Who makes the twangiest Tele Pups?

[Offshore Angler]

Really. Good ol' Nasville biting, buzzing, obnoxious in-your-face Telecaster pups that snarl and bite.

Tell me your experience and what kind of music you play.

How long have you been in a band?

Who's your hero?

Chuck

[Tele-Bob]

I really love the Vintage '52s that came stock in my Tele. Combined with the 2 piece ash body and maple neck, it snaps, pops, twangs, squeals, roars, jangles and delivers creamy smooth solo tones all at the same time. I wouldn't dream of changing them.

[Rickenjangle]

OA, I think that the old-school tele bridge makes just as much difference in the twang factor. That AmStd. bridge I had on an '89 tele just didn't have the snap, crackle, or pop that my Nashville tele does, and the bridge is the old-style. Plus, the Nashville sound has tons of compression on it, so much so that you get as much sustain as if the amp were overdriven.

Pete Anderson used teles through Deluxes, so you've got that part of the tone recipe right.

[Fendercrazy]

Really. Good ol' Nasville biting, buzzing, obnoxious in-your-face Telecaster pups that snarl and bite?

To my ears the best overall tele pups I’ve heard are the Dimarzio Twang Kings.

Tell me your experience and what kind of music you play?

Style wise my heart is in country and southern rock.

How long have you been in a band?

Been making a living at it for 15 years. Playing for 20.

Who's your hero?

My country hero’s are Eddy Shaver, Vince Gill, and Don Rich.

[jim in texas]

Twang Kings, eh?

You have my attention.

Are there any clips available?

[dafack01]

The Voodoo TE60's Grey bottoms are just what you described. Alnico 5 magnets, 60's era coil pattern, copper baseplate, bright, snarly, twangy, and through a BF Fender are JUST what you described.

[Tele-Bob]

So are we talking "which p'ups have the most authentic twang?" Or which p'ups simply have "the most" twang?

Fender invented "twang". So, I would have to say that Fender p'ups will give you the most authentic twang.

Other p'ups may have more twang, but may not sound as "Fender-like."

[Fendercrazy]

Twang Kings, eh?
You have my attention.
Are there any clips available?

I wish I could. My pc setup wont handle audio. :fc I'm working on getting set up though. The TK's sound as Fendery as any stock Fender pup I've heard. I'm a big big fan of the 52ri pups also. :)

[Williams]

So are we talking "which p'ups have the most authentic twang?" Or which p'ups simply have "the most" twang?

Fender invented "twang". So, I would have to say that Fender p'ups will give you the most authentic twang.

Other p'ups may have more twang, but may not sound as "Fender-like."

I whole heartly agree. There are pups out there by boutique companies that have hellish twang, but not what I would call vintage authentic Tele twang. Only a Fender can give you that;)

-Kevin

[chuckocaster]

dimarzio probably has clips of that pup on their site. check it out.

the custom shop nocaster and broadcaster pups are nice and twang but not overly bright like some bridge pups.

[Offshore Angler]

There are pups out there by boutique companies that have hellish twang, ...

-Kevin

Yep, that's what I'm looking for.

[jim in texas]

I've got a set of Antiquity's in my tele and it's "old flat pole-piece, 50's tele" twangy.

The Antiquity ll with alnico V magnets are 60's pickups and they're even more twangy. The D and G polepieces are raised and they measure 7.5 and 6.5 k.

I'm sold on the entire Antiquity line. Everything that I've tried or installed for folks has been exactly as promised and that includes strat, tele, PAF, and mini-humbuck.

(edited because I typed it bad)

[Tele-Bob]

Agreed. Antiquities rule.

[Offshore Angler]

So it would seem Antiquities or Twang Kings. Well for the time being I'll just shut up and play. Usually the best thing to do anyway.

[Williams]

Yep, that's what I'm looking for.

Well, in that case I reccomend looking into the Bill Lawrence 290TL then....Mind you it won't give you vintage Fender twang though...

-Kevin

[PatentAppliedFor]

the Bill Lawrence are the best tele pups I've heard

[fezz parka]

Good ol' Nasville biting, buzzing, obnoxious in-your-face Telecaster pups that snarl and bite.

I like the CS Texas Teles for in-your-face twang. Antiquity II's are very good as well. Alnico V's give you that 60's twang big time.

Band? I've been in tons of bands. I've been playing for 40 years. Now I work in film and TV music.

Hero? As in guitar hero? I got a few (Harrison, Clapton, Fogerty, Beck, Albert Lee, James Burton), but the lightning bolt that hit me was Howard Roberts. The best guitar player I've ever seen. Ever...

[chuckocaster]

i think a big thing that has been overlooked is the set up of your guitar. if it is already set up this way then please disregard...

but to get the most twang out of your tele you'll need;

1. very low action
2. a straight neck
3. maple necks don't hurt here either
4. original ashtray three saddle bridge with steel saddles
5. a 1meg vol pot won't hurt things either
6. light strings
7. a good compressor pedal that doesn't affect your tone
8. 10 inch speakers won't hurt either

any good set of 6-7k alnico 5 pups should work out real good for ya.

[Rickenjangle]

Well for the time being I'll just shut up and play.

You were plenty twangy last night at practice, Chuck. Although I think you need a Reverend DTII to help you cut through even more. It twangs like a mofo with the gain down, the volume up, and the treble at just over half. It's like the American Express Card...don't leave home without it.

[dafack01]

The only Antiquity pickup I've played is the Firebird Mini-Humbucker n the neck of my 50's classic tele.

Great pickup. I Love it. You really can't go wrong with ANY boutique pickup. As long as it has Alnico 5 magnets and isn't overwound (and with the copper baseplate) you're good, for the ultra bright sizzling Bakersfield twang at least. Modify amp and strings to taste.

BTW, the Ash-tray bridge with brass saddles is the shizzle for twang.

[fezz parka]

FWIW, brass saddles soften the twang.

[dafack01]

FWIW, brass saddles soften the twang.

I have heard that Steel saddles twang more. I just think that the Brass saddles give the twang more balls.

At least the kind-of twang that I like.

[fezz parka]

On a really bright guitar brass is cool, but I dig the threaded steel the most. Snap, pop, and twang!

[Williams]

Brass saddles sound great on swamp ash Teles whereas steel saddles sound good on alder Teles....
That's my experience;)

-Kevin

[Offshore Angler]

Rickenjangle, I'm going back to the Strat. That Tele is just too overpowering for our setup. I was so busy trying to control the dynamics of that hot rod I couldn't concentrate on what I was playing. That guitar does have some balls, I must say. Everything sounded so much more blended with the Strat at the last two gigs.

[jim in texas]

Rickenjangle, I'm going back to the Strat. That Tele is just too overpowering for our setup. I was so busy trying to control the dynamics of that hot rod I couldn't concentrate on what I was playing. That guitar does have some balls, I must say. Everything sounded so much more blended with the Strat at the last two gigs.

There's truth to that.

A telecaster cuts right to the chase.

[Tele-Bob]

Alas, the magic of the Telecaster and why they appeal so much to older players who have the experience to tame the beast. The Tele is like a blunt instrument and takes care, skill and practice to wield gracefully. Very rewarding, but as OSA pointed out, a lot of work sometimes.

[Offshore Angler]

Yepper bob. This particular Tele is really strong in the mids. (My alder 'burst). Great for a trio, but almost too LP-like in a three guitar setting. Actually, it's OK through the sound system but the mids overpower the highs when hearing just through the amp, and in a three guitar setting that muddies up the waters in a real hurry. My Strat is nice and ice-picky and slices throught the mix pretty well. Since Crossfyre has three guitrars it seem like the more logical choice. Especially for doing fills and stuff like that. I was thinking of building an ash/maple Tele with treble and twang out the whazoo for this setting, hence the post.

[frank thomson]

so it looks as if everyone is talking about bridge pups....but...

who do you think makes the brightest neck pup?

[Williams]

so it looks as if everyone is talking about bridge pups....but...

who do you think makes the brightest neck pup?

Bill Lawrence -- end of discussion

-Kevin

[frank thomson]

Bill Lawrence -- end of discussion

-Kevin

are they the same ones offered on ebay for $50? if so...i'll try them

[fezz parka]

Bill Lawrence -- end of discussion

-Kevin

The CS Texas Tele is the clearest and brightest tele neck pickup out there. Hands down the best sounding true single coil neck pickup I've ever heard.

[frank thomson]

SO, FEZZ......what would be the wiring schematic for the 3 wire CS Tex Tele pup?

btw, $44.99 sounds waaaaaaay reasonable from MF.

[fezz parka]

SO, FEZZ......what would be the wiring schematic for the 3 wire CS Tex Tele pup?

btw, $44.99 sounds waaaaaaay reasonable from MF.

Check the Burton Standard @ Mr. Gearhead...

[frank thomson]

well i was checking around.....and only MF says CSTEX-TELES....the OFFICIAL Fender site just says TEX-TELES, no CS designation.

I have 2 burtons, and I personally don't find the neck pups satisfactory and/or hot. Now, the CS pups must be hotter if you say so.

Are there 2 diff TT-pups; A CUSTOM SHOP version, and the other version?

just curious is all.

[pc]

Yeah, I'm in the midst of this same discussion with a guy over at TDPRI. I think the answer is yes, and here's why.

I've owned two Texas Special Strats since '01, and having done some messing around in the control cavity, I can tell you that none of those pups were stamped "Custom Shop" on the bottom like these new CS-TS pups I just got for the Tele.

I emailed my bud who is an auth. Fender repair dude yesterday, and he said that there definitely is a difference. Guitars that come with the Texas Specials (which included the TS Strats, the USA ash Highway-1 Tele, and any and all of the Fender Japan Teles that come with them) are not the same as the Custom Shop TS pups you can buy.

He says the main difference is the shielding/potting work done to the CS is much more extensive. Can't verify that other than to say that they have way less hum than my TS-Strats did. But I can verify that they definitely are hotter-output than the stock Fender pups that come in American Series guitars.

[frank thomson]

JACK SAYS.....I emailed my bud who is an auth. Fender repair dude yesterday, and he said that there definitely is a difference. Guitars that come with the Texas Specials (which included the TS Strats, the USA ash Highway-1 Tele, and any and all of the Fender Japan Teles that come with them) are not the same as the Custom Shop TS pups you can buy.

BINGO! Well, then, there's the answer! Good work.

I just might buy a few....and a few more! I absolutely love a hot neck pup!

(aside; you should see my RollingRock Tele. I put on a Fender maple neck, and changed the neck pup to a ASAT Classic. Let me tell you, she's a pig, baby! A damn fine whore! Yum! :hee)

[fezz parka]

The CS Texas Teles are in the Burton. If you don't find them satisfactory, don't buy the aftermarket CS TT's. I personally hate a hot neck pickup, but the one in the Burton is the clearest cleanest neck pickup I've ever heard. Usually, the weaker the neck pickup the better they sound. If I want a hot muddy neck pickup, I play my Les Paul.

[pc]

Heh.

[butnut]

I have the Lawrence pup in my Esquire's bridge, I forgot the model # douh! I do know that pup is twangy with just enough balls...got threaded brass saddles, maple neck too...yum. That pup is microphonic as hell. I can softly tap my fingernail on the headstock and it picks up...I'm guessing this is part of the twang magic...is that normal? Even if it is'nt, I dig it.