Yosemite pickups yay or nay?

[Nicky cable guy]

I just recently acquired an American performer telecaster with humbucker in the neck. Although I'm digging the splitable shawbucker, I'm not digging the Yosemite in the bridge. Should I try a different pickup or play it for awhile and give it another chance? I haven't had it for a month yet!

 

[gabeNC]

I put Yosemite pups in my homemade tele with a four way switch. I thought it sounded just fine. YMMV.

 

[El Tele Lobo]

Do you play the bridge more than or as much as the neck? Try raising it up until it's about the thickness of a nickel from the bottom of the strings. Then lower it by half turns until you find a sweet spot...then quarter turns until you're right there. Then adjust the neck to match volume wise. If you play both equally, you may have to compromise one or both to get them to match volume wise. Adjusting pickup height can make or break whether you like a pickup. Some take a little longer than others for you to find the sweet spot...but it's usually there. Be sure to adjust them also for volume balance from the low strings to the high. I usually have to set the bass side a little lower than the treble. If you go through all of that and still don't find it, try different pickups.

 

[DADGAD]

Fender Yosemite pickups are my favorites. It's all I buy now and they can be had for a great price.

 

[Refugee]

LOL, after reading the title of this thread, I thought it was going to be about a new, big old pickup truck, named, "The Yosemite." "The new Chevy Yosemite, for going where the road ends." Yes, the voice should be Sam Elliott, of course. It's definitely no Canyonero!

 

[NW_TELE]

Big fan of the neck pickup. So much so i prefer it to my Strat's neck tone. The bridge to me just sounds like most tele bridge pickups. I spend 90% of my playing on the neck pickup so it doesn't bother me much.

The neck pickup has more clarity and presence than any of my Strat neck pickups.

 

[That Cal Webway]

I have an American Performer Telecaster I got over a year and a half ago.
S-S combination

I think that the bridge pickup is really good. My only complaint is I wish the D pole was raised, it's slightly weaker but that's somewhat common I suppose in many T bridge pups.

True story: Over a year ago I bought a new set of Fralin Split Blade hots.
I have not had them installed!

And with my nice covid $check$, I bought a set of Suhr Woodshed pickups, (I think the Andy Wood signature ones, right?).
They're still in the box too hahaha!

For my ears and style which is clean, I think that validates to how good the Yosemite bridge pickup sounds!

.

 

[Cosmic Cowboy]

I just recently acquired an American performer telecaster with humbucker in the neck. Although I'm digging the splitable shawbucker, I'm not digging the Yosemite in the bridge. Should I try a different pickup or play it for awhile and give it another chance? I haven't had it for a month yet!

This is very tricky. Getting the two to balance is lil bit touch and go. I would honestly talk to a winder and get thier input.

 

[alex1fly]

Have you adjusted the pickup height? Like, really played with the full range of heights available to you with the mounting screws to find the sweetest spots? This can make a monster difference. It may mean you need to change your neck pickup height as well to get them to balance volume-wise. If you dig your neck pickup tones, make a note of how many screw turns you adjust your neck pickup height so you can return it to that same position later if you need.

Any new guitar takes time to gel with the rest of your signal chain... keep twisting knobs. Don't expect anything to be perfect at first.

I like to approach new gear like "if I don't like it, I'm getting rid of it. If I'm getting rid of it, what do I have to lose by trying every possible setting, even if it seems weird". It matters not what a few dozen forumgoers think about these pickups which I have no reason to think are **** pickups, unless you happen to dislike the sounds they make with your strings/amp/pick/pedals/speaker/room/fingers/ears.

Also, any time you do want feedback on pickups, give some more descriptions if you want better guidance. Too trebley? Too weak? Not dynamic enough? "I don't like it, what do you all think" gives no room for suggestions.

 

[kbold]

I would play with pickup heights, as already suggested, before considering a pickup replacement.
Raising the bridge pickup and/or lowering the neck pickup should at least achieve a good balance.

 

[EsquireOK]

I have the AP Tele SH (the same one you have), and the AP Mustang Bass. I bought both sight unseen. I expected the pickups in both to be swapped out, based on the ad copy. Within a few minutes of playing them, I had decided that they were not only staying, but that they sounded excellent. Give that bridge pickup a shot. It's pretty classic sounding as is.

 

[Ess Eff]

LOL, after reading the title of this thread, I thought it was going to be about a new, big old pickup truck, named, "The Yosemite." "The new Chevy Yosemite, for going where the road ends." Yes, the voice should be Sam Elliott, of course. It's definitely no Canyonero!

Seriously?

U are on a guitar forum and when someone mentions pickups u think of trucks?

So when someone mentions necks u think of giraffes?
.

 

[Refugee]

Seriously?

U are on a guitar forum and when someone mentions pickups u think of trucks?

So when someone mentions necks u think of giraffes?
.

Yeah, I did it all...just to annoy you. You've discoverd my evil plot.

 

[Reedo]

Not a fan of the Yosemite pickups, but others seem to love them. Ymmv.

 

[3-Chord-Genius]

LOL, after reading the title of this thread, I thought it was going to be about a new, big old pickup truck, named, "The Yosemite." "The new Chevy Yosemite, for going where the road ends." Yes, the voice should be Sam Elliott, of course. It's definitely no Canyonero!

I'm now wondering why some pickup winders haven't created a "Ford" or "Chevy" set...

 

[Reedo]

I'm now wondering why some pickup winders haven't created a "Ford" or "Chevy" set...

Fender now make a Mustang guitar strap. I'm wondering how many more products they can attach the Mustang name to.

https://www.giggear.co.uk/guitars/g...straps/fender-mustang-saddle-guitar-strap.htm

 

[busdriver72]

Is THIS what you're talkin'bout?

 

[Refugee]

Now, THAT'S what I'm talking 'bout, Willis!!!

 

[That Cal Webway]

I have the AP Tele SH (the same one you have), and the AP Mustang Bass. I bought both sight unseen. I expected the pickups in both to be swapped out, based on the ad copy. Within a few minutes of playing them, I had decided that they were not only staying, but that they sounded excellent. Give that bridge pickup a shot. It's pretty classic sounding as is.

That is my experience exactly with my American performer Telecaster.

I posted about it somewhere above, where I have a new set of Fralin pickups and even Suhr Tele pickups...
That are waiting in the wings still not installed, and may not be!


I have the American performer Stratocaster too, and the pups in that are fine.
Over a year ago I did have a Fralin Vintage Hot put in the bridge and that was an improvement,
But the old bridge pickup was fine too.
The Fralin gives it a bit more oomph and presence,

And I like the raised D pole piece!! Makes the D string more equal to the other strings.
.

 

[Refugee]

That is my experience exactly with my American performer Telecaster.

I posted about it somewhere above, where I have a new set of Fralin pickups and even Suhr Tele pickups...
That are waiting in the wings still not installed, and may not be!


I have the American performer Stratocaster too, and the pups in that are fine.
Over a year ago I did have a Fralin Vintage Hot put in the bridge and that was an improvement,
But the old bridge pickup was fine too.
The Fralin gives it a bit more oomph and presence,

And I like the raised D pole piece!! Makes the D string more equal to the other strings.
.

I am somewhat intrigued by people that don't find enough of what you want, in a regular bridge pup? I seem to get great stuff out of a noiseless DiMrarzio Area T bridge. Yet, a lot of other players are getting the Area T - hot, and other bridge pups that have more output. What am I missing with hotter Tele bridge pups? Wouldn't you do better with a super strat with a typical '59 'bucker? I'm missing something?