Lowell George/ Mid 70's Tele Pickup

[fhrussell]

Ive been searching for that over-compressed, clean Lowell George slide tone. I know he used the Alembic Stratoblaster and a Tele bridge pickup along with compressors and the Craftsman socket wrench. But what was the general Tele pickup he may have used back then? Can anyone recommend a good replacement bridge pickup that would be similar in tone to a mid 70's Telecaster? Thank you!

[Brewbaker]

I'm hearing what you're talking about but I can't help you with any of the gear.

[SPUDCASTER]

Are you wanting to put a Tele pickup in a Strat or are you just looking to come close to a 70's Tele pickup for your Tele?

I've been a Feat fan since the early 70's. I only found out years later that Lowell used a Tele pickup in the bridge. But, I never would have mistaken his tone for a Tele sound. Tele pickups in a Strat never sound very "Tele" like to me. But, they do sound thicker than the normal SC bridge pickup.

Unless your building a tribute model, there are several companies that make a "Tele voiced" pickup for Strats. O.C Duff, Seymour Duncan and Harmonic Design come to mind.

If you are building a tribute model, a 70's style Tele bridge pickup specifications would probably not be a mystery to uncover.

Don Mare or Rob DiStefano would be two members here I would start with. Either for information or to wind you a pickup to as close to 70's specs as possible, if that's what your after.

Articles I've read. Lowell had several different guitars due to stolen gear and change just for the sake of change. Did they all have Tele pickups? Lowell would probably sound great on anything.

Good luck in your quest!

[joealso]

I recall reading something a couple of years ago where Paul Barrere discussed getting that classic Little Feat sound by using two compressors. I can't recall if they were in series with each other or one at the either end with other pedals in between. Definitely 2 compressors though. Google "Paul Barrere compressor" and I bet you'll find it. No advice on the pickup, though.

[JKjr]

Welcome aboard joealso! I recall a Tonequest Report interveiw a few years back. I'm foggy on the details but the two compressor thing stuck. Curiouser and curiouser...

[winny pooh]

Start with an authentic mxr dyna comp type pedal...

[fhrussell]

I should have maybe stated that I'm a huge LF/LG fan. I know about the MXR's and Lowell's use of a tele pickup in the bridge position, along with the Stratoblaster. I was just curious if the mid 70's tele pickup that Lowell likely used is recreated in anyway by Seymour Dunca, Fralin, or any other pick up manufacturer.

Thank you for the responses!

[hardhead]

you can find the stratoblaster,the dynacomp,a tele bridge pu or tele/strat mix pickup,and plug socket..........I have no clue where you would find that Dumble

[SPUDCASTER]

Specifications I've seen for a 70's Tele bridge.

42 gauge wire

A5 magnets

6.4K DC resistance

Copper plated baseplate

The Seymour Duncan Antiquity II would be pretty close to these numbers. I'm sure there are other makers that have similar offerings.

Bear in mind, these are just numbers and you can't base exactly how any pickup will sound until you try it with your own gear.

[LightninMike]

there are a few threads on the Strat discussion forum on this site....

As far as I know, it was a regular tele bridge, but that could have changed as often as he had guitars stolen

flatwound strings are a part of it

check out this thread: http://www.tdpri.com/forum/stratocas...lly-ready.html

[CC53]

MXR Dynacomp..level all the way up...Comp all the way down

[Doug 54]

2 of them for live stuff...

[PumpJockey]

There's an outfit that makes a pedal (they advertise a lot on Facebook) that allegedly sounds like George's dual chained Urai studio rig.

http://www.origineffects.com/SlideRIG.php

Very pricey of course, and Urais were not his road rig. A Dyna-Comp is much more budget friendly and a fat-sounding tube amp is a must.

As for the tele pup, I recall an interview in which he said that he and Paul Barrare would shop for guitars at local music stores on the road, find Strats and play them as is. (FWIW)

[black_doug]

This has been posted before but the interesting thing is that the strat switch is in the middle position for the lesson. Coincidence?