The Jazz Guitar Chord Dictionary

View Poll Results: What pickup would you prefer on a "jazz" Tele?

Voters
141. You may not vote on this poll
  • Single coil

    79 56.03%
  • Humbuckering

    48 34.04%
  • Other (please explain)

    14 9.93%
Reply to Thread Bookmark Thread
Page 2 of 6 FirstFirst 1234 ... LastLast
Posts 26 to 50 of 129
  1. #26

    User Info Menu

    I have a Fralin P-92 on mine. I think that is supposed to be a mix between a P-90 and some type of decent humbucker. I can’t fault it. Very clear and well balanced.

  2.  

    The Jazz Guitar Chord Dictionary
     
  3. #27

    User Info Menu

    A Fender Texas Special in one and a Fralin HB size p90 in the other. A p92 is another great shout.

  4. #28

    User Info Menu

    Quote Originally Posted by semitone1
    For jazz on a Tele I think most people will appreciate a somewhat "hot" or "over-wound" pickup. This is because the higher voltage output of "overwound" pickups brings the amp to saturation more readily, even with a rolled-back volume knob. Because vintage humbuckers have a lot more output than an average single-coil, I suppose that's why they became universal for jazz. But single-coils can drive an amp too, with a bit more winding. I like Fender's Texas Special neck pickup. CS '51 is probably very similar. But every maker has "overwound" versions of their product.
    Agree with this; I've had a TS neck in my #1 tele for like 26 years now. The "secret" is to drop the pickup lower, which you usually need to do anyway to balance such a hot pickup with the bridge. But when you drop it, it's SO sweet... fat & clear.

  5. #29

    User Info Menu

    Quote Originally Posted by mr. beaumont
    Single coil and an Electro Harmonix Hum Debugger
    Does that thing really work?

  6. #30

    User Info Menu

    Quote Originally Posted by mr. beaumont
    Single coil and an Electro Harmonix Hum Debugger
    Hum Debugger works great; my only complaint is that it requires a unique wall wart so you can't use the power supply on your board.

  7. #31

    User Info Menu

    Quote Originally Posted by Paulie2
    Does that thing really work?
    Astonishingly well.

  8. #32

    User Info Menu

    Quote Originally Posted by BigDaddyLoveHandles
    I'm asking because on the Telecaster forum there's a fellow who wants to make a "jazz" Tele for his son, and the father doesn't know anything about guitars and the son is just starting out.

    In the replies from other forum members, there is the opinion that jazz means humbuckers. I'm ready to admit humbuckers are more common on jazz boxes today, but if you focus just on Tele-style guitars, I'm not so sure which is more common. And so ... my survey!

    I have a preference for single coil -- I feel I hear the notes more clearly, especially with chords, but what do you think?
    Humbuckers on Teles? Hmm

    Maybe have your friend email Dan Strain at Danocaster guitars. One of his claims to fame is matching pick-ups with Teles and their intended use. So your friend can mention what type of wood and hardware he is using.

    My Danocaster has a Budz and a Danocaster A3. When he built mine I told him I was going for jazzy sounds with some all around versatility but I definitely was not going for chicken picking type sounds. I wanted jazzy type tones in the neck p/u but with some nice clarity. And he delivered.

    Equally important is the bridge pick-up choice because you may have it in the middle position a lot unless you get a Hum Debugger

  9. #33

    User Info Menu

    Quote Originally Posted by neatomic
    way back when modded teles first started showing up, the popular neck replacement was a mini-humbucker...mini retained some of the focused high end of the single coil (p-90-ish), but with humbucking/no noise

    the standard tele neck pup has traditionally used thinner #43 wire for a clearer more hi-fi tone...the cover also being part of the equation

    here's mini-



    cheers
    This
    Best of both worlds - humbucking power but with clarity of a single coil.

  10. #34

    User Info Menu

    Let’s face it, any good quality pickup will do for a beginner. Just avoid the harsh and chirpy ceramic pickups.

    That said, my favorite is a Biltoff CC style blade.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

  11. #35

    User Info Menu

    Funny, I also prefer single coil on my semi hollow... p90 has the best jazz tone ever

  12. #36

    User Info Menu

    Quote Originally Posted by rlrhett
    Let’s face it, any good quality pickup will do for a beginner. Just avoid the harsh and chirpy ceramic pickups.

    That said, my favorite is a Biltoff CC style blade.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
    Someone with the same name as me just happens to be selling one of these in the For Sale forum!

  13. #37

    User Info Menu

    As one of the biggest Tele lovers on the forum here's my $.02 worth: I've had bunches of different single coils, several CC's by different makers, and a few humbuckers, also by different builders and I've come to the conclusion that, to me, it doesn't really matter much. A few tweaks to the tone control and/or the amp and I still sound like me. I've got a homemade hollow Tele with a DiMarzio 36th Anniversary that sound real nice and warm and my partscaster (Allparts neck & body) with 'Nocaster' pickups can pretty much get a pretty fat tone with the right strings. I'm beginning to think that strings and pickup height make a bigger difference in tone than pickups. Of course, as always, YMMV.

    As an aside, that partscaster is starting to get real heavy (close to 8lbs) on the old 75 yr old shoulder so I'm thinking of starting a new build with something like Paulownia for the body. Maybe get a nice roasted curly maple neck with 1.75" nut and keep my Nocaster pickups.

  14. #38

    User Info Menu

    I didn't want to mess with re-routing my Hahn Tele or re-routing a pickguard, so I ordered a custom "Blues Special" neck PU from Fralin wound +5% hotter and Bingo! I have a nice fat, clear, tone; and sounds great with the bridge PU (Lollar Special T). The "Blues Special" already sound fat, but the extra winding added a bit of girthy-ness and fullness. It also gave the PU added warmness. I'd love to try the Biltoft CC pickup that's a ready to drop in on a Tele.



    Cheers,
    Arnie...

  15. #39

    User Info Menu

    I'm building a tele partscaster in slow motion and plan to use a TK Smith C.A.R. pickup. Expensive, but I find the sound very appealing. (Couldn't be the player, could it?)

    I started a thread about it a while back and got some great insights from the forum. In case anyone else is curious...

    Putting a TK Smith CAR pickup in a Telecaster?

    What type of neck pickup would you prefer on a "jazz" Tele?-tk-smith-car-frisell-jpg
    Last edited by Flat; 02-12-2021 at 03:26 PM.

  16. #40

    User Info Menu

    I like a Lindy Fralin Tele neck pickup called the "Big T" designed for (or by) Jim Weider.
    Its currently mounted in my '84 Fender (Japan) Squier.

    Capable of a broad tonal range for a neck pickup and can do the full bodied and well balanced thing well.

  17. #41

    User Info Menu

    Quote Originally Posted by patshep
    Funny, I also prefer single coil on my semi hollow... p90 has the best jazz tone ever
    A friend of mine is a fantastic (and semi-well known) luthier; he always recommends a tele or other single coil pickup for his jazz guitars, but guitarists typically reply, "Huh? I need a humbucker for jazz!"

  18. #42

    User Info Menu

    Quote Originally Posted by marcwhy
    A friend of mine is a fantastic (and semi-well known) luthier; he always recommends a tele or other single coil pickup for his jazz guitars, but guitarists typically reply, "Huh? I need a humbucker for jazz!"
    I don't quite get this post. Why should a luthiers opinion on jazz tone be more credible than jazz musicians?

  19. #43

    User Info Menu

    I have a Hod Rod Tele. It's got a Gibson Firebird style Seymour Duncan pickup in the neck position. It's a humbucker but it's very single coil-like by design. It's definitely fatter than the regular Tele neck pickup (I also have that on one guitar) but it's also not an in-your-face humbucker.
    Last edited by Tal_175; 02-12-2021 at 03:39 PM.

  20. #44

    User Info Menu

    Lollar Imperial, hands down!

    I built a parts Telecaster more than 20 years ago, and rebuilt it last summer. When I did, I Installed Lollar Imperials in the neck and bridge positions. Absolutely fantastic!

    As a point of reference, I’ve been playing jazz for about 50 years. What type of neck pickup would you prefer on a "jazz" Tele?-img_7140-jpg


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  21. #45

    User Info Menu

    Quote Originally Posted by Tal_175
    I don't quite get this post. Why should a luthiers opinion on jazz tone be more credible than jazz musicians?
    It's not (and the luthier is also a musician) - in most of the cases, the players had never tried nor listened to the alternatives, so kinda like saying, "Coconut is tasty." "I don't like coconut." "Have you ever tried it?" "Nope."
    Last edited by marcwhy; 02-12-2021 at 06:20 PM.

  22. #46

    User Info Menu

    This guy doesn’t need a humbucker.


  23. #47

    User Info Menu

    Quote Originally Posted by semitone1
    For jazz on a Tele I think most people will appreciate a somewhat "hot" or "over-wound" pickup. This is because the higher voltage output of "overwound" pickups brings the amp to saturation more readily, even with a rolled-back volume knob. Because vintage humbuckers have a lot more output than an average single-coil, I suppose that's why they became universal for jazz. But single-coils can drive an amp too, with a bit more winding. I like Fender's Texas Special neck pickup. CS '51 is probably very similar. But every maker has "overwound" versions of their product.

  24. #48

    User Info Menu

    If for some reason I wanted different pups in my Tele, I would get a pair os Seymour Duncan Lil' '59s. I ran one in my '66 Custom Telecaster for awhile in the bridge position and only took it out because it was so much hotter than the stock neck pup. I think a pair of them would be sweet.

    Also, I find the stock neck pup to be fine for jazz. I like the N+B even better! Switches and knobs, boys and girls, switches and knobs!

  25. #49

    User Info Menu

    Quote Originally Posted by ThatRhythmMan
    This guy doesn’t need a humbucker.

    The hidden (unknown) talent in this world oftentimes makes me smile the most. Loved that. Fantastic. Looked him up.

    Jarmo Hynninen - Guitarist in Vantaa, Finland

  26. #50

    User Info Menu

    finely played..tho i don't know if i'd call a guy with 100 vids of himself on youtube & his own .com website-hidden!...there's definitely an ego involved! haha

    cheers