Learn the tonal differences between a few of our most popular Single-Coil Telecaster Pickups

STL-1b Vintage Broadcaster Tele Bridge

Magnet Type: Alnico V

Bridge DCR: 8.0k

A faithful tribute to the 1950 original, our Vintage Broadcaster is the perfect choice for discerning players who demand something more from their Tele lead pickup. Our Broadcaster uses a special wind that best represents this pioneering era in Fender history. The Alnico 5 magnets with a slightly larger diameter of .197 and higher output coax biting treble and snarly mids for raucous riffs and stinging lead runs from any Telecaster. Pair with our Vintage Tele Rhythm for great vintage setup.

STL-1 Vintage ‘54 Tele Bridge

Magnet Type: Alnico V

Bridge DCR: 7.0k

For Telecaster players seeking a straight forward approach to the bridge tone that helped define rock, blues, and country, we offer the Vintage ‘54 Tele Lead vintage-output Tele pickup. Its vintage correct construction and hand-ground Alnico 5 rod magnets with a raised D and G, coupled with a lower output wind, yield a bright, well-defined treble response that is perfectly suited to plucky lead work and fast-moving chords from Chicago to Nashville. Pair with our Vintage Tele Rhythm for great vintage sounding setup.

STR-1 Vintage Tele Rhythm

Magnet Type: Alnico V

Neck DCR: 7.6k

Our Telecaster Vintage Rhythm vintage output Tele pickup was designed to provide a smooth open tone with warm lower mids and airy highs, just like the best Teles from the ‘50s. With its hand ground Alnico 5 rod magnets, this neck pickup will deliver big full sounding chords. When used in combination with the bridge pickup, you’ll get that famous hollow Tele sound. Warm enough for most types of rhythm playing, but percussive enough for chicken pickin’ as well.

Brad Paisley’s Signature La Brea Tele Set

Neck Magnet Type: Alnico II // Bridge Magnet Type: Alnico IV

Neck DCR: 7.55k // Bridge DCR: 7.44k

La Brea is a vintage spec Telecaster set designed in collaboration with Brad Paisley, featuring smooth Alnico II rod magnets in the neck and focused Alnico IV rod magnets in the bridge—perfect for achieving Brad’s signature bite, snap, and twang! The bridge model features Alnico IV rod magnets, vintage-correct cloth push-back wire, vintage output of 7.44k, and classic grey forbon flatwork, giving you the wonderful open quality that you expect from a vintage pickup, but with the focused midrange that only an Alnico IV magnet can provide. The neck pickup uses Alnico II rod magnets alongside an output of 7.55k, and the same period-correct wire and flatwork to provide a smooth, thick neck tone. Together, these telecaster pickups deliver the snap and twang that Brad is known for, with a round top end and full but tight lows.

Alnico II Pro Tele Set

Magnet Type: Alnico II

Neck DCR: 8.0k // Bridge DCR: 6.6k

These vintage-style Telecaster pickups use Alnico 2 rod magnets to provide a softer treble attack for players who want Telecaster lead tone without excess bite and classic Tele rhythm tone with a sweeter, smoother treble response. The Alnico II Pro Tele Lead uses a vintage coil wind, and sand-cast Alnico 2 rod magnets for a vintage Telecaster pickup sound and vibe, but with a smoky sweetness on the high end. You’ll still feel the Tele snap and twang, but with a nice, round warmth added in. Your pick attack will feel slightly mellower, and chords will have a spongy, bouncy quality. This pickup pairs perfectly with our Alnico II Pro Tele neck, which sports a deep drawn chrome-plated brass cover for a sweet, hollow tone that sounds great both clean and dirty.

Quarter Pound Tele Set

Magnet Type: Alnico V

Neck DCR: 11.75k // Bridge DCR: 16.95k

The Quarter Pound high output Telecaster pickups deliver humbucker-level punch and saturation in a true single-coil package. The Quarter Pound for Tele Rhythm’s custom overwound coil provides a powerful midrange that cuts through any mix without sounding bright or brash. This makes it a rhythm beast with huge sounding chords, and full, fat lead tones. The Quarter Pound Tele Lead is our highest output Telecaster single coil. Its special high output coil, with hand polished ¼” diameter Alnico 5 rod magnets, delivers a huge sound with an almost P90-like growl. Leads will jump out and sound fatter than ever, while chords will be rich with sparkly midrange harmonics.

Hot Tele Set

Magnet Type: Alnico V

Neck DCR: 9.9k // Bridge DCR: 16.2k

The Hot for Telecaster pickups deliver a bigger, fatter true single-coil tone with greater low-end power. If you were to begin with a vintage Tele neck pickup, wind it hotter, mellow the highs and enhance the midrange response, the result would be the Hot Tele Rhythm. The treble response is still articulate, but it is smoothed out by the more aggressive low end. Great for full sounding chords and sweet solo work. The Hot Tele Lead pickup uses flat, hand-ground Alnico 5 rod magnets and a special high output coil wind to give you enough midrange power to cut through like a humbucker. The absence of a steel bottom-plate gives you a fat, full punch in both the low and mid-range frequencies, yet it retains the muscular twang of a vintage style lead pickup. Great for Telecaster players who demand a more powerful lead tone, with extra presence and drive.

Five-Two Tele Set

Magnet Type: Alnico II/Alnico V

Neck DCR: 8.0k // Bridge DCR: 7.0k

The Five-Two Telecaster pickups put a unique spin on the classic Telecaster pickup sound with a special combination of Alnico 2 and 5 rod magnets positioned specifically to deliver tighter lows and smoother, sweeter highs. The Five-Two was originally designed for Nashville studio players who wanted a classic Telecaster pickup that could produce a softer treble attack on the high strings while retaining all of the articulate snap on the low strings. We came up with a mixture of Alnico 2 and Alnico 5 rod magnets that delivers the best of both worlds. The Alnico 2 rods positioned under the G, B, and E strings provide a sweetened treble response, while the Alnico 5 rods under the low E, A, and D strings contribute a bright, snappy tone with enhanced midrange and articulation. This combination results in an all-around well-balanced pickup with traditional output that delivers all the twang and pop of a great Tele with none of the “ice pick” treble. The Five-Two neck pickup is RWRP (reverse wind, reverse polarity), so when used with the bridge model you get sweet hum-free tone.

Jerry Donahue Signature Tele Lead

Magnet Type: Alnico II

Bridge DCR: 7.7k

Tele master Jerry Donahue needed a classic Tele pickup to make his touring guitars sound like his prized ’52 Telecaster. The result is a warm lead pickup that uses Alnico 2 rod magnets and a special coil wind for increased sustainability and output. The raised D and G poles mirror the fretboard radius for nice even string response. Single notes are soft, sweet, and musical, while the low notes have just the right amount of articulate Tele snap to balance things out.

Antiquity Tele Set

Neck Magnet Type: Alnico V // Bridge Magnet Type: Alnico II

Neck DCR: 7.9k // Bridge DCR: 6.5k

Designed to deliver all the vibe and musicality of a vintage Telecaster pickup, Antiquity Telecaster pickups have that classic twangy ’50s Tele lead tone—custom aged for a smoother treble response—combined with a ’50s Tele rhythm pickup’s well-rounded low end and nice sweet treble response. The Antiquity Tele Lead will give you that early-’50s Tele tone, but with the high end sweetened by the custom-calibrated, hand-ground Alnico 2 rod magnets. What you get is the classic Tele twang and snap, but with a treble response that is bright but never piercing. The Antiquity Tele Rhythm is a faithful reproduction of an early-’50s Tele neck pickup. The bass response is full and round, and will add richness to your chords, while the specially calibrated hand-ground Alnico 5 rod magnets and custom coil winding give the top end a smoother, more musical attack. It’s great for big, bold rhythm playing, and percussive enough for classic country-style chicken pickin’, with a reverse wound/reverse polarity design for hum-canceling when used in combination with the Antiquity Tele Lead pickup.

Antiquity ‘55 Tele Set

Neck Magnet Type: Alnico V // Bridge Magnet Type: Alnico II

Neck DCR: 8.0k // Bridge DCR: 6.5k

After early production of the flat-pole Telecaster lead pickup, in 1954 Fender began to manufacture pickups with raised D and G poles to provide a more even string response and output for those guitars with a 7.25″ radius fretboard. With the Antiquity Tele ‘55 you get the same bright, twangy tone as our flat-pole Antiquity Tele Lead but with a little more edge. The neck model’s bass response is full and round, and will add richness to your chords, while the specially calibrated hand-ground Alnico 5 rod magnets, and custom coil winding give the treble a smoother, more musical attack. It’s great for big, bold rhythm playing, and percussive enough for classic country-style chicken pickin’.

Antiquity II Tele Set

Magnet Type: Alnico V

Neck DCR: 7.9k // Bridge DCR: 6.6k

These vintage Telecaster pickups are our tribute to the time-honored 1960s classics. The bridge model is bright and twangy with a slight softening of the treble response. Seymour wound the rhythm pickup as the perfect match for the unique picking style and intricate bends he used on his mid-’60s Tele. The Antiquity II Tele vintage Telecaster bridge pickup is built with specially calibrated, hand-ground Alnico 5 rod magnets, with the period-correct pole stagger. There is plenty of snap and bounce to the low strings, and the high strings give you that classic Tele twang, but with none of the dreaded “ice pick” harshness. It’s obviously great for country, but plenty of rockers rely on this pickup to work their magic. The Antiquity II Tele Rhythm pickup also uses hand-ground Alnico 5 rod magnets, as well as a special coil wind to deliver a clear, bright, and balanced Tele neck tone. There is plenty of warmth as well as crisp detail that makes this a great pickup for players who use a hybrid picking style or do lots of string bending. In fact, Seymour wound the rhythm pickup as the perfect match for the unique picking style and intricate bends he used on his own mid-’60s maple-neck Tele.