Do telecaster pickups fit into an ASAT Classic w/ no mods?

this would include the chrome cover. I am thinking of replacing the ASAT Classic pups with some alnico 5 tele pups, and just want to make sure it is a straight swap with no modding necessary. thanks

Sure is. Which pickups are you thinking of?

Yeap! No problem! Any standard Tele pups will fit perfectly!

I am not absolutely set to do the switch. I was thinking about Fender Nocaster or Original Vintage pups

I am not absolutely set to do the switch. I was thinking about Fender Nocaster or Original Vintage pups

One thing you may or may not know about the ASAT Classic, is that Leo moved the neck pickup a little further from the neck. I don't
know if this would affect the sound of a replacement pickup should you choose to do the replacement.

Hope this helps.

I love the pups on my Nocaster -- They would probably sound great on the ASAT.

"One thing you may or may not know about the ASAT Classic, is that Leo moved the neck pickup a little further from the neck. I don't know if this would affect the sound of a replacement pickup should you choose to do the replacement."

Wow, I did not know that. Thanks for the info!

I have a fairly hot OV neck pickup matched with a Don Mare bridge pickup in my ASAT Classic, and it actually sounds more Tele-like than some of my Fender Teles. I would only imagine that a set of Nocasters would work very well. I've never noticed a noticeable change in tone in the neck pickup because of its location, either.

I might also add that the CS Nocaster and OV pups are both constructed with Alnico III magnets, although, the Nocaster set offers the bridge pickup RWRP for middle-position hum cancelling whereas the OV set does not.

thanks so much for all the advice. I bought a set of Nocasters and will put those in there. I happen to have a Fender vintage bridge and some nice compensated saddles (I have one set brass and one steel--figuring I would try the brass set first), so I think I might switch those too to see what this guitar would sound and feel like as a pseudo Nocaster.....

I have steel saddles on my '97 ASAT Classic, I find it a bit too bright, though it makes it great for Don Rich style twang. I intend to switch them to brass.

And johnnyqb, make sure you tell us what you think of the nocasters in your ASAT. I'm expecting a set of Don Mare Donocasters any day now and am dead keen to hear if the vintage pickups compare.

If any of ya'll are looking to sell the pups you take out of your ASAT, I could use a bridge pup and would be willing to pay $35 shipped.

I swapped in the Nocasters yesterday (as well as the Fender bridge and vintage-style brass saddles) and my ASAT sounds incredible. These Nocasters sound better than they ever sounded in a tele to me (I had them in several teles), and I just have to take that as evidence of the qualities of this ASAT. I do like the stock MFD pups, but I really do prefer a more vintage type sound from a tele. The only way I will be swapping the stocks back in is if I decide to sell this guitar. The Nocasters sound phenomenal in all three positions. I play the guitar for a half hour when I only intended to for five minutes--that type of thing...

Great to hear that it sounds so good. I will definitely be changing my stock pickups out soon

If any of ya'll are looking to sell the pups you take out of your ASAT, I could use a bridge pup and would be willing to pay $35 shipped.

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