Opinions on Seymour Duncan quarter pound for tele

[rollypolly]

Anyone use these pickups for tele, particularly in the neck? I’m just looking for an upgrade in a MIM tele I got. The seller didn’t know what brand is in it currently. It’s very clean and seems lower output than my ‘69 thinline reissue or Melody Maker. I’d like to have something a tad hotter and I’m considering the QP.

[davidd]

Did not like them at all. They don't sound at all like Tele pickups IMO. This is a great set for any Tele...

https://bootstrappickups.com/collect...for-tele%C2%AE

[rollypolly]

Thanks for the tip! Which set have you tried ? I just ordered the palo duro neck pup.

[Rudy4]

I put Texas Specials in both of my MIM Telecasters. Hot and juicy they were.

[TiffanyGuitar]

Those boot strap pickups look interesting. After falling down the pickup rabbit hole for a long time, I have somewhat accidentally come to the conclusion that I like pickups - whether they are single coil, P-90s, humbuckers - to be in the vintage range but on the higher output side of vintage. Quarter pound pickups were too strong for me and just did not sound good for me.

[davidd]

Originally Posted by rollypolly

Thanks for the tip! Which set have you tried ? I just ordered the palo duro neck pup.

The Palo Duro set. I have had tons of Tele's and still have 5 in the stable and the PD's are as good as any PU I have had. I've also tried 3 different types of their Strat pickups... all good.

IMO you should revise your order and get the bridge pickup as well. With a Tele it is all about the balance between them. The middle position can be magic.

[rollypolly]

Good point. I may email them and ask to order the set. I'm excited to have a bit more meat in that neck pup.

I've been rotating through my Ibanez AK85, '69 thinline reissue (MIM), Melody Maker, and the new tele with the mystery pups. The Ibanez actually has the hottest output. Maybe it's the humbuckers. I also have a Kent Armstrong in my Gretch New Yorker and it's nice and hot , but clean for jazz. Maybe my favorite pickup.

[davidd]

Originally Posted by rollypolly

Good point. I may email them and ask to order the set. I'm excited to have a bit more meat in that neck pup.

I've been rotating through my Ibanez AK85, '69 thinline reissue (MIM), Melody Maker, and the new tele with the mystery pups. The Ibanez actually has the hottest output. Maybe it's the humbuckers. I also have a Kent Armstrong in my Gretch New Yorker and it's nice and hot , but clean for jazz. Maybe my favorite pickup.

Remember that the tone knob is your best friend on a Tele on both pickups. Rolling it off slightly is great for Blues/Jazz on the neck and takes the ice pick treble off the bridge.

[guitararmy]

One thing to consider is string pull from strong magnets in hot pickups giving you a warble as you fret up the neck.
I have been pleased with the noiseless Wilde pickups from Becky Lawrence.
They have pretty hot tele pickups that don’t have as much string pull as others.

[Matthew Sarad]

I put Harmonic Design in my Tele.
https://www.harmonicdesign.net/allpages/teles.html

[rollypolly]

You guys are gonna make me end up with a box of pickups to try out! Need to dust off the ole soldering iron. Love those mom and pop garage shops!

[rokdog49]

The Duncan’s sound pretty good to me:

[davidd]

I'm a traditionalist when it comes to Tele pickups. No Humbuckers need apply...maybe a mini HB in the neck is ok though.

[rokdog49]

Originally Posted by davidd

I'm a traditionalist when it comes to Tele pickups. No Humbuckers need apply...maybe a mini HB in the neck is ok though.

Davidd, the quarter pounder is not a humbucker. The bridge an overwound single coil with 1/4 Alnico magnets. It still produces twang albeit in a more growling form. I understand you may not like the Duncan, but in my opinion it’s very telly, just not your kind of telly.
I have a custom-wound bridge pickup made to very similar specs. Mine isn’t quite as hot as the Duncan, it’s around 9.5k. It’s very telly-ish and suitable for country, country rock, and just about anything.
Here’s the Duncan Quarter Pounder…


https://www.sweetwater.com/c965--Gui...E&gclsrc=aw.ds

And the neck…
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/det...-pickup-tapped

[davidd]

Originally Posted by rokdog49

Davidd, the quarter pounder is not a humbucker. The bridge an overwound single coil with 1/4 Alnico magnets. It still produces twang albeit in a more growling form. I understand you may not like the Duncan, but in my opinion it’s very telly, just not your kind of telly.
I have a custom-wound bridge pickup made to very similar specs. Mine isn’t quite as hot as the Duncan, it’s around 9.5k. It’s very telly-ish and suitable for country, country rock, and just about anything.
Here’s the Duncan Quarter Pounder…


https://www.sweetwater.com/c965--Gui...E&gclsrc=aw.ds

And the neck…
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/det...-pickup-tapped

I know it isn't a HB. I was using the HB as an example of what isn't a Tele tone IMO. The 1/4 pounder has far too mid range for my taste. I'm sure for certain types of rock it could work out well.