Why it's best: This is a somewhat mystical and magical pickup. I have spent years and years trying to figure out what I like most about it, and I can not make up my weary mind. It is not hum-canceling, yet is can be surprisingly squeal-free at high-volumes. When you roll off of your volume, it morphs into a vintage style Broadcaster pickup. When you turn around and push it into Classic-Rock territory, it really beefs up and provides amazing “Chunk”. I can’t think of a more well-rounded vintage style Tele bridge pickup. What is most amazing about all of this is that this versatility does not require any fancy wiring; every change in nuance cab be achieved by simply rolling off your guitar’s volume (best if you use a volume kit) or simply decreasing the drive on your amp (and vice versa). The Quarter Pound STL-3 from Seymour Duncan is simply the Best Vintage Telecaster Bridge Pickup. See more reviews, photos, prices, and specs
Why it's a best pick: What I like most about the Lindy Fralin Steel Poled Tele Style bridge pickup is the adjustable poles. If you like to really tweak your tone (and who does not?), you can set the height on each on so that the interaction with the string offers the perfect blend of signal strength with minimum string pull. As usual, the option that are offered when ordering are quite dizzying; choose between Alnico V or Alnico III magnets. To make your choices even more…dizzying, you can opt for a “half and half” setup where one of each is used. Not only that, but in this scenario, they strategically use each magnet type for specific strings where they tend to perform best. I am dizzy. What a terrific pickup. See more reviews, photos, prices, and specs
Why it's a best pick: For nearly 15 years the Dimarzio Twang King has reigned over the dominion of the Tele Bridge Pickup market, and shows no signs of stopping. Believe it or not, each one is hand-built with their proprietary winding technique. Part of this is a controlled-tension coil-winding process that results in a great sounding pickup. Wax-potted to minimize squealing and hum, this pickup is powered with Alnico V hand-calibrated magnets. If you are looking for a vintage style bridge pickup for your Tele, the Twang King from Dimarzio is not only the king of Staten Island, but also a great choice for your guitar. See more reviews, photos, prices, and specs
Why it's a best pick: Lollar throws their hat into the Tele aftermarket pickup ring with their Special T Series. This wax-potted 8.0K Ohm pickup is built with emphasis in the mids and bottom. The Alnico V magnets will also help take some of the sharpness off of the top end. This pickup was meant to be a slightly hotter version of their already well-received “Vintage T” Series Bridge pickup and does deliver, exactly as promised. See more reviews, photos, prices, and specs
