tele pickups - duncan or bare knuckle?

**nick_wolf** · 08-06-2018, 06:55 AM

Hello everyone. I am going to replace the stock pickups of a telecaster Mexico standard.
I had a telecaster in the past with a Seymour duncan alnico II pro in the neck and a quarter pound in the bridge, they paired quite good but sometimes the difference in output was to much.
Anyway, I am now thinking of just getting the set of Quarter pounds from Seymour duncan but i have also found the Bare Knuckle true grit which seem quite interesting.
I am looking to get as a result a versatile guitar, to be used mostly in Jazz, funk, rock.
Does anyone have any opinion/comment regarding this pickup options or any other brand/model that i should consider?
thanks
Nick w

**marcwhy** · 08-06-2018, 07:54 AM

Check out Porter.

**blille** · 08-06-2018, 09:47 AM

The quarter pound Tele set is definitely great but IMHO too hot for being versatile. They sell the quarter pound tapped so you could have the A2Pro neck balanced better with the bridge tapped but have a boost when you need the full quarter pound.

I feel that would make the guitar very versatile. All you would need is a push pull or switch to have that.

Seymour Duncan 11202-14-T STL-3T Tapped Quarter Pound Tele Lead Bridge Pickuphttps://applink.reverb.com/item/777341-seymour-duncan-11202-14-t-stl-3t-tapped-quarter-pound-tele-lead-bridge-pickup

**nick_wolf** · 08-06-2018, 04:14 PM

It is a good solution but i love the Telecaster due yo its simplicity.
For that reason i am not interested in making pushpull or switches added
to the circuit.
But it’s a good hint for other no doubt.

**blille** · 08-06-2018, 04:31 PM

Originally Posted by nick_wolf

It is a good solution but i love the Telecaster due yo its simplicity.
For that reason i am not interested in making pushpull or switches added
to the circuit.
But it’s a good hint for other no doubt.

Fair enough. I love simple too.

A great all around versatile set IMHO is Duncan’s Five Two.

Neck
Five-Two Tele – neck | Seymour Duncan

Bridge
Five-Two Tele – bridge | Seymour Duncan

Generally speaking, if you have to choose, I would err on the side of lower output. You can always add gain but not clarity or dynamics and you lose some of that with the QP.

**nick_wolf** · 08-09-2018, 05:56 AM

I finally decided to try the Bare knuckle true grit.
I sent an email to bare knuckle asking for some details, the true grit are Alnico V and have a little less head room than a classic old telecaster which may give some extra bite for versatility without going into a quarter pound.
Let's see how they sound...
thanks for the advice to blille!
keep the swing!
n wolf

**gitman** · 08-09-2018, 08:10 AM

Originally Posted by nick_wolf

I finally decided to try the Bare knuckle true grit.
I sent an email to bare knuckle asking for some details, the true grit are Alnico V and have a little less head room than a classic old telecaster which may give some extra bite for versatility without going into a quarter pound.
Let's see how they sound...
thanks for the advice to blille!
keep the swing!
n wolf

What do you mean with that description : HEADROOM ? I only know this word used for describing the threshold before distortion in tube amps .... AFAIK this distortion only happens in a preamp or poweramp, depending on the gain settings but not in a pickup - maybe you could explain this particular choice of words ?

**Lobomov** · 08-09-2018, 08:22 AM

Never heard of the true grit. It is not sold on the bare knuckle page, but is found at retailers. Apparently a bit cheaper than bare knuckles usually run.

BK pickups are in my experience pricey but good. I like the flat50s if you want something hot and the stagger55s for a classic tele tone.

**powerwagonjohn** · 08-09-2018, 12:01 PM

I went with Bill Lawrence Keystones. They really work well for me.
Thanks John

**nick_wolf** · 08-12-2018, 06:30 AM

Originally Posted by Lobomov

Never heard of the true grit. It is not sold on the bare knuckle page, but is found at retailers. Apparently a bit cheaper than bare knuckles usually run.

BK pickups are in my experience pricey but good. I like the flat50s if you want something hot and the stagger55s for a classic tele tone.

Yes they are in the web. here is the link.
Boot Camp | True Grit | Bare Knuckle Pickups
I wrote a message to bare knuckle and they wrote back asking for some details of kind of musica guitar woods etc. They recommended either the true grit or the flat 52. I decided to go on the true grit. I have installed them already and I am very happy. The bridge has a nice bite for rock and funk and the neck is sweet warm and clean.
I live in Europe so.. this pickups here might not be very pricey.

**nick_wolf** · 08-12-2018, 06:35 AM

Originally Posted by gitman

What do you mean with that description : HEADROOM ? I only know this word used for describing the threshold before distortion in tube amps .... AFAIK this distortion only happens in a preamp or poweramp, depending on the gain settings but not in a pickup - maybe you could explain this particular choice of words ?

As i understand it is a relation between the base level and the saturation. I think of it as the dynamic that adds to the sound. Pickups with high output are saturated or delivering a lot of power no matter how high the volume is. I low/medium output pickups there is a bigger range between the saturation and the base level.
That's what i understand... I might be wrong.

**73Fender** · 08-14-2018, 06:37 AM

Don't forget Fender for a reasonable price (especially used). I like the OVs and hope to have a spin with the 64s and Twisted Teles at some point. I love Teles and had a long phase with them. I tried some off the wall mods but one simple one I love is the 4 way switch.

Good luck with your search.

**Greentone** · 08-14-2018, 09:49 AM

FWIW, the best Telecaster pickups I have ever used are made by Aaron Campbell of Boyce, Virginia. Rumpelstiltskin Pickups They are Rumpelstiltskin pickups. Campbell makes different models, but I really like the White Knight model (used to be White Ropes--for the insulation you see on the bridge pickup). The White Knight set really nails the sound of the mid-50s Telecaster sound.

The three switch settings (neck/both/bridge) using the White Knight pickups are insanely musical.

**vernon** · 08-14-2018, 10:18 AM

Lollar... Lollar... Lollar...

**ESCC** · 08-14-2018, 10:33 AM

+1 on Bill Lawrence noiseless pick-ups. I have the twin blade in the bridge and a N202 in the neck, great tone.

**nick_wolf** · 12-18-2018, 05:24 PM

A couple of month passed already, so i think after first impression and some time of playing with these pickups...
I love them, the neck has a sweet by dark tone enough clear to me and enough compressed.
I improved my Tele with brass saddles and that also changed the sound (better for me) this affected the bridge pickup strongly.
The bridge pickup is a rock funk attitude, bassy and spanky. I will upload some video to youtube... since there is no material about this pickups.
I have another guitar (recently bought) a yamaha SG (all mahogany with rosewood) it came with high output pickups (not my cup of tea)... so I will probably experience some bare knuckle there too... or classic S. Duncan. Not yet decided.
as always thanks for you comments and for sharing the experience.
best,
NW