NGD, and need Pickup Recommendation for Tele

  • Thread starter Thread starter mightywarlock
  • Start date Start date
mightywarlock

mightywarlock

Well-known member
So today I picked up one of these:

0110500700_frt_wmd_001.jpg


2010 Fender American Standard Telecaster, Rosewood, Ash body.

Now, I never really thought I would get a Tele, as I am typically a heavier style player, but I've heard from a few folks I should try one and get used to it...and they think I would like it...
so I found a good deal on one and grabbed it.

So...
I find it a bit twangy...and yes, I know, Tele's are supposed to be that way...
But can someone recommend a Single Coil bridge pickup that would beef it up and tame some of the plinky highs, and be good for some cutting grind or a more aggressive crunch?

Duncan Hot Rails? or?


Thanks!
 
Nice! Can't stop buying guitars? :lol: :LOL:
I'm right there with you...:doh:

And speaking of teles. That has been my GAS item for sometime now! HNGD! :rock:
 
First of all, welcome to televille! :) Have you tried rolling the tone knob off a bit. Teles are one of the few guitars that I've owned where the controls actually make a difference. Small changes will make big differences. If you still want to change the pickups, the Duncan Quarter Pounder will add some thick punch to the tone. You may also look into the Rio Grande Muy Grandy pickup. The Muy Grande is actually my favorite non traditional tele pickup. Very thick with a little P90 flavor. I'm currently useing a Duncan Vintage broadcaster pickup in my bridge poistion, and find that I can get ver thick and aggressive tones from if. Pickup height will also make a huge difference in the tone. Good luch with your search. :)
 
On the heavier end a Hot Rails or Lil 59 would work. Fralin Steel Pole, Rio Grande Dirty Harry and a couple others are a little less hot and more on lines with a P-90 in output. Should be able to retain some tele quack with those if you like while still doing good overdriven tones. Quarter Pound and Jerry Donohue will tame the highs a bit and be cleaner still. Dimarzio Hot T would be noiseless but still hotter than a stock tele pickup.

Lots of options.
 
If you never listen to me on another thing, trust me here. Dimarzio Air Norton T bridge (DP380, I believe--you can order it custom from Dimarzio--they'll still wind you one even though it's not listed) and an Area T Neck. The tones will blow your mind.
 
Congrats on the NGD and thanks for renewing my Tele GAS.
 
Talked with Fender today to check up on this guitar, and it appears I was wrong...this is not Ash!
According to what they sent here (below) this is Alder!
I could have sworn it was Ash, as it is a very light guitar!




manufactured 07/2010.


Model Name: American Standard Telecaster®

Model Number: 011-0500-(Color #) and 011-0502-(Color #)

Series: American Standard Series

Colors: (700) 3-Color Sunburst,

(706) Black,

(712) Candy Cola,

(721)** Natural, (Ash Body),**add $100.00 for Special Wood Requirements,

(738)** Crimson Red Transparent, (Ash Body),**add $100.00 for Special Wood Requirements,

(755) Blizzard Pearl,

(Urethane Finish)

Body: Alder on:

(700) 3-Color Sunburst,
(706) Black,

(712) Candy Cola,

(755) Blizzard Pearl,

Ash on:

(703)** 2-Color Sunburst, **add $100.00 for Special Wood Requirements,

(721)** Natural, **add $100.00 for Special Wood Requirements,

(738)** Crimson Red Transparent, **add $100.00 for Special Wood Requirements

Neck: Maple, Modern “C” Shape,

(Gloss Headstock Face with Satin Urethane Finish on Back of Neck)

Fingerboard: Rosewood (P/N 011-0500) or Maple (P/N 011-0502), 9.5” Radius (241 mm)

No. of Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo Frets

Scale Length: 25.5” (648 mm)

Width @ Nut: 1.685” (42.8 mm)

Hardware: Chrome

Machine Heads: Fender® Deluxe Staggered Cast/Sealed Tuning Machines

Bridge: American Tele with New American Standard Bent Steel Saddles and Stamped Brass Plate

Pickguard: 3-Ply Parchment On:

(700) 3-Color Sunburst,
(703) 2-Color Sunburst,

(706) Black,

(712) Candy Cola,

(755) Blizzard Pearl,

3-Ply Black On:

(721)** Natural,

(738)** Crimson Red Transparent

Pickups: 2 American Tele® Single-Coil Pickups (Neck & Bridge)

Pickup Switching: 3-Position Blade:

Position 1. Bridge Pickup

Position 2. Bridge and Neck Pickups

Position 3. Neck Pickup

Controls: Master Volume, Master Delta ToneTM,

(The Delta ToneTM System Includes High Output Bridge Pickup and Special No-Load Tone Control)

Strings: Fender Standard TensionTM ST250L, Nickel Plated Steel,

Gauges: (.009, .011, .016, .024, .032, .042),

Unique Features: All New Five-Screw Mounted Brass Bridge Plate for Sonic Stability, Loaded with Improved Bent Steel Saddles with Elongated String Slots, for Increased Resonance and Sustain,

Thinner Undercoat Finish for Improved Body Resonance,

Tinted Neck,

Maple Fingerboard Neck: Satin Finish on Back, Gloss Finish on Front;

Rosewood Fingerboard Neck: Satin Finish on Back, Gloss Finish on Headstock Front with Buffed Fingerboard,

4-Bolt Neck Attachment with Micro-Tilt™ Adjustment,

Bi-Flex Truss Rod System,

Rolled Fretboard Edges,

Staggered Tuning Keys,

H/S/H Pickup Routing,

New Molded Fender/SKB Case with TSA Locks, Glass Reinforced Nylon Trigger Latches, and Form Fitted Plush Interior,

Rolled Fingerboard Edges,

Sharper ‘52 Style Body Radius

Source: U.S.

Accessories: Fender/SKB® Case, Cable, Strap, Polishing Cloth

U.S. MSRP: $1,299.99, $1,399.99, **(721), **(738)

INTRODUCED: 1/2008
 
My tele is ash and light it is not. My alder tele is much lighter. Any of the suggestions above would be a good place to start to see what works in the guitar regardless of the wood. Very rare that the first pickup you put in there will be the last. Took a while before I settled on one. Then the one you settled on may not work in another tele! I have found tele's to be the most fickle guitars in regards to pickups.

Also remember unless you're going with a super hot pickup (Hot Rails, Lil 59, etc) you're going to have to use that tone control and back off a bit for the best tones unless you want to rip some heads off.
 
If you ask me, I'd say absolutely, positively the Lindy Fralin Steel Poled 42 or 43's. Still sounds like a tele, but more aggressive, with a P90 type snarl, less spikey highs, and higher output but without the compression. Everytime someone wants what you want in a Tele and comes to our shop to hear these Fralins, they buy them!
 
I have a Fender Lite Ash Tele with the exact pickups I described. Trust me, will ya? Or do I need to bring it down so you can play it?
 
racerevlon":3dfq15uy said:
I have a Fender Lite Ash Tele with the exact pickups I described. Trust me, will ya? Or do I need to bring it down so you can play it?
Click to expand...

just might have to.
;)
 
Bill Lawrence Wilde tele set.
Rio Grande Tallboy (although the higher output options are killer too)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top