Help with single PU Nocaster-type thing

ratkent · December 20th, 2005, 06:06 PM

I played a friends Fender Custom Shop single pickup No-caster and was really impressed with the variety of tones he got from it. It was Ash with a maple neck. He had no idea on what pickups or electronics it had. It was very hot and fat sounding on all positions and never lost it's articulation. The big negative for me on these guitars is always the neck radius. I really hate playing anything rounder than 12". Call me names if you want, but I've been playing nearly 30 years and I don't think my preferences on this are going to change any time soon.

In any case, as a result of the great results I am expecting from my USA Custom tele, I am thinking about putting together a single pickup, Broadcaster/Esquire type guitar and I'm looking for a fat, beefy tone with articulation.

Questions for all No Caster geniuses out there:

Should I go for an Alder or Ash body?

Neck wood?

What pickups should I consider for a beefy tone?

What control config should I go for on the electronics to get the most out of that one lonely pickup?

I don't mind spending some $ on the electronics and pickups. What I'm trying to avoid is endless pickup swapping if at all possible.

I've waded through this forum quite a bit and I have some general ideas but I still would really appreciate any help or advice.

ratkent · December 23rd, 2005, 07:19 PM

bump

TELECASTERbstrd · December 23rd, 2005, 08:13 PM

I bought a guit w/ a nocaster neck and thought it was too fat for me. It is my favorite guitar now. I have fairly big hands though. I also don't mind having to work at playing seeing that the real Tele's were made that way, I figure that it's ok.

A Nocaster, Broadcaster/early Tele would be made from ash. Alder is great and I personally have prefered the tone, but it is a little heavier usually. (tone is subjective)

You never know what a guitar will sound like untill you play it... then when you play it on stage it will sound different.

One of the best quotes I've hear about the wood in Telecasters is "Some trees want to be guitars and Some trees want to be coffee tables"! You never know.

I don't even know what my favorite PUP is. I like Brad's Frailins, but in reality I think it's mostly his Dr.Z amps.

Wild Rice Chris · December 24th, 2005, 12:44 AM

Fralin Blues Special, Voodoo TE60's BL, Fender CS Nocaster are all great for what you're looking for. The CS Nocaster is probably the pickup in your friend's guitar. It is a great sounding pickup.

I'd prefer ash.

Wiring-wise, do a 3-position switch, direct to jack/volume/volume+tone. 0le Fuzzy has a schematic for that somewhere around here.

Good luck!

December 20th, 2005, 06:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
ratkent TDPRI Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 14	Help with single PU Nocaster-type thing I played a friends Fender Custom Shop single pickup No-caster and was really impressed with the variety of tones he got from it. It was Ash with a maple neck. He had no idea on what pickups or electronics it had. It was very hot and fat sounding on all positions and never lost it's articulation. The big negative for me on these guitars is always the neck radius. I really hate playing anything rounder than 12". Call me names if you want, but I've been playing nearly 30 years and I don't think my preferences on this are going to change any time soon. In any case, as a result of the great results I am expecting from my USA Custom tele, I am thinking about putting together a single pickup, Broadcaster/Esquire type guitar and I'm looking for a fat, beefy tone with articulation. Questions for all No Caster geniuses out there: Should I go for an Alder or Ash body? Neck wood? What pickups should I consider for a beefy tone? What control config should I go for on the electronics to get the most out of that one lonely pickup? I don't mind spending some $ on the electronics and pickups. What I'm trying to avoid is endless pickup swapping if at all possible. I've waded through this forum quite a bit and I have some general ideas but I still would really appreciate any help or advice.

December 23rd, 2005, 08:13 PM	#3 (permalink)
TELECASTERbstrd Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Hill Country TEXAS Posts: 748	I bought a guit w/ a nocaster neck and thought it was too fat for me. It is my favorite guitar now. I have fairly big hands though. I also don't mind having to work at playing seeing that the real Tele's were made that way, I figure that it's ok. A Nocaster, Broadcaster/early Tele would be made from ash. Alder is great and I personally have prefered the tone, but it is a little heavier usually. (tone is subjective) You never know what a guitar will sound like untill you play it... then when you play it on stage it will sound different. One of the best quotes I've hear about the wood in Telecasters is "Some trees want to be guitars and Some trees want to be coffee tables"! You never know. I don't even know what my favorite PUP is. I like Brad's Frailins, but in reality I think it's mostly his Dr.Z amps. __________________ Howdy Y'all, most of my stuff pertains to country music. my MySpace Music Hill Country Horseworks

December 24th, 2005, 12:44 AM	#4 (permalink)
Wild Rice Chris Friend of Leo's Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rice Custom Dungeon Posts: 2,867 27 Photos	Fralin Blues Special, Voodoo TE60's BL, Fender CS Nocaster are all great for what you're looking for. The CS Nocaster is probably the pickup in your friend's guitar. It is a great sounding pickup. I'd prefer ash. Wiring-wise, do a 3-position switch, direct to jack/volume/volume+tone. 0le Fuzzy has a schematic for that somewhere around here. Good luck! __________________ "The children need to learn how to build their own environment and make their own music that is inspired by their roots."--Eugene Hütz "All music turns out to be ethnic music."--Steve Reich Enjoy, and please visit my homepage.

December 23rd, 2005, 07:19 PM	#2 (permalink)
ratkent TDPRI Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 14	bump