S2 and SE “S” & TCI Pickups and Split Coil Tone

[SinSir]

But there's one thing I can't figure out: What version of TCI pickups am I hunting to make this work best?

The only way is to get a guitar with Paul's TCI Pickups. The s2 24-08 is probably the most affordable way. Looks like a NGD in your future.

 

[rshack]

The only way is to get a guitar with Paul's TCI Pickups. The s2 24-08 is probably the most affordable way. Looks like a NGD in your future.

I'm kinda hazy on whether TCI's are tuned to the specific guitar model vs. whether they're pretty much the same from one model to another.

In particular, if I got my mitts on a pair of TCI's and installed them in a SE Santana, how special would my ears have to be to tell the difference between that and the S2 24-08?

 

[SinSir]

I'm kinda hazy on whether TCI's are tuned to the specific guitar model vs. whether they're pretty much the same from one model to another.

In particular, if I got my mitts on a pair of TCI's and installed them in a SE Santana, how special would my ears have to be to tell the difference between that and the S2 24-08?

TCI tuned and TCI (Pauls pickups) are two differnt things. The s2 2408 has core TCI/Paul's pickups. The se version TCI pickups aren't the same pickups, design, shape, etc.

 

[rshack]

I'm not talking about TCI-tuned SE pickups... I'm asking about installing a used set of TCI pickups in a SE Santana...

 

[SinSir]

I'm not talking about TCI-tuned SE pickups... I'm asking about installing a used set of TCI pickups in a SE Santana...

They are not the same as what's in the s2 2408. Those are TCI/Pauls pickups. Differnet design, shape, etc.

 

[rshack]

They are not the same as what's in the s2 2408. Those are TCI/Pauls pickups. Differnet design, shape, etc.

This is a perfect example of how I don't know beans about these... despite my efforts to learn.

So how many different versions of pickups are labeled TCI in some manner? What are the versions and what guitars feature them?

 

[SinSir]

This is a perfect example of how I don't know beans about these... despite my efforts to learn.

So how many different versions of pickups are labeled TCI in some manner? What are the versions and what guitars feature them?

The TCI thing is a cluster and a marketing fail and success in certain aspects. Who names pickups after a process that is included in most of the pickups and then releases pickups of different versions with that name plus a secondary name too. Mess

Only core and S2 have true TCI/Pauls pickups. You can tell by looking at them. They are a little different shape. MEV, 2408, 408, and Pauls Guitar are what comes to mind. Only the 2408 in the S2 line.

The se are more or less just in name and there's two versions of those. One has been rumored to be just 8515S with the TCI process but named TCI. The se Pauls guitar TCI are much hotter @11ohm.

 

[rshack]

Howsabout 85/15 TCI pickups... are they in-name-only ones?

 

[SinSir]

Howsabout 85/15 TCI pickups... are they in-name-only ones?

Those are 8515 pickups with the TCI process. Any pickup with a name before TCI is a specific pickup with the TCI process. Not the same as TCI/Pauls pickups.

 

[rshack]

Those are 8515 pickups with the TCI process. Any pickup with a name before TCI is a specific pickup with the TCI process. Not the same as TCI/Pauls pickups.

Thanks for that... it's exactly the factoid I needed to know! ;-)