Best vintage pickup

[Tremolo]

I'm a big fan of the Fender Nocaster pickup. However, the Dimarzio Twang King is also a very nice pickup.

[blonde52]

Fred Stuart's Blackguards are the best vintage sounding pickups and anybody who disagrees with that is a stupid doo-doo head.
Oh, and they're more expensive because he uses secret magnets and stuff that nobody else can get or even understand.
And he is a magic elf
http://virtualvintageguitars.com/gui...rd_pickups.htm

[Mark Davis]

I converted both my 50's Classics into Esquires and tried many pickups.

SD Broadcaster used $35 sounded as good as any. It sounded basicly the same as the SD Antiquity $70.

I tried Nocasters 52ri Peter Florance and a few others.

There were just tiny differences between all these pickups.

[sjtalon]

Funny how we are tempted to answer the "best pickup on the planet" threads. I think I'm going to make a document with about 20 pups on it and then I can just cut and paste that..............buy them all, play them in YOUR guitar, and keep the ones YOU like.

[tele12]

Originally Posted by benhenny

What is the justification for charging $80 for six little magnets, cardboard, and a little wire - whose material cost is around $8 ? Even at $100/hr, the labor would bump it up to about $30 each.

So he can't put an extra $10 if to pay for his winding equipment plus trial and error to get the right sound?

[soulman969]

Originally Posted by benhenny

What is the justification for charging $80 for six little magnets, cardboard, and a little wire - whose material cost is around $8 ? Even at $100/hr, the labor would bump it up to about $30 each.

There is no justification so just keep shopping EBay for all the $30 Squier Bullet pickups you can find. I can't use them so you may as well.

[Sean65]

Originally Posted by rotheryrules

Have never been a huge fan of Fender pickups but am willing to try them.

Hang on a minute! So what attracts you to the vintage Fender tone?

[rotheryrules]

Originally Posted by Sean65

Hang on a minute! So what attracts you to the vintage Fender tone?

Lol I meant I am not a fan of the regular generic pickups, MIM, Am Std etc,

I think I may need a bigger shovel to dig my way out of this one!

[uriah1]

+1 nocaster pu or broadcaster

[Whoa Tele]

I totally concur with what Ron Kirn wrote earlier but I've had good results with Mare,OC Duff, Budz,Fralin, Rumplestiltskin and Bill Lawrence. I think you could call any of these folks and describe the overall coloration of your gtr. and what you hear in your head allowing them to offer a suggestion from their product line. Most of them seem willing to work with you if you install the pup and it doesn't match what you were looking for.

[Ronkirn]

What is the justification for charging $80 for six little magnets, cardboard, and a little wire - whose material cost is around $8 ? Even at $100/hr, the labor would bump it up to about $30 each.

sounds like a question posed by a student of economics taking the course based on "Das Kapital".

rk

[Sean65]

Originally Posted by rotheryrules

I think I may need a bigger shovel to dig my way out of this one!

lol. No, not at all. After I posted I realised that pickups age and change character.

I'm following the thread as I'm also considering swapping out the pickups in my American Special.

I'm guessing it would be difficult not to be pleased with any of the boutique offerings from Don Mare, O C Duff etc... I'm leaning toward the OC Duff pickups, not sure why, maybe it's the magnetic pull.

[Ricky D.]

Originally Posted by rotheryrules

... I am looking for the best vintage tone tele bridge pickup.
...

Am not brand loyal so would welcome any suggestions. Nothing with to high an output!

I got some great advice a few years ago about vintage Tele pickups, so I'll pass it along.

If you don't really know where to start, get Fender Original Vintage. I got a used set on ebay for $50.00. That's Fender's best shot at recreating what they were selling in 1952. It's a good benchmark for what a vintage Tele pickup should sound like. Bright and cutting wide open, fattens up nicely if you roll off the tone a little.

Fender Nocaster and Duncan Broadcaster are wound hotter and are not as bright.

Vintage pickups were not real consistent, some wound a lot more than others. Fender, gibson, everybody same way. So there just isn't one pickup sound which is the vintage sound. That gives today's winders a lot of choices to make.

[aunchaki]

Originally Posted by rotheryrules

A lot of people may turn their nose up at what are classed as budget guitars/pickups, but I've tried and loved some cheap pickups over the years.

Both my Teles sport the lowly GFS 50s Classic Alnico bridge pickup. I've not compared it to other pickups, I just really like the sound (I got one, then liked it so much I got another for my other Tele).

[captcoolaid]

David is a great guy and a great winder. I personally prefer Slider out of Australia. Most amazing Singles I have yet to hear. He does vintage sets with actual wire from the 50s and they are stellar to say the least. Pricey yep they are but vintage wire aint cheap and is becoming more and more limited to source.

[rotheryrules]

Some great ideas and food for thought. I am tempted to try something on the cheap side, just to see!

[Sean65]

Originally Posted by rotheryrules

Some great ideas and food for thought. I am tempted to try something on the cheap side, just to see!

Twang Kings by Dimarzio sound good in all the demo's I've heard.

[afoolsparadise]

Ron's right on the money - it's about your personal choice. Can folks here point you in the direction of some good sources? Absolutely!

But what's your target, what's "vintage tone" mean to you? 1950 Esquire? 1951 Broadcaster? Mid-50's Telecaster? 60's Bakersfield twang? Even the best winders will need some direction on what you're hoping for. They can produce just about anything you could want but they're not mind readers.

[misterdontmove]

I got my CS Nocasters used for $80.00 shipped and delivered! Great sound! The only thing I have for comparison is a 90's Japanese Tele Custom with a neck Humbucker. Not even close!

[PeterVV]

As you already know Tim at Bare Knuckle, why not just have a chat with him?, talk dont cost.....their pickups have a great reputation, but are expensive...