Pickups for big, full sounding cleans

[errant1010]

I can keep catching myself dialing in a lots of mids and low end on all my drive/eq pedals when using my telecaster which has some Bootstrap Extra crispy pickups in it. This is while using a pretty bassy amp with cannabis rex speakers. I am guessing I should get some hotter pickups but something that can easily play clean. Just want big, full and a little bold. I've always had a strong preference for single coils but I would be open to a humbucker (at least in the bridge). Hoping to keep the price as low as possible. Hoping to keep the price at absolute maximum $200 for the set.

 

[pbenn]

Used set of '62 Fender OV pickups. Although they may (?) have chrome/brass Neck cover.
They are full stagger Bridge.
(YMMV. But this is a baseline choice, a K-constant.)

 

[Dismalhead]

Big bold cleans sound like a humbucker for sure. My advice is don't mod the Tele, take the $200 and go buy a used humbucker guitar. I had a guy short $150 cash on a deal and he threw in a Korean Schecter shredder to make up for it. Pickups are fantastic.

 

[El Tele Lobo]

Cavalier Fat (or Huge) Lion bridge and Fat Lion King neck. Preferably with a 4-way switch. Thank me later.

 

[Ljislink24]

Big bold cleans sound like a humbucker for sure. My advice is don't mod the Tele, take the $200 and go buy a used humbucker guitar. I had a guy short $150 cash on a deal and he threw in a Korean Schecter shredder to make up for it. Pickups are fantastic.

I agree don't mod the tele.
I bought a Scheter PT Van Nuys and the pick ups are fantastic ! So much so I'm always grabbing it when playing with band. I absolutely love my tele but that Scheter is something else altogether, 2 humbuckers and a 5 way switch.

 

[G Stone496]

Fender Cunife Wide Range Humbuckers (WRHB).

Edit: Oops just checked the prices. They've gone up. I got 'em for $150 apiece about a year ago at Adorama.

 

[telemnemonics]

A stock 50s Strat can make big fat full bold cleans.
I suspect the problem is the amp.
If you keep turning up the bass on the amp and using an EQ pedal, the amp is not right.
The pickups are certainly not the problem.

We can make lists of pickups to buy but they will not help!

 

[ChXpensiveVintage]

A stock 50s Strat can make big fat full bold cleans.
I suspect the problem is the amp.
If you keep turning up the bass on the amp and using an EQ pedal, the amp is not right.
The pickups are certainly not the problem.

We can make lists of pickups to buy but they will not help!

This^^^

A bassy amp with can rex speakers ought to be a struggle to get out of the dark with if anything.

 

[PhredE]

Also, I noticed you didn't mention the amp in question. It might help us to help you get some productive suggestions.

Edit: a brighter speaker might also be a viable solution too.

 

[telemnemonics]

This^^^

A bassy amp with can rex speakers ought to be a struggle to get out of the dark with if anything.

The C Rex really does neuter tone.

 

[Boreas]

Welcome aboard!

I like the amp suggestion noted above. A guitar creates a signal, the amp massages and amplifies it. Just because the interweb is rife with people who love to swap pickups doesn't mean YOU should do it.

First, make sure you are using good strings. If you are using XX-lite strings, they lack testicles. Remember, strings create the vibration that is being amplified a thousand times. They matter!

Then, make sure your pickup heights are optimized and balanced. That can make a huge difference. This procedure can take a while to dial in as personal preference comes into play. Fender offers nominal setup heights, but those are just to get you started. String gauge and alloy is also part of the pickup height optimization, so figure out your strings first.

Lastly, figure out your amp/speaker situation. Simply raising an amp off of the floor or tilting it back can clear out a lot of mud.

I have owned dozens of guitars and only found one set of pickups I couldn't live with - Fender Noiseless. Too sterile and odd middle-position emanations. A set of Fender Pure Vintage 64 pickups took care of that. Even the cheapest Squier Bullet pickups have a charm that I love. Rather than spending money swapping pickups ad infinitum, I just bought different guitars with a variety of designs. Love P90s.

 

[PhredE]

I will second the (late!) welcome as well.

I was reading the initial post and one thing to try that is relatively inexpensive and easy to do is to remove whatever pedals+EQ you are currently using and replace those with a Joyo American sound (or something similar).

If you want a big Fender clean tone, they do a reasonable job of getting in the ballpark of Twin / Bassman tones by just working the pots (controls). I think they are still available online for online for $40. I have it and Vox emulator and like them a lot.

There are lots of us with years of familiarity with it (and others like them) that can help dial it in too.

Boreas pointed out a couple things that are definitely worth checking. I was also wondering about your pu height especially the neck PU.

Knowing something about the type of music you are typically playing and in what sort of context would also be good to know .

Anyway, welcome aboard and don't be afraid to engage. There are lots forum members with lots of experience and some great info.

 

[misterdontmove]

I can keep catching myself dialing in a lots of mids and low end on all my drive/eq pedals when using my telecaster which has some Bootstrap Extra crispy pickups in it. This is while using a pretty bassy amp with cannabis rex speakers. I am guessing I should get some hotter pickups but something that can easily play clean. Just want big, full and a little bold. I've always had a strong preference for single coils but I would be open to a humbucker (at least in the bridge). Hoping to keep the price as low as possible. Hoping to keep the price at absolute maximum $200 for the set.

I'd start with pickup adjustment. Lots of advice on the forums. With Fender single coil pickups, even a quarter to half turn makes a significant difference. IMHO. Also, there's no way to tell how far the polepieces are under the cover on the Tele neck pickup, so you may need to move it closer than you think to find the "sweet spot". Of course if the pickups are interfering with string vibration, you're too close, but everything else if fair game. Use your ears and adjust away.

 

[Peegoo]

@errant1010

It is all too common for guitar players to throw money at a problem when the solution is far more simple and cheap. Your description of "big, full, and a little bold" probably comes from examples you've been hearing in recordings for many years and you'd like to get that sound for yourself.

The way they got those sounds on recordings is how the amp was set and where the mic was. A loud amp with the mic close to the speaker captures a HUGE tone that defies many players at home because the volume is just too much for home noodling. Remember that many recordings of iconic, killer guitar sounds (clean and dirty) were made with small amps and inexpensive mics, and the amps were cranked and the mic was right on the cone.

The Bootstrap pickups you have are very good and will easily do what you want. If you already like the sound of your amp and you want more of that, crank it up.

If you absolutely need to spend money on the issue, get a clean boost pedal such as the RC Booster or similar.

 

[brookdalebill]

My all-time favorites are the pickups in my four busiest, and best sounding electric guitars.
They reside in my Chet, Ibanez Artist, avatar, and B bender guitars.
TV Jones Classic+ (b), and Supertron (n).
Clear, full, and hum/buzz/noise free.
Thank you Ray Butts, and of course, TV Jones!

 

[58Bassman]

I can keep catching myself dialing in a lots of mids and low end on all my drive/eq pedals when using my telecaster which has some Bootstrap Extra crispy pickups in it. This is while using a pretty bassy amp with cannabis rex speakers. I am guessing I should get some hotter pickups but something that can easily play clean. Just want big, full and a little bold. I've always had a strong preference for single coils but I would be open to a humbucker (at least in the bridge). Hoping to keep the price as low as possible. Hoping to keep the price at absolute maximum $200 for the set.

How much low end or lower mids are removed by your drive pedal? Is it an overdrive? Those usually trim a fair amount of low end off and you probably need to adjust the tone settings when you use it.

Neck pickup only, for warm and full- bridge pickups don't do that unless it's a humbucker and the middle position usually reverses the polarity of one pickup or the phase is shifted because of the distance between the two (or more) pickups.

I saw a band on Sunday and one of the guitars was warm and full-sounding, but I didn't ask which amp he was using- two were Marshall types, one was like a Deluxe on steroids.

 

[Trenchant63]

All of these suggestions are valid and useful going at the problem from different angles. Back to pickup specific recommendations - the Chopper T by DiMarzio in the bridge really filled out the lows and low mids for me while still bringing good cleans if not traditional Tele twangy - it’s another kind of clean. Full but not over the top.

 

[ctmullins]

This one is easy - DiMarzio Super Distortion T. My favorite pickup!

 

[RCinMempho]

How old are the C-REX speakers? It takes 40 hours or so at volume for the treble to open up on them.

 

[John_B]

I am in the same boat ...sort of. Fralin 2o/o over thru a C REX. There is a fine line between my favorite midrange tone and a muddy midrange bassy washout. It is hard to dial in when setting for a practice tone. Outside playing loud it is not a problem.
Last night I again watched Zac's Tru Tone interview with Redd. Redd said Roy Nichols would dime all EQ controls wide open, then back down the treble on the guitar. That is interesting. I think 2-12" speakers is also part of the solution but this is not practical for me. I also love Ryan's Extra Crispy bridge pup!!!