Created in the 1950s by Leo Fender, Telecaster guitars are truly special and usually give an amazing but specific sound that is almost impossible to reproduce with any other guitar. The Telecaster guitars were responsible for reshaping the music scene in their era, and it comes as no surprise that a lot of musicians today attempt to replicate the infamous tele tones. The key to identifying a good telecaster pickup is the closeness of the tone it produces to that of the classic Telecaster twang. The market today is saturated with different brands of pickups that are capable of creating varying sounds ranging from the modern sizzling, beefy tones to the classic twang and sparkle tones that musicians may desire. To help you through the journey of finding the best telecaster pickups in the market, we tried and tested a few of the pickups available in the market today and created the list below to help you decide.
Fender Vintage Noiseless Tele Pickups
Intro
A twang and super-bite characterize the iconic warm vintage telecaster tone produced by this Fender Vintage pickup. With an enamel coated magnet wire and its signature single-coil, the clarity of these pickups is incomparable. However, the noise cancellation capability that can be attributed to the enamel-coated magnet wires. And Alnico V magnets are what a lot of guitarists and musician will enjoy about the Fender Vintage as they can defeat the hum particularly when the distortion is at an all-time high. The noise is cancellation is done so efficiently without compromising on the sound quality, making the pickup ideal for heavier sounding music and tones.
Pros
- The Fender Vintage is extremely versatile and produces great sound, regardless of whether it is clean or distorted.
- The pickup cancels noise extremely well.
- It sounds almost like the 60s telecaster pickups.
Cons
- The installation of the fender vintage is not easy.
- The bass on the pickup is non-existent because it does not have a base plate on the bridge pickup.
Tonerider TRT2 Hot Classic Tele pickup set
Intro
Chances that you have heard about the Tonerider telecaster pickups are pretty slim, but these pickups deliver some impressive sound that is surprisingly good. The TRT2 Hot Classic Tele Pickup is capable of competing with some well-known brands to deliver the classic telecaster tone. The pickups are perfect for blues, and rock guitarists as the overwound Alnico III magnets make them stand out from the crowd. The set consists of neck and bridge pickups that are well balanced with the bridge pickup belting out surprisingly fat midranges that are nice and crisp.
Pros
- Given that the pickups are a single-coil pickup, the fat midrange tones in the bridge pickup are pleasantly surprising.
- The TRT2 Hot Classic pickups produce great, clear, and crisp tones.
- It is ideal for heavy music such as rock.
Cons
- It is not recommended for some genres of music such as Country or Jazz as the tones tend to sound somewhat muddy, which is less than ideal for guitarists looking to achieve clean sounds.
- The hum cancellation on this pickup is frustrating as is typical of most single-coil pickups.
DiMarzio Twang King Neck/Bridge Pickup Set for Fender Telecaster
Intro
DiMarzio pickups have a track record for being some of the best direct-replacement pickups, and this comes as no surprise given that they’re a household name in the audio industry. The twang king, as the name suggests, has provided the classic telecaster tone ideal for blues. It has an impressively dynamic range regardless of whether a musician is fingerpicking or using a guitar pick. The sound produced varies with the tones being quietly soft with light playing and almost Stratocaster loud when hard playing. Both pickups are wax-potted delivering a performance free of squeals.
Pros
- Musicians are guaranteed of the characteristic telecaster sound
- The installation process of the Twang King is extremely effortless
- The neck pickup does not produce a squealing sound when it is put to use.
- The pickups are aesthetically pleasing. Users can choose between a gold or nickel cover for the neck pickup.
Cons
- In comparison to its competitors, this telecaster pickup has serious hum problems.
- When distorted, the lows tend to be overly muddy.
Fender Pure Vintage Reissue Telecaster Pickups
Intro
As previously mentioned, Fender is a household name in the audio industry and to complete our list of best telecaster pickups we had to include the Pure Vintage Reissue pickups. These pickups have been designed to transport musicians and their audiences back in time to the 1950s as they produce tones similar to those of that era. With the typical single-coil hum, these pickups will not disappoint for individuals searching for the best vintage telecaster tones existing today. In the package, users get a pair of Alnico III pickups equipped with fiber bobbins and period-correct cabling. With enamel coated magnet wires, it is no wonder that theses pickups effortlessly achieve the vintage sound. Additionally, the pickups are equipped with pole pieces that are flush mounted to ensure that the string responds in a well-balanced manner. Anyone interested in achieving the original 1950’s telecaster tone should consider adding the Pure Vintage Reissue telecaster pickups from Fender.
Pros
- The similarity between the tone produced by these pickups is extremely evident and hard to miss.
- They are affordable.
- The installation process is easy and straightforward.
Cons
- Some users may find the single-coil hum to be overly annoying.
Final Thoughts
Despite the “60-cycle hum” that telecaster pickups are known to produce, they can certainly improve the tone of a musician’s music without compromising on the original telecaster tone.
Anyone of the telecaster pickups included in our list would be a good point to start, but it is crucial that you keep in mind elements such as the pickup’s installation, magnet type, and price when you are making the decision of which pickup to acquire. Choosing the best telecaster pickups can be daunting, but once you find the one that fits your style of playing, you are good to go.