Fender Telecaster Modern Player

[kmackenzie]

Hey guys, first post here! I'm looking to change some or all three of the pick ups in my modern player and would really love some advice. I'm looking for a versatile sound, that can switch between lovely cleans (like jeff buckley, radiohead) and awesome heavy tones (like Porcupine Tree, Opeth, Deftones). I have been advised on the mississipi queen but would love to hear what three pickup combinations you guys would recommend! Thanks in advance

[Kiichi]

Hi and welcome!

This is a bit of a tricky one here. If it had a neck humbucker I would deem it easier to find something that can cover the range, but going with what there is my thought would be:

Bridge: Nailbomb. This does the heavy tones ace style. The most cited pickup for the bands you mention I think. Has the agressive grind and all that stuff. Normally I might say ceramic for these bands, but in light of the other pickups you might be better off with the alnico version. It is still plenty tight and has more of that organic roar to play nice with the rest. Roll down the volume and it is said to go well for rock too. Split it on top of that for even more play with the middle and such.

Middle: Here I would go Irish Tour. It is the quintessential single coil taken up a bit, without loosing that classic something. It is just a bit more powerful, fatter, slightly more rounded high end, more mids, and with a good pinch of a magic rock dust added. Plays well with humbuckers and does wonderful cleans. Just a tad warmer and more than a fully traditionall single coil. And when you add gain they react amazingly. Perfect for what you want I recon.

Neck: I think here it will come down to either the Flat 50 or 52. I am not familiar enough with them to be sure which tbh. However both are said to be extremly lovely, one being a bit more stratty than the other. In terms of power they again like the IT are a not low output but not screaming either. Just that thing you want for great full mojo cleans and then the ability to go up in gain. Also able to not fall off from the bridge entirely.


That is my take at least. Hope this helps. Lets see what the others think. =)

[Telerocker]

Kiichi's recommendation is a good option.
I throw in another possibility:
 
Bridge: BKP Stockholm (Fat, fericious, yet with P90 topend chime, though darker than the MQ, stunning pickup for heavy styles)
Middle: Apache (superb cleans, not whimpy to match the Stockholm)
Neck: Blackguard 52 (which has a nice stratvibe and chime for a teleneckpickup).

Of course there will be a volumedifference, but with a Nailbomb it will be about the same.

[Dave Sloven]

I like Telerocker's suggestion.  I wouldn't want to go too big on the middle pickup.

[Telerocker]

Kiichi's recommendation is a good option.
I throw in another possibility:
 
Bridge: BKP Stockholm (Fat, ferocious, yet with P90 topend chime, though darker than the MQ, stunning pickup for heavy styles)
Middle: Apache (superb cleans, not whimpy to match the Stockholm)
Neck: Blackguard 52 (which has a nice stratvibe and chime for a teleneckpickup).

Of course there will be a volumedifference, but with a Nailbomb it will be about the same.

I think those two sinlgecoils match in terms of output and belllike strattones.

[Telerocker]

Kiichi's recommendation is a good option.
I throw in another possibility:
 
Bridge: BKP Stockholm (Fat, ferocious, yet with P90 topend chime, though darker than the MQ, stunning pickup for heavy styles)
Middle: Apache (superb cleans, not whimpy to match the Stockholm)
Neck: Blackguard 52 (which has a nice stratvibe and chime for a teleneckpickup).

Of course there will be a volumedifference, but with a Nailbomb it will be about the same.

I think those two singlecoils match in terms of output and belllike strattones.