Blackguard tele pickups: flat 50s va staggered 55

[josetxu]

Hi everyone!

I have an ash/rosewood telecaster (with steel saddles) and I'm looking for a new set of pickups. I've tried a telecaster with the same woods but thinner neck (mine has a 1" neck) and brass saddles with the flat 50s and they sounded great. I want a set but I've also seen that the staggered 55 are more suitable for rosewood. How does the two sets differ? I have another telecaster with Lollar vintage T so I want a bigger, fatter sound out of this guitar. What do you recommend?

[PhilKing]

I would try a Flat 52, I have both types of flatpole and I've played the stagger pole.  I think the stagger poles are not as thick sounding as the flatpoles.  If you're after a fat sound then either of the flatpoles will suit.  I prefer the 52 neck pickup, but then I'm not a big fan of tele neck pickups.

[Telerocker]

I would try a Flat 52, I have both types of flatpole and I've played the stagger pole.  I think the stagger poles are not as thick sounding as the flatpoles.  If you're after a fat sound then either of the flatpoles will suit.  I prefer the 52 neck pickup, but then I'm not a big fan of tele neck pickups.

I concur with this! The Flat 52 (actually the old BG50, which is now the flat 52) does a great job in my Fender American Series (alder/rosewood). The neckpickup is quite stratty, which I like.

[BigB]

Another vote for the Flat52 here. Mines are in MiJ Custom '62 RI / rosewood neck and they sound just right, I don't think it could be any better.

[josetxu]

But looking at the specs they seem very similar to the Lollars I have in my other telecaster: Alnico V, 42 Gauge wire... only the Lollars seems to have even more winding (BKP 5K vs Lollar 5,6K in neck pickup and BKP 7,1K vs Lollar 7,4k).

Another question: stock vs RW/RP? in my strats all the sets I have are stock as the in between positions sounds better that way in my opinion, but it's the same in telecaster pickups?

[Kiichi]

Another question: stock vs RW/RP? in my strats all the sets I have are stock as the in between positions sounds better that way in my opinion, but it's the same in telecaster pickups?

Question is if you want humcancelling middle or not. Personally I too prefer non humcancelling (stock winding) as humcancelling always kills other frequencies too. Plus I donīt mind that bit of hum.

[BigB]

But looking at the specs they seem very similar to the Lollars I have in my other telecaster: Alnico V, 42 Gauge wire... only the Lollars seems to have even more winding (BKP 5K vs Lollar 5,6K in neck pickup and BKP 7,1K vs Lollar 7,4k).

Similar specs doesn't necessarily mean similar tone, but well, I've not played the Lollars so I can't say. Now you can just AskTim(tm), and at worse there's this 14 days return policy thing  8)

Another question: stock vs RW/RP? in my strats all the sets I have are stock as the in between positions sounds better that way in my opinion, but it's the same in telecaster pickups?

Stock definitly as far as I'm concerned. Not that I like hum, but what's the point of having (partially at best) "hum-cancelling"  in only *one* position ?

[josetxu]

Finally went with the flat 50s, stock polarity. I've just installed them and I think they're just what I was looking for. Bridge pickup is similar to the lollar in the other guitar but fatter, just what I wanted and the other two positions are very different to my other telecaster. Middle position it's fuller, less quacky (better in my opinion, I prefer that way) and neck is fuller, darker and less stratty (I have 3 strats).

So really happy with them, thinking in trying a set of strat pickups now  :D :D :D

[Telerocker]

Good to hear you like them.