Tele pickup advice

[breadfan]

I'm considering the flat 52s for a light one-piece ash Tele I'm having built - from what I've heard & read they sound exactly what I'm looking for - but the guitar will have a rosewood 'board. The clips I've heard are on maple.

How suitable do you think they'd be for a rosewood 'board?

I'm after a good all rounder, the Mule Telecaster pickup, I guess. I want plenty of twang, but enough power for classic rock / blues. My amp is a 5e3 style.

[Telerocker]

It's good to see a tele-thread. They become a bit rare here lately.
The BG52 will exactly do what you describe. It can twang, but can handle blues(rock) and rock with authority. With the tonecontrol on the tele you can achieve a lot of sounds. You have to tweak the height for the best position/sweet spot of the BG52. I would not worry about your rosewood fretboard. I have the same set (although it was called BG50 in times when this was the only Blackguard BKP offered) in a Fender American Series with an alder body and rosewood fretboard. Sounds excellent.

[breadfan]

Thanks for the super quick reply!

I noticed the lack of Tele threads, I'd have been here all night if it weren't for the search function!

That's the reply I was hoping for, thank you! This will be my first proper Tele & I have little experience with them.

Could I get your thoughts on 4-way switching too? Is it worth having? 
Is it possible to do with standard pickups or will I need a set with extra wires?

[Telerocker]

Thanks for the super quick reply!

I noticed the lack of Tele threads, I'd have been here all night if it weren't for the search function!

That's the reply I was hoping for, thank you! This will be my first proper Tele & I have little experience with them.

Could I get your thoughts on 4-way switching too? Is it worth having? 
Is it possible to do with standard pickups or will I need a set with extra wires?

Yes, you can order a pickup for 4-way switching. If you want to order them in the BKP-webshop, you just fill in a box that you want the pickup to have wires for this wiringscheme.
Personally I'm not crazy about the 4-wire-option. I think it compromises a bit on tone, but if flexibility is a must, just go for it.

[breadfan]

Thanks, I see the option.

I'm not sure it's something I do need. I was just considering it because I could, & it sounds like a useful option.

How does it compromise the tone? Does it do so when standard configurations are selected?

[Telerocker]

It;s just marginal, maybe you won't hear it all. The 4-way switch gives you another soundoption (bridge and neck in series) with will produce a volumejump, which can be useful. For me the downside is mainly that the 4-way position on a tele-lever is a bit harder to operate. You easily can swith the lever in the position you didn't want to select. Again that's just a minor detail. So for versality, go with the 4-switch if that appeals to you.

[breadfan]

I'm used to a LP so either switch is going to take some getting used to for me. I see your point though.

I'm tempted to try it. I guess I can always change to a 3-way if it's not working out.

Thanks again for your help.

[38thBeatle]

I'll chip in regarding the 4 way. I find it easy to use and have no problems switching - I just got used to it and I can't remember "overshooting" to the 4th position when going for the 3rd. Worth going for in my view,.
For my money a Tele is one of the most adaptable guitars around and I've played mostly Strats for years.  My Tele ( loaded with Country Boys) goes to every gig whilst my other guitars are rotated( not literally) depending upon mood/venue. 

[Telerocker]

I'll chip in regarding the 4 way. I find it easy to use and have no problems switching - I just got used to it and I can't remember "overshooting" to the 4th position when going for the 3rd. Worth going for in my view,.
For my money a Tele is one of the most adaptable guitars around and I've played mostly Strats for years.  My Tele ( loaded with Country Boys) goes to every gig whilst my other guitars are rotated( not literally) depending upon mood/venue.

Yeah, it's something you will get quickly used to. And indeed, you can play everything on a tele (and a HSS-strat).

[darrenw5094]

Don't want to hijack the thread or anything, but is the lipstick neck pickup much lower gain than the bridge SC pickup? It is annoyingly lower in my Mex Tele.

[Telerocker]

Don't want to hijack the thread or anything, but is the lipstick neck pickup much lower gain than the bridge SC pickup? It is annoyingly lower in my Mex Tele.

Neckpickups are (usually) lower in output then the bridge singlecoil. If they had the same output the neck would to be too loud. Did you lower the bridge and raise the neckpickup?

[darrenw5094]

Don't want to hijack the thread or anything, but is the lipstick neck pickup much lower gain than the bridge SC pickup? It is annoyingly lower in my Mex Tele.

Neckpickups are (usually) lower in output then the bridge singlecoil. If they had the same output the neck would to be too loud. Did you lower the bridge and raise the neckpickup?

Never thought of that actually

[breadfan]

I'll chip in regarding the 4 way. I find it easy to use and have no problems switching - I just got used to it and I can't remember "overshooting" to the 4th position when going for the 3rd. Worth going for in my view,.
For my money a Tele is one of the most adaptable guitars around and I've played mostly Strats for years.  My Tele ( loaded with Country Boys) goes to every gig whilst my other guitars are rotated( not literally) depending upon mood/venue.

I've just seen your comment - thanks for the reply.

I know BK sell Tele pickups with the extra wire for a 4-way switch, but is it possible to mod a set without the extra wire for 4-way switching? I saw a video with another manufacturer's pickup being modded & it looks quite simple to do. I ask because the builder making my Tele just stocks the two wire pickups - I'll install the 4-way switch myself later.

I'm hoping the Tele will cover Strat territory - it's one of the reasons I'm going for the flat 52s. I rarely use my Strat's bridge pickup so that won't be missed.