Telecaster upgrades

Len Amaral · From: Rehoboth,MA 02769

I hope it's OK to post this in electronics? However, I have acquired a Tele Squire CV50 that has a cutout under the pick gaurd for a humbucker. I know there are many Tele Players here on the forum so what type of humbucker replacement and lead pickup replacement would go together? Seems like an easy project and there are pick gaurds available cutout for the humbucker.

Ken Metcalf · From: San Antonio Texas USA

Big question
I like a SD 5-2 in the bridge and use stock neck PU.
Not a fan of Humbucking Teles here and also prefer USA
Check here and it helps if you state what kind of music Etc.
http://www.tdpri.com/forum/index.php
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Little Walter PF-89.
Bunch of stomp boxes

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

I have a Nashvile Tele (MIM) which has the standard neck and bridge pickups and a Strat pickup in the middle. The factory pickup switch is a standard strat type 5 position switch. Position 2 is the neck and middle pickup and position 4 is the bridge and middle pickup and gets a somewhat out of phase sound like position 4 on a Strat. The middle position on the switch is the middle pickup only, like a Strat.

I replaced the stock switch with a Stew-Mac "super switch" and that makes the center position on the switch the bridge and neck pickup like the middle position on the standard three position Tele pickup switch. The other four positions are the same as the factory "Tele" switch.

Although its routed out for a humbucker the strat pickup and a Stew Mac super switch is something to consider

Rich Hlaves · From: Wildomar, California, USA

I like a P90 up there much better than a HB. You might try one of the HB sized P90s to fit in your route.
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On man....let the smoke out of another one.

Stephen Cowell · From: Round Rock, Texas, USA

Michael Hummel · From: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

I'm a bit of a purist when it comes to Teles...I'm a bit of a newcomer to Teles, though -- I've owned a 1970 Gold top Les Paul for 35 years, and an American Strat for 30.

I got my American Tele about 8 years ago, and almost immediately replaced both pickups with Kinmans. I honestly can't hear any difference in tone, but the noise-cancelling abilities of the Kinman pickups just astound me. The Kinmans look identical, fit in the same slots, wire up the same, sound fabulous, and are as noise-free as you can get.

When I need the fatter HB sound, I pick up a different guitar (with current band, an Epiphone Sheraton II which I use mostly for slide).

Mike
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Too many 6-strings and amps to list

Daniel Policarpo · Posted 25 Apr 2013 8:51 am

I used an Artec Firebird style mini humbucker which sounded really good on a tele in the neck position. Has a little more bit than a regular mini humbucker and does not breakup nearly as early as most regular size/style humbuckers. It was pretty hot (13K), compared to the bridge pup I used (8.2K), but they balanced out really well, lowering the mini to about level with the pickguard.

For the CV 50's tele I got, I put in an RS guitarworks Esquire w/cocked wah wiring kit that sounds great through the stock pup. Just a thought.

Tim Whitlock · From: Colorado, USA

I tried and tried to get a mini-humbucker to work in my Tele. I installed four different minis, including a couple of Seymour Duncans. Just never found one that had the clarity I wanted, and that matched well with the Tele bridge sound that I love.

Eventually I installed a set of Fender Nocasters and realized it was the sound I was looking for all along. The Nocaster neck pup is real sweet and clear, without the low mid mud typical of a Tele neck pup. Good luck in your humbucker quest - it may be a long one.

Steve Lipsey · From: Portland, Oregon, USA

check out roadhousepickups.com

Ken will wind you anything you want, and rewind it if it doesn't do exactly what you need....he has great direct swap pickups, a patented winding method that dramatically increases dynamic range and keeps the treble while losing the "icepick" sound...

I use his p-90 in humbucker enclosure....it is great...I've also used his Tele pickups (when I had a Tele).

He is a small boutique winder who charges less than the big commercial guys...
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Miguel Saldana · From: San Antonio, Texas

While I Esquire'd a CV 50's with a double-tapped Don Mare bridge pickup, I put a Firebird-style mini-humbucker in the neck of a CVC tele. I like how far the sound gets from a typical telecaster. As much as I like the standard tele neck pickup, I just wanted something a little different for this guitar. I've really enjoyed the middle position on this guitar with the depth of the HB with bite from the bridge added.

That said, I would consider a low-output humbucker or a coil-split switch if you you don't want a big jump in volume from a HB to a SC.

Bill L. Wilson · From: Oklahoma, USA

In my old `70 Tele, my original bridge pickup has been rewound by Lindy Fralin, and I run stock old Gibson humbuckers for the neck and middle. A stock Tele 3way switch, with a micro switch to activate the middle pickup, and the tone is fantastic. I liked it so much, that I did the same pickup arrangement with a Tele bridge in a hardtail Warmouth Strat, w/a walnut body. They are my main working guitars.

Howard Steinberg · From: St. Petersburg, Florida , USA

Guitarfetish.com. Given that it's a Squier their pickups are at a sensible price point. They have a lot of interesting stuff that will fill the humbucker cavity.
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Justice Pro Lite (4-5), Justice D-10 (8-5)x2 , Quilter Steelaire, Hilton Pedal, BJ's bar.

Michael Brebes · From: Northridge CA

Never could stand the pickups that were put into the Squiers. My recommendation would be to replace both pickups with Seymour Duncan Antiquity pickups. I think they sound great on Teles.
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Michael Brebes
Instrument/amp/ pickup repair
MSA D10 Classic/Rickenbacher B6/
Dickerson MOTS/Dobro D32 Hawaiian/
Goldtone Paul Beard Reso

Mesa Boogie Studio Pre/Hafler 3000
RP1/MPX100

Doug Paluch · From: Michigan, USA

I have one tele with a hb- a lollar low wind imperial. I matched it with a voodoo TE50, and used 500k pots wide open. The guitar screams. The te50 is pretty hot, and somewhat dark, soo the 500k pots really opened it up.

Len Amaral · From: Rehoboth,MA 02769

Hey guys
Thanks so much for the advice. This is a project guitar and a bit of experimenting is in order. More research to do. I have strata with Duncan hot rails in the bridge and mighty might pick ups in neck and middle sounds good but not much difference with two and four on the five position switch.

Len Amaral · From: Rehoboth,MA 02769

Hey Steve lipsey....I contacted Roadhouse the fellow that makes the pick ups knows exactly what I am looking for. Good prices also

Thanks
Lenny

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