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Bridge pickup - full, open, sparkle but no ice pick - does it exist?

Discussion in 'Just Pickups' started by don, Nov 28, 2020.

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  1. Nov 28, 2020 #1
    don

    don Tele-Meister

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    So I'm working on an Esquire project guitar. I play chords and inversions a lot in an Americana roots rock genre and I'm having a hard time finding what I want - full, open, some sparkle on the high end but not brittle. I'm not interested in a super expensive pickup - say under $100. I have other guitars with Bootstrap Palo Duro's which I love, Bootstrap Pretzels which I like and an Esquire with a Duncan Little '59 which I love for rock. Any suggestions?
     
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  2. Nov 28, 2020 #2
    richiek65

    richiek65 Friend of Leo's

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    P90?
     
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  3. Nov 28, 2020 #3
    funkysoul

    funkysoul Tele-Holic

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    Check Toneriders hot classics


    Chunky enough.not heavy overwound.hold gain nicely.no ice pick.and still single. I play classics and blues from 2008 with them....compairing with p90s I admit they are close
     
    Last edited: Nov 28, 2020
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  4. Nov 28, 2020 #4
    nickmsmith

    nickmsmith Tele-Meister

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    Which do you like better between the Palo Duros and the Pretzels?
     
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  5. Nov 28, 2020 #5
    El Tele Lobo

    El Tele Lobo Poster Extraordinaire

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    Sounds like you're getting into Filtertron land with that description...especially if you play roots music.
     
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  6. Nov 28, 2020 #6
    kennl

    kennl Tele-Afflicted

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    have you tried the Duncan Little '59 in Parallel mode?
     
  7. Nov 28, 2020 #7
    Greggorios

    Greggorios Friend of Leo's Silver Supporter

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    Tone control.
     
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  8. Nov 28, 2020 #8
    -Hawk-

    -Hawk- Friend of Leo's

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    I’d probably just ask Rob at Cavalier. His descriptions are pretty accurate and he has a lot of options.
     
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  9. Nov 28, 2020 #9
    don

    don Tele-Meister

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    Here some answers - I have tried P-90's before but I am definitely not looking for that tone which seems too mid-thick to me. I like the Palo Duro's better than the Pretzels - the Pretzels are great for not falling to far towards twang or mid heavy but the Palo's have more clarity. I failed to mention I have a Cabronita so I have Filt'rons covered :>) I also tried the Overwound Pretzel but I don't have that open feel or sparkle - its a great pickup but not for this application. I really thought I was headed more towards a 60's tele tone - still twangy but not brittle but I haven't heard that mentioned yet? Keep the suggestions coming!
     
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  10. Nov 28, 2020 #10
    Telenator

    Telenator Doctor of Teleocity Vendor Member

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    Seriously. I would just move the bridge pickup 3/16" to 1/4" further away from the bridge. Makes a world of difference. I do it on all my scratch built guitars and I find it to be a huge improvement. Still sounds like an Esquire, just better.
     
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  11. Nov 28, 2020 #11
    don

    don Tele-Meister

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    @Telenator you mean further from the strings like lower the pickup? I have been experimenting with that using the overwound Pretzel pickup thats in the guitar now and keeping the treble side closer to the strings but slowly lowering the bass side I'm getting closer to what I am looking for - I'm gonna keep making fine adjustments and see where it goes!
     
    Last edited: Nov 28, 2020
  12. Nov 28, 2020 #12
    brookdalebill

    brookdalebill Tele Axpert Ad Free Member

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    My choice is the TV Jones Classic+.
    I know it’s not a T style, but it fits your description perfectly, IMO.
    I have them in my Cabronita, and Chet.
    Good luck!
     
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  13. Nov 28, 2020 #13
    Ebidis

    Ebidis Tele-Afflicted

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    BINGO!

    First thing that popped into my head. People seem to think that the tone knob has no purpose, but this is exactly what it was made for.

    Use a .022uf cap, and you can dial off just a bit of the high frequencies without squashing the sound, or getting muddy.
     
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  14. Nov 28, 2020 #14
    don

    don Tele-Meister

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    @brookdalebill I thought about the TV Jones Starwood - The Filt'rons are great in my Cabronita so a little Filt'ron sparkle in a tele drop in pickup would be interesting for sure!
     
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  15. Nov 28, 2020 #15
    rand z

    rand z Friend of Leo's

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    A lot of folks here often mention SD Jerry Donohue or DiMarzio Pre B-1.

    I have both in 2 Tele's and like them a lot.

    Not "twangy" but can get sparkly with amp eq settings.
     
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  16. Nov 28, 2020 #16
    Telenator

    Telenator Doctor of Teleocity Vendor Member

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    No. I'm suggesting opening up the pickup cavity a little bit so you can move the bridge pickup closer to the neck. I find that many bridge pickups are just too close to the bridge. I'm seeing some very high end brands now moving their bridge pickups closer to the neck. It works the treat!
     
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  17. Nov 28, 2020 #17
    ndcaster

    ndcaster Poster Extraordinaire

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    Esquire, eh? Ask Rob at Cavalier to wind you a tapped pickup with three options, 10k, 7k, and 5k.
     
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  18. Nov 28, 2020 #18
    don

    don Tele-Meister

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    @Telenator wow - that means a different bridge setup too -
     
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  19. Nov 28, 2020 #19
    mexicanyella

    mexicanyella Friend of Leo's

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    I think the pickup a bit farther from the bridge sounds like a cool thing to try.

    Disregard if you want, since this is out of left field in this thread, but just as an experiment, try lowering your existing, presumably ice-picky, pickup a little and experimenting with some different pick materials and shapes and how you grip them. The human hand is pretty adaptable within reason.

    I have a really bright intense guitar that was responsive, but harsh and clanky and a little ice-picky, and I lowered the pickup (and tilted it slightly to favor the bass strings just a tad), swapped to slightly heavier strings with a slightly different gauge spread, and changed picks. Sounds insignificant to talk about but I was amazed at the difference. A bunch of little tweaks made a big cumulative difference.
     
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  20. Nov 28, 2020 #20
    notroHnhoJ

    notroHnhoJ Tele-Meister

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    The trick might lie in using a light(er) touch with your right hand, and/or doing so away from the bridge.
     
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