This is a great choice for players looking for a nice twist on a classic design. Named the Big Boy for its big, strong tone, this is a taller Tele neck pickup. It uses taller Alnico V, .195 magnet slugs, and is handwound with 42 gauge Heavy Formvar to around 6K. It also uses a pure nickel/silver cover which is more “transparent” sounding than traditional brass/chrome covers.

The tone of this pickup isn’t necessarily hot, although it certainly has a warmer midrange, woodier high end, and loses any anemic and muffled properties Tele neck pickups can sometimes have. Overall, the tone is clear, direct, and even – somewhat Strat’ty, somewhat Gretsch’y, and somewhat Tele’ish. This is a great pickup for neck soloing and smooth rhythm chord work.

Redd Volkaert uses this neck pickup exclusively, along with the Plank’ster bright pickup.

Price: $95

Big Boy Tele® Neck Pickup