I've tried to create Telecaster pickups & sets that chime with certain tones & periods in music but often once you place an order, I'll discuss how we can make the pickup custom to you - If that means over/underwinding a little, different outputs etc etc then no problem, it can be done - they're your pickups, for your guitar.
Saying that, choosing the right pickup can be a daunting process - Give me a call or drop me an email with your requirements (tone/voice/output etc) and I'll either recommend a set or wind you a custom Telecaster pickup set based on your own personal specifications.
You can buy a complete Bridge & Neck Telecaster pickup set here - Any combination of Tele Bridge & Neck (There's a discount if you buy a set).
*NOTE: I wind my pickups RW/RP as standard but you can request vintage non-RW/RP or alternative polarities to work with a current pickup - Just give me a call or drop me an email.
Handwound at my workshop here in Manchester.
Vintage Telecaster Pickups
Vintage Telecaster Bridge Pickup 1 (Nocaster)
Magnets: Alnico 3
Poles: Flat or Staggered
Polarity: South Up
Coil Wire: 42AWG Plain Enamel
Lead Wire: Vintage Cloth Pushback
Output: 6.7k
Baseplate: Zinc coated steel
My take on the vintage Telecaster (Nocaster) bridge pickup of the early '50s. Flat Alnico 3 polepieces pressed into handcut vulcanised flatwork. I scatterwind (hand feed) the 42AWG (46SWG) thin copper wire to build the coil to around 6.7k. A traditional Telecaster bridge pickup sound; crisp and clear with a bright tone yet warm & round tone due to the Alnico 3 poles.
Vintage cloth pushback hookup wire, wax potted with zinc coated steel baseplate and vintage style string coil protection make this my homage to the early Telecaster twang. A great Tele bridge pickup sound.
Vintage Telecaster Neck Pickup 1 (Nocaster)
Magnets: Alnico 3
Poles: Flat
Polarity: North Up
Coil Wire: 42AWG Plain Enamel
Lead Wire: Vintage Cloth Pushback
Output: 5.7k
Cover: Unpolished Nickel
The traditional Telecaster neck pickup sound - A clear bright tone with smooth mid frequencies and warm, rounded lows. The soft attack of the Alnico 3 poles is ideal for a clean Telecaster sound.
Unpolished nickel plated cover, vintage style cloth covered lead wire and wax potted - match it with the vintage Telecaster bridge pickup for that 50s Telecaster sound.
Vintage Telecaster Bridge Pickup 2 (Broadcaster)
Magnets: Alnico 2
Poles: Flat
Polarity: South Up
Coil Wire: 43AWG Plain Enamel
Lead Wire: Vintage Cloth Pushback
Output: 9.4k
Baseplate: Uncoated steel
My 2nd take on the vintage Telecaster (Broadcaster) bridge pickup of the early '50s. Flat Alnico 2 polepieces pressed into handcut vulcanised flatwork. I scatterwind (hand feed) the 43AWG thin copper wire to build the coil to around 9.4k giving this pickup a hotter output than the Vintage Telecaster bridge Pickup 1. A fatter , hotter take on the traditional Telecaster sound; crisp and clear with a bright tone yet warmer, rounded tone due to the overwound coil and Alnico 2 poles.
Vintage cloth pushback hookup wire, wax potted with vintage un-coated steel baseplate and vintage style string coil protection make this our homage to the early Telecaster pickup twang.
Vintage Telecaster Neck Pickup 2 (Broadcaster)
Magnets: Alnico 2
Poles: Flat
Polarity: North Up
Coil Wire: 43AWG Plain Enamel
Lead Wire: Vintage Cloth Pushback
Output: 7.6k
Cover: Unpolished Nickel
A hotter wind but still the traditional Telecaster neck pickup sound - A clear bright tone with smooth mid frequencies and warm, rounded lows. The soft attack of the Alnico 2 poles is ideal for a clean tele sound.
Unpolished nickel cover, vintage style cloth covered lead wire and wax potted - match it with the vintage Telecaster bridge for that 50s Telecaster sound.
You can buy a complete Bridge & Neck Telecaster pickup set here - Any combination of standard Telecaster Bridge & Neck.
Classic Telecaster Pickups
Classic Telecaster Bridge Pickup - Alnico 5
Magnets: Alnico 5
Poles: Staggered
Polarity: South Up
Coil Wire: 42AWG Plain Enamel
Lead Wire: Vintage Cloth Pushback
Output: 7.5k
The Classic Telecaster Bridge pickup with staggered Alnico 5 poles and copper plated steel grounding plate to shift the resonances toward the lows, resulting in a fatter, more pleasant tone. This is a true scatterwound pickup. With the classic Telecaster snap and snarl, the pickup has a defined bottom-end with clarity through the upper mid-range to highs.
The tone from this pickup is just how you expect it to be. A great Telecaster bridge pickup.
Classic Telecaster Neck Pickup - Alnico 5
Magnets: Alnico 5
Poles: Flat
Polarity: North Up
Coil Wire: 43AWG Plain Enamel
Lead Wire: Vintage Cloth Pushback
Output: 6.4k
Cover: Chrome plated Nickel
With more bite than the vintage Alnico 2 pickup, these Classic Alnico 5 Telecaster neck pickups are wound to drive your amp a little more. The clear bright tone of the traditional Telecaster neck pickup sound is given extra snap with a little more bite in the mids and growl in the lows. The snappier attack of the Alnico 5 poles is ideal for a clean Telecaster sound.
Nickel plated silver cover, vintage style cloth covered lead wire and wax potted - match it with the vintage Telecaster bridge for that 50s Telecaster pickup sound.
You can buy a complete Bridge & Neck Telecaster pickup set here - Any combination of standard Telecaster Bridge & Neck.
Higher Output Telecaster Pickups
Hot Telecaster Bridge Pickup - Alnico 5
Magnets: Alnico 5
Poles: Flat
Polarity: South Up
Coil Wire: 42AWG Plain Enamel
Lead Wire: Vintage Cloth Pushback
Output: 8.2k
A higher output version of the Classic Telecaster Bridge pickup with flat Alnico 5 poles and copper plated steel grounding plate to shift the resonances toward the lows, resulting in a fatter, more pleasant tone. The higher output gives this pickup a more rounded tone than the classic series, still with telecaster clarity and twang but this is a pickup that can really drive your amp - a true, hot scatterwound pickup.
A great Hot Telecaster Bridge pickup.
Hot Telecaster Neck Pickup - Alnico 5
Magnets: Alnico 5
Poles: Flat
Polarity: North Up
Coil Wire: 43AWG Plain Enamel
Lead Wire: Vintage Cloth Pushback
Output: 7.1k
Cover: Chrome plated Nickel
Hotter wind than the Classic Alnico 5 Telecaster neck pickup, still with the snap and low growl but overwound to really drive your amp. A great take on the classic Telecaster neck pickup, updated for a modern driving sound.
My black "Wilko" Tele, fitted with a great set of (Hot Alnico 5) pickups from The Creamery - Neck pickup might just be the best I've ever heard. Bridge cuts like a knife!
Steve Robinson (Guitar Tech for over 20yrs)
Alt '88 Overwound Telecaster Bridge Pickup
Magnets: Alnico 2 or 5
Poles: Flat
Polarity: South Up
Coil Wire: 43AWG Plain Enamel
Lead Wire: Vintage Cloth Pushback
Output: 13.6k
Baseplate: Copper Plated Steel
Inspired by the alternative music scene of the mid-to-late '80s this is my overwound take on the vintage Telecaster bridge pickup. The flat Alnico 2 polepieces are slightly warmer sounding than Alnico 5 but with the taller, stronger magnets, I've managed to keep the traditional tele twang and mix this with an aggressive, biting output, great for really driving an amp or running effects.
They've been a real labour of love these pickups and have gone through numerous changes to get them right. A great Tele rhythm or lead pickup if you want more bite and a modern aggressive attack.
Alt '88 Overwound Telecaster Neck Pickup
Magnets: Alnico 2 or 5
Poles: Flat
Polarity: South Up (North Up if RW/RP)
Coil Wire: 43AWG Plain Enamel
Lead Wire: Vintage Cloth Pushback
Output: 8.1k
Baseplate: Copper Plated Steel
Inspired by the alternative music scene of the mid-to-late '80s this is my overwound take on the vintage Telecaster bridge pickup. The flat Alnico 2 polepieces are slightly warmer sounding than Alnico 5 but with the taller, stronger magnets, I've managed to keep the traditional tele twang and mix this with an aggressive, biting output, great for really driving an amp or running effects.
They've been a real labour of love these pickups and have gone through numerous changes to get them right. A great Tele rhythm or lead pickup if you want more bite and a modern aggressive attack.
The Alt '88 Telecaster Neck comes without cover to let more of the attack come through. It can also be RW/RP if required.
You can buy a complete Bridge & Neck Telecaster pickup set here - Any combination of standard Telecaster Bridge & Neck.
Custom Telecaster Pickups
Sonic '60 Telecaster Bridge
Magnet: Custom Alnico 2
Poles: Flat bar
Polarity: South Up
Coil Wire: 42AWG or 43AWG Plain Enamel
Lead Wire: Vintage Cloth Pushback
Output: 6.9k or 9.4k
Baseplate: Copper Plated Steel
Designed with a custom scatterwound pattern for richer harmonics wound directly around a custom Alnico 2 magnet, the Sonic '60 for Telecaster has a richer, fatter tone yet still keeping much of the classic Tele twang.
Available in two versions, a standard output 6.9k pickup and a hotter 9.4k version, its a great lead pickup if you're looking for something a little different in the Tele bridge position.
The coil is shorter than a standard tele pickup, a little wider and when coupled with the custom Alnico 2 magnet gives a unique warmer, fatter tone rich in harmonics.
Vintage cloth pushback hookup wire, wax potted with copper plated steel baseplate and vintage style string coil protection help make this a unique take on the classic tele sound.
Custom "Tele-90" - P90 for Telecaster Bridge
Magnet: Custom Alnico 5
Poles: Slottes Steel Screws
Polarity: South Up
Coil Wire: 44AWG Plain Enamel
Lead Wire: Vintage Cloth Pushback
Output: 10.4k
Baseplate: Copper Plated Steel
Telecaster Sized P90 Bridge Pickup
A P90 design in a standard Telecaster Bridge size. The Creamery Telecaster sized P90 pickup houses two unpolished Alnico 5 magnets, wider slotted steel screws and a short, fat 44AWG coil. Huge, fat single-coil tones still with clarity, presence & a defined voice. Get the grit of a P90 in a standard Telecaster Bridge size. Great fat, rounded clean tones - turn up the gain and let the pickup scream.
The geometry of the standard Tele Bridge Pickup size as opposed to a standard P90 means there will always be a slight difference in tone between the two pickups as the coil will be slightly narower - Its for this reason I don't call it a "true" P90 although I've voiced this pickup to sound close. A higher output, fat single-coil tone in a standard Tele Bridge sized pickup. The higher output balances with the narrower, lower strength magnets.
Red '79 Telecaster Bridge
Magnets: Alnico 5
Poles: Staggered or Flat
Polarity: South Up
Coil Wire: 42AWG Plain Enamel
Lead Wire: Vintage Cloth Pushback
Output: 5.9k
Baseplate: Copper Plated Steel
Inspired by the New Wave/Post Punk era of the late '70s & early '80s, the Red '79 Telecaster Bridge Pickup has that brittle, bright attack & scooped mids associated with much of the music of that era. The lower in output, 42AWG coil wrapped around Custom Alnico 5 magnets gives you that cutting tone great with effects (a little phase, a little chorus ;-). I settled on the final design (after many versions) to create a pickup that has that bright, brittle tone without the ice-pick shrillness of lower wound pickups. To achieve this the coil is wound slightly shorter with a looser scatterwound pattern to achieve the balance I was looking for.
With the staggered magnet the tone is concentrated more around the D & G strings for a spikier attack whereas with the flat pole version the tone is rounded a little more as the tone is spread evenly through all strings. There's also the option to have the pickup without the Telecaster baseplate for more of a cutting stratocaster bridge tone.
If you're looking for a set, the Red '79 can be matched up with my Classic Telecaster Neck and I can custom wind them to create a great calibrated set. Just get in touch.
NOTE: If Red really isn't your thing you can always order it in White or Black vintage String as well ;-)
Creamery Custom Pickup Reviews
Finally wired up the Tele today. The pickups are fantastic! I'm very happy. I'm gonna do some pics and clips and start telling everyone how great they are .... Been living with my Creamery Tele pickups for a while now. Best pups I've ever owned. I can't put my guitar down! It doesn't get any better than finding pups that make you want to play more
Ed 'Shed' Mitchell - Guitarist, Total Guitar & Guitar World Magazines
My black "Wilko" Tele, fitted with a great set of (Hot Alnico 5) pickups from The Creamery - Neck pickup might just be the best I've ever heard. Bridge cuts like a knife!
Steve Robinson (Guitar Tech for over 20yrs)
The only thing better than having pickups hand-made, is having pickups hand-made that sound even better than you hoped they would! Dynamic, versatile, remarkable clarity and well made - they truly are fantastic. Thanks!
Ben Butterworth
"The Hot Alnico 5 Tele Neck pickup is in! Help ma Boab! Everything I'd hoped for and more. Warm, balanced and just a bit snarly."
Dave MacLeod
Cheers Jaime !!!! Got the new pickup (Hot Tele Bridge) fitted.....it sounds amazing !! Loads off oooomph but still retaining that great "tele" sound...........I love it!
Murray McDowell
"Got the new pickup fitted.....it sounds amazing !! Loads off oooomph but still retaining that great "tele" sound...........i love it! Thanks for everything. I'm spreading the word …. First outside gig with new pup yesterday - it sang! Thanks again Jaime!"
Murray McDowell
"Pickups arrived yesterday. They sound great. Thank you. I have another few Telecasters to make so i will come to you again."
Nathan Bowler, Nathans guitar workshop
"Just played my first gig with the new vintage tele broadcaster pickup. It sounds AMAZING !! Everything I have ever wanted ! On the bridge pickup with a bit of reverb added was like a step back to the 50s in tone. Even my bass player commented that it was like BB kings tone from his 50s classic recordings. When we rocked it up with a bit of tube screamer it was out and out rock n roll ! I cannot recommend your pickups enough Jaime ! They are everything you describe them as and more. Great Pickups...great service ! I look forward to taking the tele with me on tour in the summer with the blues festivals and club dates we have lined up ! Thanks again for giving me the tone I have dreamed of ! Seriously, the tele sounds amazing..exactly as you described...the vintage bridge sounded full and fat but with plenty of bite. And It really made me play my ass off ! When your tone is there you can just concentrate on playing...I don't think I have ever sounded so good !"
Dave Dixon
"I received the Alt '88 Tele Pickup Set and stuck them right in. I LOVE THESE PICK UPS! Yes, they scream as expected but I can still pick country without getting itchy. I have been reccomending you to anyone who asks and many who don't. I have to admit that I am not really a "build up" kind of guy. all of my other guitars are dead stock. I've always been a PAF player and most of my guitars are Gibsons, I am a vintage collector. I have a few old strats and a mix of other stuff too, but I have only had one Tele in my life and it is an all stock all original 1952. I've never been completely sold on the delivery I get from Teles. I must say that I am a born again Tele fan and it really is completely due to your pups."
Bryan Kweskin
"I got the pickups through and soldered them in. You can add me to the list that these Alt '88 overwound Tele pickups are absolutely awesome. I love em and so does the guy who’s guitar i have custom refurbed. I’ll be recommending your pickups to everyone ... I’ll be in contact again soon to put in an order for some of your Tele wide range pickups I have got my eye on; this time for my own guitar. Cheers again"
Tom Parry, Tom Parry Guitars
"I meant to email sooner to let you know the Alnico II Broadcasters are perfect and have a wonderful tone - very bluesy and soulful. You have a winner there - really excellent."
