Opinions sought: best Tele bridge pickup?

[duhvoodooman***]

While I've been very impressed by the overall quality of my inexpensive Xaviere XV820 Tele copy, I don't particularly care for the sound of the bridge pickup. It's a bit too trebly/shrill for my tastes, so I'm seriously considering an upgrade. I want to maintain the basic, characteristic Tele tone and "spank", but would like a little more warmth and fullness--probably some "blues" version of the basic Tele bridge pickup design is what I'm guessing will meet my needs best. Thought I'd throw out two questions, seeking informed opinions from some of you Tele aficionados. Two basic questions:

• What would you consider the best available Tele bridge pickup that would meet the above description, if price is no object (even though it is!)? Please restrict your answer to generally available pickup makers, not custom hand-wound specialty p'ups with a 3-month waiting list!
• What would you consider the best value in a Tele bridge pickup meeting this description, i.e. best bang for the buck?

TIA, dudes & dudettes! : :

[marnold***]

When I did my research for my Charvel Model 7, I finally decided on a Rio Grande Muy Grande. It sounds like it'd be right up your street.

Here's some country-flavored clippage from their site http://www.riograndepickups.com/audio/5muy_t_b.mp3 or if you'd prefer some slide http://www.riograndepickups.com/audio/3muy_t_b.mp3

[Spudman***]

Before you pull the pickup out of the guitar try using the tone knob. Seriously.

If that fails check into the GFS Lil Puncher for the bridge. I have one but I haven't installed it yet. I wanted a more midrange and growl sound from the bridge. So I'm going to put it in one guitar but the other guitar works really well with just rolling off the tone knob.

[duhvoodooman***]

Before you pull the pickup out of the guitar try using the tone knob. Seriously.

I have. Seriously.

EDIT/MORE INFO: I think a contributor to the problem is that the body on this guitar is a very hard, dense cut of ash and really makes for a very bright tone. I'm also going to try a set of compensated brass saddles, since I'm pretty sure the stock ones are steel, despite what the GFS product description says. If they are brass, they've been chrome-plated, which seems a bit odd!

[Blaze]

I installed a Dimarzio Virtual Hot T bridge on my tele copy , love it

[marnold***]

I installed a Dimarzio Virtual Hot T bridge on my tele copy , love it

I tried one of those two in someone else's guitar. It sounded really nice--and no hum! Of course, you'd lose the hum canceling in the middle position unless you installed a new neck pup too.

[markb]

I have. Seriously.

EDIT/MORE INFO: I think a contributor to the problem is that the body on this guitar is a very hard, dense cut of ash and really makes for a very bright tone. I'm also going to try a set of compensated brass saddles, since I'm pretty sure the stock ones are steel, despite what the GFS product description says. If they are brass, they've been chrome-plated, which seems a bit odd!

I doubt those saddles are brass. I had a MIM Classic 50s that was a bit shrill out of the box. A set of Stewmac compensated brass saddles fixed both the icepick tones and the slightly iffy intonation for very little money.

[duhvoodooman***]

I doubt those saddles are brass. I had a MIM Classic 50s that was a bit shrill out of the box. A set of Stewmac compensated brass saddles fixed both the icepick tones and the slightly iffy intonation for very little money.

You & me both. But I have a set of brass compensated saddles on the way, so will see how far this goes toward removing the ice-pickiness tendency. I may try dropping the pickup height a bit, too, and see what effect that has.

[t_ross33]

If that fails check into the GFS Lil Puncher for the bridge. I have one but I haven't installed it yet. I wanted a more midrange and growl sound from the bridge.

I'd endorse that - love my Lil Puncher! Also added a Wilkinson compensated bridge w/ brass saddles to smooth out the tone. All for about $60. Can't go wrong with that :

[duhvoodooman***]

My concern re: the Lil Puncher and other rail-type pickups is that I'll lose too much of the essential Tele character, which I don't want to sacrifice too much of. I'm not looking to make the bridge sound like a 'bucker or even a P90. I still want that Tele single coil character, but with a bit less twang and a bit more girth.

[t_ross33]

My concern re: the Lil Puncher and other rail-type pickups is that I'll lose too much of the essential Tele character, which I don't want to sacrifice too much of. I'm not looking to make the bridge sound like a 'bucker or even a P90. I still want that Tele single coil character, but with a bit less twang and a bit more girth.

No worries there. I have the "Modern Vintage" 10K Lil Puncher bridge p'up, and it has spank to spare. I have it tapped, but find I don't use the single coil tone much at all, even for chickin'-pickin'. I think the Tele bridge/saddle combo contributes as much or more to the "spank" than the p'up does.

It will grind when pumped through a good OD or Distortion pedal, and I imagine it will push the front end of a tube amp a bit more than a single coil, but it's still far spankier than the bridge p'ups in either of my humbucker equipped guitars.

[Robert****]

DiMarzio Area T are fantastic bang for the pesos. Dead quiet too!

[markb]

I forgot to say check the pot values too but, knowing you, I'm pretty sure you've done that. The diMarzio Pre-B1 is a good sounding 50s style tele pickup. You might try eBay for a used Fender Nocaster, Broadcaster or Original Vintage pickup. They're all in that tonal ballpark too.

[Tone2TheBone]

Find one of the Alnico III Tele pickups from the Squier CV Teles. That's the one you want.

[tot_Ou_tard]

I heard a local musician play through Don Mare tele pups.

Sweet, sweet, sweet.

[duhvoodooman***]

Received the compensated brass saddles today & installed. Warmed the tone some, but not sure if it'll be enough. Need to play the guitar for a few days w/ different amps & effects to assess. Definitely moved things in the right direction, though. Photo below....

[Moshe]

Find one of the Alnico III Tele pickups from the Squier CV Teles. That's the one you want.

I've got a set if someone wants to trade me somethin good.


They were removed by melting the solder..I didn't cut the wires.

[markb]

One option

[duhvoodooman***]

Thanks. That Dimarzio model is one that looks very interesting to me. I'll watch that auction closely; if it stays reasonably cheap, I'll make a late bid. They're only $50 new, so hopefully it stays down in the $30 range. Worth a try, at that price. My only concern is the one that is causing the owner to sell it--it's quite a high DC resistance pickup at 14.8K, and may cause imbalance issues with the stock XV820 neck p'up, particularly in combination. I have the guitar wired to be able to put the bridge in series with the neck, as well as the usual parallel arrangement at the middle selector switch position. Those are nice Tele tones, and I wouldn't want to screw them up.