm a big Bill Frisell (and Adam Rogers) fan, so if I could come close to Frisell's tone, I'd be a happy camper. Basically I'm into jazz and fusion players... As far as my setup goes, I've been using the Tele pretty much to teach. I'm always using either a roland cube, a line 6 or a small fender amp. No pedals whatsoever. I'm used to playing 335's and les paul's. So, as far as my taste goes I'm looking for a jazz tone but also need a good rock tone for teaching purposes. Which of the following PUPS that have been mentioned would fit my needs: -Fender noiseless -Dimarzio Area T's -Rio Grande Vintage Tallboys -Bill Lawrence -Bardens -Kinman 60's -Kinman Broadcaster Thanks again!

October 26th, 2009, 02:01 PM	#11 (permalink)
fontanaman NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Miami Beach Age: 32 Posts: 9	Yorick. Let me know what pickups you end up getting.

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