The ENWorld Electric Bard Gear (Etc) Thread

[Dannyalcatraz]

Tele Twang ideally, but something somewhat versatile to an extent. Noiseless too if that's an option, which it probably is because Fender does make noiseless pickups they put in some Tele and Strats. But first things first, hear what it sounds like when I get it. My first decent guitar was a Squier HSS Strat I bought in 1989-1990. I paid just a little over $200 for it back then, which looking back seems somewhat expensive for that time. I ended up selling it to my cousin (who refuses to sell it back to me) and when I talked to him a few years later he said that he'd never heard another humbucker that sounded like it and he's been playing since at least 1980. I've never been a tone chaser, still aren't and I am a firm believer in its not what you play but how you play it, a $3000 Gibson Les Paul isn't going to make you a better player. Two good examples are Zakk Wylde said (I'm paraphrasing) I don't need a particular guitar, amp, pedals, I play guitar, either you play guitar, or you don't. Second one, Frank Zappa played an arena with just a little Pig Nose amp.

My first thoughts on classic Tele sounds would be Vintage Vibe, The Creamery, TV Jones, or Lollar.

The first two also do custom winds, so that’s an option if you want something unusual.

Case in point, I have a custom Teleclone with Vintage Vibe pickups- a standard Tele in the neck and a Charlie Christian in the bridge.


I almost went with a pair of lipsticks, but I have something else with those in the neck & middle position.

Lace makes some good singlecoils, too, and I believe some are noiseless. Their Alumitones are among the quietest, cleanest passive pickups I’ve ever heard in a singlecoil-size. I don’t know if they make an Alumitone that fits in a standard Tele bridge, though.



(Tone demo starts at 15:19.)

 

[R_J_K75]

My first thoughts on classic Tele sounds would be Vintage Vibe, The Creamery, TV Jones, or Lollar.

The first two also do custom winds, so that’s an option if you want something unusual.

Case in point, I have a custom Teleclone with Vintage Vibe pickups- a standard Tele in the neck and a Charlie Christian in the bridge.


I almost went with a pair of lipsticks, but I have something else with those in the neck & middle position.

Lace makes some good singlecoils, too, and I believe some are noiseless. Their Alumitones are among the quietest, cleanest passive pickups I’ve ever heard in a singlecoil-size. I don’t know if they make an Alumitone that fits in a standard Tele bridge, though.



(Tone demo starts at 15:19.)

Thanks, I'll check out some demos on these. I was looking at some TV Jones and Dimarzio earlier. One thing I have to take into consideration, as you mentioned, is the dimensions for screw holes, pick guard holes, etc. I know Fender and Squier doesn't necessarily mean that parts are interchangeable, sometimes they are not. Best to do your research beforehand.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Thanks, I'll check out some demos on these. I was looking at some TV Jones and Dimarzio earlier. One thing I have to take into consideration, as you mentioned, is the dimensions for screw holes, pick guard holes, etc. I know Fender and Squier doesn't necessarily mean that parts are interchangeable, sometimes they are not. Best to do your research beforehand.

Rio Grande is another to consider. (My brain farted in the previous post.) They do all kinds of nifty pickups.

Like VV & The Creamery, they will do custom designs as well.

 

[R_J_K75]

Rio Grande is another to consider. (My brain farted in the previous post.) They do all kinds of nifty pickups.

Like VV & The Creamery, they will do custom designs as well.

Alright, so this guy is playing through a clean channel and getting some dirt on these PUPs? Thats kind of what I want, some good noislessless clean tone and some dirt and spank on the bridge. He's killing it, I read some reviews on that guitar on Sweetwater yesterday and the consensus seems to be, the stock PUPs are A-OK. Classic Tele sound, so we'll see. I emailed my Sweetwater rep yesterday with a question and he called me back instead of emailing, (I gotta give a shout out to Robert Williams at Sweetwater). It's hard to say what I want because I'm not sure other than I don't want it to sound like anything else I have. I bought this because I have 3 Telecasters, all Fender, but none with the standard Tele PUP setup, single coil + lipstick. And to be honest, I bought this as a project, something to tinker with, have a friend over and have a few beers while we give it a setup, etc.

"You are young, and life is long and there is time to kill today".... so its a fun hobby.

Regardless, it's hard to say what I want because I've never been one to say, "I want to sound like Page, Slash or Marty Friedman", and Ive long since stopped trying to learn songs verbatim, if I'm in the ballpark and it sounds good, I'm OK with that. This guy in the below video seems to have lots of versatility where he can do alot of different things. Thats what I want. I'm not looking for Dimebag Darrell crushing riffs, although the opening to Cowboys From Hell is an awesome riff, really fun to play, not easy either.

 

[R_J_K75]

Rio Grande is another to consider. (My brain farted in the previous post.) They do all kinds of nifty pickups.

Like VV & The Creamery, they will do custom designs as well.

So that guy has a single coil in the neck and a humbucker in the bridge and a 5-way switch in that video? hes definitely got some gain on it too in parts. Kid kicks ass honestly. take off the gain/distortion (or that could be all from the amp) but that sounds like an all around workhorse. It can do lots of things it seems. Little known fact, Cornell plays a Supro while Thayil plays a tele on Blow Up the Outside World

 

[R_J_K75]

Anyone want to buy a set of (2) Humbucker Bareknucles? Came with an Ibanez and I.ve been playing it lately and they sound "tinny" and drop off as if if theres little to no sustain. I dont like them, others' opinions may differ. If you're interested, make me an offer. Guitar is great but the pickups suck. The roasted maple neck is great, extremely slim profile. I'm thinking of ripping them out for something else. I'll let it sit like am abandoned hulk, detritus for a bit if need be.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Anyone want to buy a set of (2) Humbucker Bareknucles? Came with an Ibanez and I.ve been playing it lately and they sound "tinny" and drop off as if if theres little to no sustain. I dont like them, others' opinions may differ. If you're interested, make me an offer. Guitar is great but the pickups suck. The roasted maple neck is great, extremely slim profile. I'm thinking of ripping them out for something else. I'll let it sit like am abandoned hulk, detritus for a bit if need be.

Not me at the moment, but do you know what kind they are?

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

@R_J_K75

Alumitones are unique. The size & shape doesn’t necessarily tell you anything about the pickups themselves- the singlecoil-sized and HB sized ones are made in the same way, and essentially sound the same. Deathbucker Alumitones are voiced for metal, but again are made essentially the same way as their tamer cousins.

And all Alumitones are dead quiet.

 

[R_J_K75]

Not me at the moment, but do you know what kind they are?

Not me at the moment, but do you know what kind they are?

Without actually pulling them out and getting numbers/specs this is the info I got from Ibanez. Same Humbucker in 2 spots

Neck: Bare Knuckle Aftermath (H)
Bridge: Bare Knuckle Aftermath (H)

 

[R_J_K75]

@R_J_K75

Alumitones are unique. The size & shape doesn’t necessarily tell you anything about the pickups themselves- the singlecoil-sized and HB sized ones are made in the same way, and essentially sound the same. Deathbucker Alumitones are voiced for metal, but again are made essentially the same way as their tamer cousins.

And all Alumitones are dead quiet.

Definitely worth consideration, I'll look into these