Looking to replace the bridge pickup on my Telecaster.....

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Dimebag11

Dimebag11

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......I've narrowed it down to the DiMarzio ToneZone, Chopper, Air Norton, and Fast Track.

I'd like to be able to use my Telecaster for hi-gain stuff, with the added ability of coil-tapping to get traditional tele tones.

I don't need it to get SUPER heavy, I don't need super high output....actually most pickups I really like or fairly low output, but they're humbuckers.

Just need something to thicken it up, more of a traditional humbucker sound, and give it more clarity. I do like a nice strong midrange though, and I find this Telecaster to be fairly dark and low end heavy stock. It's an American Special with Texas Specials :rock:
 
Anderson TV3. I love mine in my Anderson Tele. Here it is doing hi gain stuff. It is a true single coil.

 
I had the Fast Track T, and swapped it out for the Chopper T
Which I liked better. It had a little more oomph, and a little more output.
I'm also a big fan of the tone zone, I just don't think I'd want one in my tele.
Good luck
 
I'm running a Tone Zone T in my Tele. Nice pickup that's a good compromise for someone wanting humbucker-ish tones for high gain without totally losing the Tele character. When I lower the gain on my amp, roll back the guitar volume a bit, and finger/hybrid-pick, the Tele tone is convincing enough for me. I played with a Lollar Special T in the bridge before the DiMarzio. Could pull of country and was fantastic for blues and classic rock, but I didn't care for it with high gain settings. I don't really miss a traditional Tele bridge pup, but I do find high gain more satisfying when using a super-Strat with a full-sized humbucker. I find there to be a prominent midrange with the Tone Zone T that's probably part pickup and part traditional Tele bridge. You might like it.
 
My .02 cents is to try boosts. You kill the real tele mojo without a single coil.

If you find an old used G&L ASAT Deluxe, it is a great guitar. Mahogany body, maple cap, maple neck, rosewood plank. Basically a 1980 LP as far as wood used. Has buckers and coil tapping.

Perfect bridge between a tele and LP. Lots of people like a Tele sounding LP. Part of the mojo of the old 59 LP's really.
 
whatever is in Kotzen's tele...i put it in mine and sounds awesome. it can take the gain, no noise and can still sound like a tele.
 
I really like the Duncan Quarter Pounder. It's very P90ish and handles gain extremely well. I ended up with a set of Fender Vintage Noiseless pups in mine and couldn't be happier. Sounds like a Tele when clean and a mean rock guitar when on channel 3 of my 5153.
 
Air Norton T FTW! Exactly what you described you're looking for. Others are too hot or too boomy. If you want to complete the glory, install an Area T Neck.
 
The Chopper is what is in the Fender Richie Kotzen Teles. . .great pickup. It still retains that Tele twang, but kicks enough for hard rocking stuff as well.

That being said, I'm sure you could find a killer overwound single coil Tele pickup that is also great for rock stuff.
 
In my experience if a Tele bridge pickup is a humbucker, rail type, or even hum canceling single they lose the core Tele tone quick. Get a real single coil Tele pickup a touch overwound and you will be happy. That is if you still want your Tele to sound anything like a Tele.
 
Lollar makes a great one. That is the pup used in the Nash Tele and Strat. Part of he great Nash tone.
 
I really want to try the Seymour Duncan Billy Gibbons Tele pickups. There is two of them. A stacked HB and a regular Mini HB. He uses the Mini HB on the Live in TX DVD and it sounds spectacular.
 
killertone":mnwapnyn said:
In my experience if a Tele bridge pickup is a humbucker, rail type, or even hum canceling single they lose the core Tele tone quick. Get a real single coil Tele pickup a touch overwound and you will be happy. That is if you still want your Tele to sound anything like a Tele.
Click to expand...

My Tele has Texas Specials in it, aren't they overwound already? I'd prefer something humbucking that's splittable. Only because I'd prefer a single coil tone that isn't as hot as the texas specials, but I'd like a humbucking tone that's thicker than the texas specials.

Basically I find the Texas Specials are halfway between the two things I'd want. Although, I do like them a lot....but not for my everyday music.

Also, I've further narrowed down my choices to a Chopper T or Air Norton T.
 
The main thing I'm looking for is a humbucker tone with extended clarity over the stock pickups. I also want it to have a traditional tele sound when tapped.
 
I'm on a similar search. I don't like the way the rail single coils look for some reason or other and its making things harder.

Has anyone gotten to try an Anderson TM3 (the humbucker version of the TV3)?

There's always the BK Piledriver. I'm pretty sure its really smilar to the TX Special only hotter.
 
When I owned my Tele the best bridge bucker I put in it was the Dimarzio Chopper T.

Here it is:

 
pkyink":w2nc7w0d said:
I'm on a similar search. I don't like the way the rail single coils look for some reason or other and its making things harder.

Has anyone gotten to try an Anderson TM3 (the humbucker version of the TV3)?

There's always the BK Piledriver. I'm pretty sure its really smilar to the TX Special only hotter.
Click to expand...

I have a Piledriver set in a Tele I own. They sound good and retain Tele tone with lots if output.
 
killertone":1v9lavsk said:
In my experience if a Tele bridge pickup is a humbucker, rail type, or even hum canceling single they lose the core Tele tone quick. Get a real single coil Tele pickup a touch overwound and you will be happy. That is if you still want your Tele to sound anything like a Tele.
Click to expand...

I would have to agree here. I'd stay with a hot single coil. Rio Grande's are Great!

This is what I have in mine-

http://www.riograndepickups.com/scart/P ... e=For+Tele

Can't recommend them enough!
 
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