telecaster pickups? Something 'tele' but with extra 'zap'??

axisus

I fancy some different pickups for my Tele build. I like things that look trad, but I can never seem to get away from turning the gain up on my guitars and rocking out. What could I do to keep tele character but also add some gain/sustain loveliness, maybe at the flick of a switch?

impmann

Oil City Hardman

badlydrawnbanjo

Oil city alligator 

Funkfingers

Seymour Duncan Custom Shop BG-1400 or the Billy Gibbons Gilly Tele Lead.

Nikc

SD quarter pounder ticks all the boxes

munckee

Not a switching thing but my roadworn had texas specials in, hotter vintage style pickups, they weren't my favourite clean sound as they were a little beefy compared to the real country twang I was looking for, but any dirt at all they sounded terrific.  My roadworn was ash with maple if that makes any difference.

guitars4you

impmann said:

Oil City Hardman

badlydrawnbanjo said:

Oil city alligator 

just had a set of Honky Tonk Angels for a project - excellent - controlled balls/bite/twang from the bridge - warm/lush/clarity neck - Maybe more traditional than others but excellent - use a pedal if you need more

HAL9000

badlydrawnbanjo said:

Oil city alligator 

Like @stimpsonslostson I’ve got an Alligator 90 in my Esquire-alike. Beautifully made, but have to admit that I wasn’t totally convinced at first. However It was just a case of learning how to get the best from it. With the guitar’s volume between 0 and about 6 or 7 it’s pure Tele. Above that it turns into a bit of a snarling P90 rock monster. Once you understand its Jekyll and Hyde character you’ll realise just how good and versatile it actually is. I’m very pleased indeed. However, if I was buying again I’d possibly be considering the Kayman 90 which is the Alligator’s warmer sounding sibling,

skunkwerx

munckee said:

Not a switching thing but my roadworn had texas specials in, hotter vintage style pickups, they weren't my favourite clean sound as they were a little beefy compared to the real country twang I was looking for, but any dirt at all they sounded terrific.  My roadworn was ash with maple if that makes any difference.

Thats what I thought too.. my tele has the texas specials, they certainly gain up. 

pluckbuddy

Another option is a zhangbucker Paul Bunyan pickup. I have one with coil taps at 7k and 9.5k. Both taps sound like a tele but the latter definitely has more authority in the mids and bass, without sounding muddy. It's a lot of fun when you turn the wick up.

octatonic

Check out Harmonic Designs.

Henrytwang

An Iron Gear overwound Steel Twin tapped bridge pickup paired with an Alegree Stratocaster Toned neck pickup works very well on one of my partscasters. I switch the boost on the bridge pickup via a push- pull switched volume pot.

chris78

Twisted tele bridge. Overwound and very ballsy, but cleans up well. Great pair with the twisted at the neck too

Roland

axisus said:

.. What could I do to keep tele character but also add some gain/sustain loveliness, maybe at the flick of a switch?

Oil City Wapping Wharf. It’s a tapped single coil, so literally flick the switch and it goes from thin to thick

mark_jwedge

I had a barenuckle Piledriver in an Esquire build. With the guitar volume up full it could sit alongside my humbucking guitars for gain, power and ability to drive the amp. Roll the volume back slightly and it was classic Tele bridge position. Great pickup!!

peteri

Ok - controversial opinion.

I've had a couple of CS Teles and a couple of vintage ones - I think one of the real dangers of these hotter pickups is they stop being what a Tele pickup means to me. Played a couple of CS guitars recently and loved them, then went home and my old (66) Tele just has more about it.

The modern ones seemed way easier to play, but this is because the pickups compress more - and in doing that you lose something.

Just my opinion, I like a little clean boost pedal instead if you really need it.

That said - the Oil City Hardman is really good, but not quite the same for me

noisepolluter

Roland said:

axisus said:

.. What could I do to keep tele character but also add some gain/sustain loveliness, maybe at the flick of a switch?

Oil City Wapping Wharf. It’s a tapped single coil, so literally flick the switch and it goes from thin to thick

Or the Oil City Diesel Tap, which is the same thing but with a brighter 60’s voicing compared to the Wapping Wharf 50’s. 

rossi

Try the amp settings .Teles are very versatile .

geordie01

Henrytwang said:

An Iron Gear overwound Steel Twin tapped bridge pickup paired with an Alegree Stratocaster Toned neck pickup works very well on one of my partscasters. I switch the boost on the bridge pickup via a push- pull switched volume pot.

Yep i have one of those in an esquire