4 way switch/Yardbird Tele pups

[craggle]

I have just accuired a 'Partscaster' that has a two-piece light ash body, and Callaham bridge/hardware..and i have to say i'm impressed..un-plugged it resonates so pleasingly.

It also has a four way switch and quality pots that vol/tone swell lovely.

The pups installed are S.Duncans..a Jerry Donahue bridge and an Alnico Pro 2 neck.

I actually quite like the JD bridge, but, ever the tinkerer i'm interested to know how a set of Yardbird pups would sound with a 4-way set up?

I know it's subjective, but the 4th position with these current pups sounds beefy/cutting, i really like it, as i do the bridge on its own surprisingly..i just guess i'd like to know if the Yardbirds really work in the 4-way config succesfully??

Thanks

[axg20202]

I had a tele with a Yardbird set and a 4 way switch. It definitely 'works', but personally I found that the Yardbird bridge didn't have enough balls for what I wanted (I guess the YB bridge was slightly too traditional for me). So, I paired the quite frankly exquisite Yardbird neck pickup (the best tele neck pup i have EVER used) with a Piledriver bridge instead. IMO, this combination is bloody amazing and the in-between (both in parallel) is just excellent. The series position of these two is a monster.
However, I should say that the name of Piledriver could lead people to believe that it is inarticulate and OTT. Not at all. It is a hot bridge, yes, but still very expressive in my view (particularly if the height is not set excessively high, which is sometimes a temptation with less hot bridges). Roll back the volume and all the traditional twang is still there.

I have to confess that in everyday use I don't use the series position often, buts its nice to have and does get used now and then. This position was probably more useful with both Yardbird pickups rather than YB neck and PD bridge - the series setting in my current setup is like a sledgehammer because of the power of the PD - the parallel setting is more useful.

[Tellboy]

I have a Piledriver and a Boss set in my teles - both have a 4 way switch. I would recommend the switch with any tele (Fender obviously now recognise how versatile this is as they are installing them on some models, plus S1 switching). I agree with axg20202 that the Piledriver is very versatile when used with the guitar volume.

Can't comment on the  Yardbird set..... BUT we know someone who can tell you about Country Boys and 4 way switches.....Roll of drums... and over to 38thBeatle  :band5:

[38thBeatle]

Oh shucks , with a build up like that, how could I resist. OK they are "traditional"  Tele pups as per early days. probably not as high power perhaps as you might like but, to me, that make a Tele sound like it ought. I can get some pretty meaty bluesy tones out of them so I would suggest that you certainly don't dismiss them out of hand. There is a good track in the players section where Steve borrowed my CB laden Tele and did a fine job in demonstrating their versatility. As for the 4 way, well you probably have a handle on that already but to me, it is one of the greatest mods that can be made. I use the tone a lot though I recognise that it mightn't be to everyone's taste though as it preserves the classic tones, the mod seems to be well worth it-earthing issues notwithstanding.

[craggle]

Hmm, thanks guy's..

Too be honest a Piledriver is the last of the BKP range i'd ever think of using!

however, to go off topic slighlty..i have a '52 hot-rod Tele, with a mini-humbucker in neck. I'm not entirely content with said guitars bridge pup currently a 'Boss'

I find it too metallic/clunky..has anyone tried a Piledriver in a hot-rod Tele out of curiosity?

Maybe the high output of bridge and mini hb would sound way too ballsy in middle positiion??

[PhilKing]

I had a Piledriver/Firebird mini-HB combo in a tele, but I changed it to a Brown Sugar.  I find it works great with the mini-humbucker.