• Registered: 2012-05-30
  • Posts: 485

Topic: Talk to me about Telecaster pickups

Looking to upgrade the pickups in my Tele and want a vintage sound but more grind than the stock AV52 pickups give me. Also looking for a more usable neck pickup sound.

Am, naturally, looking a Bareknuckle, but would consider other makes too. Current top of my list is the BKP Flat 50 or Flat 52...can't decide between them. Ideally want something that will balance well with my LP in terms of amp settings etc when I start gigging again.

Can someone explain though the differences in wire used etc as I know there's more to deciding the sound and output of the pickup than just the DC resistance.

Guitars: Fender American Original 60s Strat, Fender American Vintage 52 Tele, Gibson Les Paul Traditional
FX: Various including - Ceriatone Centura, Fire Custom Shop Carpe Diem
Amp: Fender ML212 Deville + 212 extention cabinet
  • Devan
  • Devan
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  • From: Darwin, Australia
  • Registered: 2010-04-13
  • Posts: 1,304

Re: Talk to me about Telecaster pickups

I've got Peter Florance "Voodoo" pickups in my custom Tele build - GREAT pickups, and I love using the neck one a lot.  Might be worth looking into them...

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  • Registered: 2012-05-30
  • Posts: 485

Re: Talk to me about Telecaster pickups

Never even heard of those....will look them up.

Also just reading about Amalfitano Broadcaster pickups, they sound good too...

Guitars: Fender American Original 60s Strat, Fender American Vintage 52 Tele, Gibson Les Paul Traditional
FX: Various including - Ceriatone Centura, Fire Custom Shop Carpe Diem
Amp: Fender ML212 Deville + 212 extention cabinet
  • From: Orlando, FL
  • Registered: 2010-04-15
  • Posts: 1,373

Re: Talk to me about Telecaster pickups

I have a set of Lollars in my tele, and they sound fantastic.  Don't know the exact model, so not too helpful... FWIW I have Lollar's in my HSS super-strat as well and they're great, too.

I personally wouldn't worry too much about balancing w/ the LP.  I tried to play that game with my 57 reissue strat, whose pickups were much lower than my other guitars, and after tons of mucking around the original pickups were still the best.  I should have just ate the 2 seconds to turn the volume up (or spent a lot less money getting an RC booster, EQ pedal or something).  I get that you don't want to have to muck with the amp in between songs, but there are other ways to deal with it.   Just my 2c.

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  • From: New Zealand
  • Registered: 2016-07-15
  • Posts: 76

Re: Talk to me about Telecaster pickups

Might be a stupid question,  but any reason you couldn't put Tele pups in a Strat and vice versa? If not, what are the key differences between them?

  • Registered: 2012-05-30
  • Posts: 485

Re: Talk to me about Telecaster pickups

jimsty wrote:

Might be a stupid question,  but any reason you couldn't put Tele pups in a Strat and vice versa? If not, what are the key differences between them?

Could be done, in theory. The main differences are physical size - strat pickups are bigger than a Tele neck pickup and (I believe) smaller than a Tele bridge pickup... Certainly it's possible and I've known Teles with Strat pickups in the middle and neck positions...

Hell, go a Google search for Strat Tele Hybrid and you'll see that Fender's CS even made a guitar which was a cross between the two..!!

Guitars: Fender American Original 60s Strat, Fender American Vintage 52 Tele, Gibson Les Paul Traditional
FX: Various including - Ceriatone Centura, Fire Custom Shop Carpe Diem
Amp: Fender ML212 Deville + 212 extention cabinet
  • From: New Zealand
  • Registered: 2016-07-15
  • Posts: 76

Re: Talk to me about Telecaster pickups

Thanks Adrian, I didn't even know there was a difference in size. Might be time for me to hunt down a Tele for my collection...

  • Registered: 2012-05-30
  • Posts: 485

Re: Talk to me about Telecaster pickups

Definitely should!!

Guitars: Fender American Original 60s Strat, Fender American Vintage 52 Tele, Gibson Les Paul Traditional
FX: Various including - Ceriatone Centura, Fire Custom Shop Carpe Diem
Amp: Fender ML212 Deville + 212 extention cabinet
  • Registered: 2012-05-30
  • Posts: 485

Re: Talk to me about Telecaster pickups

Well, after reading around on other options and consulting with customer service at BKP, went ahead and ordered a set of Yardbirds...

Won't be arriving for a week or two though...

Guitars: Fender American Original 60s Strat, Fender American Vintage 52 Tele, Gibson Les Paul Traditional
FX: Various including - Ceriatone Centura, Fire Custom Shop Carpe Diem
Amp: Fender ML212 Deville + 212 extention cabinet
  • From: New Zealand
  • Registered: 2016-07-15
  • Posts: 76

Re: Talk to me about Telecaster pickups

Adrian J wrote:

Well, after reading around on other options and consulting with customer service at BKP, went ahead and ordered a set of Yardbirds...

Won't be arriving for a week or two though...

Very nice, always good to have something to look forward to!

  • Registered: 2012-05-30
  • Posts: 485

Re: Talk to me about Telecaster pickups

And they are in and they sound amazing...!! The bridge pickup has just a bit more....can't think of the word...just....more....to it, slightly less output if anything than the stock....the neck pickup...wow!! Simply the best neck pickup I've played in a Telecaster....flutey and rounded, but with an ability to bite if you dig in....just love it. Can't imagine a better set of pickups for my tastes..!!

Now I just need to save up for a decent amp and a Strat (which will almost certainly get a set of BKP pickups) and I'll be all set....lots of overtime when I start my new job methinks!!

Guitars: Fender American Original 60s Strat, Fender American Vintage 52 Tele, Gibson Les Paul Traditional
FX: Various including - Ceriatone Centura, Fire Custom Shop Carpe Diem
Amp: Fender ML212 Deville + 212 extention cabinet