Tele Pickups

[djl]

Hi Guys

I've got a tele (swamp ash, maple neck) which came with fralins in - I like them quite a bit, but they sound a little too "hi-fi" sometimes and seem to lack some of the warmth of the vintage pickups. I am toying with the idea of swapping them out for bkps, and wondered firstly if it's worthwhile - has anyone directly compared fralins to bkps?
Secondly, which pickup would you go for for this sound: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bvua4unz-JI - also worth watching anyway - awesome playing.

Cheers

[Ratrod]

The pickups in his favorite Tele (and signature) are a bit of a mystery.

The original is a '59 Tele with an original pickup that has been rewound to Jim's specs.

I'm thinking it would be something like a Blackguard staggered '55 with the (hotter) winding of a flat '50.

You can always check with Tim, though.

[darkbluemurder]

has anyone directly compared fralins to bkps?

Never made a direct comparison but I can say I never liked any Fralin Strat pickup or humbucker whereas I never disliked any BKP humbucker I tried (haven't tried their single coils yet). For any type of pickup there would be at least 3 or 4 winders I would choose over Fralin (e.g. BKP, Lollar, Wolfetone, Grosh just to name a few). I even preferred the DiMarzio Area 61/58 tonally to the Blues Special set when I needed to go humfree. 

Cheers Stephan

[Telerocker]

For these tones I would look at the Countryboys. They are great for picking styles and have the winds of late 50's telecasters.

[djl]

Thanks all! Tim recommended the BG52s (replied very quickly!) I'll have a think

[Telerocker]

Thanks all! Tim recommended the BG52s (replied very quickly!) I'll have a think

You will love those too,. I have the old B50-set, which is the BG52-set now. Neckpickup is quite stratty. I like that. Bridge is versatile. Country, blues, rock, no problem.

[38thBeatle]

I'd have suggested Country Boys but I see you have Tim's recommendation and I'd go with his suggestion every time if I were you.

[Andrew W]

Thanks all! Tim recommended the BG52s (replied very quickly!) I'll have a think

I don't think you'll be disappointed with those. I have them in my Dubreuille Blackguard and I hear similarities to the tone in that clip. There's a few Flat 50 and Flat 52 demos in the Players section. One thing to watch for is that the BG52s used to be the BG Flat 50 so older clips featuring the BG Flat 50 will be the same at the pickups you've ordered. If that makes sense?

[Telerocker]

I'd have suggested Country Boys but I see you have Tim's recommendation and I'd go with his suggestion every time if I were you.

I thought CB's too when I heard that clip and although I have the BG's I didn't immediately link them to the sound in the clip, maybe bec I use different ampd. Anyway, Tim's recommendations are generally spot on. Who am I to question them.