I have a Mexican Fender Tele from 2001/2002. I found the stock pickups muddy and harsh. I was after a vintage tone that had "twang" with no ice-pick trebles and also had enough beef for classic rock territory.
I was recommended the Seymour Duncan STR-1 neck and STL-1b (broadcaster) bridge combination for what I wanted on several occasions.
I like the STL-1b (broadcaster) pickup but find the STR-1 neck pickup in comparison too dark with little character. Also it sounds like a poor tonal match for the STL-1b. If I have the treble on full on my tele and a high treble setting on my amp (peavey bandit 112 late 90's silver stripe) - then the STR-1 does sound better. But this setting is way too trebly for the STL-1b broadcaster.
If I have the tone set to make the STL-1b broadcaster sound good then the tone is too dark for the STR-1 neck.
I have read elsewhere that this is a well known issue with vintage-style tele neck pickups (possibly because of the brass cover??) - but I find it hard to believe that tele players have lived with this issue for years!
Here is a youtube video featuring the STR-1 neck pickup. It sounds excellent here. It also sounds excellent in the middle position where it is engaged with the bridge pickup (I don't know what bridge pick up is in use here). If the STR-1 neck pickup sounded like this in my Tele - I would be very happy!!!
I don't know if the STR-1 installed in my guitar is faulty or has not been installed correctly?
I didn't like the original stock pickups (from 2001/2002) - which is why I swapped them out - BUT the tonal balance between the original stock neck and bridge pickups was fine.
I want to hear from anyone who has installed the Seymour Duncan STR-1 neck and STL-1b (broadcaster) bridge combination. Please tell me your experiences.
If you have had the same experience as me - what did you do to achieve a more even tonal balance between bridge and neck pickups?
Thank you
Numerov
I was recommended the Seymour Duncan STR-1 neck and STL-1b (broadcaster) bridge combination for what I wanted on several occasions.
I like the STL-1b (broadcaster) pickup but find the STR-1 neck pickup in comparison too dark with little character. Also it sounds like a poor tonal match for the STL-1b. If I have the treble on full on my tele and a high treble setting on my amp (peavey bandit 112 late 90's silver stripe) - then the STR-1 does sound better. But this setting is way too trebly for the STL-1b broadcaster.
If I have the tone set to make the STL-1b broadcaster sound good then the tone is too dark for the STR-1 neck.
I have read elsewhere that this is a well known issue with vintage-style tele neck pickups (possibly because of the brass cover??) - but I find it hard to believe that tele players have lived with this issue for years!
Here is a youtube video featuring the STR-1 neck pickup. It sounds excellent here. It also sounds excellent in the middle position where it is engaged with the bridge pickup (I don't know what bridge pick up is in use here). If the STR-1 neck pickup sounded like this in my Tele - I would be very happy!!!
I don't know if the STR-1 installed in my guitar is faulty or has not been installed correctly?
I didn't like the original stock pickups (from 2001/2002) - which is why I swapped them out - BUT the tonal balance between the original stock neck and bridge pickups was fine.
I want to hear from anyone who has installed the Seymour Duncan STR-1 neck and STL-1b (broadcaster) bridge combination. Please tell me your experiences.
If you have had the same experience as me - what did you do to achieve a more even tonal balance between bridge and neck pickups?
Thank you
Numerov
