Humbuckers on teles

[MulliganChebichev]

Ok, on my standard Tele I found a humbucker cavity was carved, stock.
So i'm scouring for a 'bucker to take the neck position.
Good o'l Seymour Duncan
Is there anything else I need to know?

Now, I was listening to some humbucker samples on the Duncan website, and sadly I realized that I have no ear for PUs
Can anyone help me out? I'm looking for a rock/alt type of sound, wanting to play clean and dirty, something thats chunkier then the stock single PUs.

P.S. I was looking at the Fender Wide Range and Enforcer, would that suit my style?

[refin]

I have a Duncan '59 BRIDGE in the front of my MIM Tele Standard,and a little known Dragonfire blade in the bridge...great combo.This isn't my only tele,and I wanted one that was a little diffrerent than the rest.The Duncan sounds great in the front,and I'm wondering if being a bridge model helps.I've heard of others using the standard '59 Duncan and getting great results.
The whole key is getting a bridge pup that won't get overpowered by the front bucker.

[JohnS]

If you do a search on the forum you will see that a lot of folks seem to prefer a SD Seth Lover humbucker in the neck position.

[6942]

IMO, Dragonfire is one of the better brands of budget pickups out there.
Steve

[fingers23]

SD 'Seth Lover' on the left and Lollar Imperial on the right........Yummy

[yegbert]

Originally Posted by JohnS

If you do a search on the forum you will see that a lot of folks seem to prefer a SD Seth Lover humbucker in the neck position.

I've only recently been experimenting with a bucker in a Tele neck position, with my 2000 CII Squier Fat Tele.

Fender has a couple of wiring diagrams that may be useful.

The American HS Tele diagram show where to add a resistor (#13 on the diagram) to have it between the single coil bridge pickup and ground, when you're using 500k pots and a typical 3-way switch and wiring/switching configuration. If you check the parts list on that and other Fender Teles wired similarly with a resistor, they call for a 270k resistor there. I used this one and put a 470k in mine and it works pretty good. This approach allows you to use 500k pots to get plenty of brightness from your bucker, but lets the single coil "see" a lower resistance in the bridge and combined switch positions so it's not too bright.

The other diagrams Fender has that I found interesting are for the American Hot Rodded Fat Tele and the US Fat Tele, maybe the same wiring configuration; they use a 5-position Oak Grigsby superswitch and tap the bucker.

Right now I have a waxed Gibson A2 Burstbucker #1 in mine. I have the Seth Lover on my Christmas wish list, and I'm thinking about trying the version of that same Burstbucker that's unwaxed.

The A2 Burstbuckers have unbalanced coils. The ones you can buy as new accessories are unwaxed, the ones first installed from the factory were also unwaxed but later versions installed from the factory are waxed. The Burstbucker Pros are also unbalanced but are A5 and are all waxed.

The Seth Lover is apparently balanced coils and is unwaxed.

I've tried a 7k A3 Fender OV bridge flatpole, an A5 7.2k Duncan STL-1 Vintage '54 staggerpole in the bridge, and now have an A5 6.4k Fender Classic Series staggerpole with an added bridgeplate. I like this Classic Series best, but I'm interested more in a bright and clean bridge tone. The '54 tone was similar to the Classic but a little more middy. I was afraid the Classic might have resulted in a weaker output than the '54 but they seem about the same to me in terms of output strength.

I have my neck bucker down almost level with the pickguard. I'm thinking I could probably make use of an uncovered bucker mounted to the body and an Esquire pickguard.

[do not be afraid]

Originally Posted by fingers23

SD 'Seth Lover' on the left and Lollar Imperial on the right........Yummy

which of the two do you prefer? how does the lollar sound? hmm...

i like the seymour duncan seth lover pickup because it's a completely vintage-accurate reproduction of the original PAF humbucker designed by the man who designed the original PAF humbucker. even gibson's "burstbucker" pickups were designed by people who had nothing to do with the originals, despite being made by the same company. i think that gives the seth lover pickup an edge over the others, although i'm sure they all sound great as well.

if you're not so obssessed with being "vintage accurate", i like gibson's "burstbucker pro" that they're using in the current les paul standard. they use alnico 5 magnets, rather than alnico 2, and that gives them more clarity and "bite" than most gibson style humbuckers, while still sounding very much the way a gibson humbucker should.

however, it should be mentioned that i'm not a big "humbucker" fan, and, if i was going to stick a gibson-style pickup in the neck of my telecaster, i'd rather have it be a p-90, or an "alnico v", or perhaps even a "charlie christian", so i'm sure others here will be more helpful than me...

[woodman]

Originally Posted by MulliganChebichev

Now, I was listening to some humbucker samples on the Duncan website, and sadly I realized that I have no ear for PUs

it's hard to get much definitive sonic info from web samples. guys around here can give you advice, but we're all biased by what we like. i've had the best luck contacting pickup-winders, telling them what i'm looking for tonewise, and taking their advice.

BTW, if i'm not mistaken, the Seth Lover and the Fender Wide Range are one and the same. i've used two sets -- one on an early '90s Thinline reissue and the other on a '72 Thinline. i swapped out both sets -- for DiMarzio Super Distortions on the '72 for a hotter sound, Lace Sensors on the '93 for a twangier sound, but both sets had their Tele-ish charm. the old ones are sweeter to my ears, if you can find one on eBay or wherever.

[MulliganChebichev]

Thanks guys, but by seeing the prices of new pots, pickguard and the PU, I probably wont do the upgrade until later.

I see that the SD Seth Lover is discontinued in MF...hrm
Well in eBay I see that prices are around $100, is that a good price?
EDIT: Hmn I find it funny that amazon is selling PUs

[yegbert]

Look a little closer, Amazon isn't selling those, they are just listing them for other businesses.

I haven't found a better price on new ones.

Several SD dealers advertise in and participate in the SD forum, you might check there. SD requires authorized SD dealers to not sell them any lower than a specified price per model so you're not going to find them below that floor in price new unless you're getting them from other than an authorized SD dealer.

[Robin Nahum]

Originally Posted by MulliganChebichev

Ok, on my standard Tele I found a humbucker cavity was carved, stock.
So i'm scouring for a 'bucker to take the neck position.
Good o'l Seymour Duncan
Is there anything else I need to know?

Now, I was listening to some humbucker samples on the Duncan website, and sadly I realized that I have no ear for PUs
Can anyone help me out? I'm looking for a rock/alt type of sound, wanting to play clean and dirty, something thats chunkier then the stock single PUs.

There are some things to bear in mind when installing a full-size bucker in the neck.

Full-size humbuckers, including the Seth Lover, generally have a higher output level than single coils. If you use the pickups together and want to the bridge to stand out, this may be problematic.

If both pickups are going through the same tone circuit, you need to think about which rating of capacitor and pot to use. A .047uf cap/250K pot is shown in the diagram. This will take off a lot of the treble which is fine for the bridge but may make the bucker sound like it is underwater. A .022uf cap with a 500k pot will work for the bucker but leave the bridge very bright. One possibility, without moving to parallel tone circuits is to try a .033uf cap with a 500K pot.

An alternative to a full bucker is a minibucker. The output is comparable to the bridge pup and minibuckers tend to be a bit brighter than full buckers so can share the tone circuit more comfortably with the bridge pup.

[vic108]

A '57 Humbucker in my ~CB~ built Fender/Warmoth Thinline

[teleman65]

I have a 60s Gibson 'bucker in the neck position of my '72 Tele and I have a GFS Vintage Split in the neck position of a Squier Tele.
The Gibson works for getting a Keef sound and works well with the bridge pup.
The GFS is supposed to approximate a Wide-Range and while not exact does have a decent sound(also it's standard humbucker size). I think it really works well with the bridge pup.

[MulliganChebichev]

Originally Posted by Robin Nahum

There are some things to bear in mind when installing a full-size bucker in the neck.

Full-size humbuckers, including the Seth Lover, generally have a higher output level than single coils. If you use the pickups together and want to the bridge to stand out, this may be problematic.

If both pickups are going through the same tone circuit, you need to think about which rating of capacitor and pot to use. A .047uf cap/250K pot is shown in the diagram. This will take off a lot of the treble which is fine for the bridge but may make the bucker sound like it is underwater. A .022uf cap with a 500k pot will work for the bucker but leave the bridge very bright. One possibility, without moving to parallel tone circuits is to try a .033uf cap with a 500K pot.

An alternative to a full bucker is a minibucker. The output is comparable to the bridge pup and minibuckers tend to be a bit brighter than full buckers so can share the tone circuit more comfortably with the bridge pup.

So my list of things to get:
Humbucker
Higher output bridge?
500k pots
Pickguard
Other PU choices I have are SH-11 Duncan Custom Customs, SH-4 JBs

[Veitchy]

Just out of curiosity, Anybody played one of them Joe Barden humbuckers?

[yegbert]

Originally Posted by MulliganChebichev

So my list of things to get:
Humbucker
Higher output bridge?
500k pots
Pickguard
Other PU choices I have are SH-11 Duncan Custom Customs, SH-4 JBs

Here's my suggestion. Start with:

neck humbucker
pickguard
500k pots
470k resistor

What I'd do, is go try out several neck humbuckers in other guitars. New Les Pauls are good candidates. Look at the specs on them from the Gibson website and you can figure out which ones are in which LPs. I'd try an LP with A5 Burstbucker Pros, one with A2 Burstbucker Pros, and whatever you can find with '57 Classics and the 490 series.

You don't necessarily have to buy a Gibson bucker, but those will be good reference points, from which you can base a decision what flavor of buckers you like.

I'd get a neck bucker I like first, and then after that sort out what bridge pickup is best to pair with it. That's how I've been working through my choices for my Fat Tele.

[Wild Rice Chris]

Originally Posted by woodman1

BTW, if i'm not mistaken, the Seth Lover and the Fender Wide Range are one and the same. i've used two sets -- one on an early '90s Thinline reissue and the other on a '72 Thinline. i swapped out both sets -- for DiMarzio Super Distortions on the '72 for a hotter sound, Lace Sensors on the '93 for a twangier sound, but both sets had their Tele-ish charm. the old ones are sweeter to my ears, if you can find one on eBay or wherever.

Seth Lover designed the original Gibson humbucker as well as the Fender Wide-Range humbucker. The Seymour Duncan Seth Lover model is a recreation of the original Gibson design, not the Fender Wide-Range. Nobody makes an accurate Wide-Range recreation, due to the CuNiFe magnets used. The Wide-Range will not fit in a regular sized 'bucker hole.

The SD Seth Lover is an excellent tele neck pickup.

[Robin Nahum]

Originally Posted by MulliganChebichev

So my list of things to get:
Humbucker
Higher output bridge?
500k pots
Pickguard
Other PU choices I have are SH-11 Duncan Custom Customs, SH-4 JBs

Hi,

Sorry for not replying earlier.

List looks about right. Don't forget the cap!

A new pickguard is a good idea. That way you keep the old one in case you want to onsell the guitar with the original setup.

I think you should be able to use a 250K volume pot. You don't need to have both pots the same. Somebody might chime in here.

To get fancier, you could include a StewMac SuperSwitch and a couple of resistors around 70K. Then you can set up something like:

n
n + 1/2b
n + b
1/2n + b
b

[Bones]

I have a question regading the wiring on humbuckers, can you use a vintage style humbucker with the braided ground? How would you groud it and get the hot lead back to the switch?

Thanks.

i just put a Fender MIJ Humbucker in this one and Now i guess I will take the matching bridge pup as well, because they were well balanced. The I will need a new set for the guitar I took these from, that's why I need to know if I can make vintage wiring work or if i need one with two seperate leads like a regular tele pup.

Thanks.

[Ringo]

An easy way to use the braided style pu's is to solder a seperate wire to the braided sheild and run it to your ground site , back of pot etc...

[backmantele]

Looks like there is nothing more to add. I use the SD Seth Lover with a SD 5-2 on the bridge. Love it for the blues stuff.

[trandy16]

My favorite Telecaster neck humbucker?

Seymour Duncan Antiquity...smooth, creamy, vintage humbucking tones to die for.

[Unkie Al]

Originally Posted by vic108

A '57 Humbucker in my ~CB~ built Fender/Warmoth Thinline

Dang Vic!
That's one fiiiine looking Tele!

[RomanS]

Yep, that one is a real beauty - what's the wood on top - Koa?

[yegbert]

Originally Posted by Unkie Al

Dang Vic!
That's one fiiiine looking Tele!

+3. Absolutely beautiful!