Tele Bridge PU in a Strat ?

[loudthud]

Has anybody stuck a Tele bridge PU in a Strat (bridge position)? I've seen it done with a metal plate on the front of the pickguard, but can't you just enlarge the hole for the PU and drill holes for the Tele mounting screws?

Is there a source for a plastic cover that will fit a Tele pickup?

[big_teee]

Sonny Landreth plays a custom strat with a rail tele bridge Pickup.
Maybe you could enlarge the pickguard hole.
That depend on how your body is routed?

[TimmyP1955]

I think the pickup should be angled the other way, to fatten the tone of the skinny strings. Same goes for the P-Bass split pickup.

[big_teee]

For now the OP is just wanting to replace the strat bridge Pickup, with a Tele Bridge pickup.
T

[loudthud]

On the P Bass, the subject was touched on in this thread: http://music-electronics-forum.com/t26697/

I'm attaching the slightly modified pic here, the original was lost when the forum had a problem a while back.

On the P Bass it makes a little bit of difference, not worth the effort IMHO.

On a Strat you can hear the difference when you play one that's strung up backwards ala Hendrix. I'm not 100% sure it's all the pickup position, I think the acoustic tone changes slightly, but it's an interesting change from the stock Strat setup.

Routing the body isn't a big deal, any mistake is covered by the pickguard. I think the main problem is that the Strat pickup mounting holes end up being half way through the rout for clearance around the Tele pickup. Landreth's guitar has what looks like a Tele bridge plate and no tremolo.

[big_teee]

Any particular reason for wanting the Tele Bridge P/U in the strat?
They make 3 pickup teles.
With the rosewood neck it sounds like a strat.
I've had guys want to buy this one, but then I would just have to make another test stratotele.
T

[Justin Thomas]

I would have actually USED the bridge position on my Strat if it had come with it... I tried mounting one in a Squire Mini, I know, maybe not the GREATEST comparison, but it was definitely a different vibe & feel. I feel like despite Leo's best efforts, he never quite got any better than the Tele Bridge pickup... never found a way to get a Strat to sound like a Tele. Same as getting a Strat Neck sound out of a Tele w/out putting an actual Strat pickup in it.

Justin

[Richard]

I heard a guy play that had a Tele bridge pickup in the middle position of his Strat. I don't know how much of it was the pickup but he sounded excellent.

[ric]

I've put a Tele p/u in the bridge position of a Strat p/guard by hand filing. It doesn't take much to open it enough for the open bobbin to go thru at an angle. Plugged the existing p/u holes w/ the little push-in plugs Mouser sells. Also have one glued to a h/b bottom plate. That necessitates a flatter angle, however.

[Richard]

I'm fighting the urge to put one in the middle of my Les Paul. I would probably mount it straight.

[big_teee]

Since this has nothing to do with making pickups, I think it belongs in Guitar Tech!
I'm sure this topic will get lots of comments in the Guitar Tech Category!
Personally I've never had any problem winding an adequate stock type pickup for a strat.
Good Luck with all of the modifications!
T

[Leo_Gnardo]

Since this has nothing to do with making pickups, I think it belongs in Guitar Tech!
I'm sure this topic will get lots of comments in Guitar Tech Category!
Personally I don't see any reason to go altering strats or Les Paul guitars.
Good Luck with it!
T

Terry, I'm a little surprised I haven't seen anyone do it yet. Would be badd ass to have a big fat tele p/u in the bridge position. If I get a cheepo Strat/Squier just may have to do exactly that. Always liked the Fenderstein concept: Tele neck on Strat body & verse visa. Parts is parts, bolt 'em together & get something "different."

[John_H]

I tried this. Tele bridge pickups sound different without all of that metal around them, and not in a good way IMO.

[rjb]

Richard Thompson.

Photo credit: Ron Slenzak

Ferrington Custom Guitar (with a mixture of pickups) I like my blue Ferringtoncaster best, although the top string could be louder. The blue Ferrington has a P90 at the neck, an Alnico Strat in the middle, and a Broadcaster at the bridge. It has a 5 position p/u selector. Each p/u has a volume control, but no tone. In the blend positions, this gives infinite tone combinations between p/us, by backing off the volumes

[Richard]

I tried this. Tele bridge pickups sound different without all of that metal around them, and not in a good way IMO.

Can you describe the difference?