Rich_S
Joined: Feb 17, 2014
Posts: 30
Potsdam, NY
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Posted on Mar 25 2014 08:42 AM
Though I've been playing guitar 40 years, I'm just now getting into learning to play surf guitar. A die-hard Tele guy for the last 25+ years, I'm building a partscaster with a Bigsby specifically for this new musical exploration.
Weary of all the modding and routing I've done over the years, I want to keep things as stock as possible, and the body I'm using has only a normal Tele neck pickup route. It's previous owner actually has it set up as an Esquire, so choice of neck pickup is wide open, but I really don't want to deal with routing and custom pickguards unless I have to.
This brings up the question of what makes a good neck pickup for surf. Frankly I don't know what a good one is "supposed" to sound like. ("Supposed" in quotes to remind us all that I understand all the usual caveats about personal preference, tone in the fingers, the rest of the rig, etc.) Tele neck pickups tend to get muddy if they are made hotter. Strat pickups are brighter without the mud (think SRV). In general, I suppose there are three ways to go without routing: a "normal" Tele neck, and hotter, fatter (and possibly muddy) pickup, or a brighter more Stratish Tele-format pickup, like the Twisted Tele or various other maker's Stratish-Tele pickups.
What sort of neck tone is considered "normal" (quotes again) for surf? Honestly, my only real experience in recent years has been neck humbuckers and vintage-wind Strat (Duncan STL-1). Where do other common "surf" pickups (Jag, Jazzmaster, P90, Moserite) fall on the spectrum?
Long-term, I don't mind experimenting, to I'd like to make a really good, educated "first guess" at which neck pickup to put in this guitar, despite being a total surf noob.
BTW, it's going to be a fun axe. Stay tuned.
Last edited: Mar 25, 2014 08:43:50
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togergo
Joined: Jan 23, 2012
Posts: 282
Budapest
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Posted on Mar 25 2014 08:50 AM
hm?
Surf Tele
— original compositions (low-level demo stuff /out of tune, etc) myStuff not my best, but i don't like to be in a musician community without anything to show
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togergo
Joined: Jan 23, 2012
Posts: 282
Budapest
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Posted on Mar 25 2014 08:51 AM
or, the good old thread
— original compositions (low-level demo stuff /out of tune, etc) myStuff not my best, but i don't like to be in a musician community without anything to show
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Bob_Kennedy
Joined: Feb 27, 2012
Posts: 316
Mesa, AZ.
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Posted on Mar 25 2014 09:17 AM
A Tele in the middle p/u position (neck & bridge) sounds fantastic for surf. My go-to pickups for Teles (& Strats too!) will always be Wilde Keystones (Bill Lawrence). While Bill Lawrence passed away last November, his wife still runs the the business & winds the pickups in so-cal. Very affordable & I've never heard a better set of pickups. Here's the link; Wilde Pickups
— Otto & The Ottomans
Kennedy Custom Guitars
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remora1
Joined: Jan 04, 2008
Posts: 1275
San Pedro, CA
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Posted on Mar 25 2014 09:48 AM
I dropped one of these in my Thinline and it sounds fantastic for surf:
Churchill Open Coil Tele Neck Pickup
"AlNiCo II magnets in a slightly taller than standard bobbin. Wound with 42 guage wire resulting in a brighter bolder sound from your neck position. Think of a cross between a Strat and a tele. This is my favorite for the neck position in a Telecaster: By removing the cover, the pickup displays more clarity and definition. Poly-nylon wire and custom de-gaussing make this pickup sound truly amazing. Sweet, creamy tones, as well as bell-like chime and excellent clarity. Works great with either Churchill Al-5, Broadcaster Clone or Al-2 bridge pickups for Tele. No modifications of any kind are needed to your Tele to install this pickup."
Unfortunately his Ebay store has gone dark - his Facebook page is still active though. I also put a Churchill Al-5 in the bridge - it's one of my best sounding guitars.
— Bill S._______
HELLDIVER on Facebook
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Rich_S
Joined: Feb 17, 2014
Posts: 30
Potsdam, NY
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Posted on Mar 25 2014 11:29 AM
I'm well familiar with Premier Guitar's Surf-Twanf Twak-o-Rama, but I really don't want to get into routing this time around. I'm getting old, and I'd rather be playing than modding.
That Churchill is one I haven't heard of before. Similar in concept to Fender's Twisted Tele (taller bobbin, 42 ga wire) but it's A2 instead of Fender's A5. I'll keep it in mind.
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