new p'ups for my Tele?

[steelpicker]

I have a Squire "Tele", and I play traditional country mostly. I have been thinking maybe I need to install new pickups to get a better country sound. Which p'ups would you all suggest. I realize the pickups would cost more than the guitar, but that is not the point, since I already have the guitar and probably can't afford a "real" Tele. And anyway I have a Reverend Club King, which is kind of Tele designed, that plays and sounds fantastic. I just want to give the Tele a better tone.

[sjtalon]

Tonerider Vintage Plus Set - TRT1
Keystones
The above are Very affordable !

Fender Nocasters
Fender Original Vintage...................just to name a few of the 20 or so GOOD ones !

[lsdtele]

I am about to drop a set of Lindy Fralin blues specials in my Squier tele. If it looks good its gotta sound good.

[JayDee]

For traditional country I would recommend the Seymour Duncan STL-1b Broadcaster bridge pickup. It's pretty inexpensive. I think it was close to $60. I couldn't tell you as far as neck pickups are concerned. I like the neck pickups in my Teles so I've never changed them.
http://www.seymourduncan.com/product...ntage_broadca/

[DblStop]

Check out the Seymour Duncan Alnico 2 ,just put one in my main workhorse Tele a while back and it sounds great,very sweet sounding on the top end not brittle at all,has great country spank.I think I paid $ 50.00 for it brand new. Mark Moree aka DblStop

[dadawads]

I've had good results with GFS fatbody tele pickups. I replaced a set of Japanese Fender pups with a set of fatbodies and really liked the change. Bigger fatter sound, but still very tele.

Dadawads

[Thin69]

Hi,
The first Strat I bought years ago was a Squier. I actually installed Fender Custom Shop pickups in it with new pickguard and controls which was worth more than twice the guitar. When I sold it I put the originals Squier pickups back in. It is easy to sell quality pickups, either by themselves or in a pickguard. By doing this I really did not lose any money on that Squier and selling the Custom Shop pickups by themselves yielded a much much price than if they were in the Squier.

[Jeff_K]

Welcome, Steelpicker! You know, it doesn't have to say Made In USA to qualify as a "real" Tele. My upgraded Squier standard with a good setup and noiseless pickups can play with just about anything and cost less than a MIM Tele at the OLD price. It's an absolute steal at current prices. I've seen people here even say their MIM wasn't a "real" Tele. Come on! It's like the famous Potter Stewart quote: I don't know what a Tele is, but I know it when I see it.

As for upgrading your pickups, there are many tips and reviews over in the pickups forum. I have the GFS Neovin Hard Vintage pickups in my Squier and they are great. You can get some excellent Bill Lawrence pickups for very reasonable prices, too, and they are very highly regarded here. Many other choices you can look at for good prices and don't overlook the classifieds in TDPRI, either. I've seen many good deals there. Welcome to TDPRI (not that I'm the official Welcome Wagon) and don't feel bad that you have a Squier. All are welcome here and some of us are even proud to play a Squier. I am! It sounds great at the right price. I thought the stock Squier pickups sounded pretty good, too, though they had a little of the Tele hum.

[Parma_TeleMon]

Just finished putting a set of GFS NeoVin "Mega Texas" pups in a friend's Squire Bullet hardtail Strat. VERY pleased and rediculously inexpensive. I normally don't bond well with single coil bridge pickups, but this one's sweeeeeet and the whole rig sounds very stratty.

[moondogz]

Jason Lollar tele pups or Rio Grande tall boys....Harmony Central seems like a good resource. I have a mim tele with Rio Grande's...I love the sound, also a cij Aerodyne with a Lollar 52 in the bridge position...very impressive..good luck on your "tone quest."

[Tonetele]

Tonerider TRT2- Alnico 111 magnets, great note separation and killer tone. Also very affordable. Tonetele, Australia.

[eggman]

Howdy,

I'd suggest DiMarzio Twang Kings or Fender OV. Either should be right up your alley. I'm quite happy with DiMarzio's Twang Kings. They sound fanstastic in my USACG Mahogany Tele: Neck, middle and bridge positions are all great for Buck Owens clear up to Keith Richards. Good luck!

Eggman

[steelpicker]

Thanks for all the replys guys. I took JayDee's advice and went with Seymour Duncan STL-1b, in the bridge slot only. I am pleased with the outcome I think. Before the old p'up was kind of schrill, that is gone now. At the same time, I might add, I retubed my Valve jr., wich is my main Tele amp. So maybe both have an equal affect. I get sparkly highs and good bass tone. Did I mention I was happy?

[boris bubbanov]

STL-1b is a very nice pup, I like them. I prefer the flat pole pieces.

I guess your "middle" is out of phase unless you have a new separate ground lead for your stock Squier neck pup. I'll bet you're right about the amp, tho. Big factor.

I changed not only the bridge pickup (to Keystone) but the bridge itself on all my Squier Teles. The Seymour Duncans are all in the necks! (Phat Cat, Seth, Model 59).

[maumari]

In my (limited) experience I use
Tonerider Vintage Plus Set when I gotta be cheap (but sound great! worth a try)
Fender Original Vintage when I can spend twice (but... what a tone!)

Hope it helps

Mauro

[steelpicker]

Boris. Yes, the pickup installation sheet showed how to ground the neck p'up. You are right on