Vintage Hot Tele

Vintage Tone & Twang

$120 – $240

Single Coil
Clean & Articulate
Traditional Appearance
Vintage Output

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Rated 4.98 out of 5 based on 162 customer ratings

( 162 genuine reviews)

Experience the ultimate in clarity and articulation with our era-authentic Fralin Vintage Hot Tele set. Warm, clear lows paired with brilliant highs, our Vintage Hot Tele set will inspire you with all the twang you desire. Built with all USA-Made parts, you can take pride in knowing we made every aspect of your pickups with the highest-quality materials possible.

Options

Customize your Vintage Hot Tele:

Set or Single

Magnet Stagger

Neck Output

Bridge Output

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The Ultimate in Tele Twang

Want to learn more about our Vintage Hot Tele? Here's all the information you'll need:

Features

Are you looking for the cleanest and most transparent tone out of your Tele? We got you! Vintage Hot Tele Pickups: our second best-selling Tele set. This set features a bright, pure sound that allows you to cut through the mix and hear every nuance in your playing. Wound by hand to ’50s specs, you can feel great knowing your pickups were wound by our expert craftsmen, specifically for you.

Features:

Original Fender specifications, with modern output
Clean and clear, lots of Fender sparkle and twang
USA-made Alnico 5 Magnets for optimal tonal balance and output
Compensated Bridge for even volume across all pickups
Two magnet staggers available for different fingerboard radiuses
Hand-wound with our “Sectioning” technique for unique, dynamic tone
Hand-built fiberboard Bobbins for unrivaled quality control
Backed by our 10-Year Warranty on manufacturing defects
6.6K Bridge, 7.4K Neck

Sound

This pickup set is perfect for those looking for the most traditional Tele twang out of their Telecaster. Vintage Hot Tele Pickups excel at cleaner styles of music. Expect a robust and open midrange, clear bass strings, and bright and sharp-sounding plain strings. The break-up is smooth and late, ideal for cleaner players or a softer playing style.

Vintage Hot Tele Pickups are for those who need the most traditional Vintage Telecaster tone. If you’re playing style involves more distortion, or, if you prefer smoother, darker-sounding pickups, you might like our Blues Specials a bit more. However, If your current pickups are too dark, or if you’re looking for some added definition and clarity, you will love these. You’ll wonder why you didn’t make the switch earlier.

Are you looking for a Hum Cancelling Tele pickup that actually sounds like a Tele? Check out the Vintage Output of our Split Blade Tele Pickups

Our manufacturing process allows us to achieve unparalleled quality control. These Telecaster pickups consist of local fiberboard and USA-Made Alnico 5 Magnets. We wind each pickup by hand, one at a time. Each pickup is wound using our proprietary “Sectioning” technique. This gives the pickup a sweet, clear tone. Finally, we wax-pot the pickup to preserve the pickup and prevent microphonics. Rest assured: when you receive this pickup, you’ll know it’s painstakingly made with love.

Sound Samples for Vintage Hot Tele:

About this Sound Clip:

All sound samples are played from Neck Position First and Bridge Position Last.

Tonal Graph For Vintage Hot Tele:

The tonal graph below for our Vintage Hot Tele features Lows, Midrange, Highs, and general Output.

HIGHS

MIDS

LOWS

OUTPUT

Attack: Bright & Sharp

Videos for Vintage Hot Tele:

Tech Specs:

See below for the estimated DCR and Polarity Information for our Vintage Hot Tele.

SPECIFICATION	VALUE
Neck Ohm Reading:	7.6K*¹
Bridge Ohm Reading:	6.8K¹
Neck Polarity:	Counter Clockwise Coil Direction, North To Strings
Bridge Polarity:	Clockwise Coil Direction, South To Strings
Magnet:	USA-Made Alnico 5
Wire:	USA-Made 42 / 43 Plain Enamel*
Recommended Pot Value:	250K
Recommended Cap Value:	0.02mfd²

Additional Technical Info:

¹ Ohm Readings can vary due to a multitude of factors, including ambient temperature, multimeter calibration, different wire batches, and other factors. Due to this, ohm readings are approximate. Learn more about Ohm Readings here.

² We recommend a 0.02mfd Cap Value on most guitar and bass pickups. The exception is a Magic Cap, which Lindy prefers on the Bridge Pickup of Fender® guitars only. Learn More about Caps Here.

*The Neck reads higher due to the use of 43 Gauge Wire, outputs are compensated

Polarity Information:

Here's how we wind and magnetize our pickups:

Note: We depict all our coil directions from Ground (Black Wire, or Start Wire) to Hot (White Wire, or Finish Wire).

Vintage Hot Tele Dimensions:

Telecaster Dimensions - Fralin — All dimensions include a covered Neck pickup to account for the slight increased size from the cover.

Pickup Pairing

Our Vintage Hot Tele pairs well with the following models:

Vintage Hot Strat - Middle

Rated 4.99 out of 5

( 140)

Starting At: $ 105

Pair a Vintage Hot Tele Set with a Vintage Hot Strat Middle for a Twangy Nashville Set!

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Real '54s - Middle

Rated 4.94 out of 5

( 49)

Starting At: $ 105

Pair a Vintage Hot Tele Set with a Real '54 Strat Middle for the ultimate "Quack" in positions 2 & 4.

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Featured Reviews

Reviews We Worked Hard For, and Are Proud Of

Rated 5 out of 5

I upgraded a Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster with set of Vintage Hot pups, stock neck and 2% overwound bridge. Also installed the Fralin pre-wired control plate. I also changed the bridge and saddles (brass, but aluminum E-A saddle) with ones made by a chap in Germany brand name T-Tune. The installation went well and it was the first time I'd ever done a setup on any guitar. I could not be more pleased with the result. To my ears, the guitar now sounds like an early 50s Telecaster. I rate these Fralin pups at 5 stars +.

Rated 5 out of 5

Just installed a set of standard Tele pickups with 2% overwind on both pickups in a new Fender American Ultra which is incredible but just didn't have the Tele sound. All I can say is wow. Blows away the Fender noiseless pickups. Very clear and open sound and they can also rock too. No problem getting dirty. Only had a chance to play them fir a few minutes late last night but I don't hear any noise from them. Can't wait to out them through their paces. I don't know why anyone would want to keep the stock Fenders. Also, I got the pre-wired control plate with the 4th position option (pull/push treble knob). Awesome full sound when combining both pickups. I love that option as the Tele looks stock. If you have a Tele and want a Tele sound you have to get these. Uninstalled the whole set with ease. A few solder joints and you're done.

Rated 5 out of 5

Exceeded My Expectations I’ve had a couple of weeks to live with the new Fralin tele pickup, and my initial enthusiasm hasn’t waned. I’ve used another boutique bridge PU (rhymes with dollar) for many years in this guitar, and I’ve always been pretty pleased with it, but it didn’t give me exactly what I heard in my head. The Fralin stock tele with 2% overwind turned my head the first time I played it. It has a harmonic richness I felt was missing before, a very classic early 60’s tele sound, but with great bass response, ample output and sparkle with no harshness. I’m rethinking this guitar now, and I feel it’s more versatile and rewarding to play. It covers a broad stylistic territory and has great touch sensitivity. I could say more, but just thinking about this pickup makes me want to stop and play that guitar again. Let’s just say it exceeded my expectations. The pandemic is beginning to ease, and I’m looking forward to getting back to regular gigging with this guitar and running the Fralin through its paces. I see more of Lindy’s PUs in my future.

Rated 5 out of 5

I just put my new Fralin "Stock Tele" pickups in my part-o-caster last night. Wow! What a revelation. The contrast between the Fralins and the stock Fender pickups was quite remarkable. I felt inspired to play guitar - which is really what it's all about, right? One of the unexpected changes was that I found myself using the volume and tone controls much more. Previously, I'd typically just kept them wide open all the time. But with the Fralin pickups I found that there were pleasant, different sounds available throughout the range of the controls. Even if I rolled the tone all the way down it didn't sound like mud. Thanks, Mr. Fralin!

Rated 5 out of 5

What a Tele Sounds like in my head. I’ve come to believe Fralin is what a Tele sounds like— I’ve used other “vintage style” pups and they always left me wanting. Little output, overly dark or overly light…. I like the slightly extra output a Fralin gives, but a nice balanced pickup. This is my 3rd set and it took a fantastic boutique guitar OVER THE TOP! The Standard Tele with a 2% overwind is my favorite, with my second favorite being the Jim Weider wind. Get them!

Customer Reviews

162 Genuine Reviews for Vintage Hot Tele

Richard Corderoy
December 18, 2024
Rated 5 out of 5

I just put a pair of your vintage hot tele pickupos into my trusty 1993 Fender Japan Blueflower Telecaster. It has completely transformed the instrument. It now has a beautiful balance and melodic ring and feels like a much more accomplished instrument. I am so happy I did this – suggested by my local luthier – The Charlie Chandler Guitar Experience in the UK – great guys. Best. Richard
Damian Mrofka

Verified Purchase

December 2, 2024
Rated 5 out of 5

Just installed these into my Tele. Sound amazing!! Definitely the Tele twang/spank I was looking for!