Highway One Texas Telecaster w/ Kinman Broadcaster vs. American Deluxe Telecaster w/SCN

[yoFOOOOO]

i cant find either one of these pickups to put on my squire tele anywhere.

[ROCKSTARCRANE]

Oh My God.....somebody actually demo-ing a pickup by playing some CLEAN RHYTHM!!! What a concept! Thank you so much for allowing me to hear what a pickup actually sounds like. BTW, you're my kind of guitar player, not some shred-monkey......

[selfexplanitorymark]

@ROCKSTARCRANE Thanks. I can't shred, so I don't even try. I do love the Kinman's though. They really sound like a proper Tele. Super Versatile.

[karlosman666]

nice review! I'm about to get me a tele myself and I use to have a strat before so therefor im worried if something so silly as the bridge on the tele is uncomfterable when you mute the strings...

[selfexplanitorymark]

@karlosman666 I've never had any issues with discomfort while palm muting on a good tele, whether it has the vintage brass saddles or the six saddle modern bridge. The vintage style bridge plate's raised sides never really come into contact with my hand while I'm playing. The only thing I've noticed has been on low end models, that the saddle adjustment screws can cause issues, but I've had that happen with strats too.

[pcollenYT]

I replaced my Strat Plus Gold Lace pickups with Kinman AVn Blues p/u's. Good upgrade. About two years later, I installed a set of Bill Lawrence L-280's which were even BETTER (IMHO) .

[pcollenYT]

Kinman BroadcasterS ? I though a Tele Broadcaster has only a single bridge pickup.

[bluesboydude]

omg broadcaster kicks americans ass :O

[nymetsrock]

kinmans, vs fralins, vs lollars, vs sd

[selfexplanitorymark]

@PopUpHeroX The Get Up Kids, "Sympathy"

[jrms999]

Great review, man! I prefer the sound on the Kinmans and agree that they're more versatile

How do ya rate the Badcat? - its quite valvy and clear on the video

[selfexplanitorymark]

@jrms999 the badcat is a very clear, articulate amp. Very raw and unforgiving. In short, I love it. It really comes alive at higher volumes and with extension cabs, but is still great for a little grab and go amp. Its always fun to see the expression on peoples faces when you open that little guy up. It usually goes, "man, that thing sounds awesome! You wouldn't think such a big sound would be coming from such a small amp." It has a high price tag for a small amp, but the tone is worth it

[rygertheodd]

what did you replace the saddles and bridge plate with?

[selfexplanitorymark]

@rygertheodd I used a Callaham Bridge plate and their compensated brass saddles.

[nevikmoore]

To my ear the pickups on the Deluxe sound muddy, while the Highway One really sings with clarity. And bite.

[jamesreptile1109908]

what guitar do you like the most?

[selfexplanitorymark]

@jamesreptile1109908 I prefer the Highway One Tele. The American Deluxe belongs to my father, so that could be one reason why I am partial to the Highway One, but I also think that the Kinman's are more versatile than the SCN's, and the Highway One has more vibe to it. I also replaced the bridge plate and saddles on the Highway One, and I think it increased the tone and sustain of an already great guitar. So yeah, I may be a bit biased, but I think it's justified.

[vanshipman]

I must say they both sound really nice, great tone out of both! The Kinman pickups are really sweet and sound as good as any Ive ever heard. But for the money, I think the SCN Mod Shops sound just as good. that's just my opinuion and I'm sure there will be a bunch who will disagree, but thats my opinion. Happy picking brother! Two great sounding Tele's there no doubt!

[JustusOo]

did you change the pick guard? if yes which one is it? :D

[selfexplanitorymark]

@JustusOo The pickguard on the Hwy One is the Fender 5-hole, 1-ply replacement pickguard, most likely meant for the '52 reissues. Added it right after I got the guitar about 5 years ago and never looked back.

[eggman6]

You should remove the metal cover from scn neck pickup. It should imrpove the your tone somewhat, these were designed to be used with chrome plated plasic covers, but fender refused to do this and went with metal covers.

I'd be interested to see what you think about the difference.

[Leidlf]

Are you serious? Do you have a link or something to confirm this. Just bought a tele road worn that had Samarium Cobalt installed, so reading up a little about these pickups.

[eggman6]

The SCN pickups were designed by Bill Lawrence/Willi Stich

put "Fender Infobase wilde gate" into google, and follow the first link to the official forum to discuss his pickups

I cant find it there though. But i can tell you that kinmann use plastic covers like bill wanted for the scn's.

But the same goes for any pickup, taking off a metal cover will increase the brightness.

do avoid the "billlawrenceusa" site though

[BLacKCatB0ne]

Give me the HWY 1 with the Kinmans, no doubt about it. The Kinman Broadcasters are for my money the best Pups on the market. I am getting set to put some in my Hwy 1 next week, had some in a Strat I used to play and the Kinman Strat pups are amazing also.

[selfexplanitorymark]

watch out for the microphonics on the bridge... you may very well have to replace your bridge plate with a thicker unit like I did. The stock plate for the HWY 1 was too thin and led to major feedback at higher gain. Replaced it with a Callaham Compensated kit and it took care of all the squealing and even helped the intonation as well.

[BLacKCatB0ne]

right now i have a standard fender usa vintage style bridge that seems pretty thick and vintage brass compensated saddles. If the bridge isn't think enough I will check out the Callaham one, thanks for the info.

[selfexplanitorymark]

yeah, my highway one is the texas tele that had the vintage usa bridge plate, and the callaham unit is probably twice as thick. What made the standard vintage unit squeal so badly was the lack of screws to hold the lip down on the end of the plate farthest from the saddles. If you put your finger on the bridge in that spot while getting the microphonic squeal it would stop immediately. You might be able to just drill two small holes in the stock bridge, add screws and get the same effect.

[captinclutch1987]

@selfexplanitorymark Thanks for the info, I will check into that.

[captinclutch1987]

I just picked up a 2003 Hwy 1 Tele this weekend, I bought it used with upgraded pu's to Seymore Duncan ST59-1 Little 59 in the bridge and STK-T1 neck pu. I think it was a great purchase for $500; I went into the store looking for an AM Standard or Deluxe ranging from $949-$2,100, I played them all and this Hwy 1 just blew them away.

[selfexplanitorymark]

yeah, it's definitely a steal at that price, and highly underrated. I have a little '59 in the bridge of my Aerodyne Tele, and while I like it, I think it lacks the charachter of a single coil pickup. I'm not familiar with the stk-t1 neck pickup, is that a humbucking type as well?

[4theloveofdill]

Not too different of a sound between them. The Highway sounds warmer than the Am. Deluxe.

Both really good guitars

[Dogdashdash]

That American Deluxe sounds horrible in comparison to the H1..

[yetifoxmonster]

Love to know the chords you're strumming in the begining of this. Sounds fantastic.

[Fendermadlewis]

Well hey there, nice demo!

I have one question. Should i replace the SCN's in my deluxe tele? I used to have a partscaster with seymour duncan 54's and the twang was way better than the SCNs. Do you thing i'll get that vintage sound buy putting vintage style pickups back in my deluxe tele, or is the diffrence all in my mind?

[selfexplanitorymark]

I do think that the SCN's take some of the character out of the guitar. I've got another American Telecaster with SCN's that doesn't really get played much anymore because the tone is so lifeless. You may want to try some traditional single coils in that guitar to see if you get back your tone. If you shield it properly you probably won't even have that much hum if you get decent PUPs.

[Fendermadlewis]

Yeah your totaly right! I'm selling the guitar just coz the neck i way to thin for me. Getting a jap* 52 reissue. I'm gonna stick in a duncan 54 and a dimarzio twang king. Thanks for the advice!

[IrishAmericanPride]

I've never really been a Tele fan until I saw this video. That highway one sounds incredible! And it looks awesome with the black pickguard.

[selfexplanitorymark]

I love that guitar so much, I often wonder how good it would sound in the hands of a more capable musician. It's definitely a guitar I know I'll never part with.

[jeffcrapinthehead]

Those kinman's sound amazing even on You Tube. I've got Seymour Duncan quarter pounders in my tele but i think the kinman broadcasters may be better. Any opinions to help me anyone?

[Jmiddleton11]

is that an ash tele deluxe?

[selfexplanitorymark]

yes, it's a butterscotch blonde american deluxe tele that's made to look like a 52 reissue, but with all of the american deluxe "improvements".

[Crowtch]

have you the tabs of jour first cords?

[pat976]

it's a E major chord and the second one is the same position moved one fret down the neck ... sounds spanishy ... try it ...

[pat976]

or something along those lines... sounds like it to me anyway...

[selfexplanitorymark]

yeah, E major at first position, then moved to the third fret, then fourth. I got that from a Pearl Jam song, "Not for you" from off of Vitalogy back in the mid 90's.

[TheFunkify]

The kinmans sound tough, rough, but clear, like a P90. The SCN's sound to me like a Tele should sound. I love that Deluxe you've got there. Right colour too. What's cool about the Kinmans is how they feel to play. Great demo, thanks heaps, am reconsidering Kinmans.

[hafstrat]

Excellent demo, thank you. I am carefully researching pups to upgrade my otherwise lovely MIM 60 years anniversary Tele. Kinman Broadcaster pups are on the list... this video suplements the kinman and duncan audio samples nicley by throwing in a Fender comparison. The Kinmans win. I want the sound Gilmour got from his 57 reissue Tele on his 06 On an Island tour - the KInmans here are closest I've heard.

[jamima222]

does this guitar have balls when needed tho?

[selfexplanitorymark]

plenty. Handles plenty of drive. At the time I did this demo, I hadn't replaced the bridge with the Callaham unit yet, so I'd get a microphonic squeal at high gain. Since the new bridge plate, I can stack multiple OD's and Fuzz pedals and it's just heavenly... In fact, gain wise, the Kinmans run with my SG classic's P90's any day, just more clarity.

[westcoastin6]

are the texas highway pickups noisy at all? or do they have noiseless pickups as well?

[selfexplanitorymark]

They are standard single coils, and as such are subject to noise, hum, etc. This is compounded by the highway one teles having absolutely no shielding in them whatsoever.  I bought the noiseless Kinmans purely based on a whim, and now have played them for months, and have to say that I have become very fond of them... but I do want to build another tele to reinstall my Hwy 1 Texas pickups in so I can compare them side by side.

[avisionofcall]

im not sure which one to buy. I play music like As Cities Burn, So Long Forgotten, My Epic. etc, I've been wanting a tele for a while now! Which one should I get, what's your opinion? Search up As Cities Burn on youtube. I play that type of stuff.

[selfexplanitorymark]

I think the Highway One Tele's will probably work well for you because of the hotter bridge pickup, and the tone isn't quite as bright as some of the other tele's. I hands down prefer my Texas Tele over the American Standard and American Deluxe Teles that my dad has. It just has a vibe to it that I love, feel, finish, etc. The beauty about a tele is that if you don't like something about the way it plays or sounds you can easily modify it to suit your taste, so long as it has a good neck

[jugglerjoe]

I want that highway texas tele. I love the simplicity of teles and the treble bite they give. They sound awsome with slide too.

[XzaccYXguitarXplayer]

loving that highway sound! :D

[punkclash05]

I personally like the American Deluxe's tone better. It has more bite, but both Teles sound great! Great video!

[skydogz1]

In this particular comparison, the Hwy-1 has a punchier dynamic. Much better imo.

[tarekdave]

The American Deluxe sounds a lot better!!!

Thanks for making this comparison. It was really useful.

[selfexplanitorymark]

I go back and forth on the two. The Kinmans have way more definition, almost to the point of sounding Hi-Fi... it's a tough call, needless to say I think I liked the stock Highway One Texas pickups better.

[Gtrmaestro]

What do you mean by Hi Fi? I've read about the Kinman tone pots having a "Hi Fi" setting and a regular tone pot setting but I don't know what Hi Fi is.

[selfexplanitorymark]

I switched the tone pot of my TK4 back to normal mode b/c the Hi-Fi setting was too fine of an adjustment, and the guitar seemed too bright. By Hi-Fi on the pickups, I mean that there is a noticeable difference in clarity, the Kinmans seem almost freakishly articulate and clear, they don't really have a lot of color to them. But I'm still playing with the setup on the guitar everyday, and I even swapped out the bridge for a Callaham unit the other day.

[TG182]

Hi. great playing, and that mini cat just sounds amazing with fenders. im planning on getting a deluxe telecaster in the near future. I think you got some of the best guitar tone I´ve heard on youtube. At least for my style. Do you have any experience with the other bad cat amps? Cause the sound you have with your mini cat is exactly what i´ve been looking for. the only problem is that I need enough watts and headroom for playing live. so do you know what the other bad cats sounds like?

[selfexplanitorymark]

I also have a bad cat cub II, 15 watts, class A, 2x10" Jenson P10's. It's got way more headroom, and is overall too loud for most at home playing. However, the tone is very similar to the mini cat, but the cub II has tons more low end. I bought the Cub about a year ago, and then picked the mini cat up because the cub was a too big and too loud to lug around to practice. I think a Cub II or a Hot Cat 15 or 30 will work perfect for what you want.

[TG182]

Thanks man. So you think the Cub II has enough headroom and sound to play live with or loud band practice? Im kind of concerned that 15 comes a bit short on headroom in that department. But I haven´t tried enought 15 watt amps to say. Do you gig with the cub II? Thanks

[selfexplanitorymark]

I'd say it's pretty close. It really depends on what type of guitar you play through it. If you like to play with the amp super, super clean, then no... but if you like a sweet, slightly hairy clean tone that breaks up nicely with a mild overdrive pedal, then definitely. It's certainly enough to keep up with a drummer. Don't think of it as a 15watt amp, it'll bury most 50 watt amps, and if you need more volume, just add an extension cab, then you've got plenty.