Pickups - You won't believe my favorite OEM.

TELECASTERbstrd · July 28th, 2005, 02:32 PM

For me, the funny thing has always been how one guitar sounds killer when you pick it up at home and then when you're playing a gig you wind up putting that guitar down and picking up the old standard because the stage sound is not the same as it was at home. I don't tweak too many guitars, because I like what they each have to bring to the table in there own way.

Of my current guitars my rundown is this:

American vintage Custom Tele - Vintage sounding with alot of that Buck Owens plinky sound. I love it for the right situation because I Love Buck & Don. The neck P/U is bright, I like that.

Squire Affinity - Bridge is bright & pretty good and the neck is mud, but no gig playing yet.

80 Swamp Ash USA - Awesome! Not the hottest, but awesome!
Still not the best to my ears, but close... Maybe better that G&L.

G&L ASAT - This is the old standard. Blends well all the time and kicks ass.

Number one Tele that I play is ... My Ash CIJ!
Goofy bridge P/U with that bar magnet underneath and some cheap black tape around the windings. Balls to the wall! A little microphonic, but that adds to the balls when I ask it to. I changed out the neck P/U/ to a brighter TX Special.

Thought it was interesting.

lewis · July 28th, 2005, 05:45 PM

The best sounding Tele bridge pickup I own was oem from a Fernandes Tele Custom copy.

genelovesjez · July 28th, 2005, 06:09 PM

It sounds like you're listening with your ears instead of your wallet. It's nice to find a great pickup under any circumstances, but when it's one you don't expect it's even better.

JoeAArthur · July 28th, 2005, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by genelovesjez

It sounds like you're listening with your ears instead of your wallet. It's nice to find a great pickup under any circumstances, but when it's one you don't expect it's even better.

But... but... butt... :(

Ain't I supposed to put out big bucks to get tone? That just can't be natural!! :?

And heck... without some big name and all scribbled all over my pickups... and knowing the secret codes and the way they is wired... what the heck am I gonna brag to all my friends about???

Yaaaaaaiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeee.

hahahahahahahahaha

petebradt · July 28th, 2005, 08:12 PM

I mean, if you like your tone, fine, more power to you, but you remind me of anti-intellectual little teenagers.

"WE DON'T NEED ANY OF YOUR BIG WORDS!"

A number of very well known guitarists, widely respected and so forth...

All use Hamels.

Keith Richards uses Fralins.

They play on and make records, play big live gigs with big acts or are inthemselves, big acts. They MAKE THEIR LIVING with their instruments. The results of their work is on records we can all hear for ourselves.

Can you send me a link to where I can buy your records? Or hear some of your recordings? I wanna hear your tone, man!

Joe-Bob · July 28th, 2005, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by petebradt

I mean, if you like your tone, fine, more power to you, but you remind me of anti-intellectual little teenagers.

"WE DON'T NEED ANY OF YOUR BIG WORDS!"

A number of very well known guitarists, widely respected and so forth...

All use Hamels.

Keith Richards uses Fralins.

They play on and make records, play big live gigs with big acts or are inthemselves, big acts. They MAKE THEIR LIVING with their instruments. The results of their work is on records we can all hear for ourselves.

Can you send me a link to where I can buy your records? Or hear some of your recordings? I wanna hear your tone, man!

So much for the kinder, gentler Pete.

Chris S. · July 28th, 2005, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lewis

The best sounding Tele bridge pickup I own was oem from a Fernandes Tele Custom copy.

Yup, I've still got the original bridge pickup in my early 80s Tokai (now Ferden) because it sounds so good.

Quote:

Originally Posted by genelovesjez

It sounds like you're listening with your ears instead of your wallet.

Heaven forbid. What a silly idea... ;-) CS

Durtdog · July 28th, 2005, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by petebradt

I mean, if you like your tone, fine, more power to you, but you remind me of anti-intellectual little teenagers.

"WE DON'T NEED ANY OF YOUR BIG WORDS!"

A number of very well known guitarists, widely respected and so forth...

All use Hamels.

Keith Richards uses Fralins.

They play on and make records, play big live gigs with big acts or are inthemselves, big acts. They MAKE THEIR LIVING with their instruments. The results of their work is on records we can all hear for ourselves.

Can you send me a link to where I can buy your records? Or hear some of your recordings? I wanna hear your tone, man!

On the other hand, you use Hamels...I've heard your recordings....what's your point?

Colo Springs E · July 28th, 2005, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by petebradt

I mean, if you like your tone, fine, more power to you, but you remind me of anti-intellectual little teenagers.

"WE DON'T NEED ANY OF YOUR BIG WORDS!"

A number of very well known guitarists, widely respected and so forth...

All use Hamels.

Keith Richards uses Fralins.

They play on and make records, play big live gigs with big acts or are inthemselves, big acts. They MAKE THEIR LIVING with their instruments. The results of their work is on records we can all hear for ourselves.

Can you send me a link to where I can buy your records? Or hear some of your recordings? I wanna hear your tone, man!

....Hate to break the news to you Pete, but when I googled your name, there was no link to Amazon.com to pick up your latest hit. Perhaps you can redirect us all. Probably I should just go straight to the Billboard site??

Another news flash: All the really GOOD songs that Keith Richards ever wrote/played/recorded--you know the ones, the ones that were actually MEANINGFUL in the history or rock 'n roll, not the lame rubbish he and Mick have burdened us with the last 20 years--I'm pretty sure most of those songs had Gibson and Fender pickups all over them, not Hamels, Lollars, Bardens, or whatever else. I think a guy named Hendrix and some Beck guy, and dude named George Harrison, and some chap named Townshend... I think all those guys used to have stock pickups on a fairly large percentage of their guitars as well; some have put forth the assertion that those guys had fairly decent tone.

GuitarJonz · July 28th, 2005, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by petebradt

A number of very well known guitarists, widely respected and so forth...

All use Hamels.

Betcha its a very small number, compared to the number who use stock Fenders. All? Maybe a bit of generalization...just a bit???

txspreacher · July 29th, 2005, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by petebradt

I mean, if you like your tone, fine, more power to you, but you remind me of anti-intellectual little teenagers.

"WE DON'T NEED ANY OF YOUR BIG WORDS!"

A number of very well known guitarists, widely respected and so forth...

All use Hamels.

Keith Richards uses Fralins.

They play on and make records, play big live gigs with big acts or are inthemselves, big acts. They MAKE THEIR LIVING with their instruments. The results of their work is on records we can all hear for ourselves.

Can you send me a link to where I can buy your records? Or hear some of your recordings? I wanna hear your tone, man!

Um...let's see...some guys are discussing how they are surprised where some of their favorite tones come from, seeing as they're not always boutique pups (I like that Squier Affinity bridge pup, too, TELECASTERbstrd). So, that translates to teenagers ranting about "big words"? What a crazy conclusion you've drawn, friend! I won't dogpile since the others have replied quite eloquently to what I'm sure was just a typo or a
send-without-proofreading moment for you. It'll be okay...really...

olewichita · July 29th, 2005, 04:05 AM

eom...

Roel from Holland · July 29th, 2005, 06:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by petebradt

A number of very well known guitarists, widely respected and so forth...

All use Hamels.

I think so too.

bluescube · July 29th, 2005, 06:32 AM

Back on topic-

I love the stock P90 pickups in my Nelsonic tele-clone.

yegbert · July 29th, 2005, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TELECASTERbstrd

Squire Affinity - Bridge is bright & pretty good and the neck is mud, but no gig playing yet.

I think it's a good idea to keep an open mind and try the ones that aren't necessarily the flavor of the month.

I'm fairly new to trying different pickups in my Teles. I gave in early to an urge to try some Duncan Alnico II Pros in my '50s Classic Tele, and sold my original neck pickup to a buddy. I've revisited the '50s Classic set and learned to appreciate it.

I'm not sure if the Affinity Squiers have different pickups than those that came in my '98 Standard. Both mine have bar magnets. I thought the neck on mine was very dark also. The bridge has a brass colored baseplate and it is definitely bright and strong. I've set both aside in favor of a couple of Duncans for now, but one day I'll try them again. I might submit the neck pickup to an experiment in using one without the cover.

TonyBlack · July 29th, 2005, 07:09 AM

July 28th, 2005, 02:32 PM	#1 (permalink)
TELECASTERbstrd Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Hill Country TEXAS Posts: 615	Pickups - You won't believe my favorite OEM. For me, the funny thing has always been how one guitar sounds killer when you pick it up at home and then when you're playing a gig you wind up putting that guitar down and picking up the old standard because the stage sound is not the same as it was at home. I don't tweak too many guitars, because I like what they each have to bring to the table in there own way. Of my current guitars my rundown is this: American vintage Custom Tele - Vintage sounding with alot of that Buck Owens plinky sound. I love it for the right situation because I Love Buck & Don. The neck P/U is bright, I like that. Squire Affinity - Bridge is bright & pretty good and the neck is mud, but no gig playing yet. 80 Swamp Ash USA - Awesome! Not the hottest, but awesome! Still not the best to my ears, but close... Maybe better that G&L. G&L ASAT - This is the old standard. Blends well all the time and kicks ass. Number one Tele that I play is ... My Ash CIJ! Goofy bridge P/U with that bar magnet underneath and some cheap black tape around the windings. Balls to the wall! A little microphonic, but that adds to the balls when I ask it to. I changed out the neck P/U/ to a brighter TX Special. Thought it was interesting. __________________ Howdy Y'all, most of my stuff pertains to country music. my MySpace Music Hill Country Horseworks

July 28th, 2005, 05:45 PM	#2 (permalink)
lewis Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,704 20 Photos	The best sounding Tele bridge pickup I own was oem from a Fernandes Tele Custom copy. __________________ "I'm a maestro, I'm a maestro," Taj Mahal, 8/20/05.

July 28th, 2005, 08:12 PM	#5 (permalink)
petebradt Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Niner Country Posts: 3,217 12 Photos	You guys crack me up I mean, if you like your tone, fine, more power to you, but you remind me of anti-intellectual little teenagers. "WE DON'T NEED ANY OF YOUR BIG WORDS!" A number of very well known guitarists, widely respected and so forth... All use Hamels. Keith Richards uses Fralins. They play on and make records, play big live gigs with big acts or are inthemselves, big acts. They MAKE THEIR LIVING with their instruments. The results of their work is on records we can all hear for ourselves. Can you send me a link to where I can buy your records? Or hear some of your recordings? I wanna hear your tone, man!

July 29th, 2005, 04:05 AM	#12 (permalink)
olewichita Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: austin, tx Posts: 1,100	deleted... eom...

July 29th, 2005, 07:09 AM	#16 (permalink)
TonyBlack Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: new york city Posts: 437	oem humbuckers in my $100 olp axis ...

July 28th, 2005, 06:09 PM	#3 (permalink)
genelovesjez Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Age: 41 Posts: 3,735	It sounds like you're listening with your ears instead of your wallet. It's nice to find a great pickup under any circumstances, but when it's one you don't expect it's even better.

July 29th, 2005, 06:32 AM	#14 (permalink)
bluescube Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Greensboro NC Age: 41 Posts: 993 6 Photos	Back on topic- I love the stock P90 pickups in my Nelsonic tele-clone.