Pickup config and selection

[Eric***]

Hi.

I've been warming up to the SX Tele I bought a while back, and find that I really enjoy a lot about the design of a Tele. However, I've been thinking about changing out the pickups some day (not real soon), and would like opinions on it.

I'm interested in swapping out the two single coils for a humbucker and P90. I don't have any experience with P90s right now, so one part of this whole thing would be to, you know, try out some P90s first to see if I like 'em. However, for the purposes of this thread, let's assume that's the final setup.

Where would you put the two pickups position-wise? HB in the neck and P90 in the bridge? That's my initial thought, but I figured all of you would probably have some actual reasons for your recommendations.

Also, any recommendations for pickups? Bear in mind that I'm pretty cheap by nature, so good value is probably high on the priority list, and it's also a freaking $100 guitar.

Thanks!

[Tig***]

I'd put the humbucker at the bridge, and the P-90 at the neck. I hope you have a way of modding the guitar body and pickguard to make 'em fit.

While I'd love some Throwback vintage style humbuckers, or anything from Lindy Fralin or Lollar, the reality of not being employed keeps me in the same boat.
That doesn't mean that there's nothing left worth considering, because for the money, Tonerider is a good option. There are a few stores in eBay that carry them. Maybe others can come up with some good choices.

[Commodore 64***]

Installing humbuckers will necessitate other changes, including switching to 500k pots, I think. I'm also new to this modding stuff. I'm starting with a $45 guitar, and ordered parts from GFS. I got my lipstick pickup and strat rewire kit from GFS yesterday. I'm hoping to mod my Epi Strat Copy this weekend.

If you stick with singles, you could get some relatively cheap ones at GFS, and see how they sound:

Classic Tele Pickup. From the description (take with grain of salt, of course): "You know the problem with Tele neck pickups- The great looking and vintage correct chrome covered pickups tend to sound dead and totally bassy- and the non-covered pickups kill the look of your guitar. Here's a great vintage style pickup with enough snap and string response to overcome the problem, and they're loud and full!"

GFS also sells humbuckers that fit into teles with no modifications. Check it out. Not sure if you'd need new pots too, though.

Edit: Those toneriders seem cool too. Here's a link to a store in the US that sells them: http://pickersparts.auctivacommerce....ps-C31417.aspx

[Eric***]

If you stick with singles, you could get some relatively cheap ones at GFS, and see how they sound

Thanks, but I'm not interested in single coil pickup upgrades in this guitar. My question is about the config of the two and suggestions for pickups to buy. I'll definitely consider GFS.

[oldguy]

I'd buy another SX w/ P90's in it. If you don't like them you can sell the guitar.

[wingsdad]

Thanks, but I'm not interested in single coil pickup upgrades in this guitar. My question is about the config of the two and suggestions for pickups to buy. I'll definitely consider GFS.

A P-90 is a single coil. If I were mixing one with a bucker, since it's a Tele, I'd go P90/bridge, bucker/neck....if it were worth it. Frankly, with a $100 SX Tele, IMHO, you'd be wasting your money. OG's suggestion of buying another SX or Agile with the GFS 'P-90' pups is a better move, or shall I say, a better way to spend 100 bucks, since the GFS pups go for about 60-80 of those bucks and the other 50 bucks are for the high quality woods and hardware.

[Eric***]

A P-90 is a single coil.

Touche. As you could probably surmise, I was talking about the Fender single coils. My mistake. The point is that I'm not necessarily going for the signature Tele sound.

If I were mixing one with a bucker, since it's a Tele, I'd go P90/bridge, bucker/neck....if it were worth it. Frankly, with a $100 SX Tele, IMHO, you'd be wasting your money. OG's suggestion of buying another SX or Agile with the GFS 'P-90' pups is a better move, or shall I say, a better way to spend 100 bucks, since the GFS pups go for about 60-80 of those bucks and the other 50 bucks are for the high quality woods and hardware.

Interesting. Something like that was a concern for me, and a reason why I hesitated when thinking about switching pups in a guitar like this. That's good input though; thanks for clarifying.

[marnold***]

My concern would be how much work you'd have to do on the guitar. As was mentioned, you'd need new pots. If the bridge is a standard Tele-style bridge you'd need a new one of those to fit a full-sized humbucker in there (Gotoh makes one that isn't frightfully expensive). You'd also need a new pickguard to fit either a P90 or a humbucker at the neck. You might even need to route out the body a little bit. While I admire the concept, it seems like an awful lot of changes.

[oldguy]

A P-90 is a single coil. OG's suggestion of buying another SX or Agile with the GFS 'P-90' pups is a better move, or shall I say, a better way to spend 100 bucks, since the GFS pups go for about 60-80 of those bucks and the other 50 bucks are for the high quality woods and hardware.

That's what I was alluding to. If you just want to hear P-90's or HB's in a guitar I'd buy another cheap SX. If you know the Tele's the axe for you and want the HB/P90 combo I'd upgrade to a G&L (right, wings? ) or a Fender and use that as the platform to build on.

[wingsdad]

..If you know the Tele's the axe for you and want the HB/P90 combo I'd upgrade to a G&L (right, wings? ) or a Fender and use that as the platform to build on.

Exactly, OG. A USA G&L would be going to extremes, but the import G&L Tribute ASAT models offer some possibilities, coming loaded with the same USA G&L pups as their American brethren.

In any case, if you're going to upgrade, do so on a quality platform.

Thre's an expression that comes to mind here, and I'm bound to tick some folks off, but....

"You can't polish a turd. All you get is a polished turd."

[Eric***]

import G&L Tribute ASAT models offer some possibilities, coming loaded with the same USA G&L pups as their American brethren.

In any case, if you're going to upgrade, do so on a quality platform.

Thre's an expression that comes to mind here, and I'm bound to tick some folks off, but....

"You can't polish a turd. All you get is a polished turd."

I'm not one of the ones you're going to annoy. I just know that I don't have the discriminating tastes to justify major expenditures in most cases, particularly when I have three electric guitars already.

Where do you find a G&L guitar with both of these pickups? Most guitars I see are one or the other.

[oldguy]

Where do you find a G&L guitar with both of these pickups? Most guitars I see are one or the other.

I was referring to using one as a platform to build on, as in installing the pickup combination you want, but only if you're sure the Tele style guitar is the one you want as your go-to guitar.
If I were doing this for myself, I'd probably use my Agile3000 for the platform, 'cause I've grown fond of a LP style. A P90 in a Paul sounds pretty sweet to my ears.
In fact, if you're just curious about P90's you could install one in your 3100, that's a sweet axe for the money.

[Eric***]

In fact, if you're just curious about P90's you could install one in your 3100, that's a sweet axe for the money.

Fair point -- they do make HB-sized P90s, don't they?

The 3100 is the only axe I regularly use publicly right now, and it's what has made me realize I will probably always want the option of a HB pup.

I'll probably tool around a P90 at GC for a long time before I decide to do anything. I was really just trying to make the Tele something I would use more regularly for serious applications, but it might not be worth it. Maybe I'll see if I can find a beginning guitarist and hand it off to them. It plays well enough, but I just don't know if I would use it as my main guitar right now. As you've noted, that's probably not a reason to pump more money into it.

[Tig***]

OK, slow day for me thanks to mixed frozen rain and snow...

A stacked humbucker could fit into either pickup position.

A fairly cheap but much better quality Squier Vintage Modified Tele SH has a humbucker in the neck, and a stacked humbucker in the bridge's single coil space. You could even add one of the many P-90's that are humbucker sized to it later.



The Squier Vintage Modified Tele Custom II comes with 2 P-90's.



There's also the John5 Squier J5 Telecaster, which could be modded with a HB sized P-90 in either position.



But wait, that's not all!

There's also the Xaviere XV-600 Semi Hollow with P-90's.


Or even the Xaviere XV-825 Solid Ash "KEEF" Model- Mini Hum neck Pickup.

[wingsdad]

Where do you find a G&L guitar with both of these pickups? Most guitars I see are one or the other.

You won't, mainly because G&L doesn't make a true P90 - their large MFD (Magnetic Field Design) single coil looks like one and is often innacurately assumed to be their version of one, but it's really not. It's an outstanding pickup, though.

Besides, the only G&L, ASAT, Legacy, or Commanche, close to realistic for you - would be a Tribute version. Unlike the USA's, Tributes are 'production runs' of only the most popular-selling USA's in limited finish and fingerboard options, and no neck options -- Tribute ASATs have a 9" fingerboard radius...kind of a compromise between the slim 7 1/2" and the more-Strat like 12".

If you're looking for a single-coil/humbucker with a Tele body feel and vibe and that operates like one, then a Tribute ASAT Classic Bluesboy Semi-Hollow may be worth a look. I have a USA custom-ordered one; out of your range, for sure. But the Tribute is really a good compromise. Instead of the Duncan Seth Lover neck bucker, it has G&L's own alnico 2 bar mag 'version'.

[ZMAN]

Eric: I would make sure you try out a P90 guitar before you do any swapping. If you are used to a humbucker you may not be able to put up with the noise of a P90.
Also the cheaper they are the more noise there is. They pick up every electrical signal and in some cases radio programs. They are only humcancelling in the middle position with both volumes fairly close. They are in a world of their own tone wise. But if you like the raw punch of it they might suit you well. I am only saying this because if you are used to a quiet humbucking guitar, or a Strat with hum cancelling pickup selections you will notice the difference immediately. Also make sure you use the same amp as you have at home if at all possible.
Oh and by "quiet" I mean no background humming, only the sound of the strings being picked.

[Eric***]

Eric: I would make sure you try out a P90 guitar before you do any swapping. If you are used to a humbucker you may not be able to put up with the noise of a P90.
Also the cheaper they are the more noise there is. They pick up every electrical signal and in some cases radio programs. They are only humcancelling in the middle position with both volumes fairly close. They are in a world of their own tone wise. But if you like the raw punch of it they might suit you well. I am only saying this because if you are used to a quiet humbucking guitar, or a Strat with hum cancelling pickup selections you will notice the difference immediately. Also make sure you use the same amp as you have at home if at all possible.
Oh and by "quiet" I mean no background humming, only the sound of the strings being picked.

Good points. I had read some of that stuff about P90s, and I wasn't going to do this pickup swap until far in the future, but I will admit that I didn't know they were quite as touchy as you describe. I definitely plan to spend some time getting to know P90s before I do anything with this.

[ZMAN]

Yeh Eric I am in no way bashing P90s. I have two P90 guitars. I have owned one since 1969. They are fun to play and give you a distinct tone for sure. The reason the humbucker was invented was the 60cycle hum and the feedback issues with them. A lot of guys like the old school approach and the dirtier the better. I just thought I would give you a heads up on them.
I think everyone should have a least one P90 guitar, a humbucker and a single coil guitar. Active pickups ala EMGs etc. I have no experience.

[sumitomo]

Hey guys don't forget P-rails then you can have it all in both positions (that dosen't sound right) but you can.Sumi