Bridge pickup for 50s Classic Telecaster

[cousinpaul]

I like the Fender Original Vintage set. Van Zandt True Vintage would also be a good choice. Either one would be very versatile. If you want hotter pickups, Fender Tex Mex offer good bang for the buck.

 

[yegbert]

Just swapping the bridge, Seymour Duncans will usually require isolating the neck - from the cover, so you can swap it’s leads to get the Fender neck in phase with the SD. If you’re willing to deal with that, an SD Antiquity would be my pick. But to avoid that hassle, I’d go with a Fender OV bridge pickup instead. That Fender OV is fine too.

 

[AtlanticCity83]

Just swapping the bridge, Seymour Duncans will usually require isolating the neck - from the cover, so you can swap it’s leads to get the Fender neck in phase with the SD.

Oh, ok I didn't know about that. Why do I have to do that? I only changed pickups once...

 

[dougstrum]

Oh, ok I didn't know about that. Why do I have to do that? I only changed pickups once...

It has to do with the magnets polarity and direction of pickup wind.

I like the Tonerider hot classic great bridge pickup. It's is not really a "hot"
pickup. I imagine Tonerider is readily available in Germany.
I also like the Duncan Donahue.

 

[AtlanticCity83]

Ok, so with another SD neck pickup there is no further work necessary?

The prices for Tonerider pickups are low. They really offer great products for such a small price.

Oh yes: what about sraggered polepieces? Should I pay any attention to that?

 

[dougstrum]

If your neck and bridge are both Duncan you will have mid position in phase, so no additional work.

 

[Vibroluxer]

There are some fine recommendations here but here is one that was overlooked: Bootstrap.

Handmade in Ohio and inexpensive too. A complete set of new Tele pickups is $50. These aren't poorly made,they have premium components. For the price of just one of the above mentioned pickups can get you at least 2 different sets of BOOTSTRAPs.

Do a search on them and I'm positive that you won't find anything except glorious praise.

 

[PCollen]

There are some fine recommendations here but here is one that was overlooked: Bootstrap.

Handmade in Ohio and inexpensive too. A complete set of new Tele pickups is $50. For the price of just one of the above mentioned pickups can get you at least 2 different sets of BOOTSTRAPs.

Do a search on them and I'm positive that you won't find anything except glorious praise.

T-Style

Boostrap Pickups is on a mission to wind the best American-made pickups out there. Whether you need a single custom handwound pickup for your next rig or a reliable supplier for your next production run, we have the expertise and dedication to make your vision for the perfect tone a reality.

bootstrappickups.com

 

[AtlanticCity83]

Wow, never heard about those pickups. Just checked their webpage and thinking about to order as soon as they are available for order. Just to try them out... It seems it's worth the waiting time.

 

[Geo]

If you want more mid-range punch but still retain the twang, ones with alnico 2 or 5 with output resistance
of 8-8.5K do that. The Seymour Duncan Broadcaster does that along with Cavalier Nashville Lion, Lollar
Special T and surprisingly the Fender Tex-Mex, which is pretty much identical to the SD Broadcaster.

A .033uf capacitor works well with those. If you do the 4-way consider leaving the neck pickup off the tone control
as it results in a much clearer sound for the series position and make operating much simpler. That way you can roll
of the bridge pickup tone control to the sweeter spots without getting the neck pickup muffle sounding.

 

[Solaris moon]

Forget about anything Duncan ever made! They always over wind their pickups and don't even know what a bobbin plate is. I've had ALL of their pickups for vintage guitars and they are run of the mill at best. No better than the cheap Chinese suppliers out there. If you're going for better treble without midrange mud or too much bass the '51 Nocaster set from Fender is your best bet other than the DiMarzio Pre B-1 or Twang king. Those Tone Rider pickups are cheap Chinese made copies and aren't worth the materials that they're made from. Don't waste your money!

 

[AtlanticCity83]

What about Amber pickups? Anyone who plays them?

 

[timbgtr]

Very happy with my Fralin vintage in the avatar.

 

[Scoutbag]

Another for SD Broadcaster. Seymour has forgot more than many remember. Like many of you I've owned 'em big and small and in my best tele the SD broadcaster set is just right and didn't break the bank.

 

[AtlanticCity83]

How would you describe the difference in tone between the Fender PV 64 and the SD 54/Broadcaster Sets?

 

[tonfarbe]

What about Amber pickups? Anyone who plays them?

I just wanted to suggest the Amber Vintage Plus pickup.
I have it in my Tele Custom where I needed a slightly hotter pickup to complement a Fender WRHB.
Still sounds 100% like a Tele (it can twang) but the top end is sligthly 'rounded'. And it reacts extremely well to picking dynamics.
This is now my favourite Tele bridge pickup and I'm planing to also get the regular Amber Vintage pickup for another Tele.

My favourite bridge pickup has been the Fralin Stock until the Amber arrived.
If you have the chance to play a Maybach Tellie in your area, they come with Amber pickups installed.

Oh, and there's a Lindy Fralin Vintage Hot right now on ebay-kleinanzeigen.

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But still my recommendation is: Amber pickups.
You can contact Wolfgang Damm through his website. He's super helpful in answering all of your questions.