cs nocaster bridge pickup... is it just me?

[dress rehearsal]

Anyone else out there satisfied with the nocaster neck, and underwhelmed with the bridge?

Specifically, in my guitar, it sounds kind of smeared in the mids. It seems like there is an unpleasant eq boost in certain low mid frequencies that can sound a bit muddy at times. The overall voicing is in the right neighborhood, but it's not articulate enough for me when I start pushing the amp.

Has anyone else out there experienced this? Did anybody address it by pairing the neck pickup with a different bridge? If so, what did you use?

I guess I should include the disclaimer that I've adjusted the height down and up and back down again. Lowering clears it up some, but I lose balance with the neck. Raising it just makes it turn into a muddy mess.

[Wayne Alexander]

What amp, what string type, brand and gauge are you using?

[dress rehearsal]

Originally Posted by Wayne Alexander

What amp, what string type, brand and gauge are you using?

Blackface RI, DR Pure Blues 11's (pure nickel roundwound, plain G)

[vanguard]

that's an immensely popular pickup 'round here; i adore it myself.

[uriah1]

-What is distance from strings...treble side, bass side....what type of wiring...
usually those are plug and play for classic tele bite.

[dress rehearsal]

Originally Posted by uriah1

-What is distance from strings...treble side, bass side....what type of wiring...
usually those are plug and play for classic tele bite.

Pressing down on the last fret, about 1/8" from the poles to the strings. '66 telecaster wiring (standard 3-way). 250k pots with .047 cap. Nothing out of the ordinary. If I go any lower, it loses too much output. I've gone higher and lower, and the current height seems to be as good as it's going to get in this guitar to suit my tastes.

[uriah1]

Hmm..

Are you underwhelmed from the lack of strength when you hit a note, not hot enough,
or something else?

[dress rehearsal]

I prefer the tone when the pickup is further from the strings, but then it starts sounding too tame, no edge. Nocaster bridge is supposed to be medium output, but I get way more grind from my '62 custom bridge pup. I think it's bright enough, and it has enough lows, but I don't dig the character of the midrange. Also, my D string seems quieter than the rest of the set, but that could just be my strings or setup.

[LarsOS]

Measure its resistance and see if it's to spec. If it's not, it might be faultly?

[dress rehearsal]

Originally Posted by LarsOS

Measure its resistance and see if it's to spec. If it's not, it might be faultly?

Measured it about a week ago at 6.75k. It's lower than spec, which would mean brighter than average, correct?

It's lower than the Fender published specs, but it's not that far off. I don't know what others are getting on their nocaster pickups.

It's not like the pickup sounds like it's from outer space or something, I'm just not quite over the moon with it.

[MASONish]

Originally Posted by dress rehearsal

Measured it about a week ago at 6.75k. It's lower than spec, which would mean brighter than average, correct?

It's lower than the Fender published specs, but it's not that far off. I don't know what others are getting on their nocaster pickups.

It's not like the pickup sounds like it's from outer space or something, I'm just not quite over the moon with it.

I know what you mean for sure. Do yourself a huge favor & pick up a Fralin stock replacement T style bridge. Depending on your neck radius a 9.5" or greater get the raised D pole. I'm using these & they really make the Fender pups sound awful. Night & day difference. I am in no way affiliated with Fralin pickups but really the absolute Best I've tried!!!

[telerocker1988]

Love the Nocaster bridge but not the neck. Go figure.

I second the Fralins - I love his Tele and Strat pickups - my favs are the Blues Special models for both T and S type guitars.

[Dr. Bill]

I also thought the Nocaster bridge pickup was a bit too middy. Others here have had the same complaint.

[dress rehearsal]

Thank you to all for the input. I changed strings the other day and tweaked the intonation a bit. I'm feeling a bit better about the nocaster bridge with a new set of strings on there. I'm still contemplating other options, but I'd like to keep the rwrp going on with the neck. So if I do swap out, I'll have to do some research or just change the set. They're staying put for now.

One thing I thought of trying to open the sound up a bit is to swap the rubber tubing for springs on the mounting screws (bridge only). Will I hear a difference?

[YoGeorge]

Doubt the tubing vs springs will make a real difference.

I have had certain pickup sets that hate pure nickel wound strings and prefer nickel plated steel (such as D'Addario XL's, GHS Boomers). The pure nickel tends to make the lower strings weaker and less focused (could be described as a bit muddy or if you prefer, vintagey mellow).

If anything, the nickel plated strings will let you lower your pickup on the bass string side and not lose output level.

Before you change pickups, a different set of strings would be a worthwhile thing to try.

George

[H. Mac]

Originally Posted by dress rehearsal

Anyone else out there satisfied with the nocaster neck, and underwhelmed with the bridge?

The Nocaster bridge pickup has a great reputation, but I found mine to be a bit too bright and edgey. A friend suggested that I try pure nickel strings, and they made a night and day difference. The brightness and edginess from the bridge pickup disappeared, and it became a little warmer.

All plain strings and the cores for the wound strings are stainless steel. The wrap is where the different alloys are used. Stainless steel wrapped strings are the brightest, the steel/nickel alloys are in the middle and the pure nickel wounds are the warmest.

[Stylemaster]

Originally Posted by dress rehearsal

Anyone else out there satisfied with the nocaster neck, and underwhelmed with the bridge?

Me.

Originally Posted by dress rehearsal

Nocaster bridge is supposed to be medium output, but I get way more grind from my '62 custom bridge pup.

The Custom '62 Bridge pickup is my Favorite Fender bridge pickup followed by the Baja Broadcaster, thus far. The '62 Bridge pup reminds me of the bridge pickup in a '59 Esquire I once owned. Unfortunately the '59 had problems and I had to sell it but I have recordings of me playing it through a Twin and I lust for that sound. The '62 is the closest I've come to it.

The '62 also does seem to have more output hitting the front end of my amps than the '51 Nocaster bridge and it has more character and is more lively too. I think many folks here will agree that Tele pickup performance has everything to do with the whole signal chain as well as the wood and hardware in a guitar. Some pickups sound good or bad with certain bridge assemblies and certain body and neck wood, size, weight and resonance (BTW, I only use D'Addario XL's).

The '62 bridge is great with any combination of the above. I think it is Fender's most under-rated bridge pickup. I would pair it with the '51 Nocaster neck pickup which is one of my favorite Tele neck pickups out if any I've tried but I am so sick of A/b-ing and taking apart and reassembling my Teles I think I just might sell the Nocasters and move on.

Of course they are among the most beloved set on this forum so YMMV.