Brickhouse Toneworks Aged Vintage 1953 Tele Set
Introduction / History
There are two kinds of Telecaster players in this world. The ones chasing early 50s Blackguard tone, and the ones pretending they cannot hear the difference. The Brickhouse Toneworks Aged Vintage 1953 Tele Pickup set exists to settle that argument the loud way.
Brickhouse is not just aging parts for looks. The core idea leans into what actually happens to pickups over decades. Magnetic pull relaxes, output softens slightly, and the top end smooths out in a way no brand new pickup can fake. Their proprietary degaussing process is built to recreate that long term settling so the pickup responds like it has already lived a lifetime.
There is no gimmick here. The degaussing approach does exactly what it is supposed to do, which is take the edge off without removing the identity. You still get the snap, the twang, and the presence, but it arrives with a level of control that usually only comes with age. It sounds like a guitar that has already put in the miles. And it plays like it knows a few stories.
This set sticks to early 50s DNA with hand wound coils, period correct construction, and carefully calibrated Alnico 5 rod magnets. The result aims squarely at that classic Telecaster identity. You get the snap and twang you expect, but the high end comes through sweet and controlled instead of sharp and punishing. This is not about recreating a museum piece. It is about giving a working player that broken in response from day one.
Installation
The test platform is a Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster with a pine body, maple neck and fretboard, and a 25-1/2″ scale. It is upgraded with Gotoh locking tuners and Gotoh compensated brass saddles, which makes it an honest and revealing platform without getting in the way.
Installation is exactly what you want from a proper vintage style Tele set. Everything drops into a standard three way harness without any surprises. The cloth leads behave, the baseplates line up, and nothing feels like it is fighting you.
Pickup height matters more here than with hotter modern sets. Because of the degaussed magnets, the output comes on a little softer at first contact. Bringing the pickups slightly closer to the strings helps restore immediacy while keeping that relaxed attack intact.
The reverse wound reverse polarity middle position is quiet and balanced, which makes it completely usable under real world conditions without sacrificing tone.
Evaluation
These pickups are not built to overwhelm an amp. They are built to respond to the player.
The bridge pickup delivers everything you want from a Telecaster, but it does it with restraint and control. The top end stays bright, but it never crosses into that brittle territory that makes you reach for the tone knob. The degaussed Alnico 5 magnets soften the initial attack just enough that notes feel like they expand instead of spike. When you lean into it for country or rockabilly, the twang is there in full force, but it carries a smoother edge. Push it into overdrive and it warms up naturally, avoiding the harsh breakup that can plague more aggressive bridge pickups.
The neck pickup brings a completely different kind of authority. The low end is full and rounded, giving chords a piano like depth without getting muddy. At the same time, the top end remains articulate, so single note lines still cut through with clarity. There is a percussive quality available for classic chicken pickin’, but it comes across more refined than sharp. It feels balanced and musical rather than exaggerated.
In the middle position, the set locks into that unmistakable Telecaster voice. The lows and highs sit in a natural balance, and there is a subtle scoop that helps the guitar find its place in a mix without stepping on anything else. The hum canceling design works as intended, keeping things quiet without flattening the character.
Features
- Cast Alnico 5 Flat Magnets
- Fiberboard Bobbin Material (Precision Cut To Spec In House)
- Nickel Silver 50’s Replica Neck Cover
- Vintage Correct Plain Enamel Coil Wire
- Vintage Correct Copper Plated Steel Baseplate
- Vintage Cloth Covered Push Back Leads
- Lightly Potted Like The Originals
- Made In USA
Specs
Bridge
DC Resistance – 7.448 K
Inductance – 3.763 H
Magnet – Alnico 5
Neck
DC Resistance – 6.663 K
Inductance – 1.6398 H
Magnet – Alnico 5
Demo
Conclusion
The Brickhouse Toneworks Aged Vintage 1953 Tele Pickup set is not trying to compete with modern high output designs. It is focused on something far more important, which is how the instrument responds in your hands. This set rewards players who pay attention to dynamics, phrasing, and nuance. It shapes the way notes come off the string, how chords develop, and how the guitar sits in a mix.
The real story is in the feel. The reduced magnetic pull and softened transient response make the guitar more responsive to touch. Dig in and it gives back with attitude. Ease off and it cleans up immediately. There is less compression, more openness, and a sense that the guitar is reacting in real time instead of pushing a fixed output. Installed in a Squier Classic Vibe, it completely changes the personality of the instrument. What starts as a solid working Telecaster turns into something that feels seasoned and expressive.
For reference, this Brickhouse Toneworks Aged Vintage 1953 Tele Set evaluation was conducted with the following: Fractal Axe-Fx II XL+ featuring Celestion Impluse Responses and Fractal MFC-101 MIDI Foot Controller. ADA MP-1 Tube Pre-Amp loaded with Tube Amp Doctor ECC83 Premium Selected tubes, using the ADA MC-1 MIDI Controller. Fryette LX II Stereo Tube Power Amplifier. Physical cabs use are Marshall 1960B, Mojotone British, and Peavey 6505 cabs loaded with Celestion Classic Series Vintage 30s and Classic Series G12M Greenbacks.
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