Crayon Sky Music

Are used guitar pick ups any worse than new ?

I need to replace the bridge pick up on my telecaster and I was wondering if a used pick up would sound any different from a new one. If it matters I am replacing a fender custom shop texas special

Doug, there will be no perceptible tonal difference between an equivalent new versus used pickup. Just make sure the wires are long enough for your application (although they can be extended with new wiring), and that the pre-owned pickup has not been subjected to mishandling (which could possibly damage the fragile coil wires). Shopping around eBay, Craig’s List, and even the major on-line retailers (for returned goods), you can potentially save up to 50% off the brand-new pickup cost. Reportedly, vintage guitar pickups that have aged gracefully develop a smoother, more melodic tone that is much sought after by the tone purists; however, there are modern pickups that have been “tuned” (through the windings and magnets) to produce a very comparable result. Unfortunately, you are never going to know exactly how a pickup is going to sound until it is installed in your specific guitar, and played through your own effects and amplifier system; this is one advantage of buying from a reputable source (e.g., Seymour -Duncan, DiMarzio, etc.) that offers a 30 to 45 day exchange option. Believe me, a pickup that produces a harsh, brittle tone in one guitar may sound smooth and robust in another; I discovered this myself with a DiMarzio Virtual Solo DP420, just moving it from the bridge position in a 1993 Stratocaster (sharp-edged, no dynamics) to a 2008 model (perfect full-bodied tone, slightly over-driven). Best regards, Dana

Fender Custom Shop ’60 Telecaster Custom Daphne Blue Relic Used Guitar