Changing pickups on Strat. Closer sound to tele?

[Nicholasim]

Hi guys,

There's a loooooong argument over the strat vs the tele and it mainly boils down to a few thing, one of them being the bridge pickup. Most people say that the tele has a hotter bridge pickup than the strat and thus, when played in the bridge position, there is more bite and its more suitable for higher gain needs.

Here's my question, why dont these people just change the bridge pickup of the strat into a higher output/hotter pickup? A lot of them online are complaining that the strat feels so comfortable but the pickups are of lower output as compared to a tele, so they'd rather pick the tele. I know there are other factors that affect like the string thru body for the tele compared to tremolo for the strat etc. But the think the main factor here is the bridge pickup right?

I've also read somewhere online that the metal plate for the tele bridge focuses the magnetic field of the pickup and gets a stronger signal but I think that's bull, LOL!

 

[CyanideJunkie]

There's more to it than that. The neck pickup's sound is unique in its own right, and the bridge pickup's sound is a combination of different factors like the bridge plate, saddle material, thickness of both, pickup wire gauge, inductance and magnet type. FYI, the base plate of the pickup DOES matter as well the material it's made of. You should read this article for more info. Removing the base plate will alter the sound as well. If you want a Tele sound in your Strat, you can try SD's Twang Banger pickup.

 

[zesn]

When I initially wanted the strat, i loved the neck pickup, until i flipped to the bridge and realised how awful it sounded in single coil.

I tried a nearby tele and bought it. Lol.
It just sounded hotter, and supercharged, for some reason!

I could have bought a SSH strat though, the tele neck pickup is different from the strat's

 

[Nicholasim]

Hey Junkie! Thanks for the link, it was a really interesting read. Guess there are just so many factors that affect.

Zesn, which tele did you end up getting? Im actually planning to either upgrade my cheap strat (some $200 swing strat) or to get a tele, im actually deciding between a Squier classic vibe or a craftsman telecaster.

 

[an2]

im actually deciding between a Squier classic vibe or a craftsman telecaster.

Get the Classic Vibe tele. Or do a partscaster(that's fun, and you get to make it "you")

- From a guy that owned both

 

[Nicholasim]

A partcaster would be very expensive right?

The only thing keeping me from getting the classic vibe is 21frets. I use the 22 fret a lot.

- - - Updated - - -

A partcaster would be very expensive right?

The only thing keeping me from getting the classic vibe is 21frets. I use the 22 fret a lot.

 

[an2]

depends on the parts itself actually. Some shops around SG are selling tele bodies & necks for around $100 to $150 a piece, plus pickups & control plate it should be around $400~

ah. i don't go that high up anyways so i won't know

 

[Nicholasim]

Oh really? That sounds like a reasonable price.

Would a partcaster around that price range be comparable to the classic vibe?

And which shops can I go to find these parts?

 

[an2]

i've seen tele bodies/necks at TY Music, Maestro @ *Scape. Not sure how comparable they'll be, and I'm not too sure about the actual final price also.

If you're a nut about the "quality" thing, you can ship parts from warmoth, but the cost would definitely be a 4-digit sum.

I really really like the classic vibe tele though, its by far one of the best teles in that price range that i've tried. blind-tested and i mistook it for the fender hot rod tele when unplugged.

 

[Nicholasim]

Wa, that's a big statement haha. Maybe I should checkout the parts at different shops, the thought of putting together your own guitar quite interesting ah haha.

Thanks bro!

 

[zesn]

The classic vibe is one cool guitar. Probably the better out of the other squiers that always broke down on me.

Anyway i was comparing the American Special Strat to American Special Tele.

Partscaster is of great fun to build.
But you could spend quite abit on good hardware.