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Modern player Telecaster bass

breen

breen

Nov 4, 2012
88
69
Waterloo, Ontario
#1
I recently bought a modern player telecaster bass. I love the feel of the bass and everything about it except the pickups. I can't seem to dial in a tone I like. Was looking for ideas for a replacement pickup. Something that can sound a bit brighter when needed. Any suggestions?
 
#2
Try the exh steel leather pedal on this bass. Breathes life into the tone and gives it some growl! And still fat sounding.

I'm so glad I bought that pedal if only for my tele bass.

I was going to add a series/parallel pu switch but I don't think I will since I got the steel leather. Anyone add that switch to their tele bass?
 
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#3
I use a Modern Player Tele as my main bass. I roll off the neck pickup a bit to get rid of some the muddiness and woofy boom. I use a Sansamp BBDI pedal as an "always on" and can dial in a tone I like. Also, look at tweaking the poles on the pickups since the bridge pickup doesn't fully align with the strings.

I'm not sure what pickups would be good for a replacement. I'm curious to see if others have some suggestions.
 
#5
I actually replaced the bridge my mine because the pickup pole was not even close to the E string. It plays with even sound across the strings now but I still don't really like the tones. I've also read on the Duncan forum that someone said an "EB style humbucker or DiMarzio Model One or Will Power N pickups would work. I will be trying something though, the front pickup I don't use at all...
 
#7
image.jpeg


I finally got around to finishing this bass. Sounds and plays awesome. I made a new pick guard, routed out for the p pickups and made a trim piece out of pick guard material and the original bridge pickup trim to trim out the j pickup.
image.jpeg
image.jpeg
 
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#11
breen said:
I recently bought a modern player telecaster bass. I love the feel of the bass and everything about it except the pickups. I can't seem to dial in a tone I like. Was looking for ideas for a replacement pickup. Something that can sound a bit brighter when needed. Any suggestions?
Click to expand...

I had the same exact experience. Loved the looks. Loved the feel. Loved everything about it, except I missed the highs. I sold it. I probably bought around 5 other basses since, but my replacement for that particular bass was an American Special P. Very different bass, but gives me what I was hoping for in the Tele.

If I were in an old school or Motown band that Tele probably would have become my number one. It's one of the few basses I've sold that I miss at times, but not enough times to actually regret selling it.
 
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#12
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