Conference napalm::guitar

    Hello !! Is any body out there ?? 
    I'm a little surprised that this notes has not gotten any
    replies. Aren't there any Telecaster owners out there in note
    land ? Maybe I should compare my Fender Telecaster to an 
    Ibanez or Carvin to get your attention !!
    
    A couple of days ago I was in Mr. C's music in Marlboro and
    discussed Tele pickups with Jim. He believes that the only 
    pickup system that will buy me any discernable improvement
    is the EMG since they are both active, and low impedence.
    I am beginning to consider a change of heart. Although the
    EMG's look a little different than stock pickups, they are
    a direct replacement with no "Hacking" required. If they
    can transform my typical Telecaster into a lean mean screaming
    machine I might consider them. I would like to hear a Tele or
    similar copy with EMG's before I make a decision. Also I should
    find out how much the system costs before I go any further. I
    can invision a fairly high pricetag, since the system includes
    the pickups, active pots, and replacement switch, all prewired
    for easy installation. 
                           
    	I anxiously await your replies. 
                                                                 
    				
    						Mark Jacques
    

    Mark, I disagree with him, EMG's are good pickups but they are not
    the only thing that will improve you sound. The best sounding Tele
    pickups I've ever heard were the Semour Duncan's that use the alinco
    magnets (I forget the name/number) these are what jeff Beck uses.
    Duncan also makes tele stacks in vintage and hot versions, no hum.
    None of these require that you modify the guitar in any way. Dimarzio
    (I personally don't care for dimarzio's but it's just a personal
    thing) also makes direct replacement pickups for tele's that will
    alter the sound...including some very hot ones that scream...
    
    EMG active pickups scare me a bit...what happens when the active
    circuits dioe in the middle of a performance and the guitar has
    to go to the shop for who knows how long? With a standard passive
    control system your guitar is nearly foolproof...
    
    besides the emg's aren't that much better (in my humble opinion).
    
    it's a tough choice
    
    dave

    What I will probably do is find a shop that'll let me swap
    till I'm happy with the sound. Gettin' rid of the hum would
    be nice seeing as how I'll be spending $100 or more, therefore
    I might consider the vintage stacked pickups, if they sound
    good. 
    
    							Mark J.
    

    Semour Duncan's guarantee is such that if you don't like the pickups
    you may exchange them for another type of equal or greater value
    (paying the extra of course) within 30 days of the original purchase.
    In practice this works well I took a set of SSL-4 strat pickups
    back *8* months later and exchanged them for SSL-1's, no problem. 
    
    good luck
    
    dave

    This weekend I broke down and bought a new neck position
    pickup for the Telecaster. I ended up buying a Seymour
    Duncan Quarter Pound tele rhythm pickup (STR3) from
    Macduff's Music in Shrewsbury. After swapping it for the
    original (10 minute project), I found that my neck pickup
    now outpowers my bridge pickup. I was sort of hoping it
    would be a close match to my bridge pickup, but anyways.
    I picked up a Quarter pound Tele lead pickup today (STL3)
    and plan to install it tonight. This will take a little
    longer. Since I have to remove the entire bridge, I will
    have to remove the strings. Hopefully, I will be happy
    with the final results. I am considering buying a new
    bridge for this guitar, while I am in the process of 
    taking it apart. The stock Tele bridge has only 3 adjustments
    for intonation, so the strings are intonated in pairs. I have
    seen direct replacement Tele bridges that have a separate
    saddle for each string, and have substantially more mass
    under each string. Does anyone have any idea how much a bridge
    would cost, and whether or not it's a big improvement.
                                                          
    	I would appreciate any info in regards to what bridge is
    best, how much it costs, and where to buy it.
    
    							Mark Jacques
    
    

    Last night I installed the STL3 bridge pickup in my Telecaster.
    Before doing so I called around about a new bridge, just out
    of curiousity, and to my surprise Wurlitzers in Worcester had
    one in stock for only $22.50, so I went over and bought one. When
    I went to install it on my Tele, one of the holes for the mounting 
    screws would not line up with my guitar, so I decided not to use it.
    Actually this bridge was not as heavey duty as I would have liked
    anyways so I think I'll look araound some more for one that is
    more rugged. I don't think Wurlitzer will give me a refund, but I'll
    just take it out in strings or something. 
                                 
    The net result is I like the sound of the new pickups a lot. It
    has that nice gutsy Tele sound that I was after. I think I will
    play the guitar with these pickups for a few weeks to make sure
    I like them. If for some reason I decide I don't I can always
    swap them for another set of Seymour Duncans. The guitar still
    has a slight hum, if I stand right in front of my amp, but as long
    as I turn away from the amp the hum is hardly noticable.
    
    Having read all the Seymour Duncan literature I was curious about
    the neck pickup. Seymour emphasizes that his quarter pounders have
    quarter inch pole pieces, but the  neck pickup  doesn't. 
    I suppose there isn't enough room for quarter inch pole pieces on
    a Tele rhythm pickup since it is so small. Output wise, I think
    the rhythm pickup is a pretty close match to the bridge pickup
    despite the difference in size, and by adjusting the neck pickup
    as high as possible, and lowering the bridge pickup, I think I can
    match them very closely. 
        
    	The rhythm pickup now gives me a punchy sound much like the 
    rhythm pickup on a Strat. The bridge pickup has plenty of brightness
    without bighting your ear off, like the stock pickup, but also has
    a lot more sustain, and overall a more balanced sound.
    
    	Not only was I unhappy with the sound of my old stock pickups,
    I also had trouble tuning it with my quartz tuner. The rhythm pickup
    is generally recommended for tuning, but the tele rhythm pickup
    doesn't put out a high enough level to get a good reading on the
    tuner. With the quarter pounder in there I get a nice steady
    reading on my tuner.
    
	        
        				A satisfied Seymour Duncan customer
    
    
    

I'm interested in an update and summary, since I'd like to do a
similar (identical) upgrade.  Specifically:

    1. What did you finally decide on?  (model nos.)
    2. Was it really a no cutting required job?
    3. What was the overall cost (approx) for just the pickup parts?
    4. Is it really quiet?
    5. Is it louder (higher output than the noisy stock pickups)?
    



Danke
d

          

    You mayu want to think about the EMG select line of pickups. I recently
    put two into my strat. They are exssentially noise free (as good as my
    Duncan hot stacks), have a pretty good sound, and only cost $17.50
    each from Stewart McDonald's. INstalled with no modifications required.
    
    dbII 

    Yo dudesters,
    
    The other guitar in the band I play in is hot to get a Tele. 
    Apparently you can get them with three different p/u types: standard
    'dot' magnet Fender p/u's, Lace-units, or DiMarzio's.  I assume you
    get two of whatever style you choose; that is, you cannot get, say,
    a DiMarzio with a Lace, at least not stock.
    
    What do you cats think about the three choices?
    
    Thanks,
    Jon Jpitr

Help !!!

I have just heard that my old band from eight years ago is to do a reunion
gig this summer, and I am keen to use my "new" 50's re-issue Fender jap 
telecaster.  I am also the owner of a late seventies strat with Di Marzio's.

Here is my question:

Would it help if I got to replace my tele pickups ?  A big question I know, but
here are my thoughts........

Are the Fender jap reissues as good in the pickup department as their standard
US counterparts ?

I see that my local stockist has replacement Fender Vintage pickups.....are 
these likely to be different to those fitted to my guitar?

Should I go for Seymour Duncan's...if so, what are the new models to go for 
bearing in mind that I prefer a good vintage sound?

(BTW, if I were to change, I have a strong preference for SD's/Fender pu's, 
so take that as a given please...)

I cannot do an A/B comparison with my strat since it has the more middly DM
sound......for all I know, my stock tele re-issue P/U's MAY be fine in a live
situation.

It's the old problem, and hence my note, I will be content with my tele as it
is and will make the best of it, BUT if any of you folks have been in my 
situation and would offer your opinion.....I'm listening!!

BTW, I have read the previous replies to this note, but the results seem 
inconclusive, and the market/product offerings since that time may have moved 
on including experiences from other Noters.

Look forward to your thoughts.....

Dave

    Whoa Dave, hold on here. Since you asked for opinion, I offer mine.
    
    Insofar as replacing the pickups because they're Japanese...no
    dude...that ain't it. It's not like they got this magic dust only in
    only the California plant. If the pickup is made to the same
    specification as some other, then in my mind it don't matter. If its a
    dude whose eyes are a different shape than mine who made 'em, its still
    the same pickup.
    
    Having said that, I will also tell you that I almost always change
    pickups. I do this because of a confidence factor. To me a pickup from
    SD or DiMarzio is a known value and/or quality. I've owned 'em both and
    have never been disappointed. Its like in Golf where if you have
    confidence in a driver, you'll most definitely hit it better than one
    you don't have the same confidence in. (This is the real difference
    between golf clubs - the rest is largely hype).
    
    I'm thinking that whats really going on in your mind is a question of
    confidence, and that I can't answer for you. I would only tell you that
    were I in your place I'd ask myself the first question - do I like the
    sound of this axe as it is? If yes, then you *needn't* go any further.
    You may want to however, thinking that maybe you'll like something else
    better. Ok then again, were it me I wouldn't replace the pickups with a
    "vintage" or same type pickup. I'd go for something with a little
    more of whatever it is I think I'm looking for.  For example, you can
    buy exact replacements for Fenders, but Dimarzio offers HS2's; a
    vintage type but with a little more ... or HS3's with a lot more....
    
    Having said that I'll be the first to admit that if you're playing in
    front of an audience, they couldn't care less. The difference is
    virtually indistinguishable. I was playing at a gig once and my buddy,
    who is not a guitar player, asked about why I bring two different
    guitars. I explained the diffence between dual coil Humbuckers and
    single coil pickups. He was surprised that *I* could hear a difference,
    like I had some kind of extraordinary hearing. I guess I can understand
    that since I'm sure I couldn't tell the difference between two
    different clarinets.
    
    I guess what I'm saying is don't anguish over your selection. Don't
    bullshit yourself as to why you wannna change. Whatever the reason
    (except because some Jap made it) change if you want to so long as it
    doesn't take dinner off your table. 
    
    "sakman"
    
         

    I don't know about the "reissue" series instruments, but I played a
    Japanese made Standard Strat awhile back and it definately did not have
    good sounding pickups in it.  They didn't have very much output and the
    tone was kind of squeeky and generally poor.  I'd have had 'em out of
    the thing in a heartbeat.
    
    If it sounds good to you, why change?  If not, fix it!
    
    I kind of like the Lace-Sensors for a vintage kind of tone without all
    the hum.
    
    Greg
        

    I have a Seymor Duncan '54 Vintage Tele (I think) replacement bridge
    pickup in an old Tele and it is absolutely GREAT sounding. It's the
    model with the two center pole pieces raised. The '52 replacement has
    all flush pole pieces.

I have a duncan alnico II bridge pickup  for a tele. WHen I had a tele it sounded
pretty good, real crunchy low end and a nice strong output. Since I don't
have a tele for the pickup anymore you interested?

dbii

    I'm thinking about popping some Joe Barden pickups in my tele. Its
    been recommended that, in doing so, that I also replace the volume
    pot (with a 500k) and the TBX with a standard tone control.  
    
    It occurred to me that as long as I have to replace this stuff, I might as
    well get a replacement pickup switch as well and then wire it all up
    and do a wholesale replacement of everything. This way if I want to
    go back to the old set-up, I pop ALL the new wiring out and pop all
    the old wiring in. I guess the jack would be the only exception. That
    way I do a minimum of soldering work when switching.
    
    Anyway, does anyone have a wiring schematic for a traditional Tele
    setup. i.e. Two pickups, volume, standard tone control? Are there
    any capacitors that need to be in there??
    
    any help appreciated,
    
    jim

    I've mentioned several times in this notesile about not being
    particularly fond of Fender Lace Sensors; this was based primarly
    on experiences with the Gold Lace Sensors for Strat.  Looks like
    I'll have to modify my position.
    
    My buddy just picked up a new American Standard Tele.  After a few
    days he was kind of disappointed in the sound and his tech recommend
    a set of Blue Tele Lace Sensors.  I tried the axe this weekend and
    these pickups sound great.  Blue Lace Sensors are described in the
    lit as a "classic humbucker" sound, so I guess I was expecting them
    to muddy the sound a bit.  Not true!  I tried this axe side by side
    with a stock '68 Tele; the Blue Laces had all the razor sharp high
    end of originals, but with greater depth and a little more kick.
    They sounded like the '68, only better.  The added kick isn't
    overpowering, but just enough to really make it sing with distortion.
    These pickups just seem to magnify all the things you like about a
    Tele in the first place.
    
    Note that the bridge pickup has a flat black cover and the neck has
    the traditional chrome, so you can slip these in with minimal cosmetic
    impact to your classic Tele look.  I recommend anyone looking to
    improve their Tele pickups to check these out.
    
    /rick

    Another interesting possibility for Tele pickups are Joe Barden PUs.
    They are double coil (they don't like the word humbucking) so are
    quiet and have a hotter signal than standard tele pickups. 
    
    Rumor has it that the current owner of Roy Buchannan's axe did a
    side by side comparison with the Barden's and was hard pressed to
    declare a winner.
    
    I've not yet test driven these myself, but they are the PU of choice
    of Danny Gatton and they may be heard on any of his more recent 
    recordings.

    	Anybody seen a dealer selling Joe Barden Pickups in NH,Mass
    area?
    
    						Rick
    

    Recent Guitar Player mags have had an ad from Joe Barden himself in
    the classified section.

Capital City Music in Augusta has been ordering them for the SRV strat bigots.

(207) 622-6522

Tell Al I sent ya and he'll charge you double :-)


dbii

SRV strat bigots.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

    ???

    re: .20
        .21
    
    SRV strat bigots
    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
    
    I didn't the think the word had gotten out on these guys, but alas,
    apparently it has.
    
    The SRV strat bigots are a radical fringe group of guitar players.
    Origins of the group have been traced to a trailer camp just northwest
    of Bangor, Maine, but members have been seen in bars, music stores,
    and monster truck jamborees all over the U.S. 
    
    An SRV strat bigot is easily detected by his flat, broad-rimmed,
    Spanish-style cowboy had.  He is usually carrying a guitar, and from
    time to time, he will wear a poncho-style Indian blanket.  Original
    SRV strat bigots only played sunburst Fenders, but the purity of the
    organization has been somewhat diluted as more members join, and
    the SRV letters have been seen all makes and models of guitar.
    
    Some members claim that the larger the SRV letters are, the more potent 
    the man.  Senior members like to point out the fallacy of this claim
    by recalling that David Cassidy once played a Stratocaster.
    
    SRV strat bigots have targeted the weaker-selling Telecaster model as
    their natural enemy, and they frequently torment Telecaster owners.
    In one particularly vile incident, a Telecaster was dunked in road
    tar, covered with feathers, and then ridden out of town on a UPS
    truck that was leaving anyway.
    
    Secret shops in the basements of SRV strat bigots sell illegal
    merchandise such Danny Gatton posters with a bullseye painted in
    his forehead, Roy Buchanan Memorial keychains, and specially-brewed
    "Hendrix Stratocaster Starter for Telecasters" lighter fluid in both 
    regular and Monterey scents.
    
    Occasionally, an unfortunate hiker or camper will stumble on the
    group deep in mid-ritual in the woods.  The SRV strat bigots worship
    their fallen hero, and also take time to honor the other fallen Texas
    strat hero, St. Buddy of Holly.

    re .-1
    
    do they all use .013 high 'E' strings too?

    I think there was a thing in Rolling Stone on these guys recently.  It
    appears a particularly militant strain of the organization has sprung
    up in the Pacific Northwest, where heaps of burned up Fender Mustangs
    have been found smouldering along deserted stretches of highway on
    moonlit nights.  It's rumored that Kurdt Kobain's recent appearance
    on the MTV Music Awards with a Strat was an attempt to appease local
    bigots and put an end to threats he's been getting.

    I heard Stevie Ray was seen at a shopping mall near here recently, and
    the USPS has confirmed that they are planning a postage stamp in his
    honor.
    
    Dave

    Is that gonna be the "young SRV" or the "older SRV" on the stamp?

    
    Yeah...like before or after his gut peeked out from under the 
    poncho?
    
    
    guy

According to local ledgend Joe Barden pickups were in all SRV's guitars. So
all the local bluesmongers immediatly ordered pickups for their strats. And 
yes some of these guys really use .013's (like GreeVeeKing).


dbii

    I also own a Tele with some real great pickups.  "I usually blame
    the feedback on the mic".  I read through this file and made a 
    few phone calls to get the up-to-date info on prices and such.
    I wanted Seymour Duncan or Lace and settled on Lace when I found
    them to be about one half the price of the Duncans.  There were
    a couple of deals.  The Texas Specal set of pickups were $99. a
    set and similar to blue lace.  I ordered a red lace for the bridge
    and blue for the neck at $126. for the set.  I should get them in
    a week.  I'll update you on the sound after I install them.
    
    Mark

    
    	I have a James Burton Signature Telecaster, which came stock with
    a Blue Lace Sensor as the neck pickup, a Gold Lace Sensor in the middle,
    and a Red Lace Sensor in the bridge position. It's really set up like a
    Strat with a Tele body.
    
    	They are pretty nice pickups, but it doesn't sound anything like a 
    Tele. It doesn't sound much like a Strat, either. It's kind of a unique
    sound. I find the Blue Lace neck pickup a bit too boomy for some things.
    The Red Lace in the bridge is real bright & crunchy. I use this guitar 
    in the bridge position to record most of my "metal", screamin'-lead-type 
    stuff. Kinda seems weird playing that kind of stuff on a Tele but that
    Red Lace sensor is better suited for that sound than any of my other
    more traditional Strat & Tele guitars.
    
    
    
    Brad
    

    I've never seen a Tele with three pickups.  Is the middle PU set into
    the plastic and are the PU shapes the same as a two PU Tele?
    
    The sound you described is exactly the sound I was looking for.  I'm
    Psyched.  I feels like I'm getting a new guitar.
    
    Mark

    
    	The James Burton Signature Tele has no plastic pickguard/faceplate;
    there are just 3 cavities routed out, just big enough to sit one
    pickup in each. 
    
    	The byproduct of this is that it leaves a larger than normal area
    on the Tele body that can be painted. The James Burton models take
    advantage of this with a nice gold or red paisley design over a black
    finish. Pretty sharp. In truth, this was what sold me on this guitar.
    I confess-- not the sound, not the craftsmanship... it was the way-cool
    paisley finish!
    
    	It weighs a ton, though. I'd say it's as heavy as a Les Paul, maybe
    heavier....
    
    
    Brad
    

re: .32

>    	It weighs a ton, though. I'd say it's as heavy as a Les Paul, maybe
>    heavier....
    
But does it weigh as much as a Twin?  :-)

-Hal

>      -< WoW! A 3 Pickup Tele >-
    
>    I've never seen a Tele with three pickups.  Is the middle PU set into
>    the plastic and are the PU shapes the same as a two PU Tele?
    
    I own a Tele with 4 pickups!!!
    
    It's a Steve Morse signature model (made by Ernie Ball).   
    
    Steve Morse's actually has 5 pickups!!!!  The extra pickup on his is
    for a MIDI interface.

>    Steve Morse's actually has 5 pickups!!!!  The extra pickup on his is
>    for a MIDI interface.

    Since Morse's 5 pickup Tele pre-dates MIDI, I wonder, did he use it as a
    dedicated signal source for that 360 Systems rig he used?

    --Ron

    >Since Morse's 5 pickup Tele pre-dates MIDI, I wonder, did he use it as
    >a dedicated signal source for that 360 Systems rig he used?
    
    Well... yeah.  I think the 360 did have a special pickup.
    
    Of course the particular guitar you're thinking of, which Morse calls
    "Frankenstein", has been retired for many years now.  Basically, the
    fretboard had been filed to the point where it couldn't be done
    anymore without replacing the neck.
    
    Morse now uses Ernie Ball models and has used a number of different 
    MIDI systems.
    
    	db

>    Morse now uses Ernie Ball models and has used a number of different 
>    MIDI systems.
    
    what's that thing he uses in his videos that looks like a strap on TV
    remote control?

    >  what's that thing he uses in his videos that looks like a strap on
    > TV remote control?
    
    I don't know, but I bet if Coop saw it, he'd want one.  ;-)
    
    It's some sort of control for a guitar-to-MIDI interface, but it's
    not any of the well known brands.  I believe it's made by some obscure 
    German company and I don't remember the name.

    It's just a midi controller for his synths and rack.  I've got 
    lots of controllers...
    :-)
    
    

    >                  -< It's an Aphex Emotion Enhancer Mike ;-) >-

    I got my Lace Sensors and installed them into my Tele last night.
    
    Only one(the bridge) worked, but I think it's the sel switch wiring
    that is causing the problem.  When the toggle is in the bridge position
    the bridge pickup works.  In the middle and neck position I get
    nothing.  The wiring diagram that came with the sensor is for an
    american standard tele and I have an unamerican mexican tele and yes
    they are different.  I called Fender and they didn't know what the
    pinout for the switch on the Am tele is as his diagram is a picture.
    It looks like I have to rewire the switch.  Has anyonw had this problemo?
    
    Mark

    I took everything apart and metered out the sensors and found that the
    neck sensor had a shorted winding.  I called the music center I bought
    them from and they're sending me a new sensor.  I'm getting another
    red sensor for the neck as the bridge sensor sounds so good.
    
    Mark

    re: red sensor for the neck
    
    Is this some kind of redneck pickup?
    
    Bubba

    It just senses them.

    I called to see why I haven't received the red lace sensor for the 
    neck and was told that the red lace is not available for the neck
    position.
    
    Does anyone have a tele with red lace sensors in the neck position?
    
    Mark

    Being the vintage kinda guy I am, I try to keep my finger on the pulse
    of this stuff.  I recently asked some of the Boston area players that
    hang down at Cambridge Music about recommendations for Tele pickups;
    here's what they told me.
    
    Best thing short of an original 50's pickup are "early" Bardens;
    however, the Bardens they are currently manufacturing now are
    supposedly not as good.  You recognize early Bardens by the wires;
    two thin leads.  They later went to two thicker leads, and currently
    four conductors.  The thin lead jobs have the voodoo.
    
    Next down the list are either Van Zandts or Fralin's; about the same
    both in price performance.  I've actually played several sets of Van Zandts
    down in various Teles (both old and new) and they are great.  Lotsa
    twang AND bottom.  I think these run somewhere around $80 - $100 per
    pickup (but don't quote me on that).
    
    Finally, third tier is either current Bardens or G&L Classics.  The G&L
    Tele has been getting rave reviews all over the place, so I'd expect
    these to be pretty good.  Actually, I've tried one and they are nice.
    A little less big in the bottom than the Van Zandts I thought, but then
    that could have been different guitars too.   Note these are NOT the
    big, soapbar-like pickups on the lower end ASATS; they are the direct
    replacement Tele pickups found only on the ASAT Classic.  The bridge
    PU even has the cool vintage-style string winding over the coil.  The
    current Bardens are supposedly similar, but note that they cost twice
    as much as the G&Ls.  However, you do get the advantage of
    hum-cancelling.
    
    Note that according to the "experts", these are all very acceptable
    Tele replacements and will all deliver that vintage Tele vibe in
    buckets.  The choice comes in how anal you are about vintage tone and
    how much you're willing to spend.
    
    /leo
    

>    The choice comes in how anal you are about vintage tone and how much
>    you're willing to spend.
    
    I tried putting a Tele pickup on my butt once, did nothing for me.
              
    gh

    I hope you didn't put it back on the shelf.

    I can vouch for the Bardens as I have them in two teles. I don't know
    if i've got the old ones or the new ones, but they will wake up your
    tele for sure. They are quiet. The bridge gives that familiar tele
    twang. I was surprised by the neck pickup. It gives a pretty intense
    tone.
    
    jim

>>    I tried putting a Tele pickup on my butt once, did nothing for me.
    
    Was it still in the guitar at the time?

    Just replaced the bridge pickup in my Tele with a Duncan Antiquity.
    If you haven't seen the hype, these are "pre-aged" vintage
    replacements; new, hand-wound jobbers that are dirtied and beaten up
    by Seymour and his gang to save you years of sweating in bars :-)
    Of course this sounds like a silly gimmick, but supposedly Seymour has
    also gone to great lengths to recreate original materials and construction
    techniques and done special things to age the magnets and scatterwind
    the coils, all in an attempt to create something that captures the magic
    of the originals.
    
    Inside the box, the pickup came housed in a little burlap sack. 
    There's a tag attached with a stamped serial number (and some more of
    the hype) and a handwritten DC resistance value.  Mine was 7.02k,
    actually at the low end of the range for real early 50's Teles.
    The pickup itself sure does look old; it was filthy.  The polepieces
    were all tarnished, the wax around the coils was caked with dirt, and
    even what looked like some beer stains!  I could've lived without all
    this baloney, but what I was really interested in was tone and this
    baby delivered.
    
    I knew it after playing three notes; this pickup has the stuff.  It
    does everything; sparkle on top, big and round on the bottom.  Buchanan
    clicks and squawks?  Gibbons-like harmonic squeals?  No sweat.  It
    purrs when you play soft, snarls back when you dig in, almost seems to
    talk under your control.  It has the tone and *touch* of a great old Tele
    pickup.  In fact, this is the only re-issue pickup of any type I've ever
    found that really captured all the magic of a real original.
    
    So despite the gimmicks, I think Seymour has done something here.  If
    you're looking for true old Tele vibe, this is the best thing I've come
    across.  It may be the best Tele pickup I've played, new or old.
    And ya know I have admit, that aging business actually looks pretty
    good in an old Tele too, like it belongs there.
    
    /soul_man
    

    So how much did you have to shell out, Rick? 
    
    I agree, it does sound like a bit of a gimmick, but the vintage Tele
    sound is *the* sound as far as I'm concerned. What model Telecaster
    have you got, by the way?
    
    Dom

    The pickup cost me $82; for comparison, the same dealer was selling the
    normal Duncan Vintage Broadcaster pickup for $40.
    
    Btw, my previous note may have been a bit misleading in that the
    pickup is technically a "Broadcaster" pickup, meaning that it has
    flat pole pieces.  This is the style pickup used on the Broadcasters
    and earliest Teles.  Around 1954 (I think), the Tele bridge was changed
    to staggered pole pieces, like on the early Strats.  I don't think
    Duncan makes an Antiquity series Tele bridge with the staggered magnets.
    
    I just have a plain vanilla post-CBS Tele, nothing unusual or vintage.
    I never liked the stock pickups, but with the new Duncan it's like a
    different guitar.
    
    /rick

    More news re the Antiquity.  Talked to someone else who installed one
    of these and claimed his was somewhat microphonic; the symptom was
    feedback problems at high volume.  I found this to be true with mine
    as well.  In keeping with the "vintage" spirit these pickups are NOT
    potted, just like the originals.  This may have something to do with
    how good they sound, unfortunately.
    
    Bottom line, it seems to be a double edged sword.  These pickups sound
    great but could be tricky to use in gig situations.  But one thing to
    consider; Roy Buchanan, Albert Lee, and countless other Tele masters
    have made do with their original microphonic pickups quite successfully.
    And all those $50k Les Paul 'bursts don't have potted pickups either.
    
    Anyway, something to consider if you're thinking about these.
    
    /loraina_bobbin
    

    from another string...
    
    >transducer built into the bridge for acoustic tone,
    
    I saw something like this in the last MF catalog on a shovel Tele
    model.  It had individual pickups for each saddle.
    
    Has any one tried something like this and if yes how was the acoustic
    sound?
    
    thanks,
    Robert Johnson

    RE: -.1  saddle p/u's
    
    I saw one...  played one...  and it didn't sound completely
    acoustic to me at all. BTW, this setup was on a Chet Atkins
    model Gibson. I guess I expected more than what I actually 
    heard.
    
    Would I buy one? 
    
    
    No, but that's my opinion.
    
    
    	Rock on,
    		  Fred

    Hey Rob!!! Is that your REAL name????
    
    -k

    actually its.....
    
    	       	"Robert Eric Johnson"
    
    but cant play worth a $........
    
    later

    Far out.....
    
    

    Two years on from Rick's informative comments about the Antiquity
    pickups, and I've heard that Seymour Duncan is about to put out a new
    series of Antiquity pickups (it's possible that they're already on the
    market in the U.S.). 
    
    The new range will be called Antiquity II, and is designed to provide
    the so-called "British Invasion" sound (where the Antiquity I pickups
    were built to provide a vintage 50s sound). There will be pickups for
    Strat, Tele, Jaguar, etc. models. No idea of the price, but I'm told
    that production will be limited (I believe this was the case with
    Antiquity I?).
    
    All in all, I'm quite attracted by these pickups, especially after
    Rick's positive review of the Antiquity I Telecaster pickup. I
    currently play a non-vintage Tele through a '65 AC30, and while I'm
    satisfied with the sound, I still think there's room for improvement.
    My band play 60s beat/R&B in a decidedly retro style, and a while back, 
    I toyed with the idea of getting an Epiphone Casino (shades of 
    Harrison/Lennon...Rickenbackers are out of my price range!). But then 
    I reasoned that in terms of playability I wouldn't swap the Tele for
    anything. 
    
    I guess it's the usual story: Teles have superb necks, but how many 
    people don't at least dabble with the idea of changing the stock 
    pickups?! Hence my interest in the Antiquity line...
    
    Dom
    
    P.S. Anyone know if the Antiquity I pickups are still in production? 
    
    

    This is the first I've heard about it, but my guess is they're just doing
    an Antiquity with staggered poles.
    
    Food for thought: most of Led Zep I was cut with a 60's Tele
    

     ...So was Jimi's Purple Haze...
    
    -kev-

    Got a price of $110.00 for a set, in Atlanta GA.
    
    
    later, rj
    

    >Got a price of $110.00 for a set, in Atlanta GA.
    
    Thanks, Rob. Hey, that's an astonishing price, assuming that you're
    talking about both the neck and bridge pickups (by European standards, 
    it wouldn't be a *bad* price just for one or the other!). 
    
    Was this set Antiquity I or II? From what I've heard, the price difference
    should be in the region of about 20%. Also, is $110 fairly typical of 
    current U.S. prices?
    
    Thanks, 
    	Dom