Best pickups upgrade for the tele?

[zook]

Whether they are the best is subjective. We like what we like and others may not agree.

I like the Keystones, for both the sound and the price.

Winnie

[RatherBeFishing]

If money is no object, Lollar is probably my favorite pickup maker but as others have stated... This is an issue of personal preference. It would benefit you greatly to give us some idea of the tone you're going after.

[MrDJoers]

Right now my two teles have Lollars in one and OC Duffs in the other. I like a meatier tone that still resembles a tele.

[jazztice]

Thanks a lot guys I know...my question was a little "out of focus" sorry about that. My idea was to see what you guys like the best...I forgot to tell you before that I play jazz but I personally don't like the idea that the instrument makes the genre of music.
That's why I order my first tele, which will come later this month, I wanna try to play my music with something a bit far from what could be the first choices.
Also the tele is the one guitar that I never owned and I've alway had great vibes every time I tried one. I like the neck pickup very much since it is very clear and has that woody attack that I personally love, I also like that belly chimey, twangy sound. However I do not exclude the idea of changing pickups to better suit my need that's the reason of this post.
Thanks so much to everyone.

[Happy Tele]

Fred Stuart Blackguards are 'teh best'

['56Teleman]

Originally Posted by morroben

I like Duncan 5/2s the best. YMMV

I'm interested in these, can you tell us more about them?




Thanks

[stevorc321]

Well, There's a sale on David Plummer's pickups: http://www.zhangbucker.com/. I have some on order - p-90s and a custom tapped tele bridge to switch between a classic '60s twang and his beefy 'Paul Bunyan' wind. Heard nothing but good things about his pickups and the prices are insanely low with the sale.

[morroben]

Originally Posted by '56Teleman

I'm interested in these, can you tell us more about them?

Here's a recent thread that I had some input on. It deals more with the lead pickup than the neck, but it will get you headed in the right direction. I actually use the neck even more, especially since I've been getting into jazzier things. If you have any specific questions, feel free to ask here or PM me.
5/2 thread

[Gringo13]

Well... When I picture a Tele in my mind I think of a versatile guitar that rips up Rock n Roll and can nail a country twang if dialed back just a little.

With that said.... the Fender OV '52 bridge pup is all I could ever ask for. I'm sure there are many great and different-sounding pups, but I couldn't be happier with a pup than I am with the OV '52.

And fwiw, the best season is Fall and the '57 Chevy is the best car ever.

[dogn4u]

Originally Posted by 10Alex10

I think I'd like to say New York, even though I've never been. Second would be Venice I think. I've also never been there.

And so you base this opinion on...? Clearly not personal experience. Still, you're right about NYC - altho I now live in Santa Barbara County, I used to go to the city almost every weekend and crash at my brother's apt on W. 73rd (a block from the park!) when I lived in CT.

Were I a man of extensive financial means, I would buy three homes: A house in Santa Barbara (on the mesa) for summers, an apartment in NYC (West side or Village) for fall and an apartment in Amsterdam's old town for winter and spring. 'Dam and NYC are what I would call "world-class" cities, and SB, while not what I would consider world class, is a beautiful place, and if you'll indulge me in a moment of mild sexism, has the highest concentration of beautiful women per population I've ever seen. And yes, I have spent extensive time in all three cities. (We in the USA have two world class cites: NY and San Francisco). IMFHO, of course.

[BigDaddyLH]

Originally Posted by Happy Tele

Fred Stuart Blackguards are 'teh best'

best or bestest?

[ZZB3]

I have had Fralins but in my 2003 American series the Seymour Duncan Broadcaster and their vintage rhythm have worked the best. Have fun, Wayne

[rcole_sooner]

Them Bardens sure are a pretty penny. I would like to try those one day.

[blargfromspace]

Originally Posted by jazztice

...I forgot to tell you before that I play jazz but I personally don't like the idea that the instrument makes the genre of music.
That's why I order my first tele, which will come later this month, I wanna try to play my music with something a bit far from what could be the first choices.

Jazz on a tele? Oooh yeah. Based on this guy, a tele would be my first choice I love the Seymour Duncan 'Seth Lover' humbucker in the neck position of my G&L Bluesboy.

[Televised]

Originally Posted by zook

Whether they are the best is subjective. We like what we like and others may not agree.

I like the Keystones, for both the sound and the price.

Winnie

+1 "Keystones" regardless of the price!

[tgfmike]

Either this will be a very long thread or the mods will shut it down tomorrow. JMO.

[gmann]

Originally Posted by dreamingtele

Wow, those are great samples! and the fact that it can still be tweaked to suit what I want.. and the price of the package is sweet!!

Thanks for the link!

I've got 4 sets of pickups fm Aaron and they are the best I've ever heard. call him or email him, you won't be disappointed.

[Happy Tele]

Originally Posted by BigDaddyLH

best or bestest?

awesome-ist

[jazztice]

Originally Posted by blargfromspace

Jazz on a tele? Oooh yeah. Based on this guy, a tele would be my first choice I love the Seymour Duncan 'Seth Lover' humbucker in the neck position of my G&L Bluesboy.

Awsome video!!! Well for this kind of jazz which is what I come from I am allset, I have a '62 Gibson 175 with two real PAF, yep! Bought it in 1995 when I was still living in Italy and ever since it has been my main axe and probably it will ever be. I kinda want to have a different take on jazz and on my originals and I want to be "modern" as I live in 2010. I refuse the idea that I have to have a neck humbucker to play jazz, I just want to sound modern with a versatile guitar, hopefully finding my own sound and my own colors.

[Tele N. Twin]

Beware of hype in this department. Have you ever eagerly bought a CD based purely on magazine reviews only to find out later that it totally sucked? Same thing with “best” pickup advice. Do you play lead or strictly rhythm? Maybe a little of both? Sorta like trying to determine which is the “best” type of woman, an overwound “hot” pickup seems like a lot of fun but the mid range is a rhythm killer. However, lightly wound pickups can be boring and keep you looking for something else. Probably the best advice is to go with a good quality middle-of-the-road set and add a boost pedal when you want to heat things up.