Members cfordummies Posted April 21, 2012 Members Share Posted April 21, 2012 It's from 2002 if that matters. Will it make a big difference in the sound if I get, say, the custom shop Nocaster pickups? How do I know if these are the pickups I want? Would it be worth it or should I just wait and upgrade the guitar? Thanks in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Hookandcanman Posted April 21, 2012 Members Share Posted April 21, 2012 By most accounts MiM Fender guitars are really solid, quality instruments. FWIW I have Brian Gunsher's A3 Rockwinds in both my Teles.BG Pups Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members benzem Posted April 21, 2012 Members Share Posted April 21, 2012 Sure was with my '95! Locking tuners helped as well. Didn't like the stock pups much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cfordummies Posted April 21, 2012 Author Members Share Posted April 21, 2012 I should note that I actually love the playability of this guitar, but I think I'm ready for some better sounds. I heard the Fender original vintage Tele pickups can really open up the sound on a MIM guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cfordummies Posted April 21, 2012 Author Members Share Posted April 21, 2012 So I guess a further question is, Nocaster pickups vs Original Vintage Tele pickups? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members PunkKitty Posted April 21, 2012 Members Share Posted April 21, 2012 I would have Ken at Rose Pickups wind a set. He makes great pickups. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members xStonr Posted April 21, 2012 Members Share Posted April 21, 2012 It's worth changing pickups only if you're not satisfied with the sound you are getting. I have a Rose Bourbon the the neck that Ken made for me and is perfect for what I wanted and a Fender 50's reissue in the bridge. Lot's of tones to be gotten out there. Just decide what you're looking for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members smorgdonkey Posted April 21, 2012 Members Share Posted April 21, 2012 It's worth changing pickups only if you're not satisfied with the sound you are getting. That's the key. MIM has been around a long time. Very good instruments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members frankthomson Posted April 21, 2012 Members Share Posted April 21, 2012 di it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members gorebuc Posted April 21, 2012 Members Share Posted April 21, 2012 DIMARZIO: Twang Kings or True Velvets or a combination thereof. You will not be disappointed and will save tons of money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members diceman1000 Posted April 21, 2012 Members Share Posted April 21, 2012 Rose Aphrodite(basically a no caster bridge pickup) in the bridge, Rose Bourbon in the neck... [video=youtube;xMAnAn5ePdA] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DaleH Posted April 21, 2012 Members Share Posted April 21, 2012 Texas Specials can pretty much do it all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fixintogo Posted April 21, 2012 Members Share Posted April 21, 2012 To me, pickup upgrades are kinda like changing pre-amp tubes. Sure, you'll hear a difference, but neither yields as dramatic a tone improvement as people will lead you to believe. I put some Texas Specials in my American Series Tele, and afterwards I kinda wished I'd kept my hundred bucks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members PigWings_v2.0 Posted April 21, 2012 Members Share Posted April 21, 2012 The cost of a pick-up swap is a relatively smaller investment compared to the cost of a really nice guitar. It may keep you satisfied for the time being depending on your financial situation... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members AxAxSxS Posted April 21, 2012 Members Share Posted April 21, 2012 IMO pickups can make a huge difference Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members warriorpoet Posted April 21, 2012 Members Share Posted April 21, 2012 My experience with Bryan's pickups over at BG tells me that his pickups are worth it all the time, every time without exception. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Angry Tele Posted April 21, 2012 Members Share Posted April 21, 2012 yes. nocasters Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Wayne2 Posted April 21, 2012 Members Share Posted April 21, 2012 It's from 2002 if that matters. Will it make a big difference in the sound if I get, say, the custom shop Nocaster pickups? How do I know if these are the pickups I want? Would it be worth it or should I just wait and upgrade the guitar? Thanks in advance. Based on experience with my 1994 MIM Strat, yes, change the pickups. Just do it. I also went Fender Custom Shop and I really like the sound of them. The workmanship was a bit so-so. The screw holes were filled with wax and were difficult with the self-tapping screws, and wax potting was sloppy and incomplete on one. But they really do sound good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members =JL= Posted April 21, 2012 Members Share Posted April 21, 2012 If you generally like the sound of classic Telecaster music, just throw a pair of Fender Original Vintage pickups in there. It'll get you much closer to those tones than your MIM, without spending a fortune or waiting for someone to cobble a pair together in their garage.There is no great mystery about what makes a good Tele pickup, only known to a handful of "boutique" winders. Fender are actually pretty good at making their own stuff these days, it's just that your ceramic MIMs are built way down to a budget. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members diceman1000 Posted April 21, 2012 Members Share Posted April 21, 2012 To me, pickup upgrades are kinda like changing pre-amp tubes. Sure, you'll hear a difference, but neither yields as dramatic a tone improvement as people will lead you to believe. I put some Texas Specials in my American Series Tele, and afterwards I kinda wished I'd kept my hundred bucks. really? because EVERY pickup swap i've done has made a dramatic difference in the instrument... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Athiest_Peace Posted April 21, 2012 Members Share Posted April 21, 2012 A pick-up change can make a world of difference. It's easy enough to pick a couple, and then listen to them through the Pup makers website, which takes the guessing out of a lot of things. You'll either enjoy the sound they offer or you'll keep looking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members smorgdonkey Posted April 21, 2012 Members Share Posted April 21, 2012 I should have also added that I have a MIM Tele and I did change one of the pickups. It came to me like this: and I made it into: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members honeyiscool Posted April 21, 2012 Members Share Posted April 21, 2012 To me, changing a pickup to a better version of the same pickup is not that big of a difference. As I always say, voicing > quality. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members AaronF Posted April 21, 2012 Members Share Posted April 21, 2012 I was in the same boat a couple months ago. I bought a tele and really wanted some nice single coils for it. I was torn between the Fender CS Nocasters, Dimarzio Twang Kings, and (a little bit different flavor than the first two) Fender Texas Specials. I ended up choosing the Nocasters after a ton of research. I couldn't be happier. The bridge pickup is super beefy with a real nice high end that doesn't take your head off. The neck is really fantastic, it doesn't get muddy at all. They respond really nicely to how I play, making it easier to get the sound I want out of the guitar. I would highly recommend them. I think I got mine for $100 for the set, which was a steal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members PigWings_v2.0 Posted April 21, 2012 Members Share Posted April 21, 2012 As I always say, voicing > quality.I don't even know what this means... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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