Give me suggestions for a Tele Custom with a Seymour Duncan Little 59 bridge pickup.

[ThisIsHuhWow404]

I had the Little 59/Vintage Stack set in my MIM Standard Tele, and while I liked each pickup individually, I hated the way they sounded together. I eventually swapped out the Little 59 for a Vintage Stack bridge and now have this lone Little 59 sitting around. I think it’s a fine pickup, I’m just not sure what to do with it.

I find the Tele Custom appealing, and think it could make a good home for it. Are there any good PAF style humbuckers for the neck it would play good with? Any suggestions regarding wood? Or what finish would compliment the sound aesthetically? Possibly over engineering it with a Free Way or push pull pots?

What would you do in this situation?

 

[ragamuffin]

Tele customs are neat looking!

I would say any ol' not-too-hot neck humbucker should balance with it pretty well. Duncan 59' neck? Be rebellious and use a Dimarzio 36th An. P.A.F. in there? Lot's of nice boutique options out there like Wolfetone, Lollar, Zhangbucker just to name a few.

I don't find that wood species has a ton to do with tone in electrics, but mahogany with humbuckers is the classic choice. Most people seem to subscribe to the idea that korina will sound similar to mahogany with more interesting aesthetics, and that you might find alder or ash to be a smidge brighter. Personally I'd let aesthetics lead your choice of wood, and weight.

 

[Hodgo]

I agree, pick a PAF and go for it.

If you want to do something off the beaten path but still with a nod to Fender history, a trans red finish over mahogany was used on some rare Teles back in the early 60s, also with rosewood fretboards. Of course those ingredients are also proper Gibsonish, so it’s a fine line straddler.

As an alternative, just go for the WRHB in the neck.

 

[JohnnyHardtail]

I would prefer Alder to mahogany because it is lighter. Fortunately the tele custom has some weight relief due to the control route.

 

[ThisIsHuhWow404]

I’ve basically boiled the neck pickup down to the Seymour Duncan Seth Lover, ‘59, Whole Lotta Humbucker, or Alnico II Pro. Maybe the P-Rail if I wanted to get really crazy with it. Unfortunately the Little 59 has a ceramic magnet so I can’t really go by resistance reading in telling what would go best with it.