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Post subject: Fuller sounding bridge pickup
Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 8:50 am
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I bought a partscaster 72 Tele Custom from a buddy. I like the guitar but the bridge pickup seems to be way too trebly. I realize the tele bridge pickup is supposed to be trebly and twangy but this one is just over the edge. It seems to be lacking in mids and bass. As a result the inbetween pickup selection is lacking in mids and bass too. I'm not sure what kind of pickup it is, I think it might be a GFS? Anyhow, does anyone know what kind of pickup I should put in the bridge slot to solve this problem?


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Post subject: Re: Fuller sounding bridge pickup
Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 7:17 pm
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"Bright" is one of the defining characteristics of Fender guitars and the Telecaster in particular. Put down a les paul and pick up a Tele and you're going to notice the difference immediately. By itself that doesn't mean there's something wrong with the Tele. Have you tried rolling a little treble off on both the guitar and the amp? If you're looking for a really drastic reduction in treble then maybe the Tele just isn't for you. It's not for everyone. It has a distinctive voice that some people simply do not like.

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Post subject: Re: Fuller sounding bridge pickup
Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 10:27 pm
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I should have elaborated.. I've played many teles before and I know what to expect. I love the sound of teles. I know people are going to just brush this off with "Oh he just doesn't understand the brightness/trebliness of tele bridge pickups". I do, and I can assure you this pickup is too trebly for the guitar. And again, it may not be too trebly, but if that's the case then it is lacking bass and mids. It doesn't have that full twangy tele bridge pu sound that I even get from cheaper MIM teles. I cannot compensate with the amp EQ because then the neck bucker sounds dull. I'm thinking this is going to come down to me just changing out both pickups.


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Post subject: Re: Fuller sounding bridge pickup
Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 11:08 pm
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Well, you did say it was a homebuilt, right? One thought might be that perhaps something is amiss in the wiring. Wrong pots, bad pots, incomplete solder joints, broken wiring strands inside the sheath, poor or incomplete connection at the jack or even issues with the pup windings could all be possibilities. Or they could just be lousy pups. Troubleshooting is all about process of elimination. I'd first ensure the amp, jack(s) and instrument cable are all good. Then I'd start searching for poor connections in the guitar and then lastly start questioning the pots and pups. I suggest this route because it's a homebuilt which you did not build. Confirm a proper job was done before spending money on parts.



You may also want to ask your buddy about his experiences with it.

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Post subject: Re: Fuller sounding bridge pickup
Posted: Sun Feb 20, 2011 8:14 pm
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Good point. I almost forgot about some issues I had with a middle pickup on a strat I had. Turned out the pickup selector switch had some sodder on it that made a bad connection. I guess I didn't even consider that some internal electronic stuff could be going on since all the hardware and parts on it look brand new. I'm going to talk to my buddy and open her up tomorrow. Thanks for bringing me back to earth! I got so caught up with the tone that I had my mind set on pickups.


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Post subject: Re: Fuller sounding bridge pickup
Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2011 5:28 pm
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If you do decide to change pups, you might consider getting Fender Nocaster 51 pickups. I put them in my AVRI '52 Tele, which sounded a little thin, and the guitar sounds much richer now. Just something to think about.


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Post subject: Re: Fuller sounding bridge pickup
Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2011 12:28 am
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I have a Nocaster in my new CS Tele Custome Deluxe and it kicks butt! It has great mids while still keeping that twang thing going. :wink: I also really like the neck PU which is a Twisted Tele.


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Post subject: Re: Fuller sounding bridge pickup
Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2011 12:36 pm
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So it turns out it was just a loose solder. I'm not going to put much of the blame on my buddy. He did an impeccably organized job wiring up all the electronics. Somehow a wire just got pulled loose. The tele sounds great now. You guys did get me interested in those Nocaster pickups though. That kind of early '50's vibe sounds too good to say no!


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Post subject: Re: Fuller sounding bridge pickup
Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 5:12 pm
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Make sure all your wiring is correct and in order, good advice. While your checking your wiring do the Ted Greene 50's mod. Move the wire that goes back to the vol pot from the tone pot over one lug to the same lug that feeds the output jack. It will make a difference in your tone and how your controls function. After that adjust your pickup heights. Before you spend a bunch of money experiment with what you have, if you haven't already. Start with the simple a inexspensive stuff first. :)


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Post subject: Re: Fuller sounding bridge pickup
Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2011 6:54 pm
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Another adjustment would be to play with pickup height. Also, go big and make big adjustments beyond the recommended specs. This will help give you an idea of what your pickups with amp can produce. By knowing this you will know the capabilities and limitations of your equipment.


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