Harmonic Design Tele Super 90 Bridge Pickup Reviews 
5 / 5 based on 1 reviewsI have a Fender '52 Re-Issue Telecaster. The stock pickup had a great sound, that classic twang the Tele is known for, but I wanted something beefier, something that would sweetly overdrive my little 15-watt Orange amp. So I began a search for the drop-in, replacement-pickup that would emulate the sound of my favorite pickup in the world, the king of the thick, single-coil sound--the Gibson P-90.
I found Harmonic Design (www.harmonicdesign.net) on the Web via the Fender Forum (www.fenderforum.com). The Fender Forum is a great spot to fish for ideas and recommendations, as so many experienced players visit there. Other companies were mentioned, but Harmonic Design kept coming up again and again.
So I went to the site, e-mailed a bit with Scott, the owner of this small shop out in Bakersfield, CA (he's always ready to answer questions), and plunked down my $85 for the Tele Super 90.
First of all, the pickup installed in a snap(not that I did it, my local luthier did it for $35); no additional routing was necessary, as expected. But most importantly, the pickup's sound was just what I was looking for.
The output is significantly higher than the stock pickup, and really helps overdrive my single-channel amp. The sound is thick, but clear and well balanced. Individual notes are very well defined and ring out like bells, while power chords compress and sing nicely.
Now, I had a Les Paul with Gibson P-94s (a P-90 designed to drop into a humbucker housing), and the Tele's sound is not exactly the same, but I don't attribute this to the pickup. I think it's just that my seven pound, longer-scale, swamp-ash Tele doesn't have the "oomph" of a twelve pound, mahogany and maple, shorter scale LP. There's a hard-rock "snap" that's missing in the sound to me, but I'm nitpicking here.
The sound is marvelous. I hated the weight and feel of the LP. It's so damn bottom heavy. That's why I got rid of it. I love the feel of the Tele, and this pickup makes it scream big rock and roll.
I wouldn't change a thing.
The construction and quality are superb. These are handmade pickups, and fit and finish were paid proper attention.
Oh, the pole pieces are adjustable too, just like on a real P-90, so you can customize your sound.
If this pickup were stolen by pickup bandits, I would e-mail Scott at Harmonic Design to get him working on another one for me pronto.
John Grgurich rated this unit
on
2001-12-04.
