Anybody have opinion on HD Vintage Plus for Tele?

Rich Rice · October 17th, 2005, 12:36 AM

I finally tried out my set on a gig, and these are some powerful pickups. So powerful that the guitar only lasted through the first set, then got put away. I think they are really good, but didn't have good luck in a live performance.. very very bright, crisp, super responsive. Not my cup of tea, though. I don't know if this is a common problem, and I'm at the beginning of a learning curve, or if others have been in the same boat. I don't know if changing my amp setting would do the trick, either, but didn't want to experiment while "on the job". I found them to be lacking in the "mellow" department. I know I could roll off some of the treble at the amp, I tried rolling it back on the guitar, but all it did was muffle them, not mellow them the way I had hoped it would..... I just ordered a HD STP for my custom built chambered Tele, (routed for humbuckers, but my tastes have changed. Again.

) now I'm a bit worried since these are the first HD pickups I've tried. :?

RockinCarl · October 17th, 2005, 01:34 PM

I have the Vintage Plus Tele pickup in the neck, and a '54 Special in the Bridge. I'm very happy with it, it's a great mix of a traditional Tele neck pickup, with some P-90 mixed in. I like it, but I guess we like different tones, or maybe they had an "off" day at Harmonic Design.

OaklandA · October 17th, 2005, 05:07 PM

Really great for Rock & Blues. They are loud and punchy. Nice overtones when overdriven. I have a Thinline with a Vintage + in the neck and the Super 90 in the bridge. It's a total rocker. Tone sits somewhere between Tele and P-90 overall.

Fralin Blues Specials still my favorites, but I like these a lot.

I don't imagine a country player would care for them much.

RockinCarl · October 17th, 2005, 06:46 PM

Like I said in my first post, I have one in the neck, and it's great when clean-- it almost sounds like a hollowbody, great for Rockabilly, but when it's overdriven, it sounds almost Strat-ish. I really like this pickup-- I never tried the Bridge, I may some day, but I'm pretty happy with my '54 Special, and my Lawrence L-250.

Jim Sams · October 17th, 2005, 09:51 PM

I LOVE the Vintage Plus as a bridge pup. It is really the greatest for a blues/rock tone with a tele bite. Clear raucous fat tele tone!
I also had good results with the neck pup in an alder bodied rosewood board American Standard tele, but I prefer the Charlie Christian type of pup in Ash/Maple neck teles.
Scott at Harmonic design is a great guy to do business with also. Always delivered when and what was promised.
BTW IMHO these pups like a Delta tone no load tone pot, or one of the old Tele TBX setups.

GuitarJonz · October 17th, 2005, 10:43 PM

Yes, set it up with a TBX tone pot, it makes a HUGE difference, and offers a much wider variety of tones. The V+ have a nice fat tele tone, with plenty of twang, but FAT twang.

October 17th, 2005, 12:36 AM	#1 (permalink)
Rich Rice Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: In a dream world.. Just ask my wife. Age: 53 Posts: 2,524 11 Photos	Anybody have opinion on HD Vintage Plus for Tele? I finally tried out my set on a gig, and these are some powerful pickups. So powerful that the guitar only lasted through the first set, then got put away. I think they are really good, but didn't have good luck in a live performance.. very very bright, crisp, super responsive. Not my cup of tea, though. I don't know if this is a common problem, and I'm at the beginning of a learning curve, or if others have been in the same boat. I don't know if changing my amp setting would do the trick, either, but didn't want to experiment while "on the job". I found them to be lacking in the "mellow" department. I know I could roll off some of the treble at the amp, I tried rolling it back on the guitar, but all it did was muffle them, not mellow them the way I had hoped it would..... I just ordered a HD STP for my custom built chambered Tele, (routed for humbuckers, but my tastes have changed. Again. ) now I'm a bit worried since these are the first HD pickups I've tried. :? __________________ Please visit my website! If you are driven to play, you will find a way.

October 17th, 2005, 09:51 PM	#5 (permalink)
Jim Sams Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 281	V+ are my favorite bridge pups I LOVE the Vintage Plus as a bridge pup. It is really the greatest for a blues/rock tone with a tele bite. Clear raucous fat tele tone! I also had good results with the neck pup in an alder bodied rosewood board American Standard tele, but I prefer the Charlie Christian type of pup in Ash/Maple neck teles. Scott at Harmonic design is a great guy to do business with also. Always delivered when and what was promised. BTW IMHO these pups like a Delta tone no load tone pot, or one of the old Tele TBX setups.

October 17th, 2005, 01:34 PM	#2 (permalink)
RockinCarl Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,468	I have the Vintage Plus Tele pickup in the neck, and a '54 Special in the Bridge. I'm very happy with it, it's a great mix of a traditional Tele neck pickup, with some P-90 mixed in. I like it, but I guess we like different tones, or maybe they had an "off" day at Harmonic Design.

October 17th, 2005, 05:07 PM	#3 (permalink)
OaklandA Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Arizona Posts: 1,569 28 Photos	Really great for Rock & Blues. They are loud and punchy. Nice overtones when overdriven. I have a Thinline with a Vintage + in the neck and the Super 90 in the bridge. It's a total rocker. Tone sits somewhere between Tele and P-90 overall. Fralin Blues Specials still my favorites, but I like these a lot. I don't imagine a country player would care for them much.

October 17th, 2005, 06:46 PM	#4 (permalink)
RockinCarl Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,468	Like I said in my first post, I have one in the neck, and it's great when clean-- it almost sounds like a hollowbody, great for Rockabilly, but when it's overdriven, it sounds almost Strat-ish. I really like this pickup-- I never tried the Bridge, I may some day, but I'm pretty happy with my '54 Special, and my Lawrence L-250.

October 17th, 2005, 10:43 PM	#6 (permalink)
GuitarJonz Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Central Mass. Posts: 2,716 7 Photos	Yes, set it up with a TBX tone pot, it makes a HUGE difference, and offers a much wider variety of tones. The V+ have a nice fat tele tone, with plenty of twang, but FAT twang.