Seymour Duncan Broadcaster & Vintage 54 Pickup Review

This is a review for the Seymour Duncan "Broadcaster" and "Vintage 54" Tele pickups for all you country chicken pickin' pickers out there. I found the vintage 54 to be a bit too clean for my tastes, but the broadcaster pickup has a sweet little bit of snarl to it that I like very much and a touch more in the mid range.

The Telecatser style guitar I'm playing is a custom tele I built with the body and neck made by USACG. It's got that old vintage vibe to it, unlike any other tele I've ever owned. The amp I used is a 74 Fender Deluxe Reverb with some reverb and delay added for effects.

Your #1 source for country guitar lessons

[nohillforahighstepper]

I know this is several years after the vid was posted
FINALLY, I heard that tone that I've been looking for since 1990-ish.
THANK YOU!
I leaving to get that Broadcaster pup they still make them.

[stevesandy]

Outstanding - definitely the Tele sound in my head as well.

[DougHinVA]

Good Gawd.... when this guy plays, who cares about gear and word pronunciation ?He's the bomb.

[FirestormAudio]

I've always been a rock guy, but would love learn to this type of stuff. It's so fun to listen to.

[liamtahaney]

Hot damn that IS the tele sound to me. Gotta get me one of those

[stuarthossack]

I'm not a country fan by any stretch of the imagination but this is the sort of country playing that makes me giggle no seriously, it makes me smile and giggle to myself, nice clean, bouncy, musical and dripping with virtuosity - nice.

[slowjammerukdog]

I had the same thought process years ago when I was looking for replacement pickups for my 70s Japanese Tele copy. I bought the SD Broadcaster based on the catalogue description (no internet in those days), and on Seymour's reputation, which was pretty big in London back then. Everything you say about this snarling masterpiece of a pickup is true! I was looking for that fat country sound, and for the nasal overtone you can hear on the first Roy Buchanan album -- the Broadcaster totally nails both. I have a Bill Lawrence OBL vintage Tele neck pickup on the same guitar; it doesn't look like a 50s Tele pickup, but it sounds amazing. I got lucky and hit on a perfect combination. Still trying to chicken pick properly...your playing is terrific. I'm heading to your page to find some more.

[ellievator]

That intro jam absolutely killed. Reminds me of why I liked country so much when I was a kid. I need to get back into it.

[Theweeze]

Wonderful playing! This answers a lot of questions to as to what type of telly bridge pick up I might be looking for. Thanks again, sir!

[mikeb]

Just had a t style(broadcaster) made and I got this pick up based on your review. So happy I did, it brought my guitar to life. Your right, it has a great snarl to it.
Thank you for this great review!!

[bradbolin]

I have the Seymour Duncan Broadcaster pickup sets in 4 Teles. they are great! I even use mine with overdrive. It sounds great.

[MrMarcburger]

ow yeah! got me a Broadcaster that I put in a Strat pickguard (yes, at the Tele angle) with an SSL-1 RWRP in the neck and an Oak Grigsby 4 way switch. Now to solder everything together with a killswitch and a blower switch to bypass Vol and Tone. Can't wait to hear what the combination Broadcaster / SSL-1 sounds like in series. This Broadcaster alone is awesome already!

[SickMetalAddict]

I like this person as a presenter I wanna see him more often

[ginelleamps]

The Duncan Broadcaster pu is killer. Had a friend playing his 68 Tele in my shop in the early 90’s. The bridge pu sounded killer. I played his guitar and the pu was perfect. I said wow these old pu’s are magical! He said it’s a Duncan Broadcaster pu, the original pu died! lol I put that pu in a 70 ash Tele and it was amazing. I coupled it with a hot Tele Duncan. The output was what I wanted but the sound was too muted. I removed the cover and it was perfect. If I could have one guitar back that I sold it would be that one.

[skillracoonful]

That snarl sound is quite evident regardless of the double stop bends though. You can even hear it on open chords. Particularly in an open A chord.

[tradbowseven]

I put in the SD Antiquity 55 in my tele. Its a perfect match for the 55 neck position. Its clean, so i get my “snarl” from my amp by turning up the gain and/or compression.

[Rogijimbex]

I obtained both SD Broadcaster pickups ( STL-1B - Bridge / STR -1 Neck) and put them in my '68 style Thinline Telecaster. The guitar sounds real good but I often wonder how these pickups would sound in a solid body Tele. Your video as it pertains to the bridge pickup helped. I could immediately discern the Thinline has a more "woody" sound...as would be expected I guess. Anyway thanks for the demo. Well done.

[amosdriedger]

Well after watching this video about 10 times I've finally ordered this pickup. Excited to see what's going to happen

[christophersinisi]

Great playing and the tone of that Tele is

[KRAZEEIZATION]

Holy cow! You got the tone I wish my Tele had! Fantastic!