Best Lower Priced Pickups

[elelpe]

Originally Posted by Piotr

Keystones in the US, Toneriders in Europe are very cost-effective.

Originally Posted by musicalmartin

+1
had both, Tonerider Hot Classics are fine pickups .Arlo West did a review and compare article on here that is well worth checking .IMHO Tonerider ,which come in two specs are more traditional and Keystones are a sort of moderner sound but still twang and are pretty low noise .A four way is a great option I always put on any Telecaster.

+2

[itsGreg]

Another vote for fender ov's.

[MikeMurray]

Can't really beat the Seymour Antiquities.

[JohnK24]

Fender Nocasters...$100 here:
http://www.amazon.com/Fender-Accesor...5443485&sr=8-1

If you are thinking Fender Custom Shop, why not go with some of the best pups made...at any price. The four way is a "nice" feature to have, if you crave that thick, humbucker like sound. I have it on one of my teles and in hind sight, I'd not install it again...it's a novelty tone, imho.

I've had one set of Lawrence pups and heard enough demos to know they sound, well...bright and sterile (again...my opinion).

hth

[Rob DiStefano]

what is the "best" value in a single coil tele bridge pup? $30? $60? $120? the correct answer shouldn't be about money, it's should always be about what makes your ears (not your ego or bank account) happiest. that said, is a $120 pup "worth" that much? hah!

[WaylonFan76]

Originally Posted by MikeMurray

Can't really beat the Seymour Antiquities.

+1000 My favorite pup ever.

[73Fender]

Originally Posted by huckdeuceman

Fender CS texas specials with a 4way switch, do it yourself for less than $200.00 and it's
all you will ever desire!...my opinion?

I just got those pickups for just a little over $100 and the 4 way was sold by the same dealer in FL (from e bay) now to find the time to put them in

And you don't have to buy the Fender switch, the Oak Grigsby is the same thing and about $5.00 less (from what I have learned here)

[Ricky D.]

Fender OV's $77 from Amazon.

[TNO]

Tonerider HCs.

[Commodore 64]

I like Rose PUPs and I also think Fenders '51 Nocaster set sounds great ($140 or less).

[tjalla]

The usual gear-advice question and kneejerk responses. We love telling people how to spend $ on stuff we like.

1. What do you have in there now
2. What do you not like about them
3. What ballpark tone are you trying to achieve.
4. You mentioned hum - how important is hum-free to you?

I can recommend both Nocasters and Antiquities, but they are opposite ends of the spectrum.

[psyched]

Not entirely knee-jerk... was trying to consider that the OP is in the US and almost pulled the trigger on a CS. I love OVs, but the OP might not be looking for that sound but might encounter them in an AVRI or something. IMO, Keystones are pretty different pickups than what one would find walking into a guitar store, from their engineering to the clear tone they're able to get. I'm glad I have teles with other pups besides Keystones, but a set of these and a 4-way might be just the ticket (plus it's easier to install the 4-way on Keystones because of the extra ground from the neck cover).

Everytime I start to get GAS, I start modding, and usually that takes care of it. For at least a little while.

[tjalla]

Need more info.

I can illustrate the absurdity of the responses by reversing the question. "What pickups in the $100-200 range and decidedly NOT good, regardless of your guitar, amp or tonal preferences."

[Televised]

A SET of Bill Lawrence "Keystones" or "Micro Coils" are under $100 for a Telecaster.

Sure like my "Keystones". Rich, clear, and very very little single coil hum, (no ice pick, no mud). I have played a Strat that has the "Micro Coils" and they sound a little richer, clearer, and quieter than the "Keystones", if possible, but it was a Strat and hard to give a real good taste test. Both great pickups if you like that tone and bang for the buck, pretty hard to beat.

[SPUDCASTER]

You're in LA, Don Mare is in Long Beach. Call him, you'll get the sound your after. It may stretch your budget a little, but he's hands down one of the best Tele/Strat pickup builders in the world. And he's right in your backyard.

You owe it to you self to at least give him a call and figure out what your after. That won't cost you anything. You can look him up here, he's a member.

[el cheapo]

Originally Posted by TNO

Tonerider HCs.

I have a Tonerider Hot Classic bridge pup in my eSXquire an love it. Only it was called a CV 50's Alnico III when I bought it. Same pickup, and available on ebay for 25 bucks.

[sir humphrey]

In fairness, Antiquities and Texas Specials aren't cheap - great pups as they are.

Tonerider are excellent value for money. They get my vote.

[musicmatty]

Originally Posted by Rob DiStefano

what is the "best" value in a single coil tele bridge pup? $30? $60? $120? the correct answer shouldn't be about money, it's should always be about what makes your ears (not your ego or bank account) happiest. that said, is a $120 pup "worth" that much? hah!

What he said..nothing to do with price..everything to do with your own ears : Try a youtube search for sound bites of the above mentioned pups..better than no sound bites at all Also..GFS Pro Series pups, should be considered..yes, they are worthy as all the others mentioned in my experience and opinion

[TeleKato]

Editorial observation .. $200 for a set is NOT a cheap set of pickups. I'm pickup-shopping right now and pretty much all the 'big-names' are $200 or less for the set. So the thread title misleads!

$100 for a set ... now that's lower-pricing. And you can get a lot of interesting pickups in this range, including '62 Customs, OVs, Keystones, and a bunch more.

So basically, for $100-$200 you can get ... about everything. Except those SeymourDuncan ones with the silver (instead of copper) wire .. Zephyrs? I could give 'em to SWMBO as jewelry and when she's not wearing 'em, wire 'em into a Tele!

[thorton077]

I've heard great things about the Nocasters. I'm gonna save up for those.