Looking for Some FAT Tele Pickups...

[Butch Snyder]

Hi guys,

My Fender American Tele currently sports two DiMarzio Virtual Vintage 54 Strat pickups in the neck and middle positions. It has a DiMarzio Area T in the bridge position. I have its stock steel 6-saddle bridge installed and a tortoise pickguard. See pic below.



Decent look but my favorite is below. Same guitar but with an ashtray bridge, mint green pickguard and Tex Mex Tele pickups.



I really don't use the quack tones anymore; so I really don't need three pickups. But, I would like to outfit my Tele with a classic Tele set but fatter-sounding. Classic looks are important and I don't want to stray from that. I need a fatter, warmer tone though. Anybody have any thoughts? As for the bridge position, I'm about settled on the DiMarzio Area Hot T. For the neck, I don't know. I'd like something almost PAFish but a little brighter. I don't know if there's anything available in a chrome or nickel-silver covered Tele neck pickup.

[kmac]

This isnt a paf sound, but I love my twisted tele neck pup. Fat strattish sound. Sounds superb.

[Butch Snyder]

Originally Posted by kmac

This isnt a paf sound, but I love my twisted tele neck pup. Fat strattish sound. Sounds superb.

I once had a DiMarzio Twang King neck pickup that was kind of Stratty-sounding. Very nice pickup, but not the tone I'm looking for. The dream situation to me, at least with this Tele, is a classic 60's-looking Tele with the tone of a 50's Les Paul.

[kmac]

hmmmm...sd quarter pound?

[Durtdog]

Originally Posted by Butch Snyder

I once had a DiMarzio Twang King neck pickup that was kind of Stratty-sounding. Very nice pickup, but not the tone I'm looking for. The dream situation to me, at least with this Tele, is a classic 60's-looking Tele with the tone of a 50's Les Paul.

Really? It'll never sound exactly like a Les Paul.

Why don't you just get a Les Paul and let your Tele be a Telecaster?

[Butch Snyder]

Originally Posted by Durtdog

Really? It'll never sound exactly like a Les Paul.

Why don't you just get a Les Paul and let your Tele be a Telecaster?

I know it wil never sound like a Les Paul unless I put humbuckers in it. The I would have a make-shift Tele-Gib. I just want it to be sorta close. I already have an ESP Tele with a humbucker in the neck and a Lil 59 in the bridge. Sounds fat but doesn't have the look....

[big jimmy]

Why don't you just get a Les Paul and let your Tele be a Telecaster?

+1

[Butch Snyder]

Originally Posted by big jimmy

Why don't you just get a Les Paul and let your Tele be a Telecaster?

+1

I already answered that one....

[Guitarmadcat]

Bareknuckle's 'Piledriver' set. Check out the sounds on their website.

Got a set myself - superb rock tones but if you want to still retain some Tele-ness, roll back the vol for more trad tones.

[teleman78]

Originally Posted by kmac

This isnt a paf sound, but I love my twisted tele neck pup. Fat strattish sound. Sounds superb.

+ 1, really really nice

[WaylonFan76]

Just stumbled into this vid, maybe this helps :

[Butch Snyder]

Originally Posted by WaylonFan76

Just stumbled into this vid, maybe this helps :

I actually have a Lil 59 installed in my ESP (my avatar). I'm using 500k pots with it. Yes, it sounds like a big, fat PAF. There's no Tele character at all. I don't like the Lil 59 with 250k pots. To me, it gets pretty muddy and undefined. Now, with 250k pots and wiring it parallel, it sounds very nice; kind of P90ish. That said, I'm looking for a classic Tele look and the Lil 59 doesn't fit that bill; but I do appreciate the suggestion.

[Doug 54]

You are wanting to retain the Tele look
How bout sorta retaining the look and P-90'ing it??

[WaylonFan76]

Originally Posted by Butch Snyder

The dream situation to me, at least with this Tele, is a classic 60's-looking Tele with the tone of a 50's Les Paul.

You lost me there...

[Vonduck]

Have you played a newer Highway 1 Tele?
The pickups on those are wound to be more round, kinda "humbucker like" while still
being able to produce a sort of Tele sound, especially the bridge.
There's a set on eBay for $60.00. At least maybe you can try out the pickups in a Hwy1 at GC or another store before spending money on replacement "boutique" pickups
If you like those, I could work out a trade for those Tex-Mex....

[WaylonFan76]

Actually, I think you should give Don Mare a call. http://www.donmarepickups.com/

[Butch Snyder]

Originally Posted by WaylonFan76

Actually, I think you should give Don Mare a call. http://www.donmarepickups.com/

I know Don. He's a great guy and could probably put together anything I want. I'm thinking about that....

Originally Posted by Vonduck

Have you played a newer Highway 1 Tele?
The pickups on those are wound to be more round, kinda "humbucker like" while still
being able to produce a sort of Tele sound, especially the bridge.
There's a set on eBay for $60.00. At least maybe you can try out the pickups in a Hwy1 at GC or another store before spending money on replacement "boutique" pickups
If you like those, I could work out a trade for those Tex-Mex....

PM sent....

[Toto'sDad]

Wow WaylanFan! Nice playin' not too flashy, not too simple, JUUUUUSSSTT right! I really, really liked it. If that's not you, I STILL like it!

[SPUDCASTER]

Have you looked at Harmonic Design Tele pickups?

They have several offerings that claim to be more on the P90'ish side along with some fatter Tele tones. All seem to be pretty stock Tele looking except the Super 90 bridge pickup has adjustable pole pieces (screws).

Just a thought if you haven't checked them out already. Good luck!