telecaster pickup combo - Little '59 bridge, Hot Rails neck

[marc121]

Considering a tele build with a Seymour Duncan Little '59 in bridge and SD Hot Rails in neck.


(I have a tele with a combination of the Little '59 in bridge and a Vintage Stack in the neck and it sounds great,

but would like the new one to have something a little different). Any thoughts...

[larsenpeople]

I have used a HotRails in the bridge of a Strat. It totally overpowered the single coils.

It is a very high output pickup, if you place it in the neck position with a lower output in the bridge, prepare yourself for serious imbalance.

[gckelloch]

Yeah, the Hot Rails is both higher magnetic power and higher inductance than the '59. It's generally better to have something of at least as low magnetic power, and equal to lower inductance and permeability in the neck. Some also prefer something with less high-end, but I don't see the point when a cap and resistor on a lower inductance pickup can achieve the same thing if desired.

If it's already routed for a Strat size pickup, a 2H inductance Wilde L45 is a great twin blade pickup with extended high freq response that should balance well with the '59. Wilde also has the NF series stacks with better overall clarity and high freq response than old designs like the SD Vintage stack. Any of the three NF Tele neck models will work, but the L280TN is the highest output and most midrange-aggressive, much like a mid 60's Strat neck with stronger lower harmonic response. The L202TN is the least aggressive and lowest inductance/output. The NF series are all flat pole, but I think you can request a modern or vintage pole stagger for a fee.

Whatever you choose, I hope this at least gives you some help in determining what you want.