Tell me what to get. Pickups for Telecaster. up to $300

[Dudeman1967]

Too many to choose. Not sure what I'm looking for other than I want it to sound like a TeleCaster. I'm pretty sure that Alex Lifeson used a Tele on Signals. It would be great to sound like that.

Noiseless isn't necesary unless they've narrowed the difference between the sounds of S v Dbl. over the years.

It's a made in China, Affinity series if that makes any difference. I think the body is thinner than others. not sure if that matters.

 

[ColourofFire]

I have a set of Iceman T's from Bulldog in my tele. Super happy with them. They're from the UK though, so no idea how prohibitive shipping and (import) taxes might be.

https://bulldogpickups.6.ekm.shop/

 

[Pine Apple Slim]

Keystone Tele Set

The Keystones are the result of Bill's research studying dozens of the best examples of early 60s pickups. The Tele set is Bill's take on those pickups, free of internal shorts that cause frequency response and output losses, and of any metal covers or plates significantly altering the tone. The...

www.wildepickups.com

 

[Honkridge]

There are a lot of great ones and they may sound great in one guitar but not in another. Its almost like searching for the "best" fuzz...
My favs are the Fender Nocaster set, the Dimarzio Area set, and even the Artec 5/2 bridge pup. The Duncan Broadcaster is still a great choice and the offerings by Cavalier are nice nice nice....

Its a journey...

 

[Bob411]

I like my Rose Buckeroos but, he had a meltdown during the pandemic. If you can find used, do it.

Also like Fender Nocasters

Son has Frailins, another great choice.

 

[baimun]

My favorite Tele set is the Duncan Quarter Pound Tele Lead. The difference with the "Lead" option is a true coil tap which allows an overwound single coil or a more traditionally wound single coil. I used a 4 way switch in my Esquire to allow the different winds with and without the tone circuit. You can tell the ones with the tap wire because of the extra red wire.

 

[PunkKitty]

I have a set of either Fralins or Lollars (I don't remember which) that I can sell you. I also have a set of Rio Grandes that I need to put up for sale. DM me if you're interested. I may have others. I really don't remember.

 

[smurfco]

Lollar specials are my favorites

 

[tiger roach]

Love the Lollar Specials on my Tele.

 

[Peen Simmons]

I have a Vintage II 63 Tele with the Pure Vintage 63 set in there. I’m not sure if they sell the set separately yet, but you might be able to find them parted out.

Bridge pickup is a very true Tele tone. Vintage output. Bright but not ice picky. Takes gain well and lotsa tones when you work the vol and tone knob. Neck pickup is wonderful. Not at all dull or woofy. Kinda has a bit of a strat/twisted tele thing going on.

 

[Gorgon90]

My Yamaha Pacifica 402S (Tele like guitar) is loaded with a set of Tonerider Hot Classics after the original pickups went micro-phonic. They rock imho.

 

[Dudeman1967]

Right now it is between Seymour Duncan Antiquity II and Fender Custum Shop '51 no caster.

I can't seem to find a non-relic'd version of the SD pickups. Leaning towards the Fender Custum shop.

Speak now or forever hold your right to judge me in the future.

 

[smurfco]

I had a set of those 51 nocaster pickups and I didn't love them. I found them to be overly bright

 

[GilmourD]

Scope out Sunday Handwound. Tim is winding some damn magic.

Telecaster

All the Tele sets

sundayhandwound.com

 

[Modern Saint]

The Butterscotch Blonde has SD LaBrea's (Brad Paisley)
The WD/Warmoth Partscaster has SD Quarter Pounder in the bridge and SD Jazz Humbucker
The Red Dog has a Noiseless in the bridge and 2 SD Alnico Humbuckers
My G&L is Stock

 

[PunkKitty]

Wilde pickups built by Becky Lawrence always sound great and are reasonably priced.

 

[Bob411]

I had a set of those 51 nocaster pickups and I didn't love them. I found them to be overly bright

I think I remember you are younger than me so, having less upper hearing loss would make sense.

 

[Motorik]

I have the Bare Knuckles Blackguard 55 Stagger set. The neck and neck + bridge positions are perfect, I couldn't ask for better. The bridge by itself is pretty darn aggressive, i usually have to roll the tone back to about 7 or less when I use it, I'll only open it up if I want a really punchy lead for solos.

 

[Aahzz]

My first stop on any pickup search is Wolfetone - also usually my last stop as well.

 

[Dudeman1967]

Right now it is between Seymour Duncan Antiquity II and Fender Custum Shop '51 no caster.

I can't seem to find a non-relic'd version of the SD pickups. Leaning towards the Fender Custum shop.

Speak now or forever hold your right to judge me in the future.

Getting the Seymour Duncan Antiquity II. They weren’t offered in non-relic’d form. Matt got me a special order from SD to NOT screw up the finish. So far so good.