WineCaster
Tele-Holic
Hey everyone, just figured I'd contribute to the library of pickup comparisons. I spent hours researching so the least I can do is share my experience.
I refinished a MIM Telecaster about a month ago. I had mixed feelings about the pickups that came stock on this Mexican Standard Telecaster. I liked the smooth twang of the neck but couldn't vibe with much else tonally.
Because I spent all this time and work creating my dream guitar cosmetically I figured there's no reason to sell myself short on how this beastie should howl. Thus began the search.
I originally bought Tonerider Hot Classics. Good reviews, good price.. But when I installed them and commenced the very first strum of my new guitar I was disappointed. I found them to be thin. Thin is the most accurate way to describe these pickups. They were a slight step above the factory pickups that I was trying to get away from. Toneriders took a ride to eBay.
So I kept with the trend of investing interest into highly reviewed pickups. And then came the Fender Custom Shop '51 Nocasters. I describe NoCaster pickups as "no character". They sounded generic and "gray" if I could paint a picture here. I did like them with gain, the bridge (with tone rolled off) growled like a diesel motor. That was cool.. until I stopped strumming E minor. Mind you these are the Nocasters with ~7 output, not the earlier ~10s which I'm sure isn't usually specified in reviews of these pickups.
I was starting to wonder if maybe I just didn't like Telecasters in general. I like a deep, almost cavernous sound with the ability to howl to the moons of Neptune. These shrill and treble-crusted sounds were a real turn off.
Last try. DiMarzio Twang King Neck + Seymour Duncan Jerry Donahue Bridge. And it's a home run! This combo just blew the doors off any other combination I've tried thus far. After setting the heights and finding those sweet spots I can't put this guitar down! It's like I'm spelunking down a cave made of cotton candy. Sweet and deep neck-- and plenty of twang (obviously). The bridge is punchy and offers a step above the competition in the low end which is important to me as I like to use different tones in chording. But man oh man is this fun!
I'll be happy to answer any questions or elaborate on topics should the need arise!
Good day to all!
image removed
I refinished a MIM Telecaster about a month ago. I had mixed feelings about the pickups that came stock on this Mexican Standard Telecaster. I liked the smooth twang of the neck but couldn't vibe with much else tonally.
Because I spent all this time and work creating my dream guitar cosmetically I figured there's no reason to sell myself short on how this beastie should howl. Thus began the search.
I originally bought Tonerider Hot Classics. Good reviews, good price.. But when I installed them and commenced the very first strum of my new guitar I was disappointed. I found them to be thin. Thin is the most accurate way to describe these pickups. They were a slight step above the factory pickups that I was trying to get away from. Toneriders took a ride to eBay.
So I kept with the trend of investing interest into highly reviewed pickups. And then came the Fender Custom Shop '51 Nocasters. I describe NoCaster pickups as "no character". They sounded generic and "gray" if I could paint a picture here. I did like them with gain, the bridge (with tone rolled off) growled like a diesel motor. That was cool.. until I stopped strumming E minor. Mind you these are the Nocasters with ~7 output, not the earlier ~10s which I'm sure isn't usually specified in reviews of these pickups.
I was starting to wonder if maybe I just didn't like Telecasters in general. I like a deep, almost cavernous sound with the ability to howl to the moons of Neptune. These shrill and treble-crusted sounds were a real turn off.
Last try. DiMarzio Twang King Neck + Seymour Duncan Jerry Donahue Bridge. And it's a home run! This combo just blew the doors off any other combination I've tried thus far. After setting the heights and finding those sweet spots I can't put this guitar down! It's like I'm spelunking down a cave made of cotton candy. Sweet and deep neck-- and plenty of twang (obviously). The bridge is punchy and offers a step above the competition in the low end which is important to me as I like to use different tones in chording. But man oh man is this fun!
I'll be happy to answer any questions or elaborate on topics should the need arise!
Good day to all!
image removed
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