Recently, the variable resistors of the Fender American Plus model were in bad condition, so I had to replace them all. So, when I was just about to replace the variable resistor, a famous musical instrument store happened to sell Tesla pickups in bulk. I found out that it was on sale, so I took this opportunity to use the extra pickup guard I had and use it when I feel like it. I decided to replace it with a different pickup setting, so I bought a pickup set. The Tesla PLASMA-1 is a single coil pickup with a vintage setup, and I'm thirsty for the sound of a vintage single pickup these days. I got the idea to install this on my car. So, I temporarily removed the existing Sky Lipstick Pick Up pickup guard and replaced it with Tesla PLASMA-1. The newly set pickup guard was installed.
First of all, it is very affordable in terms of price, but since it is a pickup made of alnico, it guarantees a certain level of sound. I thought it was a good product and bought it without any doubt. In the case of the Tesla PLASMA-1, it is a pickup manufactured with the motto of a vintage pickup. The pole piece also follows the pattern of the vintage Big Up and is made using alnico magnets, and its output is designed to be weak like a vintage pickup.
The biggest feature of the Tesla PLASMA-1 is that the bridge pickup is 7k ohm, which is a bit louder than other vintage pickups. This can be said to produce stronger output. The reason the bridge pickup output is large is because it is a pickup setting that suits most heavy metal music. It appears well. Interestingly, the Tesla PLASMA-1 has an overall pickup setup with vintage pole pieces and output lights.
However, this bridge pickup has a strong setting that makes it difficult to consider it a vintage pickup. The sound changed to Tesla PLASMA-1 feels significantly different from the previous American Plus sound or lipstick pickup sound. Instead of the bright and soft sound of vintage alnico that fits your ears, the sense of space is slightly reduced, but the roughness is refined and the sweet sound is impressive.
While Fender's vintage pickups have a weak sound and good hitting power, the Tesla PLASMA-1 has a cleaner feel. In fact, while Tesla pickups usually have good output and strong power, they lack sophisticated taste, but in the case of the Tesla PLASMA-1, it is not out of style. The sound is impressive.
However, if you replace it with the sound of an authentic vintage Fender single pickup in mind, you may be disappointed by other nuances. Although it is an inexpensive pickup, I would like to recommend it because it is a vintage pole piece pickup made of alnico. Since it is so cheap, I recommend that you just buy one more pick guard like I did and use it as a replacement for the original pick guard.
Rather than discussing whether it is good or bad compared to handmade pickups, if you recognize and feel the unique personality of Tesla pickups, you will not be disappointed.
I think this is a very usable pickup. I can confidently say that Tesla PLASMA-1 is the best when it comes to price / performance ratio.