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Best pairing with a (real) 80s Gibson 'bucker?

Discussion in 'Just Pickups' started by backalleyblues, Jan 28, 2019.

  1. Jan 28, 2019 #1
    backalleyblues

    backalleyblues Friend of Leo's

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    3,227
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    Nov 5, 2006
    Location:
    Jacksonville, FL, USA
    howdy everyone, long time no see!

    I've been trying to FINALLY sort out my old home brew telecaster (built in '87!) and while I've got the mechanical parts finally right, I'm having a dilemma with the pickups-I have just acquired an early '80s Gibson humbucker (I'm not sure if it's a Shaw or P490 or even a late T-Top, but I like it!) which I put into the neck position and just fell in love with the tone-nails some of the Denny Dias tones on early Steely Dan, just really nice and woody with some chunk to it.

    But now my dilemma-I've had a Duncan Hot Stack in the bridge position for pretty much forever on this guitar, and while I like it, I've never really loved it, and it's not a good match with the Gibby pickup-nowhere near the output, even with the humbucker all the way down in the body, and kinda shrill sounding. So what has been everyone's best experiences in matching a bridge pickup to a mol PAF-style sounding neck pickup? Some options I see are SD Lil '59 and Hot Rails (I do like SD!) but I'm open to other ideas...

    Thanks in advance,
    Franc Robert
     
  2. Jan 29, 2019 #2
    Mincer

    Mincer Tele-Holic

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    The Little 59 was my first choice here. There are more single coil alternatives, but it doesn't sound like you are after a traditional Tele sound at all here.
     
  3. Jan 29, 2019 #3
    backalleyblues

    backalleyblues Friend of Leo's

    Posts:
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    Joined:
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    Location:
    Jacksonville, FL, USA
    Mincer, yeah, with this guitar, I'm not trying to be a "perfect reproduction" telly, wouldn't mind some grit and girth to go with my '83, so a lil '59 is an obvious good choice. Anyone else with some ideas?

    Thanks,
    Franc Robert
     
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