What pick-up's for my Thinline?

[Jack]

I recently picked up a 2001 American Tele Thinline. They're kind of rare and some may not be familiar with them, but it's basically a thinline, but built to AS specs, i.e. 9 1/2 fret radius, 22 frets, six individual saddles and AS single coil PU's.

I can't stand the spike in the bridge PU and the neck is kind of muddy and nothing to write home about. So I'm looking for some replacements.

I'm a rhythm player, so single not runs aren't what I'm after, but rather something with exception dynamics, note separation, balanced with sweet overtones.

Not asking for much, huh? Anyhow, would love to get some ideas from you guys. Keep in mind, this does have the hollow body vibe.

Thanks,
Jack

[sjtalon]

Keystones

[morroben]

I have Duncan 5/2s in my Thinline. They sound great.

[ferosferio]

Lollar's. How can ya go wrong?

[Yammerman]

I picked up one of those Thinlines recently and I'm going through the same process.

I put some Alnico II's from The Creamery in the UK and they are much better than stock. I have been thinking I'd like a bit more sparkle or brightness so tried to put Lollar 52T's. The neck screws didn't fit the Lollars ( the ones that came with the pickup wouldn't work either) so I gave that idea up and put Seymour Duncan Broadcasters in which after a while I decided weren't for me . I put The Creamery ones back in and I'm going to try some Nocasters next. Mine is a rosewood neck and ash body but I'll be interested to hear what you end up with.

Mines a lovely guitar to play but I'm not getting the sound I want yet.

[Telenator]

From what you describe, "spike in the bridge p'up, and muddy at the neck" I'd be tempted to do one of two things.

1) Consider a Fender Broadcaster or Nocaster for the bridge position because these pickups are known for their smoother tone and lack of "spikeyness." The compliment to that would be a Fender Twisted Tele neck pickup which is known for it's brighter sound.

2) Contact Don Mare and describe to him what you've said here. From what I've seen around here, Don has a unique ability to transform your description into the sound you've been looking for.

There are also several very capable winders on this forum who can help as well.

[stratman323]

Originally Posted by Telenator

1) Consider a Fender Broadcaster or Nocaster for the bridge position because these pickups are known for their smoother tone and lack of "spikeyness." The compliment to that would be a Fender Twisted Tele neck pickup which is known for it's brighter sound.

Having given up on Texas Specials, my current favourite combination is a Fender Twisted Tele neck (it sounds vaguely like a Strat neck pickup - very nice) along with a Seymour Duncan Broadcaster bridge, which is fairly warm, fat & punchy, without taking those qualities to extremes (like the Texas Special!).

[elelpe]

Nocaster set or Keystones set.

[Big_Bend]

Originally Posted by sjtalon

Keystones

+1

Click on the Bill & Becky Lawrence Wilde Pickups banner on the top of the home page. Order some Keystones. Unbelievable value, tone, quality. I put a set of Keystones in my CV Thinline, the guitar sounds absolutely perfect... like everything you want I do believe.

Good luck...

[JKjr]

Originally Posted by Telenator

2) Contact Don Mare and describe to him what you've said here. From what I've seen around here, Don has a unique ability to transform your description into the sound you've been looking for.

There are also several very capable winders on this forum who can help as well.

I haven't had any experience with Mr Mare (although my latest project will involve Josie/Vaughns on an early Squier...go figure) but have worked with both Lindy Fralin and Jason Lollar on a few occasions and guess what? These guys are good! It's what they've done all day everyday for years. If you pony up a bit extra you're buying that expertise, and you WILL get the desired result,they guarantee it.
Another thing I would take into account is the semi-hollow body, which seems to me to reward vintage or underwound pickups that can capture that woody vibe. The bad part is that you lose the muscle to drive the amp to get it. These guys and a few others have already done the homework...you get both. But is that important to YOU? Or is doing the homework half the fun anyway?
Finally to the point. I have a Squier VV that came with the Keystones. Didn't like 'em, honky and kinda dry, with the same mud/bump thing you described. I did the neck screw trick and with a little tweak here and there most of that stuffs gone and the pickups sound pretty good. I've swapped Fralins, Lollars, and a bastard nocaster set (you gotta love teles). The Fralins and Lollars were a whole nother game, I liked the nocasters better. But they all went back to their respective homes because the Keystones were just fine. Maybe get a GOOD tech to set it up and re-evaluate?

[oldteleguy]

Hi,
You should consider Fender OV pickups-very sweet and balanced.
Oldteleguy

[imwjl]

It reads (looks?) like I'll just have to start experimenting. My Thinline is a 68 Thin Skin Thinline.

I am a little confused about specs because Dave's site (where I got it) has less information than Wildwood (supposedly same guitar) which differs from what a Fender rep posted on Fender's user community forums. I can say for sure that my Thinline has different tone than my 52 AVRI.

I will try to hook up with some Keystones I see on local craigslist and appreciate any suggestions. I play mostly clean, love min7 and maj7 chords, what I'd call warm, jazzy or blues tone. If my 52 AVRI (modern wiring) is warm and my Hwy 1 was ice pick I prefer warm.

Thanks.

[Telenator]

I'm going to go out on a limb and say, "Thinlines are perhaps the most difficult guitar to get a really good sound from." In fact, I have rarely ever heard a Thinline with single coils that I really liked.

[imwjl]

Originally Posted by Telenator

I'm going to go out on a limb and say, "Thinlines are perhaps the most difficult guitar to get a really good sound from." In fact, I have rarely ever heard a Thinline with single coils that I really liked.

I put the Keystones in and it didn't look like there was space for anything but a single coil.

The Keystone bridge is warmer and neck more bell-like. Neck Keystone is also more like a microphone really getting the tone the Thinline has unplugged. Both are better with tone more rolled off.

I'm curious about other pickups such as humbuckers, the Wilde noiseless and Lollar Charlie Christian.

All interesting stuff, and I can't say yet if it's helping me decide what I'll keep or sell in my quest to have less gear.

[Jack]

Originally Posted by Telenator

I'm going to go out on a limb and say, "Thinlines are perhaps the most difficult guitar to get a really good sound from." In fact, I have rarely ever heard a Thinline with single coils that I really liked.

Wow! certainly not the case with mine. I've had many Tele's and this one is special.

BTW, I only recently swapped the PU's. Went with SD Alnico II Pro's and am tickled pink. They are exactly what I was looking for. Sweet sound with good overtone's and sustain. Might just be my new favorites, although I haven't tried them with a solid body.

Now, I need to find something for my Tele Deluxe. I hated the noiseless PU's, so I put in a set of CS Texas Specials, but am not happy with the result. Too round and note definition is not what I would like.

Kind of limited as I'm looking for PU's with the three leads so I can use the S1 selector system (basically a 4 way with a push button).

Thanks for all the inputs.

[winny pooh]

Wire for 2 volumes, then get a Hotter bridge pup with a 250k pot and keep the same neck pup with a 500k pot
Solves the typical tele problem you are having.