Query failed: connection to localhost:9312 failed (errno=111, msg=Connection refused). Replacement Telecaster pickups – suggestions? - Parts £ Discussions on The Fretboard
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UNPLANNED DOWNTIME: 12th Oct 23:45

Replacement Telecaster pickups – suggestions?

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mniel8195mniel8195 Frets: 0
in Parts £
Hi there,

I have a Hot Rod Tele from 2008. It´s a great guitar (minihumbucker in the neck, single coil in the bridge), but I want to replace the pickups. I am jonesing for a normal single coil in the neck. Seeing that the bridge is somewhat hotter to compensate for the minihumbucker, it would make sense to change that at the same time.

Do you have any suggestions? Obviously I like Jim´s sound. Other Tele players I like are Ted Greene and Bill Frisell. I am looking for a relatively balanced Tele set that can twang, but handle jazz and rock as well. I have been looking at the ´55 Stagger set by Bare Knuckle from the Blackguard series, as the promise about improved string balance is enticing.

Thanks in advance!
My blog here
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Comments

  • FunkfingersFunkfingers Frets: 13312
    Hello and welcome.

    Your question is more likely to attract helpful answers in the Guitar section. The Parts £ section will be the place to advertise your original pickups, should you wish to sell them.

    If I recall correctly, the HR ‘52 Telecaster has big frets and a 9.5” fingerboard radius. It should, therefore, work well with the Monty’s “Danish Pete” Honoré pickup pair.

    Alternatively, if you like the stock bridge/Treble pickup, achieve an overall output level balance by purchasing a relatively hot neck/Rhythm pickup. 
    Be seeing you.
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  • rze99rze99 Frets: 2005

    The Fender Pure Vintage '64 is a great set. I have a couple of these sets in parts builds I have made. The neck pickup is the best single coil I have ever tried for Tele and I have tried a lot. The bridge can bite and twang as well as play dirty. Great set. Loads of Youtubes vids for this set.   Here's a good one.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHe5DC9eEos

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  • roman_subroman_sub Frets: 18
    edited July 2020
    Faced with a similar question, of what to pair the SD mini humbucker with a single coil bridge, I tried 7 different bridge pickups... and the winner was Bare Knuckle flat 50.  SD mini hum is one of my fav neck sounds of all time, but I also use 280k volume pot and no load tone pot (plus a treble bleed cap)

    for reference, I did specifically try the 52 hotrod fender bridge pickup also), still preferred the BK to it
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  • rze99rze99 Frets: 2005

    On my 50s Hot Rod (refin), I disconnected the SD Mini from the tone top completely and lowered it closer to the guard. it lowered the volume and brightened it up so that it better matched the bridge single coil.
    52HR LPB8jpg

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  • ArturlesickiArturlesicki Frets: 1
    My own comparison of two high quality neck pickups. Maybe will be heplful...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfUQTGB7wAI
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  • Shark_EyesShark_Eyes Frets: 371
    @roman_sub @rze99 ; what SD mini humbuckers do you have? I'm about to pop one in the neck of my thinline telecaster.
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  • rze99rze99 Frets: 2005
    Mine is the standard SD mini humbucker that was installed by Fender in the 50s Hot Rod
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  • ZoolooterZoolooter Frets: 861
    Nice clip below, I prefer the Nocasters which I have in my tele.

    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zhXBqjhckjg
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  • FunkfingersFunkfingers Frets: 13312
    edited July 2020
    rze99 said:
    Mine is the standard SD mini humbucker that was installed by Fender in the 50s Hot Rod
    SM-1n - the lowest output of three production line models. 

    The Antiquity II is nice but expensive.
    Be seeing you.
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  • HullboyHullboy Frets: 66
    I have a Lollar T52 for sale. Doesn't get much better. PM me if interested, thanks. 
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  • roman_subroman_sub Frets: 18
    Shark_Eyes said:
    @roman_sub @rze99 ; what SD mini humbuckers do you have? I'm about to pop one in the neck of my thinline telecaster.
    Just the vintage neck (sm-1). IME it still needs a broadcaster type powerful bridge single coil to balance (unless you go the railed humbucker route£
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  • stickyfiddlestickyfiddle Frets: 24852
    BKP Boss. All the twang and snarl you could want but just as capable doing more subtle stuff too. 
    The Assumptions - UAE party band for all your rock & soul desires
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  • LuxxmanLuxxman Frets: 34
    I bought a set of Mark Foleys and combined them with a 6 position control plate from Jacks Guitar Services in Manchester - superb result and incredibly flexible!
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  • masterdikafrimasterdikafri Frets: 2
    When facing the same problem I ended with a Lindy Fralin set in mine.
    HAve a look at them too
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  • thomasw88thomasw88 Frets: 2275
    I really like the tonerider hot classics in a tele.  Preferred them to the Bare Knuckle Brown Sugars I had.

    Also Oil City did  a set for my MIJ Jerry Donahue tele with a strat single coil in the neck.  Can't remember the set name off the top of my head but it's a massive improvement on the Seymour duncan's that were stock with that guitar.
    Feedback http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/57561/
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  • Yamaha77Yamaha77 Frets: 77
    Will sell hot classics that I have. Either can sell bridge or neck or both together. Pm if interested
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  • nacnudnainacnudnai Frets: 154
    How familiar are you with Tele single coil neck pickups? I'm of the camp of people who doesn't get on with them, as I find them very "cardboardy" compared to strat neck pickups etc. The only one I do like is the MFD in my G&L ASAT.
    If the Tele single coil neck is the sound you are after, then I have heard good things about the BKP '55 stagger set, though be careful with the radius of your neck when buying staggered pickups - the original Fender slant is designed for 7.25" radius necks with a wound G, I'm not sure if BKP have their own stagger. If not those, I've read good things about the new Brad Paisley set by SD, I'm actually curious to try them at some point.
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  • dallcorpdallcorp Frets: 138
    Twisted Tele neck.
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