Texas Special Tele pickups - anyone using 'em here? [Archive]

Random Hero

11-09-2011, 08:26 AM

I love them. They're not the most "Tele" sounding pickups in the world but my Tele also has a 6-saddle bridge, so that's not very traditional either. These pickups just sound huge though. I was never much of a fan of the Strat Texas Specials but in the Tele, something about them really works IMO.

The neck pickup is quite Stratty and bell-like but fatter and the bridge is just huge sounding. It's quite a bit fatter, darker and middier than your usual Tele pickup and saturation aside, it really doesn't sound much 'smaller' than the SD Custom in the bridge of my Strat. I know the construction and the bridge probably have something to do with this but I was considering putting a humbucker in this Tele but I don't think there's much need.

Any fans here?

TNJ

11-09-2011, 08:31 AM

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w186/jato07/ElmwoodModenaAmpPics012.jpg

Yep...gotta pair on this beauty.
Sounds like a million bucks.
I agree with your assessment...especially that fat overdriven Tele bridge tone!
My fave Tele pups, actually.

Welcome to the club!
S.
j

GCDEF

11-09-2011, 08:40 AM

I have. Reminded me a lot of the sound Albert Collins gets.

serviviente7

11-09-2011, 09:18 AM

i like the neck pickup..i have it in my tele....the bridge pickup i dont care for it

Blue Fin

11-09-2011, 09:30 AM

I'm using them in my partscaster with the 4 way switch and I like the sound a lot.

Stormin

11-09-2011, 10:11 AM

i like the neck pickup..i have it in my tele....the bridge pickup i dont care for it

Ditto! In my '93 52 reissue I run a Texas Special neck and a Harmonic Design Super-90 in the bridge. It's such an awesome combination.

Stormin!

Random Hero

11-09-2011, 04:37 PM

I'm using them in my partscaster with the 4 way switch and I like the sound a lot.

How do you find that fourth position with the TS pickups?

Binaural

11-09-2011, 05:04 PM

Love the TS neck pickup when combined with a Nocaster bridge pickup.

WKG

11-09-2011, 05:07 PM

Love the TS neck pickup when combined with a Nocaster bridge pickup.

I've got a set of Nocasters in mine and have been thnking about a switch lately, how's the TS compare with the Nocaster bridge?

Binaural

11-09-2011, 05:11 PM

I've got a set of Nocasters in mine and have been thnking about a switch lately, how's the TS compare with the Nocaster bridge?

IMO the Nocaster bridge is a bit smoother and darker. Check out this video it gave me the idea to combo the two. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5PKKIusYls

WKG

11-09-2011, 05:33 PM

IMO the Nocaster bridge is a bit smoother and darker. Check out this video it gave me the idea to combo the two. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5PKKIusYls

That's a great demo of the combination.

Thanks.

cjp54

11-09-2011, 08:16 PM

Ordered them in my 1997 Masterbuilt Tele with 4 way switching. Love the 4th position where they are (I believe) in series. Or is it parallel?? Not sure but the sound is huge! I also have a 1960 custom with original pickups to get the more traditional Tele sounds. Not sure I'd like them (TS) in my only Tele but they are a nice addition to a collection.

MRCHILL4

11-09-2011, 08:22 PM

I have them in my tele special. i love the bridge and middle positions. i have the 3 way switch. the bridge bites hard, and the middle position is as sweet as honey.
http://i1208.photobucket.com/albums/cc367/mrchill88/photo-26.jpg

Selsaral

11-10-2011, 07:48 AM

Yep I also have an Am. Special, also love the tones. The neck pickup is one of my favorite parts.

Random Hero

11-10-2011, 08:37 AM

Yeah, this is on an American Special. I changed the bridge to a 6-saddle and it's made the bridge pickup even fatter, IMO.

I had the Nocaster bridge on a CS Nocaster and personally prefer the TS bridge. I find it fatter and darker personally? Maybe I didn't actually have a Nocaster bridge!?

Jack Dotson

11-12-2011, 02:24 PM

Yeah, this is on an American Special. I changed the bridge to a 6-saddle and it's made the bridge pickup even fatter, IMO.

I had the Nocaster bridge on a CS Nocaster and personally prefer the TS bridge. I find it fatter and darker personally? Maybe I didn't actually have a Nocaster bridge!?

:agree

I had a Special that had the TS's and I had an AS and a 52 RI with Nocasters in the bridge. I thought the Nocaster was more articulate, but much brighter. More of mid scoop sound.

I'm not sure what I have in my 52 AV Hot Rod, but someone told me it's a Nocaster too. If is is, it doesn't sound like the others I had. Maybe different POT's. :dunno I haven't opened it up to look.

The TS's are very nice and I'm seriously considering them for a 2001 American Thinline Tele I picked up recently. It's a great guitar, but I can't stand the bridge PU. Just like every other AS I've owned. The AS bridge has a treble peak that I can't dial out and it's like an ice pick to my ears.

edward

11-12-2011, 04:47 PM

I've had the Fender TexSpecials in a Strat now for some time and absolutely love them! I was so surprised that I liked them so much simply because they get very little love here (actually lots of dislike!). Fast forward to yesterday: I installed a mid/neck TexSpecial into my Tele Deluxe (has tele bridge pup and strat pups for mid/neck). Again, love em! Just great pups that sound big yet remain articulate and chimey. . Hugely underrated pups, IMHO.

Edward

moosewayne

11-12-2011, 06:07 PM

Yep. I put them in my '52 RI about fifteen years ago. Four years ago, I tried 5 different sets looking for 'more' and nothing even came close to the Texas Specials. Love 'em!

440gtx6pak

11-12-2011, 06:22 PM

Confusing now is there are 2 types of Texas Special pickups, the Custom Shop ones, which are not that expensive for what they are, and the Texas Specials you can find stock in some of their American Special models. I really like the Custom Shop versions, which are reverse polarity, so no hum in the middle position. The other version is just average.

dannopelli

11-12-2011, 06:30 PM

I've had the Fender TexSpecials in a Strat now for some time and absolutely love them! I was so surprised that I liked them so much simply because they get very little love here (actually lots of dislike!). Fast forward to yesterday: I installed a mid/neck TexSpecial into my Tele Deluxe (has tele bridge pup and strat pups for mid/neck). Again, love em! Just great pups that sound big yet remain articulate and chimey. . Hugely underrated pups, IMHO.

Edward

Well I am with you. Love Texas Specials in Strats and Teles!