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k_kohle · October 30th, 2009, 02:16 PM

Have an '03 Standard Tele, looking to get some new rails for it.

I play classic rock and some modern/alternative-edgier stuff, which of these would be best?

Fender Vintage Noiseless
Duncan Five-Two
Duncan TK2 Hot Lead Stack (Bridge)

..or something else?

sjtalon · October 30th, 2009, 04:17 PM

Seymour Duncan STHR-1 Hot Rails are nice too, and they have a neck one now.

http://www.seymourduncan.com/product...t_rails_for_t/

Chrismo · October 30th, 2009, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sjtalon

Seymour Duncan STHR-1 Hot Rails are nice too, and they have a neck one now.

http://www.seymourduncan.com/product...t_rails_for_t/

+1 Hot Rails is the way to go.

Also look into the GFS Lil' Punchers. They have a few sets; I believe the Modern Lead should do it.

kuringmundo · October 30th, 2009, 11:51 PM

im planning to get hot rails. ive read some reviews that say that its only good for a very over driven sound, and sounds bad clean. any thoughts?

Chrismo · October 31st, 2009, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kuringmundo

im planning to get hot rails. ive read some reviews that say that its only good for a very over driven sound, and sounds bad clean. any thoughts?

Typically the hotter a pickup is, the less chance of it sounding "good" clean. The best part of that clean shimmer is a lower output. I believe you can split these pickups so you may be able to salvage some clean tones.

nuckinfutters · November 3rd, 2009, 05:01 PM

I had a hot rail in my tele and it was excellent for an overdriven sound. No complaints there. As my playing style changed over the years however, (to a more indie sound) i found the cleans to be intolerable and put the stock pup back in. The hotrail is a one-trick pony.

Ben Harmless · November 3rd, 2009, 06:34 PM

I'd just add that another consideration is the bridge. The big honkin' modern bridge on the Standard Teles has a very different magnetic interaction with the pickup than does a vintage style bridge. I couldn't believe my ears when I made the switch back after a couple of years of falling out of love with my Tele when it had the modern bridge.

The vintage bridge really made everything much more articulate and tight. I can't recommend it enough. They are available with trimmed sides if you don't like the feel.

Oh, and my $.02 is that you shouldn't have to try to get a good clean tone out of any pickup. You should start with the clean tone, and see which one of those has the best dirty tones. For me, I won't touch a pickup that's marketed a "hot." They've never made me happy - and this is after about 14 years of playing in punk rock bands.

caliban335 · November 3rd, 2009, 07:09 PM

Quote:

You should start with the clean tone, and see which one of those has the best dirty tones.

+1 on that. Somebody else on this site wrote "You can dirty up clean, but you can't clean up dirty", or something to that effect. I'm in total agreement and have developed a new found respect for lower output pickups, particularly on Teles and Strats. Overdrive and distortion? That's what amps are for.

Fogboundturtle · November 3rd, 2009, 07:11 PM

I can tell you that my Dimarzio Area T on STD Tele is doing the job and they are quiet.

October 30th, 2009, 02:16 PM	#1 (permalink)
k_kohle NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Rhode Island Age: 22 Posts: 4	New Pickups for Std Tele Have an '03 Standard Tele, looking to get some new rails for it. I play classic rock and some modern/alternative-edgier stuff, which of these would be best? Fender Vintage Noiseless Duncan Five-Two Duncan TK2 Hot Lead Stack (Bridge) ..or something else? Last edited by k_kohle; October 30th, 2009 at 02:16 PM. Reason: formatting

November 3rd, 2009, 06:34 PM	#7 (permalink)
Ben Harmless Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Albany, NY US of A Posts: 4,348 13 Photos	I'd just add that another consideration is the bridge. The big honkin' modern bridge on the Standard Teles has a very different magnetic interaction with the pickup than does a vintage style bridge. I couldn't believe my ears when I made the switch back after a couple of years of falling out of love with my Tele when it had the modern bridge. The vintage bridge really made everything much more articulate and tight. I can't recommend it enough. They are available with trimmed sides if you don't like the feel. Oh, and my $.02 is that you shouldn't have to try to get a good clean tone out of any pickup. You should start with the clean tone, and see which one of those has the best dirty tones. For me, I won't touch a pickup that's marketed a "hot." They've never made me happy - and this is after about 14 years of playing in punk rock bands. __________________ "I think I'll go for the life of sin, followed by the last-minute, presto-change-o, deathbed repentance." - B. Simpson "...Because we all expect the truth, we must be the best of fools." - Stiff Little Fingers

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October 30th, 2009, 04:17 PM	#2 (permalink)
sjtalon Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Upper Peninsula of Michigan Age: 50 Posts: 901 7 Photos	Seymour Duncan STHR-1 Hot Rails are nice too, and they have a neck one now. http://www.seymourduncan.com/product...t_rails_for_t/

October 30th, 2009, 11:51 PM	#4 (permalink)
kuringmundo NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: manila Age: 28 Posts: 2	im planning to get hot rails. ive read some reviews that say that its only good for a very over driven sound, and sounds bad clean. any thoughts?

November 3rd, 2009, 05:01 PM	#6 (permalink)
nuckinfutters NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Kent, WA Age: 25 Posts: 4	I had a hot rail in my tele and it was excellent for an overdriven sound. No complaints there. As my playing style changed over the years however, (to a more indie sound) i found the cleans to be intolerable and put the stock pup back in. The hotrail is a one-trick pony.

November 3rd, 2009, 07:11 PM	#9 (permalink)
Fogboundturtle Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Burnaby, BC Age: 35 Posts: 130	I can tell you that my Dimarzio Area T on STD Tele is doing the job and they are quiet.

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