Does Anyone have BOTH an MK and an NF53?

[Monahan]

...Also, the mk has lower output picks and they sounds clearer...

That's interesting.

Playing "clean" through my Deluxe Reverb, I've found the MK pushes the amp harder than the NF53. When playing through the Helix/PA the MK again pushes harder, forcing me to back off a few of the settings. Perhaps there's variance in the pickups from example to example?

This past week I've been working on an in-depth A/B with the two that I hope to post later today. I'll try a few different things to see if I can nail down what's happening with the pickups between them.

One thing's for certain-- these are not your run of the mill Telecasters

 

[Monahan]

Okay, first comparison post is up!

"Comparison (Pt1): Myles Kennedy & NF53. Necks"

Once I began editing the post I realized it needed to be broken up into smaller, easier to read posts.

Spent the afternoon doing a lot of sound comparisons...

...Lots of notes that need to be organized, and edited down... probably tonight while watching TV with my wife With a post and better photos tomorrow.

 

[Mjl1966]

I’ve played them both in a store and also shot them out against an ultra 2 tele. I bought the Mk. The nf53 sounds slightly more tele-ish. However, the mk is tele-enough and way more versatile. Also, the mk has lower output picks and they sounds clearer. Plus the locking tuners. Both are wonderful. If you’re looking for a video, Phil McKnight did one on the know your gear YouTube channel.

Interesting comparison, thanks for sharing. How did the Ultra II Tele compare to the MK and NF53?

 

[Monahan]

Interesting comparison, thanks for sharing. How did the Ultra II Tele compare to the MK and NF53?

Thank you!
I've been working on a throw-down review of these four... hopefully I'll have something ready very soon

 

[Mvr6t]

Interesting comparison, thanks for sharing. How did the Ultra II Tele compare to the MK and NF53?

Well…there’s a lot for this question. The ultra 2 sounded like a typical noiseless pickup. Nothing special, and frankly the dimarzio area-t noiseless tele pups sound better. Also, of the two ultra 2 teles I’ve seen in stores the one at guitar center had a cracked fretboard coming off of the 22nd fret. The one I played at russo’s in Jew jersey when I tested the mk and nf53 had a non functioning volume pot….wide open at 10 and wouldn’t turn down. This is consistent with what my luthier friend told me about fender quality issues of the last several years…especially with component parts like those s1 switches. So that narrowed me down to the mk and nf53. I did prefer the nf53 neck pup a little more, but the mk won with everything else. Especially bc they seemed a little lower output. However, monahan said the mk pups were hotter and pushed his amp more. He’s likely correct, in hindsight I may be confusing clarity with output. It just seemed like the mk pups were more clear with better note separation. Through my helix (which is my standard since I play that live in a church band), I feel like the mk pups broke up less. I’ve since played my mk through my mesa at home…but no nf53 for comparison. I should have plugged them into deluxes as well while I tested them.

 

[Monahan]

Interesting comparison, thanks for sharing. How did the Ultra II Tele compare to the MK and NF53?

Doh! Forgot to mention, that's not an Ultra II Tele... the metal flake three-bolt you see there is an older Tele Deluxe, and the black one without a stand is a borrowed parts-caster made from pretty good stuff. Both have good stories behind them

...Through my helix (which is my standard since I play that live in a church band), I feel like the mk pups broke up less. I’ve since played my mk through my mesa at home…but no nf53 for comparison...

Have you checked out Worship Tutorials? They do fantastic preset patches and offer several for free-- that's where I got my favorite Helix patch Normally I'm a plug-&-play amp guy, but our church has a "silent stage" so the Helix is a good second option~

 

[Mvr6t]

Doh! Forgot to mention, that's not an Ultra II Tele... the metal flake three-bolt you see there is an older Tele Deluxe, and the black one without a stand is a borrowed parts-caster made from pretty good stuff. Both have good stories behind them


Have you checked out Worship Tutorials? They do fantastic preset patches and offer several for free-- that's where I got my favorite Helix patch Normally I'm a plug-&-play amp guy, but our church has a "silent stage" so the Helix is a good second option~

Hahaha I’ve bought about a dozen or so worship tutorial patches. I’m more of simple tube amp guy and I’m kinda clueless with the helix. So I just download and use their stuff and tweak to taste. I mostly use the dlx-ac30 preset.

 

[Mjl1966]

Well…there’s a lot for this question. The ultra 2 sounded like a typical noiseless pickup. Nothing special, and frankly the dimarzio area-t noiseless tele pups sound better. Also, of the two ultra 2 teles I’ve seen in stores the one at guitar center had a cracked fretboard coming off of the 22nd fret. The one I played at russo’s in Jew jersey when I tested the mk and nf53 had a non functioning volume pot….wide open at 10 and wouldn’t turn down. This is consistent with what my luthier friend told me about fender quality issues of the last several years…especially with component parts like those s1 switches. So that narrowed me down to the mk and nf53. I did prefer the nf53 neck pup a little more, but the mk won with everything else. Especially bc they seemed a little lower output. However, monahan said the mk pups were hotter and pushed his amp more. He’s likely correct, in hindsight I may be confusing clarity with output. It just seemed like the mk pups were more clear with better note separation. Through my helix (which is my standard since I play that live in a church band), I feel like the mk pups broke up less. I’ve since played my mk through my mesa at home…but no nf53 for comparison. I should have plugged them into deluxes as well while I tested them.

Thanks for the feedback on the Ultra II. A timely reminder about Fender build quality issues (been burned a few times myself!). One of the reasons why I originally turned towards PRS

Well…there’s a lot for this question. The ultra 2 sounded like a typical noiseless pickup. Nothing special, and frankly the dimarzio area-t noiseless tele pups sound better. Also, of the two ultra 2 teles I’ve seen in stores the one at guitar center had a cracked fretboard coming off of the 22nd fret. The one I played at russo’s in Jew jersey when I tested the mk and nf53 had a non functioning volume pot….wide open at 10 and wouldn’t turn down. This is consistent with what my luthier friend told me about fender quality issues of the last several years…especially with component parts like those s1 switches. So that narrowed me down to the mk and nf53. I did prefer the nf53 neck pup a little more, but the mk won with everything else. Especially bc they seemed a little lower output. However, monahan said the mk pups were hotter and pushed his amp more. He’s likely correct, in hindsight I may be confusing clarity with output. It just seemed like the mk pups were more clear with better note separation. Through my helix (which is my standard since I play that live in a church band), I feel like the mk pups broke up less. I’ve since played my mk through my mesa at home…but no nf53 for comparison. I should have plugged them into deluxes as well while I tested them.