Original Wide Range pickups were available from 1971 and subsequently installed in the Deluxe, Custom and Thinline Telecasters as well as the Starcaster, ceasing production successively in 1979 when these models were discontinued.

Despite an almost identical appearance to the original 1970s unit, both are regular Humbuckers in large cases, surrounded by wax to take up space and prevent resonant feedback.

Modern reissues are commonly wired using 250K volume and tone pots, resulting in a more choked and muddy sound, cutting high frequencies to ground.

[2] Original Wide Range pickups are described as sounding "fat" but with improved clarity and detail over Gibson humbuckers of the same period.

Famous users include Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones, Graham Coxon of Blur, Wes Borland of Limp Bizkit/Black Light Burns, Rich Robinson of the Black Crowes, Ryan Adams, Win Butler of Arcade Fire, Alex Kapranos of Franz Ferdinand, Lúcio Maia of Nação Zumbi, Roy Buchanan, Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead, Felix Rodriguez from The Sounds, singer-songwriter Kim Ralls, Chris Shiflett of Foo Fighters, The Edge of U2, Jonny Buckland of Coldplay, Leo Nocentelli of The Meters and Tab Benoit as well as Lee Ranaldo of Sonic Youth's modified "Jazzblasters" which featured Wide Range pickups on modified Fender Jazzmaster guitars.