Replacement Tele Pickups

  • Thread starter Thread starter scrubs
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scrubs

scrubs

Not of sound mind
I have a little Yamaha Telecaster copy that I'm pretty happy with, overall (good setup, look, & feel), but I think the sound could be a little clearer. I'm wanting to replace the stock pickups with something better. I've read a little on here about Fralins, Kinman, and such, but considering they cost more than I paid for the guitar, I'm not sure they're worth it. I'm also considering the Fender Vintage Noiseless set. Any thoughts?

I play mostly acoustic music and want very clear, but not too sharp, bell-like tone for my electric parts. Some light distortion, but no metal tones.
 
scrubs said:
I have a little Yamaha Telecaster copy that I'm pretty happy with, overall (good setup, look, & feel), but I think the sound could be a little clearer. I'm wanting to replace the stock pickups with something better. I've read a little on here about Fralins, Kinman, and such, but considering they cost more than I paid for the guitar, I'm not sure they're worth it. I'm also considering the Fender Vintage Noiseless set. Any thoughts?

I play mostly acoustic music and want very clear, but not too sharp, bell-like tone for my electric parts. Some light distortion, but no metal tones.
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i think fender makes some Texas pickups too .. those might be what your looking for .. usually they are used for a bluesey tone but, i dont know take a look
 
Nick The Man said:
i think fender makes some Texas pickups too .. those might be what your looking for .. usually they are used for a bluesey tone but, i dont know take a look
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I put a Texas Special in my bridge as was very happy with it.
 
i have them in a home made strat model here .. i like the sound .. i would like to hear a comparison to what the standards that fender puts in compared to the texas specials
 
whatever you do, dont kill you tele pickups like my friend is going to do, he bought some nasty ass hardcore high output darmizo thing for his tele thinline. I'm ashamed of him. He ruined his tele. ha.
 
If your looking for "clearer," then Texas Specials or noiseless are the wrong way to go. Your best bet is going to be a good quality vintage style pickup, such as a Seymour Duncan Vintage Broadcaster (for the bridge) or a set of Fralins. They may be worth more than the cost of the guitar, but that doesn't mean you can't take them out if you sell the guitar. If you don't sell the guitar, that probably means your happy with it, and then who cares what you paid for it.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi
 
sk8bobby10 said:
whatever you do, dont kill you tele pickups like my friend is going to do, he bought some nasty ass hardcore high output darmizo thing for his tele thinline. I'm ashamed of him. He ruined his tele. ha.
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I just put a Dimarzio DP181 Fast Track in my other electric, which just has 1 single coil slot. For $60, it was quite an improvement over the stock pickup -- still sounds like a single coil, but is quieter and a little smoother.
 
Light said:
If your looking for "clearer," then Texas Specials or noiseless are the wrong way to go. Your best bet is going to be a good quality vintage style pickup, such as a Seymour Duncan Vintage Broadcaster (for the bridge) or a set of Fralins. They may be worth more than the cost of the guitar, but that doesn't mean you can't take them out if you sell the guitar. If you don't sell the guitar, that probably means your happy with it, and then who cares what you paid for it.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi
Click to expand...

Thanks to all for your help. What neck pickup would you recommend to complement the Vintage Broadcaster?
 
Depends on what you want. For some contrast, I might go with a Hot Tele bridge pickup, but you might also go with a Vintage Rhythm or an Alnico II. I'd probably go with a Alnico II, but that's me.

The good news: Seymour Duncan has a exchange program. You try a pickup for up to 21 days, and if you don't like it, they will replace it. They do NOT, however, pay for the labor for the replacement, and it is only in effect if you get professional instalation. Still, no one else does this, and it is one heck of a good deal.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi
 
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