Telecaster 50's pickup help

HarpJim · November 29th, 2009, 05:49 PM

I just bought a used 50's Tele (the MIM reissue) and I'd like to find more info on the pickups that are in. Fender site says they are Vintage Style Single-Coil Tele® Pickups with Alnico Magnets and that's it.

What's supposed to be vintage? The flat pole pieces? The cotton wrapping? The PLASTIC bobbin?

BritishBluesBoy · November 29th, 2009, 05:54 PM

Vintage STYLE...

Mark Davis · November 29th, 2009, 06:00 PM

Just the way they look from a distance.

The neck pickup is great the bridge is too thin sounding for my tastes.

HarpJim · November 29th, 2009, 06:03 PM

Yes, from a distance.

And I agree with you on the neck PU. I really like it.
The bridge one lack of "personality" to my taste.

Mark Davis · November 29th, 2009, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarpJim

Yes, from a distance.

And I agree with you on the neck PU. I really like it.
The bridge one lack of "personality" to my taste.

The 50's Classic works great with any of these bridge pickups and they match well with the stock neck pickup.

Seymour Duncan Broadcaster
52 ri
Nocaster
Peter Florance Voodoo

HarpJim · November 29th, 2009, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Davis

The 50's Classic works great with any of these bridge pickups and they match well with the stock neck pickup.

Seymour Duncan Broadcaster
52 ri
Nocaster
Peter Florance Voodoo

Thank you for the hint, but I think I'll go for one I made myself to real "vintage" specs.

bradpdx · November 30th, 2009, 01:31 PM

Don't forget that there is no single '50's "vintage spec" for pickups, because Fender made several different types in a short time period ranging from quite hot (those 8K Broadcaster) to much brighter (late '50s staggered poles @ 6.2K). They are all good, but you might prefer one type over the others.

davidge1 · December 1st, 2009, 05:33 PM

I have a 50s Classic and I really like the sound of the bridge pickup... it doesn't sound thin to me at all. What I don't like is the neck pickup, which is completely muddy the way I set my amp.

I think it all comes down to what amp you use and how you set it. If you set the amp to where it sounds good on the neck pickup, the bridge pickup would sound too bright and harsh. In other words, the two pickups are not balanced... but that's a Telecaster.

November 29th, 2009, 05:49 PM	#1 (permalink)
HarpJim Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 507	Telecaster 50's pickup help I just bought a used 50's Tele (the MIM reissue) and I'd like to find more info on the pickups that are in. Fender site says they are Vintage Style Single-Coil Tele® Pickups with Alnico Magnets and that's it. What's supposed to be vintage? The flat pole pieces? The cotton wrapping? The PLASTIC bobbin?

November 29th, 2009, 05:54 PM	#2 (permalink)
BritishBluesBoy Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 8,796 62 Photos	Vintage STYLE... __________________ BBB.

November 29th, 2009, 06:00 PM	#3 (permalink)
Mark Davis Telefied Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bakersfield Ca. Age: 59 Posts: 21,685	Just the way they look from a distance. The neck pickup is great the bridge is too thin sounding for my tastes. __________________ I'm so blind my seeing eye dog needs glasses.

November 30th, 2009, 01:31 PM	#7 (permalink)
bradpdx Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Portland, OR Age: 52 Posts: 1,460 11 Photos	Don't forget that there is no single '50's "vintage spec" for pickups, because Fender made several different types in a short time period ranging from quite hot (those 8K Broadcaster) to much brighter (late '50s staggered poles @ 6.2K). They are all good, but you might prefer one type over the others. __________________ ---------- Tech Geek and Sensitive Artiste String bender ordinare!

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November 29th, 2009, 06:03 PM	#4 (permalink)
HarpJim Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 507	Yes, from a distance. And I agree with you on the neck PU. I really like it. The bridge one lack of "personality" to my taste.

December 1st, 2009, 05:33 PM	#8 (permalink)
davidge1 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: USA Posts: 1,617	I have a 50s Classic and I really like the sound of the bridge pickup... it doesn't sound thin to me at all. What I don't like is the neck pickup, which is completely muddy the way I set my amp. I think it all comes down to what amp you use and how you set it. If you set the amp to where it sounds good on the neck pickup, the bridge pickup would sound too bright and harsh. In other words, the two pickups are not balanced... but that's a Telecaster.

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