Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Pickups => Topic started by: Iced Dragon on October 01, 2025, 07:19:01 AM
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Hi all,
I recently got a Squier Classic Vibe 50's. Pine body, maple neck.
Overall, I'm quite happy with it for its price, stays in tune very well, and I managed to intonate it quite good. Nevertheless, I intend to upgrade it, including Gotoh In-Tune bridge/cutaway ashtray, pots, ... Machine heads can stay for now. Frets are a bit too small for my liking, but I can live with them.
It's my first ever telecaster, and never had played one before. So pickup-wise, I have no experience. The present ones are not too bad, but the neck is a bit dark and muddy (typical tele, as I understood?), and the bridge is ok, maybe a bit too bright, but could use some more edge to it.
I wanted a tele to extend the collection/sounds, and venture somewhat into country and funk (mainly to gain/expand my skills, not that I'm that much into country or funk) and have some nice cleans. I like the middle position!
So I'm looking for a set/mix that gives nice warm cleans in the neck, with good note separation, and a typical tele bridge (I'd say rather vintage than modern), but nothing harsh and not too hot (I think, I don't have a really defined idea yet since I lack experience), but it can have some edge to it/push the preamp somewhat if needed. Some twang is ok, still should sound like a tele, but mainly has to be versatile.
So, the guitar is intended for jazz, 80's pop/rock/funk (the latter maybe somewhat Prince-like?), and country. Mainly cleans, but being able to handle high gain is a benefit.
So I think I'd rather go nocaster/broadcaster type than 60's (too bright?), especially given the maple/pine combination
I originally thought of going for the Flat 50, but maybe the bridge is too hot and less suited for clean styles?
Is the Flat 52 still somewhat overwound compared to later era pickups? Or is the bridge too twangy? Are the 50 and 52 related, or entirely different beasts? Can you consider the Flat 52 still nocaster type of voicing?
What about the Yardbird set? Too much rock oriented?
Other (brands)?
I intend to mainly play them through a home-built blackface Vibro Champ/tweed amp.
Thanks.
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I’ve used the Boss bridge and the Flat 52 set. I have not used the Flat 50.
The Boss is great, but it leans to a rock voicing, not that it doesn’t sound Tele, just a bit more of a rock Tele.
The Flat 52, IME, is pretty mild. Sounds great, but pretty low output. As described by BKP, there is a bit of a Strat character to the neck pickup, which I really liked.
My understanding is that the brightness, twangiest Tele bridge pickups came out in the 60s, which I believe is reflected in a BKP Tele set that reflects that era.
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How does the '52 bridge compare to 'standard' tele bridges? How bright is is? Still more or less nocaster? Is there twang?
I don't really know how what to think about a 'more strat-like' neck pickup. Does it differ a lot from 'standard' tele neck pups? How does it compare to the '50 neck?