Telecaster Pickups for Vintage Tone

[Ozopart]

I am doing a fairly basic Warmoth Tele build to play around with different pickup choices. Specifically I am looking for the "classic" vintage Tele tone. I recently bought a Fender American Vintage II 51 Tele which I am really loving. But I want to find some other pickups that are similar but that are also a bit different. I am looking at Fender Nocaster, Twisted Pair and Fender Custom Shop '50-'51 Blackguard Telecaster® pickup (really interested if anyone knows about this one as I haven't found much discussion on it, but I like the Alnico 5 neck and Alnico 3 bridge combo). Otherwise I was considering Bare Knuckle Country Boy, SD La Brea, or maybe Suhr Classic T or Woodshed.

Also, any opinions on things like adding a blender pot, or two tone push/pull would be appreciated.

 

[Hodgo]

I like the Nocaster pickups and the Fender PV 64s, depending on which era of Tele tone you want. To my ears the neck pickups aren’t drastically different, but the bridge is a lot meatier on the Nocaster. The Duncan Broadcaster is also very gtg.

 

[Ozopart]

I like the Nocaster pickups and the Fender PV 64s, depending on which era of Tele tone you want. To my ears the neck pickups aren’t drastically different, but the bridge is a lot meatier on the Nocaster. The Duncan Broadcaster is also very gtg.

I think the 64's might be more "modern" than what I am looking for. The Nocasters look really nice but seem more similar to the AVII 51 pickups in my Fender Tele. That is why I was thinking the Blackguard 50/51's or the Twisted Pair. The SD La Brea's look good, but might be too much a one trick pony solution for me.

 

[TBurst Std]

I have 3. I’ll reply when I get home and verify.
I have 50-51 blackguards, 58s and twisted.

 

[Hodgo]

I think the 64's might be more "modern" than what I am looking for. The Nocasters look really nice but seem more similar to the AVII 51 pickups in my Fender Tele. That is why I was thinking the Blackguard 50/51's or the Twisted Pair. The SD La Brea's look good, but might be too much a one trick pony solution for me.

The 64s will be a nice contrast to your AVII 51. It’s still a classic Tele sound, and extremely versatile. Also, they’re cheap.

I’d also highly recommend giving Rob DiStefano of Cavalier pickups a call as an alternative to the big guns. Great guy, great pickups, great prices.

 

[Ozopart]

I have 3. I’ll reply when I get home and verify.
I have 50-51 blackguards, 58s and twisted.

Thanks! You probably don't remember but when I did my last Tele build you suggested a Tele Bridge and a P90 neck. I built that guitar with Fralin pickups and really like it. But it is a very different flavor of tone than what I am looking for in this build. I also used 500K pots for that and a .02 tone cap.

The 64s will be a nice contrast to your AVII 51. It’s still a classic Tele sound, and extremely versatile. Also, they’re cheap.

I’d also highly recommend giving Rob DiStefano of Cavalier pickups a call as an alternative to the big guns. Great guy, great pickups, great prices.

Cavalier looks interesting. But sooo many choices I really wouldn't know how to narrow it down.

As to the 64's, I imagine they sound similar to the Fender AVII 63 Tele? If so, I can say I liked playing that model so much in the store that I almost purchased it over the 51. I would describe the 63 and less twang and much smoother/warmer tone. I really liked both, but in the end for that purchase I went as original/vintage as possible.

 

[Hodgo]

Cavalier looks interesting. But sooo many choices I really wouldn't know how to narrow it down.

As to the 64's, I imagine they sound similar to the Fender AVII 63 Tele? If so, I can say I liked playing that model so much in the store that I almost purchased it over the 51. I would describe the 63 and less twang and much smoother/warmer tone. I really liked both, but in the end for that purchase I went as original/vintage as possible.

I wouldn’t put it past Fender to have repackaged the PV 64s as the AVII 63 pickups. I bet they’re very close.

Just email Rob and tell him what you are after. He made me a stealth neck pickup for my Tele after I found out the Duncan Secret Agent wouldn’t fit in a Warmoth Tele neck rout. He will narrow down the options and get you a great sounding set of pups.

 

[Strat Avenger]

Dimarzio Area T pickups (with 500k pots).

 

[ragamuffin]

I really like the Cavalier Pickups "Fat Lion" (slightly overwound A5 tele pickup) that I have in the bridge of my jazzcaster. Cavalier specializes in tele pickups and has a range of models, might have something to interest you. They're also pretty affordable. Highly recommended, if I were to build another telecaster I wouldn't hesitate to use their pickups. https://www.frettech.com/

As far as wiring mods, series/parallel switching is fun and can be done either with a four-way switch or push-pull.

 

[Spud]

For old tele bridge clean and semi dirty, I like Duncans Broadcaster. Overall I really like the Wilde/Bill Lawrence L-48, it does it all.

 

[Spud]

In fact, just get the L-48........................do it NOW

 

[Spud]

 

[TBurst Std]

So here and verified, even without power due to a storm.

CS 52 Tele has 50/51 blackguards in bothe positions. This guitar also has the modded Esquire wiring. So think switch in bridge position, bridge pup and the tone knob blends in the neck pup. Middle position is neck pup bypassing all tone, neck position is neck pup with a fixed cap for tone. Sounds good but limited stage use. Came with a std wired control plate as well. I may go for something different.

CS 60 Tele has 58s in both positions. Came wired as std. I changed that with flipping the plate (with an angled switch slot) and put in a 4 way Oak Grigsby. So now I have an option of both pups in series. It’s a killer tone machine that makes most other guitars go and cry in the corner as they piss theirselves.

CS 50s Thinline Tele. This has a SD Antiquity HB in the neck and a 51 Nocaster in the bridge pup Also a factory Bigsby. The 51 Nocaster has no issue in holding its own against the HB neck.

If you want old school Tele, 50/51 BGs. For something really versatile and can do Tele clean as well as raunch, 58s. Need a Tele bridge to hold up against a PAF HB, 51 Nocaster.

I love them all, but that 60 Tele with the 58s, ow I put the 4way in can hold its own. It’s scary good.

 

[TBurst Std]

Oh and I have a 4 way switch and another angled plate for the 52. Need to get the rest to wire up a new plate.

Then I need to draw a template for a new pg for the Thinline. Yep going to reverse it and do a 4 way Oak Grigsby

I’m loving g a Tele with a 4 way. It goes from the girl mom set you up with to the girl you can’t bring home.

 

[Ozopart]

So here and verified, even without power due to a storm.

CS 52 Tele has 50/51 blackguards in bothe positions. This guitar also has the modded Esquire wiring. So think switch in bridge position, bridge pup and the tone knob blends in the neck pup. Middle position is neck pup bypassing all tone, neck position is neck pup with a fixed cap for tone. Sounds good but limited stage use. Came with a std wired control plate as well. I may go for something different.

CS 60 Tele has 58s in both positions. Came wired as std. I changed that with flipping the plate (with an angled switch slot) and put in a 4 way Oak Grigsby. So now I have an option of both pups in series. It’s a killer tone machine that makes most other guitars go and cry in the corner as they piss theirselves.

CS 50s Thinline Tele. This has a SD Antiquity HB in the neck and a 51 Nocaster in the bridge pup Also a factory Bigsby. The 51 Nocaster has no issue in holding its own against the HB neck.

If you want old school Tele, 50/51 BGs. For something really versatile and can do Tele clean as well as raunch, 58s. Need a Tele bridge to hold up against a PAF HB, 51 Nocaster.

I love them all, but that 60 Tele with the 58s, ow I put the 4way in can hold its own. It’s scary good.

The 58 pickups don't seem to be for sale anymore new from Fender. I see some on Ebay and Reverb, but not on Fender.com.

My Warmoth build Thinline has Fralin p92's in the neck, and Fralin Split Steel Pole Tele in the bridge. Again, with .02 cap and 500K pots. I really like that guitar.

I am still a bit wondering if the Nocaster's are too similar to the pickups in my Fender AVII 51 Tele. Not sure.

As to the control plate, I was thinking of getting a solder station to replace my solder pencil and trying to do it myself. If so, I might keep the wiring simpler. Definitely to avoid push/pull pot wiring. Might look at a 4 way switch, but am leaning towards using the 3 way Freeway switch I have in my toolbox. Doesn't look that difficult to gtet a similar tone variety to a 4 way switch.

 

[TBurst Std]

Well what are you wanting different than your AVII 51v

 

[TBurst Std]

Re-reading your initial post, go 50/51 BGs. Expect less output. More twang.

 

[TBurst Std]

And yes in case anyone noticed, I seem to have an addiction to CS Teles. Thankfully I am cured with 3

 

[Spud]

And yes in case anyone noticed, I seem to have an addiction to CS Teles. Thankfully I am cured with 3

Sure, but have you truly made any one of them “ your bitch”?!!!!!!

 

[Ozopart]

Well what are you wanting different than your AVII 51v

Hard to say, I just love Tele's and always looking for variances in the "character" of the pickups. For example, I love my Fralin's, but just want to try pickups from someplace different to see if they do in fact vary in "character".