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I know it's an age old debate and common modification, but I'd like to hear what others have done.

I have two Teles, the neck pickup on one sounds great, the other dull and muddy.

Considered a treble bleed capacitor but in theory that wouldn't have any effect with the volume up full. Would it? It's intended to keep treble when you lower the volume.

The other option, without routing and swapping the scratchplate, is obviously a pickup upgrade to another Tele neck pickup.

The options for this seem a bit limited.
There are all the cheap Chinese pups to consider, then the usual 'hot' output stuff, then the more expensive options like Antiquities.

I'm not looking for a hot sound like Hot Rails, just a decent neck position sound with clarity that isn't dull.

I replaced mine with a sustainer system.

Always LOVED this squier model. It looks like it has giant fucking balls.

Like even if it doesnt, look at the fuckin thing its awesome.

I put a Twisted Tele in my old MIM Tele. It's the best tele neck pickup I've ever had.

@ Tim

Rob, as cool as those models are, I want to keep things traditional, the guitar has gold anodized guard on it. I'm not cutting it up for a bigger pickup.

what type is the good pickup? could you track down another or is it a random/no brand thing?

stewart wrote:what type is the good pickup? could you track down another or is it a random/no brand thing?

Who me? Fender Twisted Tele pickup, the same one they use on the 50s Baja tele. I bought one on Ebay a few years back for $45 used.

While a common mod to make it seem "more Stratty" is to take off the cover, when doing so on mine it didn't make a huge difference. On reflection I think Strats having raised pole pieces adds more to clarity, as opposed to Tele pole pieces being more flush with the bobbin (and so nearer the windings). If there's an open version with raised pole pieces I'd be interesting to see what it's like. People often say the bridge construction has a lot to do with how a Tele neck pickup sounds too, though.

You could also just get a pickguard cut for a Strat pickup, which is probably the easiest and cheapest option, but routing might be a consideration.

Edit: I know the open-top look isn't for everyone, but I definitely like it.

Another vote here for twisted tele pickup. It just seems to have the ability to be brighter and more open and you can always roll the tone off for the traditional tele sound. Some people have said it sounds more strat like and while I wouldn't go that far, it's unquestionably more versatile than the standard thing.

The twisted Tele pup is about £130 over here, I'll keep my eye out for a second hand one though.

Stewart - As far as I know it's a USA standard. I should double check that actually...

George - I've seen pickguards available to take a Strat pup, really like the gold anod guard though.

Thanks for the replies.

Fran wrote:The twisted Tele pup is about £130 over here, I'll keep my eye out for a second hand one though.

There's a second hand one on US ebay for $50 + $5 shipping. If the seller won't ship to the UK, there's an entire forum of bros that I'm sure would handle forwarding it to the UK.

mkt3000 wrote:

Fran wrote:The twisted Tele pup is about £130 over here, I'll keep my eye out for a second hand one though.

There's a second hand one on US ebay for $50 + $5 shipping. If the seller won't ship to the UK, there's an entire forum of bros that I'm sure would handle forwarding it to the UK.

Thanks mate.

I've found two second hand in the UK currently around £35, gonna keep my eye on them.
Watched some demos after the recommendations and it sounds impressive.

I got a Kent Armstrong 'Rebel' pup for £20 on the 'bay, worth a gamble at that price.
The description is a slightly hotter alnico v that keeps the traditional tone.

Still watching those two twisted Tele pups though.

Fucc an necc pickup

Fran wrote:Still watching those two twisted Tele pups though.

The best sounding Tele pickup combo I ever had was Twisted Tele neck + G&L ASAT MFD bridge with a 4-way switch (also brass saddles). I got every tone I ever needed from one guitar.

mkt3000 wrote:

Fran wrote:Still watching those two twisted Tele pups though.

The best sounding Tele pickup combo I ever had was Twisted Tele neck + G&L ASAT MFD bridge with a 4-way switch (also brass saddles). I got every tone I ever needed from one guitar.

And yet...

Well, fitted the Kent Armstrong and its even more woolly sounding than the other pickup

Nothing like the sound samples on the Armstrong website.

I'm coming to the conclusion it's just the guitar.

Lol oh dear! Sounds like you got the Jagstang of the Tele world Fran

Fran wrote:Well, fitted the Kent Armstrong and its even more woolly sounding than the other pickup

Nothing like the sound samples on the Armstrong website.

I'm coming to the conclusion it's just the guitar.

Probably just your fingers

Thom wrote:Lol oh dear! Sounds like you got the Jagstang of the Tele world Fran

At least the bridge is good.