Telecaster Pickups? Latest & Greatest.

[Last]

Are the Lollar/GVCG AlNiCo 3 pickups still highly regarded or have the been outdone by another winder?

I realize that there a many many choices & opinions but was curious whether people that have these pickups still love them as much as when they were introduced or have they been dethroned by another?

Really appreciate any insight into this as I'd like to replace my neck pickup in my new Fender Telecaster Highway One with something that has more articulation & clarity than the stock Fender pups.

I'm only doing the neck for now as I kinda like the stock bridge pickup.

Thanks!

 

[mcdonaldkd]

I put a set in my HW1 Tele earlier this week, and I love them. The neck pick-up is excellent - warm, not muddy at all, highly articulate. The bridge is equally as good, but I agree with you that the bridge pu on the HW1 is very usable. Spring for the set, if you can. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

 

[Last]

Cool.

Yeah, I thought about doing both pickups but I'm a little low on ca$h with all the holiday spending this year.

I'm lucky & very grateful to be able to grab a 'good' neck pickup for my new Tele.

Thanks for the insight on these pickups.

 

[Seegs]

lots of great tele pup choices now...the GVCG/Lollars are great pups and were my goto pups for two years...they came stock in my GVCG tele but now I am using the Fred Stuart BG set...the GVCGs are bone dry while the Stuarts are more harmonically rich...both are great just matters what flavor your looking for...

Chow,
Seegs

 

[K-Line]

I like those but love the Lollar Vintage neck and Lollar Special bridge option better. The special has a great quirk about it, if you roll the tone back a bit you get a P90ish tone. The Vintage neck is articulate with a dash of whip cream!

 

[gkoelling]

I prefer Don Mare. If you have the budget, try his S-Telly. It's big n' fat but still sounds like a Telecaster.



Good luck in your search

 

[GA19RVT]

Don Mare. In the last 10 years I've tried Fender, Callaham, Lollar, etc etc. Lollars are great, no doubt, but I have a very early set of low-output Mare's that just nail it.

 

[AJ Love]

There is no "greatest" when it comes to Tele pickups... it really depended on the individual guitar and what kind of tone you want, and what amp you are using

 

[Last]

Hmmm... those Don Mare's look awfully enticing.

I think I'll go with the '53 Clone for the neck.

Thanks everyone for your input & opinions they really helped me out.

Much appreciated!

 

[coldfingaz]

There is no "greatest" when it comes to Tele pickups... it really depended on the individual guitar and what kind of tone you want, and what amp you are using

We are so lucky to have so many awesome options. My personal 2 favorite bridge pups (I'm an Esquire guy) are the Lollar Vintage T & Harmonic Design's S-90. But, there's something for everyone.

 

[Last]

There is no "greatest" when it comes to Tele pickups... it really depended on the individual guitar and what kind of tone you want, and what amp you are using

Absolutely agree which is why I prefaced my question with the standard ....

I realize that there a many many choices & opinions but was curious whether people that have these pickups still love them as much as when they were introduced or have they been dethroned by another?

Really wanted to see what people had thought about the Lollars "now" as they been out a while & there are new ones popping up almost weekly if not daily which is awesome but can be overwhelming & downright confusing.

 

[AJ Love]

I like the Lollars/GVCG for some applications, the Lollar Vintage is fantastic... Don Mare's are great too.... Stuarts are sublime... I actually really love the Fender Nocasters for old school Bell Tone

 

[markw1980]

Without trying Don Mare pickups, I have to say that the Alan Hamel pickup in my Esquire is the greatest vintage style Tele pickup I have heard to this point. I do like Fralin pickups, but the Hamel just brings out the best in my guitar.

 

[JKoeth]

I had the GVCG/Lollars too but preferred Alan Hamels which stayed in my Tele for a year or two until I got Don Mares. The Mares have stayed since.

 

[Gas-man]

Without trying Don Mare pickups, I have to say that the Alan Hamel pickup in my Esquire is the greatest vintage style Tele pickup I have heard to this point. I do like Fralin pickups, but the Hamel just brings out the best in my guitar.

You really oughta try some DM's.

I pigged up a set of his Broadcaster 38s and dig on them.

 

[Gas-man]

There is no "greatest" when it comes to Tele pickups... it really depended on the individual guitar and what kind of tone you want, and what amp you are using

Someone has to make this point in EVERY SINGLE THREAD.

Yes, we get it.

Tone is subjective.

:Spank

 

[coldfingaz]

Someone has to make this point in EVERY SINGLE THREAD.

Yes, we get it.

Tone is subjective.

:Spank

Can this really be overstated when you're referring to the number of amazing Tele pup options?

Happy holidays!

 

[Deathmonkey]

I'll tell ya, I'm a sucker for the Charlie Christian style pickups in the necks of teles. Much more of a useable tone to me than most tele neck pickups. I think Lollar makes one that is pretty highly regarded.

 

[BUTTISLAND]

I have been using lollar vintage Plus pickups in my Tele forever.
Although i like don mare pickup also that i played on one of my buddy Tele.

 

[bluesjuke]

I like the Lollars/GVCG for some applications, the Lollar Vintage is fantastic... Don Mare's are great too.... Stuarts are sublime... I actually really love the Fender Nocasters for old school Bell Tone

I have the GVCG/Lollars in a Danocaster and they are perfect in it.

I sometimes think that I would like to put a set in the Nocaster as well but I am well pleased with what I get from it and am afraid to change the guitars sound.

Different, but oh so sweet.