PAF or hotter for a Telecaster?

[SuperMoos]

Hey all,

Looking for opinions on putting a new humbucker in my Telecaster. It's got an alder body, maple neck, rosewood fretboard. Neck pickup is a P90, current bridge pickup is a PAF interpretation of the builder. I am looking to change the bridge humbucker. What I don't like about it is that it seems to lack "fullness". I love PAF humbuckers in my LP guitars, but they're all mahogany bodies, maple top. Different beasts. I play mostly (hard)rock through a Friedman BE-100.

I contacted the crew at Bare Knuckle and Tim's opinion is that I should try a Nailbomb or (second choice) an Emerald. I would not dare question Tim's authority on the subject, but I am just looking to get more info from you guys. I cannot seem to find youtube videos or threads on the forum about Nailbombs in a telecaster, for instance...

Anybody have first-hand experience? My first thought was Abraxas.. but I've never tried 'em..

Best regards,
Robert

[Dave Sloven]

Personally I would go with a humbucker-sized Stockholm P-90

But yeah I thought he would have recommended Abraxas or Crawler, maybe Holy Diver.

[Telerocker]

Abraxas would be my call, maybe a Crawler if your guitar has a natural bright voice.

[SuperMoos]

I appreciate the input; thanks!

Never thought about putting another P90 in there. I'm not sure it will work as well as a higher output humbucker? I am looking to get a fuller tone out of my Tele and I am sure that P90s will do that. But will they keep things together under higher gain settings? I play mainly rhythm in our band. Most of it is chords - not heavy riffing or anything.

Tim's suggestions make sense in terms of output - I would probably go with Emerald over Nailbomb, to retain some Vintage Hot tone. But I am a bit concerned that it will be too bright?

[Telerocker]

Emerald in an alder bolt-on will be quite bright. Abraxas will be way more balanced. The Nailbomb has prominent uppermids and is quite hairy and agressive. If you're looking for that tone, that could be a good thing, but I'm sure it's not what you're looking for. You might even love the Crawler, which can do pretty good hard rock, has an unique growl when pushed and cleans up and splits beautiful. I have a Crawler in my swampashstrat and it's a thick, beasty pickup, yet with enough finesse and PAF-pedigree.

[Dave Sloven]

I appreciate the input; thanks!

Never thought about putting another P90 in there. I'm not sure it will work as well as a higher output humbucker? I am looking to get a fuller tone out of my Tele and I am sure that P90s will do that. But will they keep things together under higher gain settings? I play mainly rhythm in our band. Most of it is chords - not heavy riffing or anything.

Tim's suggestions make sense in terms of output - I would probably go with Emerald over Nailbomb, to retain some Vintage Hot tone. But I am a bit concerned that it will be too bright?

The Stockholm is pretty much the P-90 equivalent of a Nailbomb.  I have both and I've always preferred the Stockholm.

Pretty sure the Emerald will be too bright for that guitar.  They don't have a lot of bottom end either.  The Stockholm has bags of bottom end, by the way.

Have a look at this clip.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geVjMQDqxjM

[darkbluemurder]

It really depends on the guitar whether the final result is too bright with a specific pickup.

If you find the PAF type pickup you have right now too thin (read "definitely too thin") I would not go for another PAF or hot PAF type so in the BKP range you can rule out all vintage models and VHII and Black Dog. Abraxas is excellent if you want a hotter and warmer PAF type tone with more midrange. It would not be my preferred choice if I wanted to retain tele twang - in that case I would look to the Emerald (have never played one though). Crawler would be a step up compared to the Abraxas in midrange, output and compression. Nailbomb is a different tone - much bolder and more abrasive - a good tone but as I wrote very different.

Cheers Stephan