Tele with CC Pickup?

[59burst]

I'm seriously intrigued by the idea of commissioning a repro blackguard/butterscotch 50's Tele, but having a Lollar Charlie Christian pickup put in the neck position. (Or alternately, purchasing a '52 RI or CS Nocaster and having the CC pickup installed.)

I was wondering if anyone has had the opportunity to play such a guitar - I've seen a few around, notably Danny Gatton's - and could comment on the sound of the CC in the neck position, and what the middle position sounds like. Also, what is the balance between a standard Tele bridge pickup and a CC in the neck like?

Thanks for any comments!

 

[Red Planet]

http://www.telecaster.com/viewtopic.php?t=8866&highlight=charlie+christian

 

[59burst]

Thanks for the link. I didn't know about that forum!

 

[Red Planet]

Yeah its a pretty cool place.

 

[Red Planet]

Heres another cool link.


www.grailtone.com/forum

 

[mainsale]

I've been thinking about the same thing for some time. Please keep us informed of your progress.

 

[59burst]

Red Planet - so many forums, so little time!

mainsale - it'll be a while, as my financial situation won't quite deal with it right now (unless I sell some other gear - always a possibility!). But, I want to figure everything out, so when I have the bucks, I can order the guitar right away.

 

[george4908]

Interesting, I just bought the Lollar CC pickup along with his Tele bridge (the slightly higher output one) to go with it. I confess I've never actually heard them, but the CC pickup is too cool not to do something with, so I will build something to house it when I get around to it.

 

[WahmBoomAh]

Hi .I too got bit by the CC bug . can`t remember why I decided I must do it ...but did it . An ex gibson jazz box guy ...moved into the world of a more "open" tone , Play a KOll duo glide primarily ...Heard Jim Campilongo , couldn`t get a tele out of my mind ..one thing led to another , I think it was a few emails with Jason Lollar (and our mutual love for Cornell DuPree)that gave me the confidence that I needed to go CC. I didn`t want to abandon the warm neck jazz colors BUT didn`t want a HB ...too much mud. SO ..
It`s VERY special .I`d recommend it to anyone looking for a deep punch
on the dark tone ..It`s still got air around it though . Can`t say you`ll
love it .I do! Needs a stout amp and a confident touch ...very expressive but it will overshadow a less than stout bridge pickup i got the Lollar pair with a hotter tele bridge . Even like this ...I dial the bridge pickup up high and screw the CC down low .GREAT middle pos. On the down side . it induces more hum than the bridge pickup but less hum than a p 90 . Works well with distortion too .

 

[EL 34 X2]

I got a jones for a CC loaded Telecaster a couple years ago. I finally followed through about 3 months ago and had Billy Rowe @ Rocknrollrelics.net build me a Butterscotch Esquire replica w/ a set of Vintage Vibe pickups.

After researching my options I decided to go with the Vintage Vibe CC Rider (Charlie Christian) neck pickup and a standard sized bridge pickup which was wound to match the CC in output.

I know there is quite a debate on the forums about reliced guitars vs. new, and I have varied feelings on the subject myself, but I wanted the feel and look of a "played in" butterscotch Tele.

I couldn't be happier with the look, feel, and SOUND of this guitar. I had an early 50s repro decal which I added to complete the look. MooWahmBah's sonic assessment is very close to what I hear from the Vintage Vibe set, except I hear less noise from these pickups than I would from some Fender and Duncan pus I've used, even at medium gain settings. The CC sounds like a warm P 90 without any harshness, the bridge pickup is strong and very Tele-like, and the middle position is very defined. I'd recommend checking out Rock N Roll Relics and Pete @ Vintage Vibe Guitars. I'm VERY pleased with the results.

 

[WahmBoomAh]

Hi again .let me add in all fairness to Jason .the fact that there is SOMETIMES a little more hum ...(depending on the quality of the AC in the
club,theater whatever )shouldn`t scare you away .It`s still very quiet for a SC of any flavor...nothing that detracts from the mojo ....I feel better now

 

[EL 34 X2]

Oh, I in no way meant to imply that Jason Lollars CC pickups were more prone to hum, nor did I take that from the info you gave. As you said, noise and hum will vary according to the situation. I haven't had the opportunity to try the Lollar pickups, and would love to at some point.

I was surprised by how quiet the Vintage Vibe set was compared to a lot of other single coils I've tried. I do believe, especially for the money, that Pete Biltoft's Vintage Vibe pickups are well worth checking out.

 

[mainsale]

Thanks for the tip on Vintage Vibe. I can't get a response from Jason Lollar. I'll have to check them out.

 

[guitarmook]

I put a pair of Vintage Vibes (CC and slightly overwound tele bridge) into a MIM 50s Classic tele... loved them. The sound was excellent, the christian, as described, was deep, thick, and round, but stayed pretty clean - and the bridge was excellently matched, and had the classic tele twang.

 

[jcayer]

Old thread but just in case there's some interest !

http://www.jcayer.com/bricolages/ccriderpups.htm

 

[MartinPiana]

Just posted about mine on some other thread today, asking about Lollar tele pups. I love mine CC/special with 4-way switch for series and parallel. Really recommend the 4-way. ...

My earlier comment today "Lollar's CC Blade in the neck, coupled with his Special in the bridge. I play a lot of jazz -- or try a lot to play jazz -- as well as classic rock-type jam sessions and a bunch of stuff in between. My Tele with these pups keeps me happy in all of these environments, plus the Blade allows some tonal tweaks you won't get elsewhere. This is easily my most versatile ax. I have a four-way switch (parallel and series), which also helps expand the range of sounds. Noise cancelling in parallel.... You can get the Tele twang out of the Special, but a little rounder -- leaning slightly toward a P90...."

That's on this page, which has photos of a couple of Teles with this setup: https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/327522&page=3

 

[Dave Orban]

I'm seriously intrigued by the idea of commissioning a repro blackguard/butterscotch 50's Tele, but having a Lollar Charlie Christian pickup put in the neck position. (Or alternately, purchasing a '52 RI or CS Nocaster and having the CC pickup installed.)

I was wondering if anyone has had the opportunity to play such a guitar - I've seen a few around, notably Danny Gatton's - and could comment on the sound of the CC in the neck position, and what the middle position sounds like. Also, what is the balance between a standard Tele bridge pickup and a CC in the neck like?

Thanks for any comments!

I've got a swamp ash parts tele with a solid rosewood neck and one of Pete Biltoft's most excellent (and most affordable) CC pickups in the neck position, and a wound-to-match Tele-style pickup in the bridge.

Matching output is tricky, since the CC is quite powerful (but not "hot" the way some overwound buckers can be.)

Hence, the "wound-to-match" pickup that I had Pete make me for the bridge position.

An incredibly good sounding and versatile instrument!

 

[DaveG]

Matching output is tricky, since the CC is quite powerful (but not "hot" the way some overwound buckers can be.)

Hence, the "wound-to-match" pickup that I had Pete make me for the bridge position.

An incredibly good sounding and versatile instrument!

Dave,

How do you think those CC's would work in a semi-hollow archtop, for blues & jazz? I've got a Yamaha AES1500 that has stacked P90's in it now, and I'm thinking about either having Pete rewind them, or swap them out for a set of his CC's, or his regular P90's. I think the guitar would sure look cool with the CC's... Btw, I've got a set of Pete's Tele-sized P90's and I love 'em; Pete's the best!

Yamaha AES1500

 

[AaeCee]

This is not exactly what you are asking about, but I recently purchased one of the Gibson CS John Lennon LP Jrs. with a CC neck and P-90 bridge. It sounds devine. As other stated, the CC is quite powerful and punchy, but not wooly, and is mixes so well with the hot P-90 bridge. The middle setting is among the sweetest I've ever heard/played. Balance is great, and of course the CC on its own is so good in so many ways. It does hum a bit, but you forget about that as soon as you hit that first huge note. And to answer DaveG, I think a CC would be great for jazz, as it retains great clarity despite its power, but in a full HB I can't help but wonder whether it may prove a bit too powerful, thus making feedback a major issue.

 

[Nick_]

If I may say one thing that hasn't yet been said about Biltofts CC -

The wax he pots them in SMELLS INCREDIBLE

I can't stop playing and sniffing the pickup!