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Author Topic:  Telonics Pickups: Opinions?
Bob Snelgrove


From:
san jose, ca
Post  Posted 6 Oct 2019 6:54 am    
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I've been hearing about them and wondered what the fuss is all about, especially as a single coil replacement vs. a 705, etc?

thx

bob
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Douglas Schuch


From:
Valencia, Philippines
Post  Posted 6 Oct 2019 4:24 pm    
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Some of the Telonics (not all) have adjustable pole pieces for each string. I believe they are the only builder currently making pickups with this feature since the Tonealighners are no longer made. This lets you boost volume for the 3rd and 1st string (which are typically weaker), and also tweak tone a little by raising one pole and lower the other pole for any particular string. I have a Telonics X pickup (which has this feature) arriving in the next few weeks - I can report more at that point. Since I play an MSA with the modular p/u system, I can compare between that and the Alumitones I currently have. I bought the Telonics primarily to be able to boost the thinner strings output to make all strings sound more balanced.

I had 705's in a Zum D-10 I once owned - was perfectly happy with them. I had one for the MSA when I had two guitars with the interchangeable pickups - I thought it was generally quieter than the Alumitones or the Tone Aligner I had. It and the Tone Aligner went when I sold the other steel.

I hope that helps.
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Paddy Long


From:
Christchurch, New Zealand
Post  Posted 6 Oct 2019 5:09 pm    
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Bob I have Telonics pickups in my two Zum Hybrids, and also my MCI welded frame D10 .... they are outstanding in all of those guitars, the fact that you can dial in each string for volume and tone is a huge plus - takes a little time to get them just right and balanced but it's worth the effort.

I have X10's in my Red Zum and 409's in both the other guitars - they look identical with the two rows of adjustable hex screws. Both are fine sounding pickups.

Dave Beaty will be able to explain the subtle differences between these two models.
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Bob Snelgrove


From:
san jose, ca
Post  Posted 6 Oct 2019 5:31 pm    
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I just want my new Hybrid to growl like my Push Pulls, LOL

bob
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Dale Rottacker


From:
Walla Walla Washington, USA
Post  Posted 6 Oct 2019 6:31 pm    
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Love 705’s... but for Telonic’s the X10 is very nice.
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Bob Snelgrove


From:
san jose, ca
Post  Posted 6 Oct 2019 8:24 pm    
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Quite a lot to choose from:

https://www.telonics.com/products/proaudio/pickups.php

bob
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Tommy Detamore


From:
Floresville, Texas
Post  Posted 6 Oct 2019 9:46 pm    
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I really like the Telonics 409 and X-10 pickups! Smile
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Stu Schulman


From:
Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)
Post  Posted 6 Oct 2019 11:24 pm    
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Bob,I've got 206 blade pickups on a Desert Rose S-10 and on both necks of my Mullen wood neck G2...my favorite pickup.
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Dave Campbell


From:
Nova Scotia, Canada
Post  Posted 7 Oct 2019 1:14 am    
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i've had the 206 and 409 in my sho bud, and now i have an x 10 in my push pull.

i like the sound of single coils, but beer signs had forced me into the humbucker market i tried a few and was unhappy.

the price tag of the telonics kept me away from them for a bit, but they're worth the money. they don;t sound exactly like single coils, but they can get the chime and growl that single coils offer. they are very musical sounding, which is a term i don't think makes any sense, but seems to apply here.

the 409 and x10 sound great right out of the box, but the adjustable pole pieces help balance the tone and volume of the strings.

there are more than a few examples of excellent customer service from telonics on the forum they stand behind their products.
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Marco Schouten


From:
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Post  Posted 7 Oct 2019 9:34 am    
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I read on their website that the pickups are designed to use with an active volume pedal. Are they useless for use with a pot pedal?
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Paddy Long


From:
Christchurch, New Zealand
Post  Posted 7 Oct 2019 1:16 pm    
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Marco they work equally well with either style of volume pedal mate Very Happy
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Kenneth Kotsay

 

From:
Davie/Ft Lauderdale, Florida
Post  Posted 8 Oct 2019 8:03 am    
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I have currently have this pickup in my new MSA D-10 Legend along with a Telonics vol ped.

A must have, excellent choice, thanks Mickey Adams
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Marco Schouten


From:
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Post  Posted 8 Oct 2019 9:32 am    
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Paddy Long wrote:
Marco they work equally well with either style of volume pedal mate Very Happy


Good to know, thanks!
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Paddy Long


From:
Christchurch, New Zealand
Post  Posted 10 Oct 2019 7:20 pm    
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Bob Snelgrove - just as a matter of interest, Jaydee Maness is using the Telonics X10 pickups in his Push Pulls so I think that might be the one your after for the PP growl :-}
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Steve Spitz

 

From:
New Orleans, LA, USA
Post  Posted 11 Oct 2019 3:24 pm    
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I think a pickup is like a microphone. If you’ve got some “Growl”, a good pickup will send that to your amp. If your guitar doesn’t have “it” , the pickup won’t change much.

I love telonics pickups. They sound great to my ear, on both tube and solid state amps.
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Bob Snelgrove


From:
san jose, ca
Post  Posted 11 Oct 2019 4:18 pm    
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Paddy Long wrote:
Bob Snelgrove - just as a matter of interest, Jaydee Maness is using the Telonics X10 pickups in his Push Pulls so I think that might be the one your after for the PP growl :-}


I think Jay Dee had some type of Humbucker before, not single coils?

bob
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Mitchell Smithey


From:
Dallas, USA
Post  Posted 12 Oct 2019 7:34 am    
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I used to use the Lawrence XR-16 now I use the Telonics 206 and X-10 . First class pickups in tone and build quality.
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Paddy Long


From:
Christchurch, New Zealand
Post  Posted 13 Oct 2019 3:28 pm    
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Bob the Telonics X-10 pickup is a Humbucker -- they don't make a single coil pickup !!!!
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Bob Snelgrove


From:
san jose, ca
Post  Posted 13 Oct 2019 4:20 pm    
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Paddy Long wrote:
Bob the Telonics X-10 pickup is a Humbucker -- they don't make a single coil pickup !!!!
I know. I meant I thought that JD already had humbuckers on his Emmons,
not single coils
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Roger Crawford


From:
Griffin, GA USA
Post  Posted 14 Oct 2019 9:07 am    
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Kenneth, I missed the model pickup that you’re using. What do you have? I heard Mitchell’s guitar with the 206, and it was killer.
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Bob Snelgrove


From:
san jose, ca
Post  Posted 14 Oct 2019 12:05 pm    
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Dave Campbell wrote:
i've had the 206 and 409 in my sho bud, and now i have an x 10 in my push pull.

i like the sound of single coils, but beer signs had forced me into the humbucker market i tried a few and was unhappy.




Dave,

What Humbuckers did you try and not like?

thx

bob
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Herb Steiner

 

From:
Spicewood TX 78669
Post  Posted 15 Oct 2019 7:20 am    
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This past January, JayDee was speaking very highly to me of the Telonic X-10s in his '68 D-10.

He does favor the standard analog Emmons volume pedal, however.
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Jack Hanson


From:
San Luis Valley, USA
Post  Posted 15 Oct 2019 8:38 am    
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Paddy Long wrote:
Jaydee Maness is using the Telonics X10 pickups in his Push Pulls

Memo to Telonics:

You might consider ramping up the production on those X10s.
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gary pierce


From:
Rossville TN
Post  Posted 15 Oct 2019 10:29 am    
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I spent hours adjusting the 409, and now have the 206, plug and play.
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Dave Campbell


From:
Nova Scotia, Canada
Post  Posted 15 Oct 2019 1:38 pm    
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hi bob,

i tried the george l 10-1 and it wasn't for me. i tried another pickup that i think was george l...it looked like a single coil, but was a humbucker. i think it was called the tp or something like that.
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