TLA-1F (First Build)

[jsergeant]

So let's talk pickups. I was originally leaning towards a single coil sized humbucker along the lines of a Little 59 or some such but I'm thinking I'll will go with single coil after all. Part of the reason I chose the Tele in the first place was to push me out of my comfort zone, I usually play EMG-81/85 so I guess I'm heading to the other end of the spectrum. I'll have to admit I've never picked up a Tele let alone played one.

While I'd love to go splurge on some Seymour Duncans, I'm a little concerned about spending as much or more on the pickups than I have on the kit itself (and it's yet to be determined whether I can actually build the guitar at all, let alone one deserving such pickups). I have seen that bmusic has DiMarzio Twang Kings at a fairly reasonable price ($89 each for bridge and neck), I may be able to talk myself into that.

I would be remiss to ask your thoughts on some of the cheaper options available. I saw in another build diary someone mentioned Guitar Fetish as reasonably priced pickups. Have also come across various other options at Mr Fabulous, the Gotoh range, and of course the various options available through PBG.

I was also thinking to do away with a neck pickup originally but have changed my mind there too. I will be looking for mounting options other than using the pickguard, or perhaps drastically modifying the pickguard.

EDIT: I realise this is large a matter of taste, I guess more asking about quality of these products as compared to something like Seymour Duncans taking the price difference into account.

EDIT 2: What are the risks of second hand pickups?

[Dedman]

heaps of guys here including myself have used the Tone Riders from the PGB store and have good things to say about them. I used the Vintage Plus I think. I'd stick with the single coils because that what makes a tele a tele , to me anyway, its that twang. There is a point of diminishing returns where like a lot of things you are paying for the brand rather than the product , SD's make great pick ups, no denying it but are they worth double a set of Tone Riders? Only you can decide.

Second hand.....why are they selling them? Did the soaking in beer experiment fail? Just like used cars really, you take a punt.

[dave.king1]

For a Tele have a look at the Tonerider range, I'm using Hot Classics in my current build because they are suppised to be close to Texas Specials.

Go over to TDPRI.com for reviews/opinions of various Tele pickup options.

I have custom wound 52 Blackguard spec pickups in my Squier Thinline and they are amazing, the stock Squier Classic Vibe family pickups are supposed to be exactly the same as Tonerider Vintage Classics. ( same factory different door )

[dave.king1]

I have Seymour Duncan stacked HBs in my Pitbull Strat and they are coming out, they lack clarity for my tastes also don't sound Strat like at all.

[jsergeant]

Thanks guys. Just had a listen to a few YouTube videos demoing the Tonerider sets. Sound great. And at a much more palatable price (one I could probably get approved by the boss/wife). Based on those I'm leaning towards the Vintage Plus but I might dig around the forum and see if there's any sound demos on the two different sets before I make my final decision.

[dave.king1]

Acceptable price and performance is the reason I went for the TRs the pension doesn't stretch to Kinmans or the even more desirable to me Harmonic Design.

[wazkelly]

Thanks guys. Just had a listen to a few YouTube videos demoing the Tonerider sets. Sound great. And at a much more palatable price (one I could probably get approved by the boss/wife). Based on those I'm leaning towards the Vintage Plus but I might dig around the forum and see if there's any sound demos on the two different sets before I make my final decision.

Hi Sarge, hunted down Andy40's Rosewood Tele build demo link but it looks like the video has expired?
http://www.buildyourownguitar.com.au...ead.php?t=6258

I have Tonerider Hot Classics going into the Swampy Tele build and hope to have it finished within the few weeks. Second time I have used Tonerider as I was really pleased with the Alnico IV's that were put in the EX-1, more organic than the EMG's you mentioned above. For single coils, and in particular Tele's I reckon it is hard to find any better for the price. Trust me, I looked for ages and even considered some genuine over priced Fender's as a Tele must sound like one, not just look like one.

Edit: My Blue Tele has Wilkinsons and will be uploading a rough demo video this weekend. They sound way better than stock standard Chinese kit PUP's but yet to see how much of a difference between them and the TR Hot Classics.

[jsergeant]

Thanks Waz. Look forward to hearing both of the demos. Swampy looks great. Are these the Wilkinsons?

https://guitarmakersemporium.com.au/...ck-ups-chrome/

[wazkelly]

Bingo, or at least they look very similar and about as cheap as you will find for a set anywhere.

[jsergeant]

Someone helpfully sent through a tracing of the blank head stock and I've just spent a little time doodling some ideas. I've been advised that without the standard Tele head design, it can look quite odd. I've tried keeping it fairly similar in terms of width. I think I'd like to try something similar to some others I've seen on the forum where a section is shaved (I really don't know any woodworking terms...) at an angle (the middle line in designs below). This shaved/angled section I would possibly stain to match the body leaving the rest of the head stock a fairly light natural colour. I'll see if I can find an example image to better explain this terrible description...