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Other than the issue of the size of the hole in my pickguard, will this work? Will a pickup that is voiced for a Strat neck sound odd as a Tele neck pickup?

it's a single coil sized humbucker, so it'll sound much like any similarly configured strat if you want to youtube it

usually i think a strat single coil in a tele neck position sounds great, and often balances very well with the bridge, but that SD is going to be a little smoother, and darker with 250k pots. depending on the bridge output and what-have-you it's going to be a bit louder if it's the ~9.68k model (SD's specs), and harder to balance volume if you have a vintage output bridge

I have a Dimarzio Pre B1 in the bridge, which is a fairly hot single coil. I only use the neck pickup for lead stuff and i'm after something dark and smooth, so that would suit me I think. More output shouldn't be a problem either.

looks to be about 14k in the bridge. sounds like it'll be a nicely balanced hot sounding tele then

I have the little 59' in my mim fender strat, i know its not a tele but i figured id just chime in and say i love the pickup! It gives that traditional strat sound but quick response during leads/riffs making it seem easier to play then the current middle p/up and its shared angled position. Maybe this is simpleton to say but its in-between a rock and blues pickup, shares a bit of both. Where in contrast my bridge-hot rail isn't much for blues or similar styles etc. I would probably rock one in a Tele if I had the chance. Or when I get the chance...

I love strat neck pickups in teles. I have 2 set up that way. One actually has a bridge single sized humbucker blade thing from that dude who made Dimebags pickups in the neck to balance out a quarter pounder (also from a strat but glued to a tele baseplate lol)

I prefer Strat pickups, humbuckers or P90s in place of traditional Tele neck pickups. Vintage style Teles don't have a very balanced sounding pair of pickups IMO, the neck unit is like the bridge unit's designated driver or something (before Fenders realized they could just call the Rhythm Circuit Cab Company).

But middle position on teles is where it's at...

Thanks gents. A little 59 arrived on my doorstep today, it was going to go in my Strat but I may well bung it in the Tele instead.

paul_ wrote:I prefer Strat pickups, humbuckers or P90s in place of traditional Tele neck pickups. Vintage style Teles don't have a very balanced sounding pair of pickups IMO, the neck unit is like the bridge unit's designated driver or something (before Fenders realized they could just call the Rhythm Circuit Cab Company).

I thought it was just me

Will it even fit in the neck? Tele lipsticks are narrower than a single coil.
Better off throwing it in the bridge. That would sound pretty good. Put in a 4 way toggle so you can split the lil 59 so you have the humbucker/single option. But in the neck it sounds like you'll need a pickguard.

It won't fit in the neck or bridge without modification, however putting it in the neck will require less work as a tele bridge pickup sits on a base plate and has 3 screws (this pickup has 2).

The bridge pickup in a Tele is just about my favourite of all time. The neck is one of my least favourites (apart from the "Twisted Tele" one on the Baja. The '59 in the neck should sound great with the bridge.

Will you have to route much to get the '59 in there? I had one in my Jaguar and it fit in there just fine, tho it has narrow/wide routes.

johnnyseven wrote:It won't fit in the neck or bridge without modification, however putting it in the neck will require less work as a tele bridge pickup sits on a base plate and has 3 screws (this pickup has 2).

I have a hotail in my tele. It'll work. Just depends how deep the cavity is on the body. Mine took some fidgeting with the bottom wires but it can work without serious modding.

For the neck he would just have to either reroute his existing pickguard for a strat sized pickup of just buy another( suggest you buy another. Way easier). 920D and a few other places have them at the ready. It's not a crazy mod. I had a lil 59 in the neck of my one 69RI and tore it out. Sounds good but it wasn't for a Mustang.
Have fun with the mod. It won't be too crazy.