If you’re on the hunt for the best Telecaster pickups for indie rock, you’re in the right place! In today’s article, we’re going to highlight 6 best and most affordable pickups (both bridge and neck) that you can add to your guitar. Of course, there are a lot of Teles that already sound great without any upgrades. But trust me, things can get really amazing if you decide to choose some of the pickups listed below. Especially if you’re an enthusiast of indie rock!
I’m sure that we all love the classic Telecaster tone. That tight attack, quick response and warm, vintage sound. The versatility of these guitars is simply amazing – they can be used in a wide range of genres from blues, rock and grunge even to metal. Still, a lot of guitarists decide to change the original pickups in their guitar in order to make their tone even more versatile and better.
I prepared a list of 6 best sounding Telecaster pickups that are suitable for indie and alternative rock genres. Have a quick look on the models below. In the next part, we’re going to have a closer look at each one of them. Ready? Let’s jump into it!
Best Telecaster Pickups For Indie Rock – List
| 1. | Fender Tex-Mex Pickups | See on Amazon |
| 2. | Fender Pure Vintage Pickups | See on Amazon |
| 3. | Seymour Duncan Vintage Broadcaster | See on Amazon |
| 4. | Seymour Duncan Hot Tele | See on Amazon |
| 5. | Fender Ultra Noiseless Vintage | See on Amazon |
| 6. | DiMarzio DP417 | See on Amazon |
1. Fender Tex-Mex Pickups
Really good entry and mid-level pickups suitable for beginner and more advanced indie rockers. On top of that, it’s not expensive at all. This set features clear bass, crisp heights and maximum output. In addition, Fender decided to use Alnico 5 magnets for these models – it’s the same magnet type as used in far more expensive Ultra Noiseless pickups. I think that at this price it will be really difficult with this set of Telecaster pickups. Undoubtedly, it’s a really good choice for indie rock.
Check out this quick sound demo below.
2. Fender Pure Vintage 64 Pickups
Another really great set of pickups that features a really warm, vintage tone. If you’re into this kind of vibe, you should totally give these pickups a chance. They should work extremely well for indie rock. In fact, they really remind me of Peach Pit in terms of sound, so if you’re familiar with that band, you should know what I’m talking about. Great tone, affordable price and lots of positive reviews – you just can’t fail with this set of pickups!
Check out the demo below.
3. Seymour Duncan Vintage Broadcaster Pickups
For those who don’t know, Seymour Duncan is a leader when it comes to guitar pickups. This particular set designed for Telecasters features a raw and punchy tone which is perfect for indie and alternative rock genres. If you like such bands as The Killers, Arctic Monkeys, The Strokes or Arcade Fire, you should definitely give these pickups a chance. You won’t regret it – that’s a fact!
Here’s a quick demo.
4. Seymour Duncan Hot Tele Pickups
Another extremely good set of pickups for Telecasters. Although it’s a bit more expensive than the previous set by Seymour Duncan, it features a really exceptional tone quality. The Hot Tele Set offers a really fat and true single-coil tone with solid low end power. Undoubtedly, it will be an amazing choice for all-level players who are into indie rock. I highly recommend check it out!
Here’s a quick demo.
5. Fender Ultra Noiseless Vintage Pickups
In my opinion, these are one of the best pickups that you could possibly choose for your Telecaster. Although this set is the most expensive on today’s list, it’s definitely worth it. Fender did an amazing job and created a set of exceptional vintage pickups suitable for mid-level and professional players. It’s really difficult to describe the awesomeness of these pickups with words. That’s why I highly recommend checking their tone on your own!
Here’s the official demo.
6. DiMarzio DP417 Neck Pickup
Absolutely great neck pickup manufactured by DiMarzio. The DP417 has a bit more punch than usual neck pickups used in Fender guitars. The overall tone of it is warm, punchy and strat-like at times. I think that it will be a great choice for musicians who are into indie rock. Whether you’re just playing at home or if you’re playing gigs with your local indie band, you’ll definitely improve your tone with this model by DiMarzio.
Check out the demo below.
Best Telecaster Pickups For Indie Rock – Final Verdict
I understand how difficult it is to choose best pickups for your telecaster, especially if you’re into indie rock. Nevertheless, there are quite a lot of really interesting options out there. Which pickups would I choose? To be honest, all of these models are equally great. I would probably choose the Ultra Noiseless pickups by Fender – I just love their sound! Which ones would you choose? Let me know in the comments section below, I’m really curious. If you think that I haven’t included a model that should be on that list, leave a comment as well!
I hope that today’s blog post was helpful for you and you enjoyed it. Additionally, you may also like:
