What's a good single-bridge & bucker-neck combo?

roth · July 17th, 2006, 11:19 AM

Any ideas?

I am looking at the Duncan '59 or GFS split neck with a texas tele or Duncan Donahue bridge, but am open to suggestions. Want pups that will really compliment each other.

I plan on a 4 or 5 way switch with a separate phase switch.

These will be going in a MIM white body with All Parts 52 RI Fat neck. Would like chrome cover on the bucker.

Thanks

eryque · July 17th, 2006, 12:01 PM

I use a Duncan '59 with the Donahue in the bridge. Surprisingly, the output is not that badly mismatched and I *love* the '59. It's not a high-output muddy humbucker, just a great pickup with a lot of girth to it. Sounds very sweet for playing slide or those raunchy Stones chords.

I love the way the Donahue sounds for the wound strings, lots of twang and snap, but the attack is too sharp for the higher strings for my taste, too trebly. Lots of folks love that sound, though, so give it a shot. I'm thinking of mounting a left-handed bridge to reverse the slant, I think that might even things out a little more.

I should mention that I use a .022 tone cap on the 'bucker and .047 on the bridge pickup. That makes them both balance very well tonally, so I don't have to touch my tone knob when switching pickups.

Robert H. · July 17th, 2006, 12:15 PM

My Yamaha Mike Stern Tele style model comes with a Duncan '59 in the neck and a Duncan Hotrail (bucker) in the bridge slot---same size as the single coil bridge p/u. Very well balanced. I use the neck most of the time, but get a great twang from the middle position with the tone rolled off a bit. The bridge p/u alone is a little to trebly for my taste.

eryque · July 17th, 2006, 01:20 PM

I forgot to mention that the '59 split sounds lousy on its own. It's just kinda flat, no chime or particularly good characteristics worth mentioning.

I did find, however, that it was good on stage for fitting right in the pocket playing clean rhythm. There were times when I'd try playing rhythm with the full-bucker and no amount of fiddling with the volume or tone made it sound right, but then I'd split it and everything would fall into place.

bender-freak · July 17th, 2006, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eryque

I use a Duncan '59 with the Donahue in the bridge. Surprisingly, the output is not that badly mismatched and I *love* the '59. It's not a high-output muddy humbucker, just a great pickup with a lot of girth to it. Sounds very sweet for playing slide or those raunchy Stones chords.

I love the way the Donahue sounds for the wound strings, lots of twang and snap, but the attack is too sharp for the higher strings for my taste, too trebly. Lots of folks love that sound, though, so give it a shot. I'm thinking of mounting a left-handed bridge to reverse the slant, I think that might even things out a little more.

I should mention that I use a .022 tone cap on the 'bucker and .047 on the bridge pickup. That makes them both balance very well tonally, so I don't have to touch my tone knob when switching pickups.

i use a GFS overwound hummer neck and a GFS hot lil puncher bridge p.u. in my Jay Turser tele copy and think the sound is fantastic...has 5 way switching, don't have a clue bout the caps and such, whatever came in the guitar but anyhoo they balance between the two is great IMO...

my Mex Nashville with benders has a Dunc "lil 59" in the bridge and i like it, too....better than the GFS..??...not in my opinion, just three times more expensive, but tone is all in the ears of the man doin' the playin' and the ones listening...cheers

roth · July 17th, 2006, 02:30 PM

Thanks for the responses so far - has anyone used a GFS vintage fender style splick bucker in the neck position yet?

Tim Armstrong · July 17th, 2006, 04:15 PM

I haven't tried that pickup, but I did find an old Gibson minibucker was a PERFECT match to a regular Tele bridge pickup. Wish I'd kept that guitar! I understand that the Kent Armstrong (no relation) Firebird minibucker is a good match, too. Ask Rob DiStefano...

Cheers, Tim

Fatmanstratman · July 17th, 2006, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roth

Thanks for the responses so far - has anyone used a GFS vintage fender style splick bucker in the neck position yet?

I've been using the GFS pups as top-quality upgrades for some time now. No affinity, but I cannot speak highly enough of them.

The split position bucker in my Partscaster above is AWESOME - drives my Twin Reverb without trying. Sweet but raunchy, loud but clear. Highly recommended.

BTW - in answer to your earlier question about the neck pup - I originally fitted the GFS Hot TC Alnico in the bridge, but I've since discovered the GFS Vintage Alnico 62. I replaced the Texas Special in my '62 ReIssue with one of these, and everyone who has heard it has been blown away. I think the Vintage Split HBs and the Vintage 62 pups are my favourite of all. I'm upgrading another of my Teles with the Vintage 62 bridge pup this week.

Such great quality for so little money. I don't know how they do it....

roth · July 17th, 2006, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fatmanstratman

I've been using the GFS pups as top-quality upgrades for some time now. No affinity, but I cannot speak highly enough of them.

The split position bucker in my Partscaster above is AWESOME - drives my Twin Reverb without trying. Sweet but raunchy, loud but clear. Highly recommended.

BTW - in answer to your earlier question about the neck pup - I originally fitted the GFS Hot TC Alnico in the bridge, but I've since discovered the GFS Vintage Alnico 62. I replaced the Texas Special in my '62 ReIssue with one of these, and everyone who has heard it has been blown away. I think the Vintage Split HBs and the Vintage 62 pups are my favourite of all. I'm upgrading another of my Teles with the Vintage 62 bridge pup this week.

Such great quality for so little money. I don't know how they do it....

That guitar looks great! Funny you should say the Alnico 62 is your favorite - I just got an email from Jay at guitarfetish telling me his favorite with the split bucker is also the Alnico 62. Looks like I will try that first... only $70 for both - compared to $150 for Duncan pups...

franchelB · July 17th, 2006, 11:08 PM

Because I wanted my Tele to look as original as possible, I'm using a Fender Vintage Noiseless neck pickup in combination with my Rio Grande Muy Grande bridge pickup.

Bluesbob · July 18th, 2006, 04:10 PM

CS Texas Tele bridge and SD Seth Lover PAF. Good balance, great raunchy rock tone.

trandy16 · July 18th, 2006, 05:22 PM

My main working Telecaster has a Seymour Duncan Antiquity humbucker in the neck and a Little '59er in the bridge. It's a great combination.

July 17th, 2006, 11:19 AM	#1 (permalink)
roth Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Phoenix, AZ Age: 30 Posts: 314 36 Photos	What's a good single-bridge & bucker-neck combo? Any ideas? I am looking at the Duncan '59 or GFS split neck with a texas tele or Duncan Donahue bridge, but am open to suggestions. Want pups that will really compliment each other. I plan on a 4 or 5 way switch with a separate phase switch. These will be going in a MIM white body with All Parts 52 RI Fat neck. Would like chrome cover on the bucker. Thanks

July 17th, 2006, 12:01 PM	#2 (permalink)
eryque Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: albany, ny [not chicago] Posts: 7,092 44 Photos	I use a Duncan '59 with the Donahue in the bridge. Surprisingly, the output is not that badly mismatched and I love the '59. It's not a high-output muddy humbucker, just a great pickup with a lot of girth to it. Sounds very sweet for playing slide or those raunchy Stones chords. I love the way the Donahue sounds for the wound strings, lots of twang and snap, but the attack is too sharp for the higher strings for my taste, too trebly. Lots of folks love that sound, though, so give it a shot. I'm thinking of mounting a left-handed bridge to reverse the slant, I think that might even things out a little more. I should mention that I use a .022 tone cap on the 'bucker and .047 on the bridge pickup. That makes them both balance very well tonally, so I don't have to touch my tone knob when switching pickups. __________________ my blog: eryque.blogspot.com Updated 9.17.08! Subscribe_____________________

July 17th, 2006, 01:20 PM	#4 (permalink)
eryque Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: albany, ny [not chicago] Posts: 7,092 44 Photos	I forgot to mention that the '59 split sounds lousy on its own. It's just kinda flat, no chime or particularly good characteristics worth mentioning. I did find, however, that it was good on stage for fitting right in the pocket playing clean rhythm. There were times when I'd try playing rhythm with the full-bucker and no amount of fiddling with the volume or tone made it sound right, but then I'd split it and everything would fall into place. __________________ my blog: eryque.blogspot.com Updated 9.17.08! Subscribe_____________________

July 17th, 2006, 04:15 PM	#7 (permalink)
Tim Armstrong Moderator Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Berlin, Maryland, USA Age: 49 Posts: 9,550	I haven't tried that pickup, but I did find an old Gibson minibucker was a PERFECT match to a regular Tele bridge pickup. Wish I'd kept that guitar! I understand that the Kent Armstrong (no relation) Firebird minibucker is a good match, too. Ask Rob DiStefano... Cheers, Tim __________________ http://www.moodswingers.org

July 18th, 2006, 04:10 PM	#11 (permalink)
Bluesbob Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: East Suffolk L.I. Posts: 1,049 20 Photos	I have... CS Texas Tele bridge and SD Seth Lover PAF. Good balance, great raunchy rock tone. __________________ What, me worry?

July 17th, 2006, 12:15 PM	#3 (permalink)
Robert H. Tele-Holic Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: San Francisco Age: 54 Posts: 785 7 Photos	My Yamaha Mike Stern Tele style model comes with a Duncan '59 in the neck and a Duncan Hotrail (bucker) in the bridge slot---same size as the single coil bridge p/u. Very well balanced. I use the neck most of the time, but get a great twang from the middle position with the tone rolled off a bit. The bridge p/u alone is a little to trebly for my taste.

July 17th, 2006, 02:30 PM	#6 (permalink)
roth Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Phoenix, AZ Age: 30 Posts: 314 36 Photos	Thanks for the responses so far - has anyone used a GFS vintage fender style splick bucker in the neck position yet?

July 17th, 2006, 11:08 PM	#10 (permalink)
franchelB Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Irving, United States of Texas! Age: 43 Posts: 1,861	Because I wanted my Tele to look as original as possible, I'm using a Fender Vintage Noiseless neck pickup in combination with my Rio Grande Muy Grande bridge pickup.

July 18th, 2006, 05:22 PM	#12 (permalink)
trandy16 Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Camdenton, Missouri Posts: 390	My main working Telecaster has a Seymour Duncan Antiquity humbucker in the neck and a Little '59er in the bridge. It's a great combination. __________________ "Won't you pour me a Cuban Breeze...Gretchen?..."