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Post subject: Tone of Fender Texas Specials vs Dimarzio Area T
Posted: Sun May 03, 2015 2:17 pm
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Joined: Tue Mar 15, 2011 4:42 pm
Posts: 37
Hi all,

I am thinking of switching to noiseless pickups in my American Special Telecaster. I love the tone I am getting out of the Texas Specials, but play with a fair amount of gain and many of the venues I gig in are noisy, so the 60 cycle hum is a problem many nights. I am using a noise gate as needed for the noisier venues, but think perhaps noiseless pickups would be a better solution.

I was wondering if anyone here has compared Fender Texas Specials to Dimarzio Area T's? I'm particularly interested in overdriven tones - I would say 70% of what we play is overdriven and 30% is clean, so if the Dimarzio Area T (possibly a Hot T in the bridge) can get a similar overdriven tone to the Texas Specials, I would be happy with the swap. I mostly play rock with a little bit of hard rock, pop and country, but am most concerned with getting a nice, ballsy rock tone from the bridge pickup (which the Texas Special does VERY well).

Also, if I make the change, would there be any reason to swap out the greasebucket tone circuit for standard wiring, or would it be fine just to swap the new pups in?

I mostly play with volume on 10 and tone either on 10 if I really want to cut through or rolled back a little to thicken up my tone. I run my amp on the warm side, so my tone usually isn't overly bright (to where it's harsh) even if I keep my tone knob on 10.

Thank you for any help you can provide.

Jason


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Post subject: Re: Tone of Fender Texas Specials vs Dimarzio Area T
Posted: Sun May 03, 2015 4:31 pm
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Professional Musician
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Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 4:54 am
Posts: 2573
Location: Laurel, MD
I own a Thinline Telecaster with some Area Ts. I can't say what they are like compared to the Texas Specials, but I really like them.


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Post subject: Re: Tone of Fender Texas Specials vs Dimarzio Area T
Posted: Tue May 05, 2015 3:14 am
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Thanks for the input. Maybe I'll just give the area pickups a shot; I could always swap them back if I really preferred the Texas Specials. I'm thinking I probably can dial them in pretty close (with moderate gain) though.


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Post subject: Re: Tone of Fender Texas Specials vs Dimarzio Area T
Posted: Tue May 05, 2015 4:38 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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Joined: Sun Jan 30, 2011 2:35 pm
Posts: 807
Location: Just East of Event Horizon
I would look at Bill Lawrence's noiseless Tele Pickups.

L-200TN (neck pup w/o chrome cover)
L-202TN (neck pup with black, ivory, or chrome plastic cover)
+
L-200TL (bridge pup with flat poles)
http://www.wildepickups.com/Wilde_Bill_ ... ngles.html

These are very affordable pickups and always get great reviews.
They will be in my next project guitar.


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Post subject: Re: Tone of Fender Texas Specials vs Dimarzio Area T
Posted: Fri May 08, 2015 3:02 am
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Joined: Tue Mar 15, 2011 4:42 pm
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Thanks for letting me know about Bill's pickups - I didn't realize he had noiseless Tele pickups. I will definitely try to hunt down some clips to check them out. His prices are great and I know his pickups are well regarded.


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Post subject: Re: Tone of Fender Texas Specials vs Dimarzio Area T
Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2015 11:16 am
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Joined: Tue Apr 07, 2009 7:27 pm
Posts: 3448
Location: Connecticut
I will soon post here on the Tele with Texas Specials RW/RP James Burton style...
this is the link. viewtopic.php?f=6&t=65048
In hindsight i should have separated the builds since the Tele build took precedence over the Strat build.
Next one's will be in the correct forum sections.

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