Recently, I decided to dive into upgrading the pickups on my Monoprice Indio Series 6 String Ash-body Electric Guitar Telecaster. Initially, I made an assumption about the stock pickups, believing they were alnico. However, a closer inspection revealed they were Wilkinson M-series Nashville Sound ‘Low Gauss’ ceramic pickups. This discovery prompted me to order what I thought should have been in there from the start: a Wilkinson M-series original vintage alnico 5 neck pickup.
The installation process was incredibly straightforward, taking only about five minutes. To be honest, my expectations were not sky-high. I anticipated a subtle, if any, difference in tone. But I was genuinely surprised by the immediate change.
The technical specs hinted at a shift: the alnico neck pickup has a DC resistance (DCR) of 6.67k ohms compared to the ceramic pickup’s 7.48k ohms. Interestingly, the ceramic bridge pickup shared a similar DCR to the ceramic neck pickup I removed. The sonic result was immediately noticeable. The alnico pickup delivered significantly more bell-like tones, a welcome departure from the higher output, and arguably less nuanced, sound of the ceramic magnet pickup. It genuinely sounds good – good enough to make a real difference to the guitar’s overall voice.
The difference between the two pickup types became even more apparent in the middle position. Combining the alnico neck with the ceramic bridge pickup created a unique and intriguing sound. It wasn’t the homogenous tone I was used to when both pickups were ceramic. This combination offered a peculiar yet appealing blend of the distinct “basic tones” of ceramic and alnico magnets.
Encouraged by the positive outcome of the neck pickup swap, I decided to order the matching Wilkinson alnico bridge pickup. Although, I must admit, this decision comes with a caveat. I’m still planning to install a Fender ’52 Broadcaster bridge pickup, especially since I spotted it on sale. This opens up further avenues for tonal exploration with my Monoprice Indio Telecaster.
In addition to the pickup upgrade, I also addressed the guitar’s setup by shimming the neck. This adjustment was made to achieve a better break angle over the saddles. It seems I might even need to add another shim to raise the saddles slightly further, ensuring optimal string height and playability. These small adjustments, combined with the pickup swap, are progressively enhancing the overall quality and sound of this budget-friendly Telecaster.
