Good Tele Bridge Pickup

[Weathered]

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.

 

[Miles]

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.

 

[mainsale]

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".

 

[re-animator]

i second the fralin. he knows his teles.

 

[cameron]

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.

 

[lclyman]

The Nocasters are great...especially in an esquire...!!

 

[Weathered]

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.

I've basically decided to go with the Super-90. I figure I can always build more Teles to try out other pickups.

 

[Greg]

Also check out the Voodoo pups by Peter Florance. Fantastic.

 

[shallbe]

I've basically decided to go with the Super-90. I figure I can always build more Teles to try out other pickups.

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.

 

[empty71]

My vote's for Budz Purebred underwound

 

[DANOCASTER]

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

A 1/4 pounder is muddy.. you dont want that

 

[GuitarsFromMars]

Wagcaster by WCR if you can get it...

 

[gkoelling]

Call Don Mare.

www.donmarepickups.com

Just do it.

 

[BMF Effects]

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

+1

Best money I ever spent. Haven't even thought about trying another bridge pickup since.

 

[Home Grown Tele]

Call Don Mare.

www.donmarepickups.com

Just do it.

+1

You won't be sorry!

 

[SharkB8]

+3 to Don Mare. Amazing pickups.

 

[RvChevron]

My vote goes to the Nocaster or have Don Mare wind you a Nocaster spec.I have a Nocaster and it growls through my AC30.

Does it still twang with the best of them without sounding thin and shrill?

 

[joesnewmatch]

I have a "stock" Fralin bridge pu in my '52RI Tele and it always makes me smile.

 

[Marcello]

Bill Lawrence Keystone pickup, incredible.

Zhangli's bunyan bridge, fat tone !

 

[chris77]

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!