08/01/2022 12:59 pm GMT, Home Guitar Accessories The Best Telecaster Pickups Find the Right Pickup! She's a guitar enthusiast who enjoys the relaxing sound of the guitar. Of course, it comes with all the installation hardware you need. $94.99 For more information look at our overview of Electric Guitars, parts of guitars, and how to choose between them. Moreover, the Tonerider TRT2 is perfect for a rock and blues player which makes this Telecaster overall best if you want that vintage sound. If you have a cleaner sound, you will need pickups with moderate output. The Twang King pickups have unequaled response to pick attack: light playing produces a soft, quiet tone and hard picking creates a harder, louder, and more dynamic sound than any comparable single-coil. This was in part because they never found one they were completely happy with. These JBE pickups were originally designed for Danny Gatton and he tested them at every step of the process. 08/02/2022 12:41 am GMT. Our Pick: Tonerider TRT2 Telecaster | Amazon Its easily one of the best single coils in the market for those on a budget. Looking to get a sound thats more consistent in warm lows and crisp highs? These Fender Custom Shop Texas Special pickups offer great Tele tone and are quite versatile, making them one of the best Telecaster pickups choices on the market. Fender Custom Shop Texas Special Tele Pickups, 7. We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. The Quarter Pound for Tele Rhythm's custom overwound coil provides a powerful midrange that cuts through any mix without sounding bright or brash. They use a 4-conductor shielded cable to allow for any possible wiring combination and are supplied with wiring diagrams and mounting hardware to help ease the installation process. A fantastic choice from the legendary Fender Custom Shop. By the neck, the sound is softer and warmer, while by the bridge its twangy and bright. The DiMarzio Twang Kings feature big, clean lows and highs, and can handle a wide dynamic range. The neck pickup has been designed to match this output and tone but uses 3/16-inch pole pieces and chrome-brass plates. At the more expensive end of the market, youll find the Generation 4 Noiseless Pickup. You can easily change the sound of the guitar with changing your pickups. But, the answer to this question is a very tricky one. Weve tried to include in this here round-up, five different Telecaster pickups, to cover a wider variety of tastes and budgets. Fender is, without a doubt, one of the most respectable Telecaster pickup names on the market right now. We hope this information was helpful to you. Rodrigo is an award-winning songwriter (Best Popular Song Of 2018 for Ibermsicas), and has worked with the prestigious EMI Music Publishing Latin America. This set is just another demonstration that they know what they are doing. When it comes to it, its the sound that brings people to the Telecaster pickups. [2022 Update], Best Hollow Body Guitar Kits How To Find the Right One, Best Wah Pedals [2022] Top 5 Options and Which to Buy. These are overwound pickups that use Alnico V magnets and enamel magnet wire. When Jerry Donahue, the "Bendmaster of the Telecaster" needed a touring guitar with the exact same sound as his prized '52, he turned to Seymour who accurately duplicated the warm, punchy tone of its lead pickup. The Twang King pickups have unequalled response to pick attack: light playing produces a soft, quiet tone and hard picking creates a harder, louder, and more dynamic sound than any comparable single-coil. Fender Generation 4 Noiseless Telecaster Single Coil Pickup: Fender Generation 4 Noiseless Telecaster Single-Coil Pickups | Amazon. They are great for power-chords and soloing, but not so much with the songwriting. The fat bridge tone is combined with a balanced response on the out strings, so youre bound to have no complaints. When placed in the neck position, the resulting sound is a bit darker. Also, the staggered bridge pickup pole pieces make sure that the guitar produces a balanced volume and output across every string. Moreover, the Tonerider TRT2 is perfect for a rock and blues player which makes this Telecaster overall best if you want that vintage sound. The fit is standard for any stock Telecaster pickup, though some have said that as they are double stacked, they are a little taller and need a little fiddling to get them in place. If you dont want to pay extra for a bridge pickup you dont need, you can consider purchasing this neck bridge, perfect for players that want a product responsive in a wide variety of dynamic ranges. A bit muddy for jazz or country where youll be looking for a cleaner sound, Clear sound, even with distortion pumped up, Easy to fit with no wiring or soldering required, may need a little guitar modification to fit, Overwound for a clear bass with crisp highs. Because each has its own characteristics and gives out a different sound result, its all comes down to a matter of personal taste, and discovering which magnet allows you to get the sound you want. The upper midrange has a superlative growl like a P90 and drives while also delivering the punch of a humbucker. Required fields are marked *. (Interview W/ Neal of RecordingTheMasters), How A Recession Could Affect The Music Industry (In 2022 & Beyond), Tidal vs Spotify (3 Reasons To Switch Over). $94.99 We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. This really is one of those products that manage to take the sound to the next level. These JBE Telecaster pickups offer vintage character with expanded fidelity. We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. Led Zeppelin vs. One of the things that change the sound of a pickup is the composition of the magnets. Tele pickups have aided some of the worlds greatest musicians in defining their sound, from Jimmy Bryant to Bruce Springsteen. Fender Vintage Noiseless Tele Pickup Set | Guitar Center On the plus side, installing a new pickup is straightforward. Seymour Duncan Jerry Donahue Lead Tele Pickup, 3. They feature a nickel/silver cover on the neck pickup that produces a clear warm tone in a true Fender custom shop. Our contributors use and test each instrument, accessory, or service in their real lives and we never recommend anything we wouldn't use. However, our personal pick has to be the Tonerider TRT2 Hot Classics Telecaster Pickup Set for delivering a fantastic sound on a reasonable budget. A steel, copper, or brass plate will boost the bass and low to mid-range of the guitar, giving a much warmer sound. $79.99 If you arent confident with soldering the wiring, or possibly making some adjustments to your guitar, then it may be worth the investment in something you can do yourself, rather than spending the money getting someone else to install your pickup. Buy at Amazon.com not sensationally different sound quality. Overwound for tight, clear bass, crisp highs and maximum output that easily kicks an amp into overdrive, Tex-Mex Tele pickups are the ideal choice for players who need a pickup that can go from clean to mean and everything in-between. Traditionally, the Telecaster has been used for many styles, particularly country, blues, classic rock, indie, and in some cases even metal. But that doesnt mean that your music genre cant guide you towards more suitable pickups. We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. The lead bridge pickup has been fitted with inch pole pieces, producing a stronger magnetic field which significantly boosts output. With the all-new Gen 4 Noiseless Telecaster pickups we've achieved the sonic equivalent of cold fusionauthentic vintage-style Fender tone combined with noise-free performance. The enamel-coated wire delivers warm vintage-style tones, while the Alnico 5 magnets offer more focus and enhanced dynamics. Seymour Duncan APTL-3JD Jerry Donahue Model Tele Bridge Pickup | Amazon This pickup system comes with our original EMG T Set for a tone that is brilliant, responsive, and whisper quiet. The Lindy Fralin Blues Special Telecaster set is one of the best options for Telecaster pickups. This pickup set has that vintage Tele sound but with more dynamics. The Tex-Mex arent like traditional Fender Telecaster pickups. They look and sound different. For more on the differences between Stratocaster and Telecaster, click here. There are many electric guitar pickups in the market. Spirit Lawsuit: Theft Or Fair Play? This is a fantastic Telecaster pickup set and the best-selling model from Tonerider. With that out of the way, here are our candidates for Best Pickups for Telecaster (Blues, Rock & Metal). This starts with the shape and the origin of the pickup. You can enjoy great dynamic range and tele twang with this neck pickup, with a bluesy sound that almost makes you feel you ripped DiMarzio off by paying so little for it. Use Code HIVE25 For 25% Off Entire Store! Fender has created something impressive here. The bridge version has deeper and wider bobbins and uses a brass or steel metal plate as support. The Lindy Fralin Blues Special is our top choice as the best overall replacement pickup for a Tele. Some of the worlds greatest musicians have experimented with different sounds of first until they were able to find a style that best defines their personality. The Tonerider TRT2 is one of the best and the most cost-effective option of all of the Telecasters listed above. The Tonerider TRT2 set is a higher output version of a classic Tele pickup (like their TRT1). Buy at Amazon.com The Vocal EQ Chart (Vocal Frequency Ranges + EQ Tips), EQ Before Or After Compression? You can learn more About Us here. Its a beast on the rhythm, with fabulous rich chords and a full tone for the sparkly lead. $178.00 A lot of guitar players consider that the neck Telecaster pickup sound feel a bit lifeless and, for that reason, arent big fans of this particular product. This set of Fender telecaster pickups is perfect for players who want that vintage telecaster 60s sound, making this a classic set that has to find its way into your home. Two other types of pickup you might also consider are the P90 a larger single-coil pickup with a rougher, more treacly sound, or a Humbuckers, which uses two separate pickup coils, each wound in different directions over a central magnet to cancel out the hum, or noise, common to single-coil pickups. Theyre ideal for guitar players that love their Telecaster tone but wish for a fatter, thicker sound. This Tele bridge pickup is the ideal choice for players who are often annoyed by squealing, as the wax-potted cover eliminates that effect. For lovers of the true vintage tunes, this product aims to please, with its chrome cover that emits an elegant and classy vibe. From a sound point of view, you might want to go for the Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound Telecaster Pickup Set with its great growl and punch.For a distinctive, almost humbucker, hot vintage gritty sound, take a look at the Fender Tex-Mex Telecaster Single-Coil Pickup Set Or for a quieter play without the trademark hum that puts people off the single-coil pickups, you couldnt do better than the Fender Generation 4 Noiseless Telecaster Single Coil Pickup. The Pickup Tele neck result is a sound thats a bit different because its lower in volume and smoother in tone. Needless to say, this pickup is destined for every fan of Jerry Donahue, looking to recreate the vintage Tele sound that has made him so popular. Alnico III is commonly found in P90 pickups and sounds great when used in the neck position. The Stratocaster bridge pickup, mounted on their plastic pickguard and next to a floating bridge, gives a much cleaner sound, like a bell. Perfect for heavy music styles. When Jerry Donahue, the "Bendmaster of the Telecaster" needed a touring guitar with the exact same sound as his prized '52, he turned to Seymour who accurately duplicated the warm, punchy tone of its lead pickup. Tonerider TRT2 Hot Classic Tele Pickup Set, Fender Vintage Noiseless Tele Pickup Set | Guitar Center, Seymour Duncan APTL-3JD Jerry Donahue Model Tele Bridge Pickup | Amazon, Seymore Duncan Quarter Pound Telecaster Pickup Set, Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound Tele Set | Amazon. The shielded wire on the inside offers even more noise reduction. These pickups offer a hotter and stronger Tele sound that is also very clear and versatile enough for many musical applications. It gives the Tele the teeth it needs when soloing, but the warmth for your rhythm. The Hot Classics for neck and bridge position have a stronger midrange, thicker bass response, and a raunchy upper register. They give much more drive when they are cranked up. For the best twang to your sound, here is a DiMarzio neck pickup that might just do the trick. Answer: A pickup is like a microphone for an electric guitar. This really does have a different sound to the other options on the market. On the other hand, chords will have a full tone with an early breakup. Getting those crispy notes has never been easier, especially if your own the Joe Barden Modern Telecaster set. Theres a good range of dynamics available making them ideal for styles of music such as blues rock where you might want a bit more distortion, but also for the country, jazz, or funk. Lastly is the Fender Tex-Mex. This set of pickups also comes with a Nickel cover. Its two single-coil pickups offer enough variety to be used in many styles while retaining that very special Telecaster tone at the same time. 08/01/2022 12:59 pm GMT. A steel plate increases the inductance of the coils, making the pickup more powerful. Because of this, the Telecaster bridge pickup is taller and longer than the Stratocaster. Do not try to put a Strat pickup on a Tele and vice versa. For example, if you own a guitar with woods that contribute to a bright sound (such as maple and ash), you need a pickup that can further enhance the bright quality of the sound. If you ask anyone thats used a TRT2, they will tell you the exact same thing: Its better than I imagined. The TRT2 is a set of pickups that clearly separated the tones, giving you and your listeners the opportunity to enjoy some crisp chords. Installation is easy and does not require extensive modification of your beloved Tele! This makes it a great choice for balancing a bright-sounding guitar but without sounding dark. The Best Telecaster Pickups Find the Right Pickup! JBE Pickups (Barden) Modern T-Style Tele Pickup Set | Guitar Center With the all-new Gen 4 Noiseless Telecaster pickups we've achieved the sonic equivalent of cold fusionauthentic vintage-style Fender tone combined with noise-free performance. But if you also own a Strat and are looking at getting some new pickups, head on over to 6 Best Single-Coil Pickups For Your Stratocaster. Even though it may not be ideal for certain situations, it offers great price for value. It offers you true Telecaster single-coil pickup sound but enhanced. Telecaster Guitar Pickups should be sought out to match the type of music you play. This set is also wax-potted and comes with period-correct fiber bobbin construction for authentic vintage Tele tones. Despite the fact that these pickups can be adjusted to greatly exceed the output level of stock pickups, the authentic Tele twang and snap is still present but without any kind of noise. Both the pickups included in the set have a fat mid-range, not to mention that they are well-balanced. With distortion, the tone can cut through with a great low end and medium attack. The Twang King pickups have unequalled response to pick attack: light playing produces a soft, quiet tone and hard picking creates a harder, louder, and more dynamic sound than any comparable single-coil. If you are a guitar player with a little bit of experience, you know that Stratocaster pickups and Tonerider pickups are no the only option on the market. The Tonerider TRT2 Hot Classics replacement pickups come with a higher wind on Alnico III magnets. When using a single-coil bridge pickup, the results are often rich in treble, being very clear and hot. Fender Generation 4 Noiseless Telecaster Single-Coil Pickups | Amazon They sound open and clean but not too compressed. Its perfect for those players who go from clean to mean and everything in between. Answer: Yes, they are. Weve mounted and wired the switch, volume and tone pots to your new control plate for an easy installation. Lindy Fralin Blues Special pickups are wound with a 5 % overwind from their stock Telecaster pickups. This makes it a rhythm beast with huge sounding chords, and full, fat lead tones. The pickups are perfect for out-of-the-box use since they match all standard Tele routes. The Tex-Mex has flush mount pole pieces and uses Alnico V magnets, giving a great hot vintage sound. After all, the essence of both guitars is very unique and provides wildly varying tones from their single-coil pickups. Also, great for rock or blues, or really any type of music. With every pickup, the most important thing is the sound you can get. Fralin's Tele replacement pickups are a reproduction of the 50s style using black fiberboard bobbin parts and cloth leads. $189.00 Its the best choice for people who dont really want to buy an entire pickup set but would benefit from a good neck pickup, to get the best fat sounds they can hope for. These pickups offer that vintage Tele twang but with higher fidelity and cover both positions: neck and bridge. Interestingly, more expensive doesnt always mean better quality or better sound. The combination between enamel-coated magnet wire and a set of impeccable Alnico 5 magnet makes these pickups as silent as humbuckers. Hum is one of the greatest issues with pickups, especially amongst Telecaster product. Moreover, the Tonerider TRT2 is perfect for a rock and blues player which makes this Telecaster overall best if you want that vintage sound. The double wax-potting is here to make sure all performances are free of annoying squeals, but keep in mind that the single-coil mechanism will produce that inevitable hum. Candace is an international & USA TODAY bestselling author and award-winning blogger. The low end is tight, the high end is clear, and the middle levels have got all the power you need. This is a great pickup combination for adding volume, tone, and bite to your favorite Tele. The telecaster creates that bright, twangy sound that helps you to really hear all the strings that you play. You will find this is a great choice if youre a blues and classic rock guitarist. Since their introduction by Leo Fender in 1951, Telecaster pickups have been part of the soundtrack of our lives, used by musicians including George Harrison and Keith Richards, Bruce Springsteen, and Jeff Buckley, as well as many more iconic music heroes. With a new set of pickups, your relationship with your guitar will go to a whole new level. Alnico 3 magnets have the lowest strength but are good for players that want more treble, compared to the one they get from the Alnico II magnets. Because of the single-coil construction, the sound is clear and classic, perfect for people looking for clarity. Humbucker vs Single Coil: Which is Best for You? 08/02/2022 12:14 am GMT. You can then select the combination of sounds that you hear from each. The last thing you want to do is fiddle around with your precious instrument and make a mess of it! Like a Telecaster Guitar, the mechanism on a Telecaster pickup is quite easy to familiarize with: it was a three-way selector switch, combined with a two single coil mechanism. Playing with distortion or playing clean is another factor that determines what kind of pickup is best for you. Whether youre a Jerry Donahue fan or not, the Seymour Duncan APTL-3JD will help you get the best Tele bridge pickup sound clarity, perfect for notes that are sweet and crisp. When you start playing, people will recognize youve got a Telecaster pickup and discerning ears will love you for it. A good electric guitar pickup will complement the woods that your guitar or bass is made from. EMG T System Prewired Telecaster Guitar Pickup Set Plus Control Plate System: EMG T SYSTEM Prewired Telecaster Guitar Pickup Set Plus Control Plate System | Amazon. What Are The Best Pickups For Telecasters? The bridge pickup features height staggered magnets and a copper base plate steel on the bottom that help get that Tex-Mex sound for your Telecaster. We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. The vintage sound and the great crisp tone separation make this a good package and well worth the investment. Answer: A telecaster pickup comes with two single-coil pickups and a bridge that is wide and long than the counterpart, and it produces a very powerful tone. Usually, the core material is alnico or ferrite. Check price A bridge Telecaster pickup is placed really close to the bridge. The Seymour Duncan APTL-3JD Jerry Donahue is looking to get you there, with a set of Alnico II magnets that are bound to give your sound a more vintage feel. Specifically designed with a Fender Telecaster in mind, the Seymour Duncan pickups are popular around the globe. Its a bit like having an acoustic but in electric form. The Generation 4 is proof that clever design really can still make improvements to guitar technology. Read more about different areas of guitar maintenance. Theres plenty of sustain to your results, with perfect single notes. Somewhere in the middle, you have the solid tone of the Alnico IV. Designed with Special Alnico V magnets and enamel-coated magnet wire, these innovative stacked Tele pickups are even quieter than standard humbuckers. The neck pickup comes with a chrome cover, while the bridge pickup has a ferrous base plate. The Seymour Duncan APTL-3JD is a well-balanced true single-coil Telecaster pickup with boosted output. First, carefully remove the strings and pickguard (if you have one) and then unmount and disconnect your current pickups. We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. 08/02/2022 12:48 am GMT. Fender Tex-Mex Telecaster Single Coil Pickup Set: Fender Tex-Mex Telecaster Single-Coil Pickups | Amazon, JBE Pickups (Barden) Modern T-Style Tele Pickup Set | Guitar Center, Tonerider TRT2 Hot Classics Telecaster Pickup Set, EMG T System Prewired Telecaster Guitar Pickup Set Plus Control Plate System, Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound Telecaster Pickup Set, Fender Tex-Mex Telecaster Single-Coil Pickup Set, Fender Generation 4 Noiseless Telecaster Single Coil Pickup, overview of Electric Guitars, parts of guitars, and how to choose between them, P90 vs Humbucker The Ultimate Pickup Showdown, The Best Single-Coil Pickups Youll Want to Pickup, Epiphone Les Paul Electric vs Squier Stratocaster Comp [2021]. Buy at Amazon.com Both pickups are wax-potted twice to ensure there is no squealing. A great buy for a vintage sound. This means that they allow your guitars natural character to shine. Because of this, a bridge Telecaster pickup adds a lot of treble to the sound. A very common term associated with guitar pickups is the Alnico magnet. The T-Bridge features a unique staggered blade design that is a staple to all Joe Barden single-coil bridge pickups for Strats and Teles. Telecaster pickups have made quite a reputation for themselves and their custom shop, and every musician with quite a lot of guitar-playing experience knows that a Telecaster will give a bright tone. You get a warm sound from the neck and that wonderful big sound twang from the bridge. The overwound coil on the Quarter Pound pickup gives you a powerful midrange, cutting through the mix without overdoing it. This set of pickups is for Tele players that want more edge from their guitars. That specific single-coil sound that Telecasters offer is one of the most sought-after guitar tones ever. The Quarter Pound for Tele Rhythm's custom overwound coil provides a powerful midrange that cuts through any mix without sounding bright or brash. The pole-pieces for the bass are further away from the bridge compared to the one for the treble strings. Buy at Amazon.com Even though both guitars use single-coil pickups, their mounting systems and sizes differ. It uses magnets to sense the vibration of your strings and copper coils to convert these into electrical signals that can be amplified. This makes it a rhythm beast with huge sounding chords, and full, fat lead tones. Both the neck and bridge pickups offer a grounded full-size copper plated baseplate and black string wrap to add to the tone and be visually striking as well. This means that there is more area to wind additional wire to a squatter bobbin, leading to higher output. Fender Pure Vintage Reissue Telecaster Pickups. Even though it may not be ideal for certain situations, it offers great price for value.