Bridge pickup recommendations for custom Tele?

[Tweedledee]

I put together a Tele a few months ago and the pickups aren't completely working for me.




Here are the specs:

- ash bodied thinline
- maple neck
- Bigsby B5
- Duncan Quarter Pound in the bridge
- Gibson Firebird mini humbucker in the neck (it's a pretty hot pickup)

I had both pickups in my parts bin which is why they ended up in the guitar, but I want to go a different direction. I tend to prefer lower output pickups and I also want to tame a little of the sharpness that I think is coming from the ash body/maple neck combo.

The Firebird pup sounds pretty good, but it's too hot for my tastes. I just bought an Antiquity II mini humbucker to replace it, which is going to be a pretty dramatic difference in output. I had one in another Tele a few years ago and loved it.

So I need a bridge pickup that will pair well with the Antiquity and also give me what I'm looking for as far as tone is concerned. I want a bridge pickup with more bottom end thump - I want it to have a sort of "fat" tone but still with the traditional Tele bridge pickup character. I like my pickups to be articulate and percussive (if those terms mean anything!) but full sounding.

I'm thinking a 50s style bridge pickup might be what I'm after. Does that sound right? I had a Fender Nocaster pup in an ash Tele a few years ago and loved it. Should that be the direction I go? I'm also not looking to spend more than $60 or so. Other options might be the Duncan Broadcaster or????

I would love some suggestions!

[Teleterr]

The Duncan site gives p/up pairing suggestions, tho I'm sure you'll get plenty here.I've always found Maple smooth and Rosewood sharper. I think its the AlNiCo bars of the FB HB.You want fatter and more bottom than a 1/4 lber ?! Thats by far the bassyest, fattest Duncan.Maybe Rob Ds "Lion". Its self and otherly described as Fat w a Big bottom ,and its offered on a trial basis,don't like it ,return it.http://www.tdpri.com/forum/just-pick...lier-lion.html

[Tweedledee]

Originally Posted by Teleterr

The Duncan site gives p/up pairing suggestions, tho I'm sure you'll get plenty here.I've always found Maple smooth and Rosewood sharper. I think its the AlNiCo bars of the FB HB.You want fatter and more bottom than a 1/4 lber ?! Thats by far the bassyest, fattest Duncan.Maybe Rob Ds "Lion". Its self and otherly described as Fat w a Big bottom ,and its offered on a trial basis,don't like it ,return it.http://www.tdpri.com/forum/just-pick...lier-lion.html

I guess I've found the Quarter Pound to be more midrange focused rather than having a pronounced bottom end. Then again, this is the only Tele I've ever used it in so maybe it's more an artifact of the guitar itself than the pickup?

Thanks for the Lion recommendation!

[Teleterr]

The semi hollow brings out mids,maybe.The QP actually has slightly scooped mids compared to other Duncan p/ups according to the Duncan tone chart and my ears.I've found that w guitars either opposing its tone or going along w its tone when choosing p/ups works better than ignoring the tone and just putting in a good sounding in general p/up.So maybe a mid heavy Broadcaster might work even tho thats counter intuitive. But I'd try the Lion since its returnable,tho I think Duncans are too depending where you get them.

[elelpe]

Originally Posted by Tweedledee

I want it to have a sort of "fat" tone but still with the traditional Tele bridge pickup character.

Sounds like SD Jerry Donahue to me. But more bottom than QP

[uriah1]

+ nocaster (fills the need)

[SPUDCASTER]

Robs' Lion would definitely deserve a look at. Can't get a better deal than that for a custom "hand guided" pickup. The SD JD, one of Seymours' best bridge pickups.

Another one to consider might be the DiMarzio Pre B-1. Both twang and muscle.

Have you looked at Don Mare (0038) or O.C. Duffs' Plank'ster?

Where's WaylonFan crowing about his Antiquity or his Klein Broadcaster? Luv ya WF!

So many choices, too little time or money. Nice looking guitar there Bud!

[65 Champ Amp]

Wow! That's a nice lookig tele. I love the color.

Have you considered the Fender '62RI bridge pup? I got mine - with the '62 RI bridge for less than what you're looking to spend. I love it.

[Skub]

Another vote for the Lion p/up. I play in a band covering all types of music from oldies to current and this p'up supplies all I need,great sound clean and it roars with some dirt. What else is there?

[klasaine]

If you want just 'a little more' from a Tele bridge but still need twang you may want to check out a Zhangbucker 'Paul Bunyon' (standard mags w/baseplate) http://www.zhangbucker.com/tele-singles.html - 3/4 of the way down the page.

*Here's a very rough demo I did of mine. I needed it to match a CC in the neck (slightly higher output than a standard tele neck pkup)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=WJw4IfHXg-I

And yes, your Tele is beautiful!