Telecaster Bridge Pickups 1950-69 - How pickups affect tone - UPDATED/CORRECTED - Ask Zac 52

[@richosburn]

I really appreciate your willingness to share knowledge and experience to a fairly broad audience. Your show is always very organic and inviting and I look forward to it every week. Thank you very much, Zac!

[@AskZac]

So nice of you

[@MrBrungers]

Everytime i hear you play I´m in Love with the telecaster and I cant wait to play my own..

[@Barncaster1]

Hi Zac, Point of clarification from a pickup-winders point of view; while Alnico 5 can theoretically be magnetized to a maximum of approximately 2x of Alnico 3, it doesn’t have to be. You can magnetize an A5 rod from say 1 to up to about 1600 gauss or anywhere in between. So to say A5 is “stronger” should be clarified to A5 can be magnetized to higher gauss levels than A3. There is no innate gauss level of magnetization. The thing that has always amazed me is the difference in pickup tone with different Alnico grades magnetized to the “same” gauss level. I have a lot of bench time with many permutations of Tele pups and love the design. I love this stuff. Great channel sir.

[@fivewattworld]

Ok, I just realized that the shirt logo is a knob from an old Fender amp. :)

[@AskZac]

I love knobs!

[@LUCKYB.]

@@AskZac My ex always told me leave my knobs alone 😜👍

[@jeffreypaulross9767]

@@AskZac Hi Zac, just wanted to let you know (in case you don’t already), that in the early 90’s, Alan Hamel discovered that the original Broadcaster magnets were slightly larger in diameter than the ones that came later, and of course were larger than all the after market pickups that were supposed to be Broadcaster specs. He ordered a run of magnet lugs from the supplier, and made a few pickups with the larger diameter pole pieces. I was his test pilot/guinea pig, because I had a Custom Shop Broadcaster that he had made for me, about a year before. I no longer have the guitar, but I still have that pickup! Both John Jorgensen and Rick Holmstrom have heard it, and I think can attest that it does sound different! It has a bigger, warmer sound than most Broadcaster/52 Tele aftermarket pickups. Because Alan is gone now, I hear that those pickups are commanding very high prices! I haven’t checked lately, but a few years ago, you could get the same pickup from Ron Ellis in Carlsbad Ca. Also, I’ve heard that Fred Stuart makes a similar pickup.

[@marionmichalke9935]

Hey Zac, thanks very much for your valid info. I become a Tele lover after all these years and I want to know all about it. Many greetings from Switzerland from Marion

[@AdamStachelek]

Building a parts caster and I'm a little out of my depth but your generosity with knowledge and experience is immensely helpful. Thank you. Plus that intro diddy is my favourite warmup these days.

[@wjewell63]

Old vid.,but Zach is a treasure....for some reason my ears like alnico two...👍

[@orsanbel3668]

Every man being so passionate about the tele is initially cool to me :-) keep up the good work zac, much love from Germany my man

[@AskZac]

Thanks a ton!

[@pman8478]

Got my first guitar when I was 12 years old and started getting into the tech side of it around 14-15. I had wanted to become a luthier one day and built a tele body from scratch (even bookmatched the wood myself. I eventually let go of the luthier dream but im 25 now and I always kept playing. Then covid hit and I took the new free time that came with lockdowns to really focus on guitar again came across your page around then. And I just started building my own partscaster (and im having a wonderful time) and a huge chunk of that is thanks to you and your channel! So thank you Zac! Keep on doing what you're doing! And keep spreading the good word on Bobby Womack!

[@AskZac]

You have blessed me by saying that. Very cool. Love Bobby, and will keep spreading the word on Womack

[@pman8478]

@@AskZac makes me glad! BTW have you ever listened to Bobby's playing on Ronnie Wood's solo albums? He and Ronnie have such a terrific interplay kinda like what Bobby used to do with Reggie Young and what Ronnie would come to do with Keith in the stones.

[@Chrosa]

It's exciting how innovative Leo was and how it continues on to Music Man and G&L. The MFD pickups and bridges he made with G&L were just awesome improvements.

[@Sasketchejuana_man]

Your videos have been such a joy to watch the last few months

[@Grant_Ferstat]

I have Ron's Broadcaster pickup in my Nocaster reissue and I love it. The tone I was always chasing was what I heard from Mike Campbell's Broadcaster on the early Petty records, and to me, after having tried a LOT of pickups Ron's Broadcaster is the one that nails it for me.

[@faheykj]

The issue with chasing Campbell's broadcaster tone is, the only think that is a Broadcaster on his guitar is the ash body. And even that has been stripped and refinished. The bridge pickup was changed to a raised pole pickup at some point, the neck was replaced and some kind of fake broadcaster headstock decal added. No idea about the neck pickup. I believe Zac did a segment on Mike's "Broadcaster". Unfortunately, while a great sounding guitar, it's just an old beat up partscaster.

[@mkii1964]

Zac, you are the Bob Ross of Telecasters!!!

[@toddsell5460]

Zac this is a great vid especially for new guys... Thanks for being so informative my friend.... Zac if ya ever get back home, I'll come up and buy you lunch over at the Kings inn

[@AskZac]

I miss the tartar sauce!

[@Docsjeff]

Really glad I found your channel.Watched all of your interview w/Pete A. straight through. Enjoyed hearing about he & Dwight's come uppings.Really dig music docs.,especially with artists I've covered my entire life.

[@markjwgraham7842]

Zac, I've just installed some brass saddles on my overly bright Esquire per your advice - wow! Even just retuning it acoustically I was astonished how different it sounded. It’s affected the top end most. It doesn't darken it per se but the resonant peak seems higher and sweeter than the threaded steel saddles that were on before. More like acoustic guitar highs than pokey harsh highs. Additionally, the notes now compress a lot more when you give them some snap (vs the steel saddles). It compresses in a similar way to what I love about my 335. Both of these mean I can now leave the amp set reasonably bright, hit it hard or soft and it doesn’t get too much - sounds sweet instead of pokey ice-pick! Thanks so much for your advice and expertise. I'm very glad I found your channel!

[@jimmy5634]

I have an overwound “Broadcaster” style pickup from Rob at Cavalier Pickups. It has A3 mags with about 2000 more wraps of 43 AWG…more than the original. It was referred to as the “Holy Grail.” It’s absolutely awesome in every way. You get a three dimensional clarity and at the same time, really good punch. Many consider this the best bridge Leo ever wound. I also have Rob’s Nashville Lion Bridge which is an overwound with A5 mags, 42 AWG. It’s very responsive and it has zingy voice that works great with todays modern country style.

[@nunoandradebluesdrive]

I'm a strat blues guy, and I pretty much know a lot about those, and finally I'm going to get my first (used) tele tomorrow, a nice platform to mod and fine tune to my taste, and your videos are of great help. - Thanks for the great content! cheers -subscribed

[@AskZac]

Rock on!

[@WillyPDX94]

Fun fun fun. And I learned so much in this video. For the first time I have a working understanding of how the Tele pickup changed in its initial years and how that affects the sound in general. Thank you, Zac.

[@AskZac]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@vayabroder729]

That’s it! The magnet issue that I had described originally in my comment in the original video regarding Broadcaster pickups. I had seen a discrepancy between what the Seymour Duncan website says and what The Blackguard book says. Thanks for clarifying. I also had a ‘69 with F Bigsby that in retrospect I shouldn’t have sold and as you say, the bridge pickup died. Lindy Fralin ended rewinding it and wax potting it years before he became a celebrity. That one weighed like an 18 wheeler but sounded like a million bucks.

[@AskZac]

Thank you

[@jameslockhart2223]

That is a deep level of research! Excelllent video, Zac.

[@2368CHRIS]

one of the superb tone qualities of those older vintage guitars is the natural amount of magnet degaussing and dc drift of the pickup and components

[@stamppedals3536]

What makes dc drift?

[@golds04]

My original 66 neck pu- finally shorted after years of sweat n bars😢. Re wound- and good to go. Ty great video.

[@bldallas]

My favorite Tele pups are Fender Pure Vintage ‘64s. Freaking love them. Awesome tone and plenty of volume.

[@badtweed2087]

Earliest Tele bridge pickups used the light colored hookup wire lead that was soldered to the eyelet to wrap around the finished coil instead of the twine wrap that became the standard wrap method.

[@victorbeebe8372]

Aloha and Mahalo Zack. Very informative. Useful information

[@AskZac]

Glad it was helpful!

[@roscoenyc]

Love the "Triple Tree" string tree too on your fabulous maple cap!

[@AskZac]

Thanks! It helps keep the G string sounding right, and less of the weirdness when I hit it open.

[@roscoenyc]

@@AskZac I got one at the urging of Kenny Vaughn!

[@ZacCostilla]

@@AskZac where might one find a string tree like that?

[@AskZac]

@@ZacCostilla reverb.com/item/11081701-three-string-tree-string-retainer-nickel-by-music-city-bridge-aged-nickel

[@ZacCostilla]

@@AskZac you rock!

[@pcau]

Love your diligence and generosity with information. This is highly interesting Sir! :)

[@gregrobinmatt]

Love this video. I'm in the middle of a Tele build and this helps me greatly!

[@frankiecalabro2617]

I wonder who’s teaching for Paisley now, cause Zac is amazing especially in the history and tech of the Tele! Love ya bro!

[@adamdarmstaedter1256]

I think the staggered pole pieces were also supposed to follow the curvature of the 7.25" radius. The G and D strings are usually the highest ones coming off the saddles if your bridge is set up to follow the fretboard radius.

[@TylerJamesPryor]

Idk how he did this whole video without talking about radius

[@BeautifulGuitars365]

Man I was thinking the same thing

[@Docsjeff]

Makes sense.Just following the curvature of the neck and fretboard.

[@jonathanmartin7003]

Also wound G strings

[@trapperjohn8481]

If this doesn't convince you that the Earth is flat, then nothing will.

[@the-LeoKnightus]

Always a great watch. That pickup might be the most listened to tone in American recorded music.

[@petethompson1591]

Hi Jac, I'm in the UK and new to your site, & found everything you said about Tele bridge pickups ('50-'69) very interesting. I'm a time-served luthier (50 years!), and have found a species of timber that sounds wonderful for Telecaster-style guitars - & am looking for pickups that compliment it, so am curious about where you learned all this stuff. Best regards and thanks in anticipation, Pete

[@johnulrich5572]

Thanks for the video, Zac. The two best (and cheapest) mods I've done to my Tele was steel saddles and flat wounds.

[@dunxy]

Couple years late but so did you change from brass to steel? Curious, what changes you get? Ive never ran steel, but listening to Zac playing on steel saddles im interested in maybe trying them...

[@johnulrich5572]

@@dunxy I changed from brass to 60's style steel saddles at the same time I switched ro a set of 9 flat wounds. 9 flat wounds feel and bend like 10 round wounds but they feel silky smooth.

[@ggman946]

Wow! So informative. Thank you so much! ❤

[@eljefeguapobarbon]

Love the Telecaster platform for swapping out pickups! Just found a Carl Bradychok pickup that sounds wonderful in my Fender Road Worn tele.

[@enriquemendez1507]

I love this. My V2 bridge pick up sounds like an icepick. I know it is supposed to be bright but I don't see any appeal with it as it currently sounds. Neck pickup sounds great and middle position is nice. Makes me a little sad because I was really looking forward to playing on the bridge a lot as a first time tele owner.

[@stevesuv]

Great tuning Zac. I would not give it away to anyone. One other thing, I was taught by the great John Carruthers that that bevel you were talking about is called a CHAMPHER. He wa convinced it dit nothing to the sound that you could not change with your amp, or your guitar controls. Talk about a boring day, you come in and they give you a paint can full of slugs to champher. Oh God No. Love you Zac.

[@AskZac]

That sounds like a boring job. I am the champher guy

[@ronkresch9228]

Could you do a show that discusses modern pickups like Fralin…Ellis …DiMarzio…Lollar etc. and what they bring to the table?: Thanks Zack

[@Leel3ones89]

I appreciate that explanation. Just got my 1st telecaster and it came with a "nocaster" bridge pick-up and I was wondering what exactly sets them apart from any other tele bridge pickup.👍👍

[@hearpalhere]

This was great Zac, I learned a lot! Thank you for these wonderful videos you make. I really enjoyed the sound of your guitar at the end too. That's a very interesting tuning that I haven't come across before either.

[@waynetoneseekerandersen2213]

I have been through many many pickups in my many strats. One thing I found out was that do not try to make a guitar do what it does not want to do. If a guitar is bright, use bright pickups, but use lower output pickups. If it is very mid based, use higher output mid based pickups. Learn to set your amps for the guitar you are using, if a guitar is too bright embrace it and roll off the treble at the guitar in micro increments, or use the les Paul trick and roll of volume to 9, 9.5 or so. Taking a mid based guitar and trying to make it bright will never work IMO. I love finding pickups for each guitar, but you need to start with a good guitar and neck that is pleasing to you so you can just try to get a little more out of it.

[@epajanssen]

Great video, Zac! The content and message really comes across here thanks to your relaxed and structured way of talking. Aside from pickups, I’ve noticed that pot values, types of wiring and the bridges really matter too. Maybe an idea for a next video? Aa an example, I I have this old Tokai Tele that sounded good but a bit congested. Then I noticed it had an aftermarket bridge that is a bit thicker than the ones used by Fender in the ‘50s and ‘60s. I changed it for a thinner one made of cold rolled steel and now the guitar sounds much more open and harmonically rich.

[@AskZac]

Yes, I will do one on wiring at some point.

[@335gc]

Thanks Zac,you always have great information. That piece you played sounded excellent.

[@AskZac]

Thank you kindly!

[@jbert7289]

Hi Zac. As always...great video. I’m a tele guy. My tele was the only guitar I had for a long while until I was given a s2 custom 24 PRS. (It’s a nice guitar but it’s not my tele). The pickups in my tele are 3 Joe Barden with a 5 way switch. Down the road I would love to get a more traditional Tele. Your video points me in the right direction on what pickups I want to get that will fit my playing. Blessings

[@howardskinner4916]

I don't know about other pickup manufacturers, but with Seymour Duncan's custom shop you can pick the type of magnet you want. I have Duncan custom stacked pickups with Alnico 2 under the plain strings and Alnico 5 under the wound strings.

[@randalljax]

Thats interesting , isn't that kind of like the Brad Paisley thing although mixing a4/a2 how do you like them ?

[@howardskinner4916]

@@randalljax I do like them; I wanted to avoid the too trebly, ear-piercing sound, but still wanted a clean country twang. The 5-2 magnet does that. It did reduce the treble a little bit, but not much.

[@jeffcaldwell2544]

I got the 70th Anniversary Broadcaster reissue, with brass saddles and the "Custom Shop Designed '50-'51 Blackguard" pickups, which are Alnico 3 in the bridge (5 in the neck) and larger than later magnets...sounds good to me, but not sure if it would sound authentic to your expert ears. Love the show, thanks.

[@AskZac]

Good tone is good tone. And usually good tone comes from lots of practice.

[@stratonic]

Good point. I have that same guitar. I loved the pickups but thought it worth going a bit further with the authenticity and put in a set of Klein Broadcaster pickups that supposedly have the original composition of alloy foe the A3 magnets which is different than modern magnets and also has the same spec steel/zinc baseplate with same depth. I am surprised that Zac did not discuss the changes in base plates from 50 to 53. I believe this did contribute to tonal changes too on the flat pole ones. I have to say that my Kleins do sound quite different than the original pickups which sound closer to my custom shop Nocaster from 2000. I believe the hype of the Klein's magnet and base plate difference now.

[@freddymclain]

Yes! ...and I called the tempo-at least 200 BPM! At a private party once, a guy came up to request several tunes, which we obligingly played. There was never any 'grease,' which no one seemed to notice, 'cep me. Finally, the cat sort of waddles up to the bandstand and says, 'Bet y'all don' know 'San Antonio Rose!' I'm thinking to myself, 'Bet we do!' and counted the tune at a very brisk tempo (presto!) He and his girlfriend actually danced - for abut fifteen seconds. His girlfriend helped him back to their table.

[@Theweeze100]

That was wonderful info! Thank you Zac…

[@JtotheP68]

Very informative, thank you

[@AskZac]

Glad it was helpful!

[@JohnGriffith-w2w]

I’ve discovered Joe Barden pickups to help sound a little better on a gig during a cold wet rainy night in a bar with the original 1936 wires where the 60 cycle hum is pronounced as the smell of the bucket of mop water beside the riser that I almost stepped into. I’m sure it would have been classy.

[@nocaster51]

Now I understand why I love the NoCasters so much! Now I wonder how the extra harmonics would work with a Jazzmaster-ish bridge.

[@johnnysurfs]

Great playing. Great Feel.

[@DK-nq9wv]

The fender AV II 63 telecaster has great pickups for bridge and neck .

[@AskZac]

Agreed

[@Billywagner22]

Raising the magnets also lowers the noise making the pickup quieter by keeping the strings farther away from the coil l.

[@newgunguy4176]

Whoah! I learned something new.

[@thesjkexperience]

I found for blackguard style a 10k Ohms 43 wire is about equal to a 7.8k wrapped with 42 gauge wire. I find 42 has a bit more punch and upper harmonics. Love alnico 3 on Tele bridge and full Strat sets. It has a sweet edge that’s so 50s sounding.

[@briannacery9939]

Thanks I was looking for that information!❤

[@stratonic]

Would have liked to hear you're thoughts on the effects of the different base plates on the early flat poles tone?

[@thelongvirtuesignal8551]

My problem is consumption/consumerism over tone. I bought a set of Broadcaster SD pickups for my Squier Bullet Tele because I had the idea that the original pickups just COULD NOT BE GOOD. The problem was that they WERE GOOD. But I cannot allow for that eventuality because of the stern categories in my head.

[@nigelcristobal1185]

Great vid! Where does the Champion Lap Steel pickup fit in the history of the tele bridge pickup? Keef has said that he pulls these champ pickups to put on his teles.

[@AskZac]

It's virtually the same pickup. Just missing the same base.

[@johnnkern8775]

Why no mention of the brass baseplates on some tele bridge pickups. Also wouldn't direct mounting the bridge pickup acheive a more "authentic" tele bridge sound? 🤔

[@Bcarn1998]

Gotta love the Ry Cooder

[@derekclacton]

Wasn’t the stagger introduced to take more account of the 7 1/4” fretboard radius and because in those days, the G string would be wound and the pole piece needed to be nearer the core of the string? 🤔

[@davidwlucas]

What are your favorite recommendations for vintage style production pickups available today? Lollar, Duncan, Fralin, Fender, etc.? Which models? (Thanks for sharing the info!! Great videos.)

[@jimmiphaze5785]

just wanted to say thanks for sharing ......luv this

[@AskZac]

You are so welcome!

[@emerson1978365]

I wished to see this video years ago when deciding which pickups tu buy...My guitar is a 2008 from Mexico, I buyed it from second hand and it came to me in stock condition. I wanted from the start to brighten it, so my luthier recomended me the Fender vintage 52 pups. they sound great but i feel they lack that sparkly and twangy tone that not so many teles have. Now the guitar is fitted with a traditional ashtray bridge with brass saddles (non compensated).There are so many models and brands to choose, and this kind kind of overwhelmed to me. I don´t know where to re-start my search and recently discovered the Fralin blues specials. Maybe you can recommend me another model(s) for this subject? Thank you!

[@BeautifulGuitars365]

Some good information in here but the 2 points I’m surprised he didn’t pick up on is 1. The fretboard radius and 2. The output of the pickups effects the brightness and darkness. Higher output pickups are darker and lower output pickups are brighter. If you want to brighten up your time you’ll generally want a low wind A5 magnet. And if you want a dark pickup you’ll want a higher wind A3 magnet.

[@AskZac]

Great point

[@nickf9392]

Just passing on what works well for me, take it / leave it, all good. .022 cap gives good versatility regarding tone control. Recently installed unbleached bone nut and really like that, very surprised how slippery that felt to the touch. Twisted Tele bridge or Pure Vintage 64, and if you lean more towards classic rock DO NOT underestimate the Dimarzio Pre B-1 bridge PU, this is my go to PU when installing a PAF in the neck position it makes a total rock machine. People say no load tone pots are a waste of time, I disagree, try one and see what you think. And learn how to set your own guitar up, truss rod, intonation, string and PU height, none of it is hard, and you play and tweak as you go till you realize hey, this is actually perfect.

[@BADNDN]

Awesome videos man

[@freddyjholst60]

Jack your show and your guests have been like fresh air and oxygen to this 71-year-old blues player I have got to tell you guys I'm the hell I wound up stumbling across it in my television I was just thinking random stuff and I talked about people that talk about and I came across your name and I clicked on it I watched that thing I've been watching that thing for the past I've been home from the hospital unfortunately for a little over a week and a half and I've watched it every single day I went back and archives and everything else and I mean some of your guests like run out I'll watch how else today that pickups it was absolutely we need to hear I mean it's such a money making gimmick out there and so many ways of people are gullible I mean I've known in my own life you know I've built guitars for a number of years pretty J's guitars and I'm still building some three and four strings guitars but they're not a cigar box I don't do that they're either wood or there's some shape or whatever but you're three or four strings cuz to me six strings or three strings too many I mean when you think about it but I really enjoy your show immensely immensely what else to tell you I really appreciate you buddy thank you! 😎

[@freddyjholst60]

Boy did u make type of, so 😐sórry.

[@matthewscheiper6973]

Zac, love the videos. Very interesting and informative!

[@AskZac]

I appreciate that!

[@AndyH2O]

Always informative, always interesting.

[@littlerhodyguitar2169]

Great video. I'm getting a American Performer soon from SW the sandblasted one so I'm interested in how I'm going to listen to it after watching this episode. Thanks for the info. Have a great day Sir 👍.

[@AskZac]

Enjoy it, and play it!

[@nathancourtney2006]

Love this in depth description, anything on neck pickup?

[@AskZac]

I thought I covered that?

[@nathancourtney2006]

@@AskZac I went back and found what it was. I think 3 guitars with different neck pickups. I may have missed something. Thanks Nathan

[@peterburi2727]

From what I understand the neck pickup had some changes. The cover in some years was grounded and other years it was not. I purchased a set of Fender Vintage 64's and the neck cover is not grounded. There was some discussion about the grounding filtering out some frequencies. Have you heard of this?

[@guitareveryone]

Great update!

[@AskZac]

Thanks!

[@robertgandy1519]

As always a great video. Can’t for you to demo your new Esquire.

[@AskZac]

Can't wait!

[@robertgandy1519]

Can’t believe that guitar was less than an hour from me and I didn’t get to go check it out. Would have loved to have tried it out. I saw the post on Instagram didn’t read it and assumed it was a custom shop.

[@AskZac]

@@robertgandy1519 I had to move quick to get it

[@TheAmphibic]

Thanks for the great info on the brdige PU, i also like to tweak the values of the pots to fine tune my guitars. Am only really getting wise to this now and am tinkering a bit. On a darker guitar it helps to go to a 300k (did that to my '81 hard tail Strat) or 500k volume pot. It mainly raises the resonance peak. And obv you can do the opposite to bright ones. On some late 60s Teles you might find some 1meg pots that i might find way too shrill. The capacitor value is another topic .... ;)

[@Satchmoeddie]

When did Fender go from plain enameled magnet wire to the heavy formvar wire? I know they did it because the enamel was coming off and the coils were shorting to the pole pieces. There are a few kinds of magnet wire. Plain enameled wire is about the oldest. Then I think Formvar ploy came along and then other polymer coatings. Plain Nylon was also an early manmade poly coating but without the acetyl phenolic it's not at all very good for longevity. The vinyl starts to degrade & goes into tiny crumbles. Enamel coatings came in all kinds of colors from translucent black, bluish black, reddish black, maroon-ish black, purple-ish black, purple, maroon, and a very common reddish brown color. There is also a green colored coating. The coloring was mainly so workers did not mistake uncoated wire spools with coated spools or different types of coatings and send out the wrong types of wire. Every factory was a little different. A lot of radio coils and hash chokes are wound with Litz wire. That is usually superfine enameled wire and celenese fiber twisted together.

[@AskZac]

Formvar was mid 60s if I am remembering right.

[@cowtowncustoms2110]

OK, now I want to spend a lot of money to start winding my own pickups! Sounds like a never ending rabbit hole to go down. But it will keep me busy!

[@gercarey3261]

Great video, I have a Squire Esquire which I love, but it is very bright, and the tone is a bit thin. What pickup would you recommend for this? Thanks

[@krisford8813]

Thanks Zac, learnin' a LOT! You helped me to decide to put an A3 set in my Pinecaster build! Do you think an A5 set might be better?

[@AskZac]

I just experiment till I like it.

[@leighsaunders3278]

Thanks for this Zac awesome work.🤘🤘👌

[@AskZac]

My pleasure!

[@leighsaunders3278]

@@AskZac I'm from Australia & would love to get in contact with you if at all possible Zac. [e-mail] Cheers 🤙🤘

[@2500BC]

I thought magnet beveling was done to prevent chipping/breakage when they were in large supply bags/boxes

[@clintvaughtvaught1955]

Thanks for your insight!

[@AskZac]

My pleasure!

[@Dman85612]

I was told by Dave Crocker that the metal piece that holds the saddles and surrounds the bridge pick up on the broadcaster, esquire, no caster, and Teles 52 to 54 was made of a ferrous material that also changed the tone of the bridge pick up . I had called him after having a no caster show up at the shop I was working at. It was in a cheap chip board case and bought at a garage sale for 35$. Apparently the previous owner also disliked the edge of the bridge plate scratching the edge of his hand as they had used a hammer to beat it flat ...strangest thing I've seen done to a guitar ever...

[@AskZac]

Did you bend it back? You are absolutely right on the early plates.

[@Dman85612]

@@AskZac there was no bending it back ,it was beyond hope .

[@rsaathoff]

I have a thinline that is very mid heavy. Flatpole pickups just made everything like mush. Finally settled on PV 64 on that guitar. Not an overly bright 60s pickup. Sure has note definition now. That one was though to find the right bridge pickup and was kind of counter initiative than you'd think.

[@AskZac]

That's a great pickup

[@ZZGATES]

I'm in this same situation right now, except for that I chose the OV from the avri52 guitars. I hope it's not mush. My thinking was that the lower wind would give some scooped mids and more treble and lower output would have more of that character that I'm after. I sure hope I'm happy with it cause this will be the third set that has been in the guitar.

[@raybrodeur3886]

My favorite teles are 1952,1953,and 1969 pink paiseley bridge pickups.Can you tell me more info on these plus do you think you can tell me where I also get a wiring diagram for the James Burton guitar with blue,silver,and red pickups with a five way superswitch with an S1 switch that puts the neck and bridge pickups in either series mode and parallel mode,also the middle and bridge pickup is series or parallel also.Zac,I’d appreciate it very much since I have my Squire Tele apart because someone sent me the wrong diagram.

[@AskZac]

I'm sorry, I don't have that wiring.

[@jakevoutilainen3455]

Good stuff. Thank you very much.

[@AskZac]

My pleasure!

[@zebignick]

Great show 👍🏻 Thanks

[@AskZac]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@81ghale]

I bought one the 70th anniversary Broadcasters, and the pickups just don’t do it. Way too tame for what a Broadcaster should be. Thanks for the tips. I’m gonna try a set of Klein’s Broadcaster pickups and see if that gets me there. It’s an awesome guitar in every other way.

[@stratonic]

Put Kleins in my 70th. Definitely a different character but output is about the same. The bridge has a slightly Nasal edgy tone and surprisingly does not have the full thick mids that most might expect from associating early 50's tele's with some higher output 42 wire brass base plated ones and the early custom shop Nocaster reissues. Personally i love the Kleins for the difference as I already have one of those Nocasters as it's 'horses for courses' and if i have a really 'live' room at a gig it suits the klein's focussed mids more.

[@codyleemeece]

How do I cut down feedback on my Tele’s bridge pickup? I have a thinline Tele and the neck pickup has no feedback issues but the bridge pickup loves to feedback in a really high pitch at stage volume. Help!!!

[@AskZac]

If you have metal spring spacers on the bridge pickup, change it to rubber tubing.

[@codyleemeece]

@@AskZac thanks. Any additional tips? I’ve heard dense foam in bridge pickup cavity as well as rubber cement between the bridge and body. That last one sounds sketchy. Thoughts?

[@quitolemutt1062]

tap the ashtray...they are often loose and are so microphonic you can sing into them! that would likely cause phase cancellation and alter the tone as you palm it while pl;aying. I think I read the original pups were lapsteel and had a wider spread...hence the angle to aign the poles to the strings. I think?

[@codyleemeece]

@ turns out that it was actually the baseplate on the bridge pickup vibrating. So I took a piece of masking tape and put it between the pickup and the plate. Problem solved.

[@telecasterguitarslinger]

What’s your thoughts on changing the pickups on a Classic Vibe 50’s Tele ? I’m leaning on a set of Fender Vintage 52’s. Thanks Zac for all you do. Always looking forward to your Tuesday posts.

[@AskZac]

Don't change something unless you are unhappy with it, and can quantify what you are unhappy with.

[@bootgrip6]

Thanks for this video. I have been looking at Klien Pickups’ current tele offerings to figure this stuff out. He seems to make a model that defines the major years and the intermediate years where there were changes. I have his Epic 54 strat set in one of my guitars and they’re great. I came to appreciate the level of detail he applies to getting the metallurgy precise. If you’ve heard of his stuff I’d be delighted to hear your thoughts.

[@AskZac]

Have not tried them.

[@josemanuelvillalbamontoro8107]

Hi Zac. I like yor channel very much. I have two modern Teles but based on vintage designs - AV 52 (flat polepieces, brass saddles) and AO 60's (staggered polepieces, steel saddles) and the tone of these bridge PUs is exactly as you explained in this episode. I would like to know your opinion about the effect of Titanium compensated saddles on the tone of the Tele. Thxs.

[@AskZac]

I feel titanium is even brighter than steel. Steel is my favorite

[@rym5225]

Great video!

[@heyjoe1963]

Zack what pickups would you choose today to replace on a vintage 1960-61 telecaster like Robben Ford Telecaster?

[@simon_wilkins]

Thanks Zac, excellent overview..this has been extremely helpful. One question, will changing to steel saddles brighten the neck pickup also (I'm assuming it will but perhaps less noticeable)? cheers Simon

[@AskZac]

Yes, it brightens everything. I love steel saddles

[@weldonwenturine3395]

Zac I’m a fan of the Yardbirds with Jeff Beck. His Esquire sounded awesome to me! I just love his tone with it! My question is without buying a 20,000 dollar esquire which is not possible how could a tele be set up to sound like his, keeping the 3 way switch in the picture? As you know he had no neck pickup as the esquires did not have them or you put them on later. If you wanted too

[@tongusgrump2261]

Gigging my now vintage tele in New England during winter the wax potting freezes and cracks and I love that tone. I would think the lacquer would be more freeze resistant but still would become brittle over time too... thoughts? Thanks Zack :)

[@AskZac]

I have seen more lacquer crack due to cold weather than wax

[@barbmelle3136]

From Leo: If you pot your own pickups, Beeswax stays more limber than paraffin wax. I mix it one part beeswax to two parts paraffin. and never had a problem.