Good Tele Bridge Pickup

Discussion in 'Guitars in General' started by Weathered, Jan 8, 2008.

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  1. Jan 8, 2008 #1
    Weathered

    Weathered Member

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    I'm going to be putting together an Esquire-styled Tele in the coming weeks/months, and I was hoping to get some advice about a good pickup.

    The guitar in question is to be an ash body, maple neck/maple board, either a Callaham or Wilkinson 3 saddle bridge.

    I'm looking for something that's going to growl through my AC30 - this is built for rock and roll, and not much else. I've read much about the Nocaster pickups - anything else someone would recommend? I'm hoping to get close to a P-90 styled midrange growl.
     
    Weathered, Jan 8, 2008
    Weathered, Jan 8, 2008
    #1
  2. Jan 8, 2008 #2
    Miles

    Miles Member

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    Well, it will have some high end roll off, but I always liked the sound of SD Quarter Pound Bridge pup. P-90s really have a sound their own but you will be sure to get a lot of midrange growl with a sweet moderate/high output single coil in a tele bridge through your AC30. AC30 circuits love teles.

    If I were building an esquire-ish guitar, I would get either a SD Hot for Tele or a Fralin Bridge pickup.
     
    Miles, Jan 8, 2008
    Miles, Jan 8, 2008
    #2
  3. Jan 8, 2008 #3
    mainsale

    mainsale Member

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    The Fralin Blues Special is probably my favorite Tele bridge pickup. It is Phat sounding but not too hot to lose that all important Tele "twang".
     
    mainsale, Jan 8, 2008
    mainsale, Jan 8, 2008
    #3
  4. Jan 8, 2008 #4
    re-animator

    re-animator Senior Member

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    i second the fralin. he knows his teles.
     
    re-animator, Jan 8, 2008
    re-animator, Jan 8, 2008
    #4
  5. Jan 8, 2008 #5
    cameron

    cameron Member

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    For nigh-P90-ish growl you probably can't beat the Harmonic Design Super 90.

    I have the Super 90 as the bridge pickup on two of my guitars. One of them is an Esquire-style thing. It's not a traditional Tele pickup, but it sounds really good. And the individually adjustable pole pieces are a nice bonus.
     
    cameron, Jan 8, 2008
    cameron, Jan 8, 2008
    #5
  6. Jan 8, 2008 #6
    lclyman

    lclyman Member

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    The Nocasters are great...especially in an esquire...!!
     
    lclyman, Jan 8, 2008
    lclyman, Jan 8, 2008
    #6
  7. Jan 8, 2008 #7
    Weathered

    Weathered Member

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    I've basically decided to go with the Super-90. I figure I can always build more Teles to try out other pickups. ;)
     
    Weathered, Jan 8, 2008
    Weathered, Jan 8, 2008
    #7
  8. Jan 8, 2008 #8
    Greg

    Greg Supporting Member

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    Also check out the Voodoo pups by Peter Florance. Fantastic.
     
    Greg, Jan 8, 2008
    Greg, Jan 8, 2008
    #8
  9. Jan 8, 2008 #9
    shallbe

    shallbe Deputy Plankspanker Gold Supporting Member

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    I have the HD Super 90 in my Suhr Esquire. It is fantastic.

    However, DON'T overlook the Dimarzio Virtual Vintage Hot T. I just put one of these in my ash/maple Suhr Tele and it is flat out AMAZING. I mean really amazing. It is loud, big, dynamic AND noiseless. From a boutique-leaning guy like myself, I'm very impressed. It is louder than the HD Super 90, and easily keeps up with the full sized humbucker in the neck of the guitar. In fact, I had to raise the neck bucker to compete with its output. Add to all this the fact that it does not sound overwound and has Alnico 2 magnets---gravy.
     
    shallbe, Jan 8, 2008
    shallbe, Jan 8, 2008
    #9
  10. Jan 8, 2008 #10
    empty71

    empty71 Member

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    My vote's for Budz Purebred underwound :)
     
    empty71, Jan 8, 2008
    empty71, Jan 8, 2008
    #10
  11. Jan 8, 2008 #11
    DANOCASTER

    DANOCASTER Supporting Member

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    Fred Stuart Lapwrap - it's hot, almost P-90ish, but still retains SOME tele

    A 1/4 pounder is muddy.. you dont want that
     
    DANOCASTER, Jan 8, 2008
    DANOCASTER, Jan 8, 2008
    #11
  12. Jan 8, 2008 #12
    GuitarsFromMars

    GuitarsFromMars Member

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    Wagcaster by WCR if you can get it...
     
    GuitarsFromMars, Jan 8, 2008
    GuitarsFromMars, Jan 8, 2008
    #12
  13. Jan 8, 2008 #13
    gkoelling

    gkoelling Member

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    gkoelling, Jan 8, 2008
    gkoelling, Jan 8, 2008
    #13
  14. Jan 8, 2008 #14
    BMF Effects

    BMF Effects Supporting Member

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    +1

    Best money I ever spent. Haven't even thought about trying another bridge pickup since.
     
    BMF Effects, Jan 8, 2008
    BMF Effects, Jan 8, 2008
    #14
  15. Jan 8, 2008 #15
    Home Grown Tele

    Home Grown Tele Member

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    Home Grown Tele, Jan 8, 2008
    Home Grown Tele, Jan 8, 2008
    #15
  16. Jan 9, 2008 #16
    SharkB8

    SharkB8 Member

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    +3 to Don Mare. Amazing pickups.
     
    SharkB8, Jan 9, 2008
    SharkB8, Jan 9, 2008
    #16
  17. Jan 9, 2008 #17
    RvChevron

    RvChevron Member

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    Does it still twang with the best of them without sounding thin and shrill?
     
    RvChevron, Jan 9, 2008
    RvChevron, Jan 9, 2008
    #17
  18. Jan 9, 2008 #18
    joesnewmatch

    joesnewmatch Music Is My Soul Food Supporting Member

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    I have a "stock" Fralin bridge pu in my '52RI Tele and it always makes me smile.
     
    joesnewmatch, Jan 9, 2008
    joesnewmatch, Jan 9, 2008
    #18
  19. Jan 9, 2008 #19
    Marcello

    Marcello Member

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    Bill Lawrence Keystone pickup, incredible.

    Zhangli's bunyan bridge, fat tone !
     
    Marcello, Jan 9, 2008
    Marcello, Jan 9, 2008
    #19
  20. Jan 9, 2008 #20
    chris77

    chris77 Member

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    I am a tele lover but in NO way a tele purest...I love the Rio Grande Dirty Harry I put in one of mine. Lots of balls and bark!
     
    chris77, Jan 9, 2008
    chris77, Jan 9, 2008
    #20
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