Author Topic: tele purchased pickups needed (Read 3444 times)

chris o'donnell · « **on:** April 16, 2006, 03:32:08 PM »

I went out with the intention of buying a Gibson 335 yesterday but came home with seconhand 52 reissue tele (in great nick) and a new fender bassman,for just a bit more monry than the 335.

I now need some suggestions for my BKP replacements. Again the stock pups are good, but I want to get the best out of this guitar but I've never had a Tele before and not sure if where to take it tone wise. Through the bassman it was a great combination, so I would like to keep the vintage vibe and use it for a lot of clean blues tones as well as turning up the gain and tuning it into a little dirt box.

I'm very please with the guitar so I'm sure a new set of BKPs will give it that bit of an edge that I'm after.

I think Brown Sugars may be for me, but any imput would be appreciated.

thanks.

Chris.

Ratrod · « **Reply #1 on:** April 16, 2006, 03:38:46 PM »

I'm no specialist on Tele pickups but your idea sounds great. A Tele through a bassman is a classic setup also used by Keith Richards.

Twinfan · « **Reply #2 on:** April 16, 2006, 03:56:45 PM »

I may get blasted for this but if it sounds great now, why change the pickups?? I'd decide what tone you want before deciding you need new ones. I only change pups when I want a particular tone that the originals don't give.

38thBeatle · « **Reply #3 on:** April 16, 2006, 05:39:55 PM »

Twinfan makes a good point however if you are changing the pups and the guitar is a 1952-you could do a lot worse than buy country boys- they are vintage vibe. Yardbirds are a bit hotter I think. One thing I would recommedn , if you do change pups, is to get a 4 way switch to give you the three pup options you have now plus series- I use it for lead stuff- cannot be beaten imho- with a bassman it would be stellar.

chris o'donnell · « **Reply #4 on:** April 16, 2006, 06:51:23 PM »

I take your point Twinfan, but I have three guitars which have been vastly improved by BKPs and I don't see why the tele should not benefit from a new set of hanwounds. I Know what BKPs are capable of and it would always be at the back of my mind that I could squeeze some more tone out of the guitar.
Perhaps it would be buying for buyings sake, but I cant help but think of it as harmless tinkering, afterall the tele is not my main gigging guitar.

Thanks

Chris.

Twinfan · « **Reply #5 on:** April 16, 2006, 09:01:25 PM »

Sounds good matey - so go for it! I was just a bit unsure with your post as to what your aim was, but I get what you're saying now. If you don't try, you'll never know will you?

I'm currently having the same dilema with my Gordon Smith SG. I like the original pickup, but would a Riff Raff make it even better...

chris o'donnell · « **Reply #6 on:** April 16, 2006, 09:16:23 PM »

I've got a riff raff in the neck of my LP and its stunning, The riff raff is top drawer for me as I prefer low output pups. I would say give it a go.

Chris

PhilKing · « **Reply #7 on:** April 17, 2006, 12:42:08 PM »

The Boss set is the one for the older Tele sound, but I am actually going for a Brown Sugar in my 57. I prefer the darker sound that Jimmy Page gets and the Brown Sugars give this. The boss set is a bit brighter and gives more of the Roy Buchanan sound - not that it is a bad sound at all, but just not what I was after.