The Barden Tele Mystique...

[Drak]

I was just sort of curious why it only seems to be the Tele set that brings so much money, it doesn't make much sense to me.

When they were still in production, I was buying them used for about $80.00 apiece on a pretty regular basis, and I have a few of everything he made...Tele sets, Strat sets, and the Duo-Tone HB sets, but I don't get why it's ONLY the Tele set that has commanded the crazy prices.

I like 'em and all, they suit a specific purpose/particular sound, but I don't think they're really worth the crazy money.

So, IYO, is it simply hype and not really the tone/sound of the pkps? Because if it WAS the tone, then wouldn't they all be worth more or less the same? They're all built basically the same, eh?

The funny thing is, if there is ONE out of the bunch I don't care for, it's the Tele bridge, it's usually too bright for me no matter what guitar I try it in, the tone of that pkp just doesn't really move me that much, so based on tone alone, I actually like most of the others MORE. The Tele neck is insanely good to my ears, but in the end it's just a different flavor. Not my top flavor, but it suits a purpose, but I would never pay $250.00 for one, I have a lot of other flavors I like too.

So, do you think the prices are simply hype, or do you think the pkps themselves are really actually worth the money in the end?

PS, I had a pair of Tom Holmes HB's years ago that I had bought when they were worth no more than any other HB out there, I think I paid $50.00/ea. for them, and I sold them off too, I never 'got' what everybody was going crazy about, they were never 'that' much better sounding than several various other HB's out there...but I did cash in on those, hehehe. The Bardens I like, so I keep 'em. But I don't really agree to their 'worth'.

I'm not a big pkp swapper per se, but I do build guitars, so I'm always on the lookout for good used pkp deals, and I have bought a ton of them used over the years.

Just curious for opinions, fun pkp post and all...

[beez]

Danny Gatton.

If not for his association, they would NOT be selling for these outrageous prices.

[moonshiner]

Personally... I don't care for the Barden "tone"... A buddy of mine has them in his tele... I wouldn't buy them for 80 bucks or for 500...

Don't get me wrong.. they sound good... just not my idea of what a tele should sound like.

YMMV...

[bendaway]

Originally Posted by beez

Danny Gatton.

If not for his association, they would NOT be selling for these outrageous prices.

I agree that is the main reason. Weren't telecaster pickups made for Danny G. the original Bardens? Strat and full size humbuckers came later.

[Mark Davis]

Gatton said long ago if you want the best sounding Strat pickups see Fralin. Its because of Gatton Kirchen and many other Tele players.

Back when they were still in production you could always find a set of Bardens 2 pickupsd for $150 used or less.

They would still be selling for $125-150 used if they were still making them when somerthing can no longer be purchased new the price always goes way up.

[OaklandA]

People want them mostly because of the Gatton connection and they are a bit different from the typical Tele pickup...Barden stopped making them. so their prices are inflated.

I think they're kinda ice pickey, but that's me.

[JoeNeri]

One of the lesser known pickups made by Barden are the Standard Strat pups, made to fit under a Strat pickup cover. From 2 feet away, it looks like any regular Strat pickup. Not quite as much output as Barden's Delux Strat or Tele pickups, but absolutely no hum. I've had them for years in my '82 Dan Smith Strat, after trying just about every other Strat pickup available. Great tone, good output and no hum!

[Ramblin Ray]

When I had them, I preferred the rhythm pup as well. Never was in love with the lead pup.

[Rob Rent]

Danny turned me on to Joe back in the mid-80s and I handed Joe the money for them the night I met him....the way I describe them to folks is that they're like hifi tele pickups....and to me they seem to have no personality of their own....they just make my tele the best clearest tele it can be....but I'm not very articulate when it comes to describing guitar sounds...with the prices going through the roof these days...I'm getting ready to put some up for sale....any advice on using either Ebay or the garage sale here? I've never done either...
thanks..

[jdfoosh357]

Just sell the set to me for $100. I promise no issues.

j/k, but seriously... :D

[fullerplast]

Originally Posted by JoeNeri

One of the lesser known pickups made by Barden are the Standard Strat pups, made to fit under a Strat pickup cover. From 2 feet away, it looks like any regular Strat pickup. Not quite as much output as Barden's Delux Strat or Tele pickups, but absolutely no hum. I've had them for years in my '82 Dan Smith Strat, after trying just about every other Strat pickup available. Great tone, good output and no hum!

These work great in strats or in the neck/middle of a custom tele! I'm surprised these never became more popular. They are almost virtually the same as the deluxe and are actually better suited to a flatter radius neck. The deluxe rails are designed for a smaller vintage radius....but in reality there's not a whole lot of difference either way. The deluxes have just a bit more of a boost to the middle strings than the standards.