Robben Ford Discussion

[sfhalo]

Daved:

Just a quick question concerning the pickups in Robben's blond Telecaster that he uses on the Paris New Morning Concert DVD........are they stock pickups? If not, what p/u's are in that guitar. If yes, have they been rewound? Thanks, much.

[frank0936]

Adrian, if you'll do a search on the Tele you'll find a discussion on that subject. If I remember right, the bridge p/u was rewound to stock specs by Fralin and I think the neck p/u is still stock.
Frank

[sfhalo]

Frank: You're always so helpful............thanks, much. I'm still learning all the ins-outs of this discussion board and shoud have realized that a search would bring up many references to my queston about the pickups. Due to Tuesday's shoulder surgery, I've got a few days at home and have been watching Robben's DVDs. I haven't watched the Paris concert in awhile and forgot just how great Robben's Tele sounded. I started thinking (that will get me in toruble!) about those pickups and..........voila!....my question. Anyway, I'm thinking of buying a Fender Highway 1 Telecaster and was curious about how "stock" Robben's are versus the stock Fenders.
Also, do you have any experience with the G&L and/or Xotic Teles? You may remember from previous posts I've made that I played Les Pauls during my professional career and only recently bought my first Tele model.....a Squier Affinity Special Tele....nice guitar for the money. I, also, bought a Tokai Les Paul which is a wonderful guitar....though fairly heavy. So, I'm considering selling the LP and buying a more expensive Telecaster with Rosewood fingerboard. Any suggestions or comments would be appreciated.

[frank0936]

Hi Adrian, I hope the surgery went well. It sounds like it did if you're thinking about guitars! I played a G&L Tele once. It is a fine instrument. I wasn't sure if I wanted one bad enough to spend that kind of money so I got a Squier to try out. I lucked up and found one on Ebay that has a rosewood fingerboard and plays like a dream. I am going to have to replace the selector switch. The guy that had it before me kept hitting it and changing pickups when he played so he just broke it off! I can still change the settings with a fingernail, but it's a little hard to do on the fly. Anyway, I don't think you can go wrong with a G&L.
Frank

[Aeolian]

If you do a search on Tele pickups you'll find a wealth of opinion. Depends on if you want to fatten up the sound. Like any other guitar, Tele's are very subject to the wood used. When you find a good one, it will sound solid with just the stock pickups. One with a lightweight sound will need some help from fatter sounding pickups. I've played some rosewood board Highway 1's that were excellent. Would rather have some of those than the American Std that I have now.

This is my issue with buying guitars by mail order or through e-bay. I can't imagine not playing something before putting money in it. Unless it's some cheap toy like a Squire Affinity (had one of those Tele's before and it was great for the money, but I also picked it out of 4 they had at GC).

For a vintage sound, it seems like Lollar and Fralin are the most popular. Kinman's are great near vintage sound without the stage noise (use them in the Strat for my cover band). The Duncan JD gets a great fat vintage sound. I have a Tex-Mex in my AS which is what comes stock in the Highway 1's.

Another bit for fattening up a Tele is the Callaham replacement bridge plates. Especially replacing the flat brass ones on certain Tele's. Steel is needed around the pickup for that classic Tele bridge bark.
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[AndyR]

Hi sfhalo,

I have a G&L ASAT, looks just like this:


I'm not a gigging guitar player, and at most jams I get relagated to keyboards, although last time I jammed I had my ASAT nearby, and managed take a few turns.

Anyway, I can't give you much guitar "techno-speak" about the ASAT.

It's real nice...plays like a dream...has plenty of Tele "quack" to it...and it sounds real good when my brother plays it!

If you go to the discussion page at www.guitarsbyleo.com the G&L afficianados can give you all the details.



Andy