Telecaster for metal pickup

[matarroano]

Ok, I'm about to turn my MIM 72 Telecaster Deluxe into a "metal machine". Love the neck and playability and I want something powerful for contemporary/modern heavy distorted tones.

I know this might be king of weird, a tele for metal, but I'm willing to go for it. What would you think would fit my MIM 72 Telecaster Deluxe better for a bridge pickup? This is an alder body with a maple neck.

I'm thinking a Ceramic Warpig... Alnico? Neck position would be left for later for now, but I would love to hear some suggestions from the BKP lineup. I will probably have to cut a new pickguard for regular sized humbuckers.... It will definitely be worth it!

[Dave Sloven]

Don't discount the Piledriver set, or even a Piledriver bridge with a Mississippi Queen P-90 in the neck.

The Piledriver is the most brutal Telecaster pickup out there, and great for metal, although perhaps best suited to black metal and 'blackened' crust punk.

[matarroano]

Don't discount the Piledriver set, or even a Piledriver bridge with a Mississippi Queen P-90 in the neck.

The Piledriver is the most brutal Telecaster pickup out there, and great for metal, although perhaps best suited to black metal and 'blackened' crust punk.

Thanks for your reply. The 72 Tele Deluxe comes stock with a set of Fender Widerange humbuckers. So I have no use for the Piledriver set. Definitely I would consider it on a standard tele. Still looking for a nice, neck position humbucker that complements the Warpig (?)... The definitive choice on the Warpig for bridge position is not yet made, so I will consider other options besides it (Nailbomb?, Aftermath?), so please keep your thoughts coming, they are greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[CommonCourtesy]

Would the Piledriver retain the character of a Tele? I have a US Highway I'd like to upgrade both the pickups but I don't know what to put in there, SD Hotrails, DiMarzio's or the BKP range.

I still want to keep the twangy character of the Telecaster just need more warmth in the neck and more output in the bridge.

[Telerocker]

Would the Piledriver retain the character of a Tele? I have a US Highway I'd like to upgrade both the pickups but I don't know what to put in there, SD Hotrails, DiMarzio's or the BKP range.

I still want to keep the twangy character of the Telecaster just need more warmth in the neck and more output in the bridge.

BG50-set!

[CommonCourtesy]

The Blackguard tele set?

[metale]

matarroano, are you Portuguese?

I too have a dual humbucker alder tele which will (eventually) get some higher output Bkps. I'm looking more into the Holydiver and the Miracle Man.

[littleredguitars2]

if its gotta be a humbucker or something that size, the stockholm p90 is killer. not SUPER metal but it can definitely do it and it keeps that single coil character a bit

[Anyxyl3230]

I have a piledriver in my American FSR Rustic Ash tele and it really is a killer pickup. I play a lot of metal and hard rock with it to great effect. It cleans up well too, and if you dial back on the volume with a less distorted tone you easily get that classic Tele twang. It's my favorite pickup so far, without a doubt.

[Sarkasis]

I don't think it's particularly weird. But people seem to be focusing more on the fact that it's a Tele, rather than it being a humbucker equipped solid body electric you want to play metal with.

What kind of an amp are you playing through, and what are you looking to emphasize in your tone? Warpig, Nailbomb, Miracle Man, Holydiver can all sound big, but will emphasize different frequencies in different ways and their attack and palm mutes will sound different.

[JimmyMoorby]

Ok, I'm about to turn my MIM 72 Telecaster Deluxe into a "metal machine". Love the neck and playability and I want something powerful for contemporary/modern heavy distorted tones.

I know this might be king of weird, a tele for metal, but I'm willing to go for it. What would you think would fit my MIM 72 Telecaster Deluxe better for a bridge pickup? This is an alder body with a maple neck.

I'm thinking a Ceramic Warpig... Alnico? Neck position would be left for later for now, but I would love to hear some suggestions from the BKP lineup. I will probably have to cut a new pickguard for regular sized humbuckers.... It will definitely be worth it!

Not that weird considering John 5 and Jim Root use em for metal etc.  Dunno what style youre into but blackhawks will definitely make it 'very metal'.

[Dave Sloven]

OK, I didn't click that it already had humbucker size slots

An alnico Warpig won't be exactly 'contemporary'.  It tends to to give a very big tone with a full midrange, and quite articulate but rather overdriven 'clean' sound.  I think it is perfect for Masters of Reality era Black Sabbath, doom metal in general, and the more dirty and gnarly sounding death metal such Machetazo.  Of course this might reflect the guitar I had it in, which was quite dark (an Explorer).  In general that pickup tends to be more versatile in a brighter guitar.  Of course I can't tell how bright or dark your guitar might be without actually hearing it but I'd say it would have to be much brighter than my Explorer.  It would probably work out well.

If you want a tighter death metal sound I'd suggest a Warpig with the ceramic magnet, or a Miracle Man.

If you want a more 'crossover' sound (e.g., RPD, Sepultura) or a '90s metal sound (e.g., Machine Head) try the alnico version of the Nailbomb.

The ceramic version of the Nailbomb does a nice thrash sound, and is good for stuff like Slayer.

Painkiller is even middier than the A-Bomb and might be too much for you.  It is very nice in a heavy mahogany guitar though.  Aftermath might be similar.

The Cold Sweat is very tight and articulate, with a scooped sound. I have one in my SG and really like it for most kinds of metal and rock.  For death metal though the Miracle Man is a bigger, darker version of the CS.

I'd probably avoid the Rebel Yell.  Good chance that it is too bright with not enough bass for your guitar.

Don't discount the Stockholm P-90 set.  I have the bridge pickup in my SG Junior and it is a very heavy sounding pickup, though I think it is much more hardcore in tone than metal.  Depends on what you want

There are also the Black Hawks.  I don't know much about them except for the fact that they are a passive replacement for EMG 81/85 in some sense.  If that's the case though your wood might be too bright.

The VHII is also good for metal and should combine well with your woods.  If you were considering the RY I would probably suggest the VHII as an alternative.

[Telerocker]

The Blackguard tele set?

Does a great rockjob (even metal if you like), but still can twang.

[matarroano]

matarroano, are you Portuguese?

I too have a dual humbucker alder tele which will (eventually) get some higher output Bkps. I'm looking more into the Holydiver and the Miracle Man.

Yes, I'm Portuguese from Évora.

Thanks everyone for their valuable input. Lots of food for thought and your posts will definitely help me make the right decision. I can't really tell a band/album I want to sound like, but something that's a little more hardcore than metal, something that's more doom than death... Ah! Converge's "The Saddest Day" from the "Petitioning The Empty Sky" album. That's a cool lead. That song has everything I love!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJBjWpas0q4

Definitely a tune that's worth listening to if you are not familiar with it.

As for amps, I'm in the market for a head or combo with enough power to allow me to play in a rehearsal room with drums. Nothing too big and expensive. I was thinking the Orange Terror series or something from Blackstar. Suggestions welcomed!

[Dave Sloven]

Sounds more like Painkiller territory to me. Or even an Aftermath.  Not a Warpig.

Maybe someone here who knows this pickup better can advise on whether it would sound like that in your alder Telecaster, but that seems to be the ballpark.