DrKev
Wholenote
It's just a guitar, it's not rocket science.
Posts: 418
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Post by DrKev on Aug 11, 2022 15:57:45 GMT -5
Hi y'all. Does anyone have a lot of experience with swapping single coils? I'm looking for something for a neck and middle position of an HSS guitar. The singles I want to replace are not as bright as I would currently like them to be, sort of in the Texas Special vibe so I'd like something brighter than that. I have a MIJ 62RI strat with very low output, very bright pickups, which are just too thin for the guitar I want to upgrade. What's a good single coil that's somewhere in between the two?
The new Suhr V63's might be what I want. I'm worried the Fender 57/62's will be too bright. How do the Vintera 50's or 60's sets sit relative to the 57/62? Does anyone know what current pickups are closest to the pickups from the Robert Cray strat?
I appreciate any advice and ideas.
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Post by Peegoo 🏁 on Aug 12, 2022 8:54:31 GMT -5
Try a set of the Alnico 5 pickups from a Fender Player (MIM) Strat. They are a nice compromise between the trebly early-60s types and the more mid-rangey Tex-Mex/TX Specials. You can find these as take-offs for around $20-$30 for all three.
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Post by Auf Kiltre on Aug 12, 2022 9:50:54 GMT -5
I bought a set of Fender Pure Vintage 59 pickups and really dug them, especially the neck pickup. But I have an aversion to non-RWRP middle pickups so had the guy at Bootstrap pickups wind a custom RWRP to match the set and it turned out really nice. I don't know if Aaron is still winding at Rumplestiltskin but the Tele and Strat sets he did for me are some of my favorites. My best sounding Strat has a set of Fralin Real 54s (Alnico 3's), but oddly another set in a different guitar fell short of expectations.
I bought a set of Stewmac Golden Age Alnico 5s that are really good too and even better after removing the copper shielding (brightened them up a tad).
For noiseless pickups Bill Lawrence Noisefrees floated my boat and work really really well with 500k pots so may match up pretty good with a humbucker in bridge position.
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Post by samspade on Aug 12, 2022 12:55:42 GMT -5
I agree with the Fender Pure Vintage 59's. I do like the Fender Custom Shop Fat '60s set as well.
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Post by Vibroluxer on Aug 12, 2022 13:47:38 GMT -5
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DrKev
Wholenote
It's just a guitar, it's not rocket science.
Posts: 418
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Post by DrKev on Aug 13, 2022 14:04:18 GMT -5
Thank you so much for your replies. I wasn't even aware of Bootstrap or Rumplestiltskin and totally forgot about Stewmac. You guys rock!
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Post by Leftee on Aug 13, 2022 20:04:31 GMT -5
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DrKev
Wholenote
It's just a guitar, it's not rocket science.
Posts: 418
|
Post by DrKev on Aug 14, 2022 12:34:17 GMT -5
Thanks Leftee! Thing is I already have DiMarzio Areas in there now. They perform very well (I have a bright humbucker in the Bridge) but I want more top end brightness and chime, especially in the neck position. The areas are just a little too smooth. I don't think the classic stacks will give me more top end than I already have. The Area 67 is on paper one of the brightest pickups DiMarzio make but I don't feel like it's much different in terms of top end than many modern singles (it won't have the output or midrange of the Texas special, sure).
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DrKev
Wholenote
It's just a guitar, it's not rocket science.
Posts: 418
|
Post by DrKev on Aug 16, 2022 12:38:39 GMT -5
I was gonna make an order with Bootstrap but I've had no response to email and their facebook page looks like a litany of orders shipping late with little email response. Has anyone ordered with them recently? Are they OK?
UPDATE: I got a PM from a many time customer confirming that there are definitely communication and shipping time problems. I'm gonna look elsewhere.
UPDATE 2: Tone Hatch and Planet Tone are similar small American businesses winding their own pickups, seems to be no shortage of good reviews (when you filter out the TGP cork-sniffer who pre-judge everything as crap if the price is too low). They both offer choices of staggered or non-staggered (which is great 'cause I prefer non-staggered).
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DrKev
Wholenote
It's just a guitar, it's not rocket science.
Posts: 418
|
Post by DrKev on Aug 17, 2022 15:07:52 GMT -5
I've placed an order with Tone Hatch, two sets of neck and middle pickups (I have no need for a bridge pickup in a HSS guitar) from the Vintage Classic and Fullerton Premier sets. Hopefully I'll review them in mid to late September (if long COVID allows me the energy to do anything, last six months of my life have been a total washout).
Thank you all or your comments, I really appreciate it!
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Post by Auf Kiltre on Aug 17, 2022 16:37:43 GMT -5
Never heard of Tone Hatch, looking forward to the review.
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Post by funkykikuchiyo on Aug 19, 2022 9:30:31 GMT -5
Not sure what is in the Robert Cray strat, but his guitar is modeled after a mid-60s Strat which will have the old plain enamel wire rather than heavy formvar, which was used mid/late 50s through early 60s, and is what would be on the 57/62 pickups. Judging by his tone, I'd say he has probably stuck with pickups made this way, or at least stayed away from the heavy formvar versions.
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DrKev
Wholenote
It's just a guitar, it's not rocket science.
Posts: 418
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Post by DrKev on Aug 19, 2022 12:35:15 GMT -5
Thanks Funky!
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Post by markfromhawaii on Aug 26, 2022 5:29:23 GMT -5
Take care Dr. Kev. Hope those new pups are tonefull.
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Post by Vibroluxer on Aug 26, 2022 9:15:32 GMT -5
Did you get them yet? How much were they?
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Post by samspade on Aug 27, 2022 16:06:11 GMT -5
I always thought the Cray sig strat sounded like the John Mayer (big dippers) before he had PRS build him ...well, a strat  The Cray sound had like a slight scoop, but with enough high end to seal the note. Unsung player. |
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DrKev
Wholenote
It's just a guitar, it's not rocket science.
Posts: 418
|
Post by DrKev on Aug 27, 2022 17:49:45 GMT -5
Did you get them yet? How much were they? No, they have not shipped yet, lead time was listed as two weeks when I ordered. I expect them to ship in the the next week. They'll be shipping to my Paris apartment so I may not get to try them for another two weeks. I paid $29.99 per pickup. Full set of three is currently listed at $79.99 on their website and free domestic shipping on all orders over $50. |
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Post by funkykikuchiyo on Aug 27, 2022 19:30:45 GMT -5
I always thought the Cray sig strat sounded like the John Mayer (big dippers) before he had PRS build him ...well, a strat The Cray sound had like a slight scoop, but with enough high end to seal the note. Unsung player. Yup, they're cousins! Both roughly based on a 1965-ish Strat set. Texas Specials are in that family, too. Alnico 5, plain enamel wire, and so on. Eventually they were being wound lighter and lighter and switched to poly-nylon wire. I have a '67 in the shop right now, and it sounds more to me like the mid '60s Strats than the late '60s or early '70s, so I guess the changes happened a bit later. |
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DrKev
Wholenote
It's just a guitar, it's not rocket science.
Posts: 418
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Post by DrKev on Sept 10, 2022 11:28:32 GMT -5
Long COVID graciously allowed me a little energy this afternoon and I just dropped the Tone Hatch Fullerton Premier neck and middle into my Silhouette Special. HOLY MOTHER OF AWESOME COWS BATMAN! These are FABULOUS! These are based on the original 1954 specs; fiber bobbins, 42 gauge heavy formvar wire, 5.95 kΩ, AlNiCo 3 magnets. Beautiful bright-not-harsh top end, firm punchy lows, strong yet tasteful upper mids. These are louder than I expected too, blends nicely with a DiMarzio virtual PAF in the bridge (which I have lowered a bit, yes). All in-between tones have beautiful sparkle.
I'm in love and life is beautiful!
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Post by Auf Kiltre on Sept 10, 2022 12:05:57 GMT -5
Awesome. I really, really dig my Fralin Real 54's, never was quite sure if it has anything to do with the Alnico 3 rods, but your description seems consistent.
(off to Google Tone hatch pickups😄)
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The Cray sound had like a slight scoop, but with enough high end to seal the note. Unsung player.