Haeussel Telecaster Broad

Passive single coil tele pickups modeled on 50s broadcaster.

Installed in Mex tele standard (maple neck). Replacing Bill lawrence T1 & T2 and, before that, the stock fender pups. The original pups sounded good, but slightly weak. The lawrences were too toppy for this guitar, which suits warmer pups.

The output is good, strong but not over the top. I have them set a fair way from the strings -- more than 1/8" with strings fretted at 22. The tone is superb, warm yet with a silvery, glassy top end in the neck and a lovely throaty growl in the overtones of the bridge pickup. The mid range is beautifully voiced and the guitar sits nicely in the mix regardless of the position. I play everything from rock to classical and folk fingerstyle and these pickups suit all of them. The front pickup is capable of a nice jazz tone. I've given it a 9 because it's hard to give tele pickups a 10 since each instrument will want different pups.

If they were lost or destroyed I'd buy the same thing again in a flash. They are superb pickups and I love em. I've been playing for 35 years. I plug it into a stereo setup with YCV-40 (winejacket) and Fender blues junior with an eminence. I own three other teles, ES 335, Gretsch 5120, Squier '51, numerous others. These pickups are the best classic telecaster sound I have heard. I've tried SDs (love em), Di Marzios, Lawrences, and the haeussels T-Broads are THE classic telecaster pups for my money

Pickup features: Passive single coil
Impedence or other specs: 10kOhms

Model of guitar or bass: Custom built Tele w/ alder body and maple neck w/rosewood board
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Joe Barden T-Style Bridge
Other pickups on guitar: Rio Grande Genuine Texas - subject to change
Artists using this pickup: not important to me
You musical style(s): Country(-Rock), Blues(-Rock), Southern Rock
Reason for pickup change: The Joe Barden was too bright and shrill and not well suited to overdriven sounds

Perceived output level: good output for a Tele PU but not scorching
Tone: very clear and balanced, good highs and lows in both clean and overdriven settings, good harmonics
Sonic evaluation: Amps are various self-modded Marshalls and Fenders. Few to no effects, usually I go straight into the amp and just add a touch of reverb. The guitar with the Haeussel works very well with all of them.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: This PU is an excellent match for country and country rock. It is certainly also good for blues. For the harder styles I have better options but for Southern Rock this should work also.

Comments: I have been playing for 25+ years. For a country twang sound with enough warmth I would highly recommend it. And also for that purpose I would replace it. It seems that this PU is hotter than its broadcaster competition but obviously I have not tried all of them. I tried the Seymour Duncan Alnico II Pro and Broadcaster, the Lindy Fralin Broadcaster and Telecaster, Tom Anderson and Joe Barden. For a more all around rock'n'roll sound I would prefer the Haeussel Tele Big Mag (see my review).