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blondeonblonde · May 27th, 2003, 02:54 AM

Hey gang-
I'm looking to build a 53 Replica, and was considering pickups. I see the Duncan Broadcaster seems to be pretty authentic, i.e. larger magnet slugs, etc.
I was wondering if anyone has or has had this PU?
Is it wax potted? Cloth leads? ohm Reading? Sound??????
Twang factor??
I know the early Broadcaster pickups were hot, I'm wondering how this Duncan stacks up. Also thinking of trying the Fender variant of this, I guess that would be the Sustom Shop Nocaster lead?
Thanks for any input-
Blondeonblonde

TheGoodTexan · May 27th, 2003, 01:08 PM

But maybe for a different reason. I do a little country picking, but I use it for more of a rock tone, and it does that very well. Everything from ZZTop to the Stones to the Black Crowes to Joe Walsh.

What's funny is that this same pickup does great Country, Rock, and Blues...with no problem. It's all in your right hand attack.

Darrell · May 27th, 2003, 02:42 PM

It is a safe bet. I have pulled it out of my guitar a couple of times for other pu's, but I always keep coming back to it. You can play just about any type music with it. It is a pleasure to play. Edgy low end, not too many mids, bright but playable highs. You will spend a lot more time playing and a lot less time screwing with the knobs with this one.

bek · May 28th, 2003, 12:15 AM

Don't know anything technical about the pickup, but I am continually surprised at how good the Broadcasters in my guitar sound--both of them. Weird how versatile they are. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them for just about anything; I use them for blues and classic rock and roll.

Kevin · May 28th, 2003, 01:52 AM

The Duncan Broadcaster is my all-time favorite tele pickup -- but I've never tried the Antiquity...

It's not as icepick-y as a Fender 52 RI bridge pup is, but still has the twang. I, too, use it for more of a classic rock, "Keef" kind of sound, as well as for blues. My favorite sound is either "clean, on the edge of overdrive" or "overdrive, on the edge of clean".

The Broadcaster is just a very ballsy pup. I could play metal with it, if I only had a Floyd on my tele. Not that I would, of course...

On top of that, it's less expensive than some of the designer pups (Kinmans, Rio Grande, Fralins) that it's compared to...

blondeonblonde · May 28th, 2003, 04:46 AM

Wondering how it compares cosmetically to a real Fender P/U; is the fiberboard bobbin the same?
Wax potted?
Cloth leads?
Copper or tin plate?

Thanks for the answers so far, this sounds like a great pickup!

GuitarJonz · May 28th, 2003, 11:38 AM

Cosmetically, it's pretty true to vintage style: fiberboard bobbins, wax potted, push back cloth leads and copper plate on bottom. Great versatile tone too, slightly beefed up tele tone that still twangs aplenty, not as dark as some beefier pickups. Highly recommended, and prices are good too.

Poppatwang · May 28th, 2003, 12:49 PM

I have it in both my teles. It's a jack of all twang,
master of most. Highly recommended.

Kevin · May 28th, 2003, 12:52 PM

Appearance-wise, it's almost identical to a 52 RI... Copper plate, fiber bobbin, black string.... Yellow and black push-back wire....

Don Mare · May 28th, 2003, 10:38 PM

Shoot....
I own lost of pups.... I actually collect them... I am trying to own them all for my tone consulting and reasearch.
I got over 200 easily...

That Broadcaster ......and a 5-2 Nashville....

Is all I ever really want to play!

I am in a Roy Buchanan tribute band called {{{BUCK_CANNON}}}

My #1 Tele which sports them pups..is probally basswood
It's a 2000 MIC SQuire AFFinity... Fastest neck my hands ever held.... best pickups I have ever used...
The whole guitar has had some serioius pro work done to it and it got a HEAVY RELIC finish.

Warning my 9 pound 1971 Tele did not sound as good with the Broadcaster / 5-2 set up.

I think its safe to say they will sound best in the lighter more resonate bodys...

May 29th, 2003, 01:11 PM

Glad to hear the Broadcaster raves. Got one on order going to put in MIJ which also has a RWRP 5-2 Nashville strat pickup in the neck, which sounds great. Looking forward to the combination

Don Mare · May 29th, 2003, 01:41 PM

Oops,
My 5-2 Nashville is the.... "Tele Chrome" model.
I got the Strat Model too in a Strat... My Tele is way better... I think its about 7.7k too?

One fan lastnight who knows me... said "MAN what in that Tele?"
"I know those gotta be your pups you wound yourself."

Sorry.. I like the Old School stuff 1948'
Why... Cause thats what I have heard played thru out the years on Albums and the Radio "Oldies" and I play "Oldies" more less... so Modern pups just have something I can put words on.. but they feel different.. and so my level of preformance goes down a notch.
and as soon as that happens I reach fer' Ol' Fathfull!
DM

JohnK24 · May 30th, 2003, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Mare

Shoot....
I own lost of pups.... I actually collect them... I am trying to own them all for my tone consulting and reasearch.
I got over 200 easily...

That Broadcaster ......and a 5-2 Nashville....

Is all I ever really want to play!

I am in a Roy Buchanan tribute band called {{{BUCK_CANNON}}}

My #1 Tele which sports them pups..is probally basswood
It's a 2000 MIC SQuire AFFinity... Fastest neck my hands ever held.... best pickups I have ever used...
The whole guitar has had some serioius pro work done to it and it got a HEAVY RELIC finish.

Warning my 9 pound 1971 Tele did not sound as good with the Broadcaster / 5-2 set up.

I think its safe to say they will sound best in the lighter more resonate bodys...

Any comments on how the Broadcaster compares to a Fender Nocaster pup ? I'm looking for something different in my Alder tele (have the Noc in there now).

Thanks

Tim Swartz · May 30th, 2003, 10:51 AM

For those who have tried both, how does the Broadcaster compare to the Alnico Pro II?

Thanks

GuitarJonz · May 30th, 2003, 12:10 PM

For an alder guitar, which usually sounds warmer (to my ears), I think I'd prefer the Broadcaster to the Nocaster, as the Nocaster has more mids. With alder, I think the Broadcaster would be better (less mids, more highs). The Nocaster sounds better in an ash/maple tele IMO, but a Broadcaster would shine there as well.

Tele295 · May 30th, 2003, 07:31 PM

The Duncan Broadcaster really gets you into Roy Buchananland quite easily. Like Don Mare notes above, I have this in a light, resonant Tele body.

Knowing Roy and Seymour were friends, I wouldn't be surpirsed if Seymour designed this pickup with Roy in mind.

blondeonblonde · June 1st, 2003, 06:43 PM

At this price, and all the great things I've read in this thread about the Duncan Broadcaster, I'm gonna have to get me one-
And at $50, you can't really go wrong--
Thanks for all the info guys-
BlondeonBlonde

Darrell · June 1st, 2003, 08:51 PM

The Nocaster Fender pu and the SD Broadcaster pu are completely different pu's. Different magnets and baseplate material. The Broadcaster is brighter, although still controllable and usable brightness. The Nocaster has MUCH more midrange. If you play loud, the Nocaster has a remarkable chimey thing working. If you play at average volumes, the Broadcaster is a versitle, well balance pu, that is a pleasure to play.

Darrell · June 2nd, 2003, 03:13 PM

The Alnico II pro and the Broadcaster are a little more like each other than the Nocaster. I referred to the Alnico II pro as a "Nocaster lite". The Alnico II has more midrange than the Broadcaster, it is less bright, and a little bigger bottom end. The Alnico II pro is right in the middle of the Broadcaster / Nocaster spectrum. The Alnico II pro is more player friendly bridge I have ever played...which is almost the whole Fender and SD line.

Darrell · June 2nd, 2003, 03:51 PM

The Alnico II bridge has more sustain than the Broadcaster. Sustain that almost equals the Nocaster.

Kris · June 2nd, 2003, 04:49 PM

These are two of my favorite tele pickups.

The Broadcaster has more dynamics, the Alnico II pro has a more compressed tone.

The Broadcaster is gritty, not pretty! The Alnico II pro is more smooth and pretty!

There's more bite to the Broadcaster tone, more harmonics and sustain to the Alnico II pro.

I guess different players experience tone in different ways. For beautiful tone I choose the Alnico II pro, for fun playing I choose the Broadcaster.

Kris

fabien · June 3rd, 2003, 11:34 AM

What neck pup would you advise to match the Broadcaster? Would a Vintage '54 be a good choice?
The set could eventually end up in an ash/maple parts Tele that I'm thinking about. But I wanna use the neck pup first in the 'Tele humbucker' experience I mention in my other post on the Tele Tech board.

In my Tele I currently have a Vintage '54 bridge and Alnico II neck. I was affraid that the Alnico bridge wouldn't be bright enough for Tele bite so I went for the '54 but I love the tone of the Alnico neck.

Fabien

Kris · June 3rd, 2003, 01:32 PM

The SD Vintage neck pickup is very dark; I have one and have no use for it!

If you want traditional tele tone and looks, then the Alnico II pro neck pickup or even the Antiquity (which is rw/rp with respect to the Broadcaster) would be good.

Another popular choice around here for pairing with the Broadcaster is the Rio Grande Vintage Tallboy, which does not come with a metal cover. I have an SD Broadcaster in my MIM 50s classic paired with a Lindy Fralin Blues Special neck pickup, also without a metal cover -- that works well too and gives a strong, bright and clear tone.

Kris

UncleJarmo · June 3rd, 2003, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fabien

What neck pup would you advise to match the Broadcaster? Would a Vintage '54 be a good choice?
The set could eventually end up in an ash/maple parts Tele that I'm thinking about. But I wanna use the neck pup first in the 'Tele humbucker' experience I mention in my other post on the Tele Tech board.

In my Tele I currently have a Vintage '54 bridge and Alnico II neck. I was affraid that the Alnico bridge wouldn't be bright enough for Tele bite so I went for the '54 but I love the tone of the Alnico neck.

Fabien

I just put a AlNiCo II neck and Jerry Donahue bridge in my Hwy 1 Tele and so far I think they match up pretty well. If you like the AlNiCo II neck, you might like the Donahue since it's also AlNiCo magnets but a little overwound. For me, it seems like I can always get plenty of treble out of any vintage type Tele bridge pickup, so I wanted a nice crisp but sweet neck pickup and tried to match up the bridge pickup with that.

Kris · June 3rd, 2003, 05:09 PM

Pairing the Alnico II Pro neck with the Donahue bridge is an excellent way to go.

To me the issue is not treble--I always roll a bit of the treble off anyway with the Broadcaster. Rather, the question is whether you want to emphasize sweet (Alnico II--Donahue) or raunchy (Fralin Blues--Broadcaster) in the character of the tone.

Kris

Kevin · June 3rd, 2003, 08:04 PM

52 RI neck pup & Broadcaster bridge...

I, too, find the Duncan neck pup too dark.

The Fender pup, though, works well. You have to reverse-wire it and move the cover ground from the black wire to the white (since it's now the ground), but the combination is hum-cancelling in position #2.

fabien · June 4th, 2003, 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kris

Rather, the question is whether you want to emphasize sweet (Alnico II--Donahue) or raunchy (Fralin Blues--Broadcaster) in the character of the tone.
Kris

I'll certainly keep the combo Alnico II Pro neck/Donahue bridge in mind but since I already got an Alnico II in my current tele I'd rather like to try something else, indeed more on the raunchy side so the Fralin/Broadcaster looks tempting. Esthetically I prefer neck pups with metal cover but I understand the reason why the Blues Special doesn't have one.
What about the standard vintage Fralin neck? Most tele maniacs around here seem to go for the Blues Special. Any opinion on the Vintage?

Fabien

fabien · June 4th, 2003, 06:10 AM

and you might consider selling it, give me a yell. I could use it for my Tele-HB experiment. Post between Iceland and Holland shouldn't be too much for me and... is Iceland a euro land?

I should know but...

Fabien

Darrell · June 4th, 2003, 10:59 AM

I think Fender does a wonderful job with their neck pups. I think the stock AS or the OV neck pu's are hard to beat. I have a stock AS neck with my Alnico II pro bridge, and it is a wonderful match.

I have the SD Hot Rythym with my Broadcaster. Although I don't think this combo is great in the 2 position, both pu's are very VERY good on their own.

fabien · June 4th, 2003, 12:43 PM

I tend to stay clear of pups that has 'Hot' in their name they usually target the high gain guitarists and I find that they miss character on clean tone. I'm even hesitant to buy a Fralin blues special thinking it might be too hot already but from what I read here it seems ok though.

Darrell, I'd really miss the 2nd position if it was not a good combo!

Fabien

Darrell · June 4th, 2003, 01:56 PM

About the Hot Rythym is that you can roll back the tone knob all the way and you can get in a really fast rythym that sounds really smooth. (very convincing humbucker type tones and attack) I am a country picker type, and there are times where this sound works, particularly in "western swing". The 2 postion isn't as tight with the Broadcaster/Hot Rythym because they are "beefy" pu's. The sound is very good, but the attack isn't there, in that position. If you need the attack on the 2 position, with this combo, you will need to engage a compressor. Most of us pickers have one in the rig anyway.

The Alnico II pro, AS neck combo, doesn't need a compressor as much, in the 2 position.

Vincent Caster · June 5th, 2003, 12:45 PM

and just throw another opinion out there I'll offer this.

My son's 50's classic has a Fender Clean NoCaster bridge pickup in it and IMHO I think that pickup has better tone and stays in the same neighborhood as the SD if that makes sense.

People, who have more discerning ears than mine i.e. Mike Rice, have said that it comes very close to the SD Broadcaster tone but and these are my words - it has more dimension.

That being said, I an keeping the SD, hey these things get better with age right?

Kris · June 5th, 2003, 03:18 PM

And how can you tell when there's more of it?

Kris

Darrell · June 5th, 2003, 06:09 PM

The Nocaster has a "fatter" sound, I am assuming that is what he means by dimension. The Broadcaster is "thinner", a term given to a pickup with less midrange.

With the extra mids you can get a really nice chimmey thing going on when driving the pickup hard (increased volume). There is no doubt the Nocaster has more of that.

It really depends upon what you want. I play country, and the Broadcaster fits right in. Although the Nocaster does a great job for country as well, I tend to want a less "fat" sound.

Vince, according to his post, is a blues / rocker type, so the fat / chimey sound you get from driving the amp is more appealling. I beleive he would concur with this.

Kris · June 6th, 2003, 06:53 AM

Nobody doubts he's correct. The question is what he means. I for one would like to know, that's all.

Kris

fabien · June 6th, 2003, 07:39 AM

can I state that in midrange freq from less to more we have:
1. SD Vintage '54
2. SD Broadcaster
3. Fender Nocaster
Am I correct?
And where do you place the SD Alnico II?

Fabien

Vincent Caster · June 6th, 2003, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kris

Nobody doubts he's correct. The question is what he means. I for one would like to know, that's all.

Kris

Hey Kris,
I am not the best at the wine metaphors for pickups sounds but Darrell is correct when he says fatter, I might opt for the term girth because it has a more muscle not flab hehe. I will narrow it down a little more and say that if I had to pick between the two and could only have one - I would go with the NoCaster. The NoCaster sounds like the SD but has more b*lls and oomph.

Just to throw in more from my time here on the board, I would say to take a look at the SD Jerry Donahue. Mike Rice swears by it and if I had a chance I would really like to spend some time with it. It looks to be of a less of wind than a Broadcaster but more than stock.

That all being said, the next pickup that I am going to get a good look at will be a Van Zandt flat pole True Vintage.

I'll be reporting on that one later in the same vague terms hehehe!

Darrell · June 6th, 2003, 11:07 AM

1. V54
2. Broadcaster
3. Alnico II
4. Nocaster

The Nocaster has so much midrange, that you almost have no ability to dial it out. At least I never could, which is not a bad thing, if that is the sound you want...all the time.

Darrell · June 6th, 2003, 11:09 AM

That the JD is between Alnico II and Nocaster.

The 52ri is about the same as the V54.

UncleJarmo · June 6th, 2003, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darrell

That the JD is between Alnico II and Nocaster.

I'd agree. The JD is just an AlNiCo II that's overwound a little, giving it a little more midrange and output. The story is that Jerry had a '52 Tele that happened to be wound a little hotter than most from that era and he wanted to duplicate that pickup in a road guitar. The AlNiCo II's dc resistance measures in the mid 6 range and the JD is in the mid 7.

If the NoCaster is one of the older ones (custom shop line, not actually from 1951), they have AlNiCo III magnets and are wound to about 9.9 dc resistance. That sounds like it would be pretty hot but less than most that have the "hot" label. I'd like to try one. I've heard some great classic rock tone from those NoCasters. I guess they started putting on fewer winds a couple years ago.

May 27th, 2003, 02:54 AM	#1 (permalink)
blondeonblonde Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: nyc Posts: 210	does anyone here own a Duncan Broadcaster Bridge PU? Hey gang- I'm looking to build a 53 Replica, and was considering pickups. I see the Duncan Broadcaster seems to be pretty authentic, i.e. larger magnet slugs, etc. I was wondering if anyone has or has had this PU? Is it wax potted? Cloth leads? ohm Reading? Sound?????? Twang factor?? I know the early Broadcaster pickups were hot, I'm wondering how this Duncan stacks up. Also thinking of trying the Fender variant of this, I guess that would be the Sustom Shop Nocaster lead? Thanks for any input- Blondeonblonde

May 27th, 2003, 01:08 PM	#2 (permalink)
TheGoodTexan Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: xx Posts: 5,539	I like the Duncan Broadcaster But maybe for a different reason. I do a little country picking, but I use it for more of a rock tone, and it does that very well. Everything from ZZTop to the Stones to the Black Crowes to Joe Walsh. What's funny is that this same pickup does great Country, Rock, and Blues...with no problem. It's all in your right hand attack.

May 27th, 2003, 02:42 PM	#3 (permalink)
Darrell Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Houston, Texas Age: 49 Posts: 2,654	I agree with the above It is a safe bet. I have pulled it out of my guitar a couple of times for other pu's, but I always keep coming back to it. You can play just about any type music with it. It is a pleasure to play. Edgy low end, not too many mids, bright but playable highs. You will spend a lot more time playing and a lot less time screwing with the knobs with this one.

May 28th, 2003, 01:52 AM	#5 (permalink)
Kevin Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Terre Haute, IN Posts: 2,967	Yep... The Duncan Broadcaster is my all-time favorite tele pickup -- but I've never tried the Antiquity... It's not as icepick-y as a Fender 52 RI bridge pup is, but still has the twang. I, too, use it for more of a classic rock, "Keef" kind of sound, as well as for blues. My favorite sound is either "clean, on the edge of overdrive" or "overdrive, on the edge of clean". The Broadcaster is just a very ballsy pup. I could play metal with it, if I only had a Floyd on my tele. Not that I would, of course... On top of that, it's less expensive than some of the designer pups (Kinmans, Rio Grande, Fralins) that it's compared to...

May 28th, 2003, 04:46 AM	#6 (permalink)
blondeonblonde Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: nyc Posts: 210	Can one of you fellers give me the specs of the Duncan? Wondering how it compares cosmetically to a real Fender P/U; is the fiberboard bobbin the same? Wax potted? Cloth leads? Copper or tin plate? Thanks for the answers so far, this sounds like a great pickup!

May 28th, 2003, 12:15 AM	#4 (permalink)
bek Tele-Holic Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: California Posts: 604	Don't know anything technical about the pickup, but I am continually surprised at how good the Broadcasters in my guitar sound--both of them. Weird how versatile they are. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them for just about anything; I use them for blues and classic rock and roll.

May 28th, 2003, 11:38 AM	#7 (permalink)
GuitarJonz Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Central Mass. Posts: 3,193 7 Photos	Cosmetics Cosmetically, it's pretty true to vintage style: fiberboard bobbins, wax potted, push back cloth leads and copper plate on bottom. Great versatile tone too, slightly beefed up tele tone that still twangs aplenty, not as dark as some beefier pickups. Highly recommended, and prices are good too.

May 28th, 2003, 12:49 PM	#8 (permalink)
Poppatwang Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: St. Paul, MN Posts: 2,099 13 Photos	Thought I'd chime in. I have it in both my teles. It's a jack of all twang, master of most. Highly recommended.

May 28th, 2003, 12:52 PM	#9 (permalink)
Kevin Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Terre Haute, IN Posts: 2,967	Cosmetically... Appearance-wise, it's almost identical to a 52 RI... Copper plate, fiber bobbin, black string.... Yellow and black push-back wire....

May 28th, 2003, 10:38 PM	#10 (permalink)
Don Mare VENDOR Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: CA. Posts: 854	Shoot.... I own lost of pups.... I actually collect them... I am trying to own them all for my tone consulting and reasearch. I got over 200 easily... That Broadcaster ......and a 5-2 Nashville.... Is all I ever really want to play! I am in a Roy Buchanan tribute band called {{{BUCK_CANNON}}} My #1 Tele which sports them pups..is probally basswood It's a 2000 MIC SQuire AFFinity... Fastest neck my hands ever held.... best pickups I have ever used... The whole guitar has had some serioius pro work done to it and it got a HEAVY RELIC finish. Warning my 9 pound 1971 Tele did not sound as good with the Broadcaster / 5-2 set up. I think its safe to say they will sound best in the lighter more resonate bodys... __________________

May 29th, 2003, 01:11 PM	#11 (permalink)
oldtelehacker Guest Posts: n/a	Glad to hear the Broadcaster raves. Got one on order going to put in MIJ which also has a RWRP 5-2 Nashville strat pickup in the neck, which sounds great. Looking forward to the combination

May 29th, 2003, 01:41 PM	#12 (permalink)
Don Mare VENDOR Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: CA. Posts: 854	Oops, My 5-2 Nashville is the.... "Tele Chrome" model. I got the Strat Model too in a Strat... My Tele is way better... I think its about 7.7k too? One fan lastnight who knows me... said "MAN what in that Tele?" "I know those gotta be your pups you wound yourself." Sorry.. I like the Old School stuff 1948' Why... Cause thats what I have heard played thru out the years on Albums and the Radio "Oldies" and I play "Oldies" more less... so Modern pups just have something I can put words on.. but they feel different.. and so my level of preformance goes down a notch. and as soon as that happens I reach fer' Ol' Fathfull! DM __________________

May 30th, 2003, 10:51 AM	#14 (permalink)
Tim Swartz Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Michigan - Tweenst the Great Lakes Posts: 2,016	For those who have tried both, how does the Broadcaster compare to the Alnico Pro II? Thanks

May 30th, 2003, 12:10 PM	#15 (permalink)
GuitarJonz Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Central Mass. Posts: 3,193 7 Photos	Nocaster For an alder guitar, which usually sounds warmer (to my ears), I think I'd prefer the Broadcaster to the Nocaster, as the Nocaster has more mids. With alder, I think the Broadcaster would be better (less mids, more highs). The Nocaster sounds better in an ash/maple tele IMO, but a Broadcaster would shine there as well.

May 30th, 2003, 07:31 PM	#16 (permalink)
Tele295 Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: St. Latchodrom, CA Posts: 4,028 14 Photos	The Duncan Broadcaster really gets you into Roy Buchananland quite easily. Like Don Mare notes above, I have this in a light, resonant Tele body. Knowing Roy and Seymour were friends, I wouldn't be surpirsed if Seymour designed this pickup with Roy in mind. __________________ "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?

June 1st, 2003, 06:43 PM	#17 (permalink)
blondeonblonde Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: nyc Posts: 210	Black Rose Customs has the Broadcaster for $50 At this price, and all the great things I've read in this thread about the Duncan Broadcaster, I'm gonna have to get me one- And at $50, you can't really go wrong-- Thanks for all the info guys- BlondeonBlonde

June 1st, 2003, 08:51 PM	#18 (permalink)
Darrell Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Houston, Texas Age: 49 Posts: 2,654	nocaster/broadcaster The Nocaster Fender pu and the SD Broadcaster pu are completely different pu's. Different magnets and baseplate material. The Broadcaster is brighter, although still controllable and usable brightness. The Nocaster has MUCH more midrange. If you play loud, the Nocaster has a remarkable chimey thing working. If you play at average volumes, the Broadcaster is a versitle, well balance pu, that is a pleasure to play.

June 2nd, 2003, 03:13 PM	#19 (permalink)
Darrell Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Houston, Texas Age: 49 Posts: 2,654	Tim The Alnico II pro and the Broadcaster are a little more like each other than the Nocaster. I referred to the Alnico II pro as a "Nocaster lite". The Alnico II has more midrange than the Broadcaster, it is less bright, and a little bigger bottom end. The Alnico II pro is right in the middle of the Broadcaster / Nocaster spectrum. The Alnico II pro is more player friendly bridge I have ever played...which is almost the whole Fender and SD line.

June 2nd, 2003, 03:51 PM	#20 (permalink)
Darrell Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Houston, Texas Age: 49 Posts: 2,654	Oh, almost forgot The Alnico II bridge has more sustain than the Broadcaster. Sustain that almost equals the Nocaster.

June 2nd, 2003, 04:49 PM	#21 (permalink)
Kris Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Reykjavik, Iceland Posts: 368	Broadcaster vs. Alnico II pro These are two of my favorite tele pickups. The Broadcaster has more dynamics, the Alnico II pro has a more compressed tone. The Broadcaster is gritty, not pretty! The Alnico II pro is more smooth and pretty! There's more bite to the Broadcaster tone, more harmonics and sustain to the Alnico II pro. I guess different players experience tone in different ways. For beautiful tone I choose the Alnico II pro, for fun playing I choose the Broadcaster. Kris

June 3rd, 2003, 11:34 AM	#22 (permalink)
fabien Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Dordrecht, The Netherlands Age: 50 Posts: 146	Kris / Darrell What neck pup would you advise to match the Broadcaster? Would a Vintage '54 be a good choice? The set could eventually end up in an ash/maple parts Tele that I'm thinking about. But I wanna use the neck pup first in the 'Tele humbucker' experience I mention in my other post on the Tele Tech board. In my Tele I currently have a Vintage '54 bridge and Alnico II neck. I was affraid that the Alnico bridge wouldn't be bright enough for Tele bite so I went for the '54 but I love the tone of the Alnico neck. Fabien

June 3rd, 2003, 01:32 PM	#23 (permalink)
Kris Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Reykjavik, Iceland Posts: 368	Alnico II Pro The SD Vintage neck pickup is very dark; I have one and have no use for it! If you want traditional tele tone and looks, then the Alnico II pro neck pickup or even the Antiquity (which is rw/rp with respect to the Broadcaster) would be good. Another popular choice around here for pairing with the Broadcaster is the Rio Grande Vintage Tallboy, which does not come with a metal cover. I have an SD Broadcaster in my MIM 50s classic paired with a Lindy Fralin Blues Special neck pickup, also without a metal cover -- that works well too and gives a strong, bright and clear tone. Kris

June 3rd, 2003, 05:09 PM	#25 (permalink)
Kris Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Reykjavik, Iceland Posts: 368	I agree: Pairing the Alnico II Pro neck with the Donahue bridge is an excellent way to go. To me the issue is not treble--I always roll a bit of the treble off anyway with the Broadcaster. Rather, the question is whether you want to emphasize sweet (Alnico II--Donahue) or raunchy (Fralin Blues--Broadcaster) in the character of the tone. Kris

June 3rd, 2003, 08:04 PM	#26 (permalink)
Kevin Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Terre Haute, IN Posts: 2,967	I use a Fender 52 RI neck 52 RI neck pup & Broadcaster bridge... I, too, find the Duncan neck pup too dark. The Fender pup, though, works well. You have to reverse-wire it and move the cover ground from the black wire to the white (since it's now the ground), but the combination is hum-cancelling in position #2.

June 4th, 2003, 06:10 AM	#28 (permalink)
fabien Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Dordrecht, The Netherlands Age: 50 Posts: 146	Kris if you've got no use for the Vintage '54... and you might consider selling it, give me a yell. I could use it for my Tele-HB experiment. Post between Iceland and Holland shouldn't be too much for me and... is Iceland a euro land? I should know but... Fabien

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June 4th, 2003, 10:59 AM	#29 (permalink)
Darrell Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Houston, Texas Age: 49 Posts: 2,654	My .02 I think Fender does a wonderful job with their neck pups. I think the stock AS or the OV neck pu's are hard to beat. I have a stock AS neck with my Alnico II pro bridge, and it is a wonderful match. I have the SD Hot Rythym with my Broadcaster. Although I don't think this combo is great in the 2 position, both pu's are very VERY good on their own.

June 4th, 2003, 12:43 PM	#30 (permalink)
fabien Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Dordrecht, The Netherlands Age: 50 Posts: 146	'Hot' pups I tend to stay clear of pups that has 'Hot' in their name they usually target the high gain guitarists and I find that they miss character on clean tone. I'm even hesitant to buy a Fralin blues special thinking it might be too hot already but from what I read here it seems ok though. Darrell, I'd really miss the 2nd position if it was not a good combo! Fabien

June 4th, 2003, 01:56 PM	#31 (permalink)
Darrell Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Houston, Texas Age: 49 Posts: 2,654	The beatiful thing About the Hot Rythym is that you can roll back the tone knob all the way and you can get in a really fast rythym that sounds really smooth. (very convincing humbucker type tones and attack) I am a country picker type, and there are times where this sound works, particularly in "western swing". The 2 postion isn't as tight with the Broadcaster/Hot Rythym because they are "beefy" pu's. The sound is very good, but the attack isn't there, in that position. If you need the attack on the 2 position, with this combo, you will need to engage a compressor. Most of us pickers have one in the rig anyway. The Alnico II pro, AS neck combo, doesn't need a compressor as much, in the 2 position.

June 5th, 2003, 12:45 PM	#32 (permalink)
Vincent Caster Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Peekskill, New York Posts: 625 6 Photos	I own a SD Broadcaster and just throw another opinion out there I'll offer this. My son's 50's classic has a Fender Clean NoCaster bridge pickup in it and IMHO I think that pickup has better tone and stays in the same neighborhood as the SD if that makes sense. People, who have more discerning ears than mine i.e. Mike Rice, have said that it comes very close to the SD Broadcaster tone but and these are my words - it has more dimension. That being said, I an keeping the SD, hey these things get better with age right? __________________ "Froggy went a courtin', he did ride...C...c...crambone!"

June 5th, 2003, 03:18 PM	#33 (permalink)
Kris Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Reykjavik, Iceland Posts: 368	What is "dimension"? And how can you tell when there's more of it? Kris

June 5th, 2003, 06:09 PM	#34 (permalink)
Darrell Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Houston, Texas Age: 49 Posts: 2,654	Vince is correct The Nocaster has a "fatter" sound, I am assuming that is what he means by dimension. The Broadcaster is "thinner", a term given to a pickup with less midrange. With the extra mids you can get a really nice chimmey thing going on when driving the pickup hard (increased volume). There is no doubt the Nocaster has more of that. It really depends upon what you want. I play country, and the Broadcaster fits right in. Although the Nocaster does a great job for country as well, I tend to want a less "fat" sound. Vince, according to his post, is a blues / rocker type, so the fat / chimey sound you get from driving the amp is more appealling. I beleive he would concur with this.

June 6th, 2003, 06:53 AM	#35 (permalink)
Kris Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Reykjavik, Iceland Posts: 368	Of course! Nobody doubts he's correct. The question is what he means. I for one would like to know, that's all. Kris

June 6th, 2003, 07:39 AM	#36 (permalink)
fabien Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Dordrecht, The Netherlands Age: 50 Posts: 146	So, to summarise... can I state that in midrange freq from less to more we have: 1. SD Vintage '54 2. SD Broadcaster 3. Fender Nocaster Am I correct? And where do you place the SD Alnico II? Fabien

June 6th, 2003, 11:07 AM	#38 (permalink)
Darrell Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Houston, Texas Age: 49 Posts: 2,654	To Answer your question Fabien 1. V54 2. Broadcaster 3. Alnico II 4. Nocaster The Nocaster has so much midrange, that you almost have no ability to dial it out. At least I never could, which is not a bad thing, if that is the sound you want...all the time.

June 6th, 2003, 11:09 AM	#39 (permalink)
Darrell Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Houston, Texas Age: 49 Posts: 2,654	It is my understanding That the JD is between Alnico II and Nocaster. The 52ri is about the same as the V54.