Albert Collins' bridge tone - which pup?

[goldenbuff96]

I know, I still won't sound like the Iceman because I don't have his figures, talents, and soul. But would still like to get close to "that" sound. I know Albert has a PAF-type humbucker in the neck, but I'm only interested in the bridge at this point.

I just love the harmonics and note bloom from his bridge pup. Until know, I didn't think that you can get this much harmonics and note blooms with a single coil. What makes the sound special to me is that despite the note blooms, it STILL HAS that unmistakeable tele "SHARP EDGE" if you know what I mean.

I currently have Don Mare's Nancy bridge which I absolutely love (highly recommended). Nancy is wound at under 6K - it has a very "open" sound. Now I'm looking for a little variation in my next tele project. With Nancy I still couldn't get that "Big and Blooming, but still Sharp" Iceman sound even if I max out the treble. I suspect that Albert used a bridge pup that registered higher than 6K.

So, to get this sound, do I need an overwound bridge? which bridge pup would you recommend? what kind of magnet? which boutique winder can get me this sound?

Many thanks to the forumites in advance!

Edit: I read somewhere that Albert used 1K pots and .1uf capacitor - is this true? This could go a long way in explaining the brightness and sharpness in his sound.

[TG]

When he got his guitar you only got the pickups Fender put in them. So I suspect that his amp settings and his personal playing style has alot to do with it, and perhaps the pot values like you said.

[collinsman]

Albert used his bridge pup and sometimes the middle position, had the treble all the way up along with the volume, bass ( I think ) on 4, and reverb on 4. Bones ( tdpri member ) has it exact.

[Kingtone]

From what I remember Alberts Tele already had the PAF in it when he got it. After looking at the "Ice Pickin" album cover I would guess his Tele was a 57' or a 58' (I could be wrong) A good place to start would be having a bridge pickup wound to 57'-58' specs. I've had great luck with Owen Duffys pickups he has a real knack for nailing the tone your after. Also I think playing with the bridge cover on may be part of the tone. A 150' cord and a dimed Fender Quad Reverb is also part of the tonal equation.
O.C.Duff

[Kingtone]

I found a copy of Guitar Player magazine, May 88'. Albert Collins was featured that month. He said his #1 Tele was a 61' and it had the humbucker in it when he got it. Good luck on your tone search....

[GTO]

This same question has just been asked in another forum and I think the relevent answer was given when allied to the amp settings....

He used a 10-38 set of strings and tuned, low to high, F,C,F,Ab,C,F.

[TG]

...and don't forget the capo.

[jawjatek]

I play blues, and when I built my Tele I went thru SD, Rio Grande, Van Zandt, and other pickup sets before finally settling on a Gibson humbucker from a "61 SG at the neck and a Barden Gatton model in the bridge. It really nails the Collins tone in the middle position IMO - with no noise. (ducking). I also used 500k pots and a 0.047 uF tone cap.

[goldenbuff96]

Thanks for all your inputs. I'm familiar with Albert Collins amps, capo and techniques, etc. (by "familiar" I meant I know what they are, it doesn't mean that I can replicate the sound).

My intention of the original post was - let us assume that if Albert Collins (bless his soul) had to purchase a bridge pup for his tele - which one would the Iceman buy to get his sound?

Sorry for being unclear earlier.

[Kelsey]

I posted a reply to this question elsewhere, so in brief, the AC Tele from the Fender CS uses a SD 59 neck HB and a CS Texas Special bridge pickup. Since the CS sometimes tweaks the pickups they use, that TX Spl may not be identical to the one you can buy after market. I think a Nocaster lead would work as well -- I played a CS NAMM LTD Tele with a 59 neck HB and Nocaster lead, and the combination was stellar. An SD Antiquity Tele lead of one sort or another would be a good option, too.

[goldenbuff96]

Originally Posted by Kelsey

I posted a reply to this question elsewhere, so in brief, the AC Tele from the Fender CS uses a SD 59 neck HB and a CS Texas Special bridge pickup. Since the CS sometimes tweaks the pickups they use, that TX Spl may not be identical to the one you can buy after market. I think a Nocaster lead would work as well -- I played a CS NAMM LTD Tele with a 59 neck HB and Nocaster lead, and the combination was stellar. An SD Antiquity Tele lead of one sort or another would be a good option, too.

Yes, you sure did. I also posted the same topic over at the Fender Forum. Thanks!

[Kelsey]

You're welcome. Let us know what you end up doing.

[rand z]

i think a barden bridge would get close... along with some gain/overdrive.

a lot of alberts sound was from that capo, his tuning... and HIS FINGERS! (no pick)

i saw albert a # of times and he was GREAT!

imho.


rand z tropicalsoul.net

[goldenbuff96]

Here is my plan, as of this moment - I will use the Bill Lawrence Keystone bridge pup, which I purchased but have yet to install. From reading this forum, the Keystone bridge does not seem to have the sharp high, but I will use 1000K pots and .01uf capacitor to coax out the treble.

I heard from several people that Barden bridge is good for the Iceman tone, but it just so ******* expensive. Perhaps I will try Barden if I'm dissatisfied with the Keystone.

Thank you so much. Love you guys!!!

[rand z]

of course, the barden would/could be shrill and powerful; but you can roll off the tone from the pot to keep it from peelin paint (which gatton did at times as he was a knob turner).

what remains is a very high fidelity, powerfully strong, punchy tele bridge pup. the operative words here being HIGH FIDELITY and POWERFUL.

it is not thin, weak or tinny like many tele bridge pups can be. danny and barden designed it to be quiet, and have a lot more balls and FIDELITY (theres that word, again) than the norm.

i dont think bardens (or any pup) is worth $2-300.00 + (to me), but it was worth $135.00 ea. back in 1992 when i bought them.

i do think it would get you close to alberts "stabbing" tone, though.

depends what YOU want.

imho.

rand z tropicalsoul.net

[Kelsey]

I suspect that $135 in 1992 isn't too far off from $200 or so in 2006, but I can't find the link to the inflation calculator at the moment.

[rand z]

new bardens are around 170.00 i think, still under 200.00. a very high $ for a very great pup. id have to think about it; but if i wanted a certain sound...

$200.00 + is my dropout point for pups, though. i have to "draw the line" somewhere, regardless to inflation, gnp, whos the pope, or if theres life after death.

(bread use to be around 25 cents a loaf in the 30's, its now 2.00 or so; but if i want to eat it, ill buy it. if not, i dont.)


imho.

rand z tropicalsoul.net

[miguelon56]

I know nothing about specs of guitars, pick-ups, or amps, but I have been playing AC's Songs in his tuning for about 5 years. I'm still no expert! I'm still trying to get closer to that "cluck reverb boxed in sound". I think am thinking that since I have his tuning (with only 9 1/2 strings) with a choker and pluck all with my index finger that the rest has to be in his amp settings. He used no effects pedals (he states on his instructional video with keith wyatt). I use a slightly modified fender hot rod deluxe amp. That gets me close. Great for Blues and has a nice spring reverb unit in it. I use a 52 tele reissue stock and a G&L Bluesboy Stock. It has that nice humbucker in the neck. If anyone may have more suggestions that require no major adjustments, please pass em on to me.

[AJ Love]

It was the Fender Quad Reverb amp that had alot to do with his sound, with old stock tubes. Try putting 2 Twin Reverbs together and turn em up loud, that'll get ya in the zone but it'll hurt your audiences ears....