Tele suggestion: I know what I don't want.

octatonic · October 30th, 2009, 04:05 PM

Hi all,

I have a Warmoth hollow goldtop Tele (swamp ash) with maple neck/macassar ebony fingerboard and I am a bit stumped for what pickups to put in it.

I already have my two Kinman tele's with Barden and Harmonic Designs in them.
I guess I am looking for traditional tele tone as the Barden's do 'ballsy Gattonesque' and the HD's do 'thick tele-paul' tones.

I currently have Seymour Duncans in there (vintage stacks) which I am pretty unimpressed with. Too muffled and bland compared to what I am used to with the Bardens.

Wondering what people might suggest- budget is a non-issue and I am happy to try.buy a couple of different options.
This is a lovely, lively, resonant guitar and I want to make the best of those qualities.

Thanks ppl.

Tele295 · October 30th, 2009, 05:27 PM

Get away from the stacks.

I highly recommend Don Mare's single coil Tele pickups - pick yer favorite flavor

surfco · October 30th, 2009, 05:40 PM

I highly recommend the guy who knows about physics and electronics more than any other guitar pickup maker in the market: Bill Lawrence.
Check out his website at www.billlawrence.com and www.wildepickups.com

franchelB · October 31st, 2009, 03:04 PM

Have you tried Bare Knuckle Pickups? UK made.

cousinpaul · October 31st, 2009, 03:46 PM

Have you tried 500k pots with the stacks?

octatonic · November 1st, 2009, 01:20 PM

Hi guys,

will check all these options.
I have tried 500k pots and 250k as well.
I guess stacks are just not for me.

Jim

johnnylaw · November 19th, 2009, 12:20 PM

I built a Thinline and went for the Tonerider vintage (not hot) pickups for twang, definition, and percussiveness (if that is a word!?).

Short version of the story: I am very pleased with the musicality and complexity of the sonic structure delivered by these pickups. They definitely capture the essence of that "traditional" character you've mentioned. They're fairly priced too!

I'm keeping them. (I also have a Thinline that came stock from Fender with Bardens, and I love them, but "traditional" they ain't!)

Fiver · November 19th, 2009, 06:41 PM

I was waiting to put together a review with some clips but something is not working with recording setup.

Anyhow, I have just put together a parts tele and I put in some pickups by Roadhouse. I got the Specials. I am very happy with these. The neck is full and balanced and the bridge does not have that ice picky thing going on. They are very smooth yet have that tele character to em'. A buddy does finger picking and he thought they were great too. Nice percussive sound and even across the strings.

Soon as I can get a clip or two I'll try to share.

loudguitars · November 19th, 2009, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tele295

Get away from the stacks.

I highly recommend Don Mare's single coil Tele pickups - pick yer favorite flavor

I have and love a Stingray triple tapped Bridge Pickup and am getting a Bigbox neck as soon as I can.

I HATED my Vintage Stacks. Sterile and very dead sounding!
THe Area Ts were not much better, Love the Mares. Worth every single penny!

Tony474 · November 19th, 2009, 07:32 PM

Jim - Bare Knuckle seems like a good place to start if you're after traditional single-coils. Tim Mills winds them by hand in a variety of flavours, here in England. Why not check out his website www.bareknucklepickups.co.uk and maybe give him a call - I have found him approachable and helpful in the past. Cheers, Tony.

PS - I still owe you a set of business cards - call me.

bmgblues · November 20th, 2009, 12:33 AM

Budz Tall and 42. Traditional tele tone

Chet Johnson · November 20th, 2009, 01:01 AM

Peter Florance voo doo pickups are incredible. www.peterflorance.com

October 30th, 2009, 04:05 PM	#1 (permalink)
octatonic Friend of Leo's Join Date: May 2007 Location: An Australian in London. Age: 37 Posts: 2,741	Tele suggestion: I know what I don't want. Hi all, I have a Warmoth hollow goldtop Tele (swamp ash) with maple neck/macassar ebony fingerboard and I am a bit stumped for what pickups to put in it. I already have my two Kinman tele's with Barden and Harmonic Designs in them. I guess I am looking for traditional tele tone as the Barden's do 'ballsy Gattonesque' and the HD's do 'thick tele-paul' tones. I currently have Seymour Duncans in there (vintage stacks) which I am pretty unimpressed with. Too muffled and bland compared to what I am used to with the Bardens. Wondering what people might suggest- budget is a non-issue and I am happy to try.buy a couple of different options. This is a lovely, lively, resonant guitar and I want to make the best of those qualities. Thanks ppl. __________________ "A jazz musician is a juggler who uses harmonies instead of oranges." Benny Green

October 30th, 2009, 05:27 PM	#2 (permalink)
Tele295 Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: St. Latchodrom, CA Posts: 4,029 14 Photos	Get away from the stacks. I highly recommend Don Mare's single coil Tele pickups - pick yer favorite flavor __________________ "Turn it up and it doesn't need any reverb." - Danny Gatton www.dannygatton.info Tiger Town Aces - Music That Bites Back In Redd we trust! Free Bill Kirchen! If lawyers are disbarred and clergymen defrocked, doesn't it follow that electricians can be delighted, musicians denoted, cowboys deranged, models deposed, tree surgeons debarked, and dry cleaners depressed?

October 31st, 2009, 03:04 PM	#4 (permalink)
franchelB Friend of Leo's Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Irving, United States of Texas! Age: 44 Posts: 2,314	Have you tried Bare Knuckle Pickups? UK made. __________________ Feel free to visit my homepage! http://www.myspace.com/francisbalagtas

November 1st, 2009, 01:20 PM	#6 (permalink)
octatonic Friend of Leo's Join Date: May 2007 Location: An Australian in London. Age: 37 Posts: 2,741	Hi guys, will check all these options. I have tried 500k pots and 250k as well. I guess stacks are just not for me. Jim __________________ "A jazz musician is a juggler who uses harmonies instead of oranges." Benny Green

November 19th, 2009, 12:20 PM	#7 (permalink)
johnnylaw Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: New England Age: 52 Posts: 402	I built a Thinline and went for the Tonerider vintage (not hot) pickups for twang, definition, and percussiveness (if that is a word!?). Short version of the story: I am very pleased with the musicality and complexity of the sonic structure delivered by these pickups. They definitely capture the essence of that "traditional" character you've mentioned. They're fairly priced too! I'm keeping them. (I also have a Thinline that came stock from Fender with Bardens, and I love them, but "traditional" they ain't!) __________________ Its not how long you make it, its how you make it long.

October 30th, 2009, 05:40 PM	#3 (permalink)
surfco Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: ◙ Calexico, CA ◙ Posts: 756	I highly recommend the guy who knows about physics and electronics more than any other guitar pickup maker in the market: Bill Lawrence. Check out his website at www.billlawrence.com and www.wildepickups.com

October 31st, 2009, 03:46 PM	#5 (permalink)
cousinpaul Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Nashville TN Age: 58 Posts: 197	Have you tried 500k pots with the stacks?

November 19th, 2009, 06:41 PM	#8 (permalink)
Fiver TDPRI Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Orlando Fl. Posts: 18	I was waiting to put together a review with some clips but something is not working with recording setup. Anyhow, I have just put together a parts tele and I put in some pickups by Roadhouse. I got the Specials. I am very happy with these. The neck is full and balanced and the bridge does not have that ice picky thing going on. They are very smooth yet have that tele character to em'. A buddy does finger picking and he thought they were great too. Nice percussive sound and even across the strings. Soon as I can get a clip or two I'll try to share.

November 19th, 2009, 07:32 PM	#10 (permalink)
Tony474 Friend of Leo's Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: North Bushey, near London, England Age: 62 Posts: 2,441	Jim - Bare Knuckle seems like a good place to start if you're after traditional single-coils. Tim Mills winds them by hand in a variety of flavours, here in England. Why not check out his website www.bareknucklepickups.co.uk and maybe give him a call - I have found him approachable and helpful in the past. Cheers, Tony. PS - I still owe you a set of business cards - call me. __________________ *Proud to be The Man From Uncool.* I cried because I had no shoes - until I met a man who had no feet...

November 20th, 2009, 12:33 AM	#11 (permalink)
bmgblues TDPRI Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Nashville Posts: 78	Budz Tall and 42. Traditional tele tone

November 20th, 2009, 01:01 AM	#12 (permalink)
Chet Johnson Tele-Holic Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Woodsfield, OH Age: 32 Posts: 523 15 Photos	Peter Florance voo doo pickups are incredible. www.peterflorance.com

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