The original Broadcaster and then Telecaster pickups were very similar to the pickups Leo used for the lap steel in the late 40s and early 50s.
Though similar, the lap steel pickups featured flat poles instead of the raised D and G poles and just enough extra output to make a noticeable difference.
By all accounts, those players who couldn't get satisfaction from their stock pickups and swapped them out with the slightly hotter lap steel pickups effectively started the first wave of electric guitar replacement pickups.
The 1950 Lap Steel Lead for Tele faithfully captures a vintage lap steel’s emotive and haunting tone in a Tele lead pickup format.
The pickup’s winding spec and Alnico 2 rod magnets combine to deliver a tone that is a little bolder than the standard Tele bridge.
Delivering 9.3k DCR, these pickups offer a little extra compared to our '54 Tele, which is 7k, and Broadcaster pickups, which are 8k.
For those Tele players who want to continue the tradition, grab a set of our 1950 Lap Steel Lead for Tele, and meet us on Main Street.
1950 Lap Steel Lead for Tele is available unaged or aged, torn, and frayed.
We are passionate about quality so we ask for your patience while we craft your pickup. For shipping time estimates, please visit the Shipping & Returns page.
