Mrgreen
Joined: Jun 20, 2007
Posts: 351
Toronto, ON
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Posted on Aug 07 2009 12:33 AM
I've been thinking of getting a humbucker sized pickup for my Squier Strat. Which one would you recommend for surf, garage, rockabilly, etc.
Or plan b is buy one of those new Duo-Sonics from Squier or a VintageVibe Tele also from Squier.
What would you say is a better option?
ps. I haven't been on recently and that kinda sucks cause I really like this site and it's members are mostly really cool people. Sorry for not being as participative <-----(don't know if there's such a word) as I'd like to.
— Augusto Vite
www.facebook.com/carne.y.cosas
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Woodsurfer
Joined: Feb 07, 2009
Posts: 310
Bel Air, MD USA
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Posted on Aug 07 2009 03:47 AM
Curious about the qualifier 'sized' in the question. Are you looking for humbuckers -- or single-coils that are the same size as humbuckers?
-- Woody
P.S. 'participative' is, in fact, a word.
— It takes a lot of mussel memory to avoid clams.
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estreet
Joined: Mar 17, 2007
Posts: 839
United Kingdom
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Posted on Aug 07 2009 04:01 AM
The Seymour Duncan 'Jazz' humbucker is a nice bright humbucker that will certainly be more surf friendly than your existing Squier back pickup (I'm assuming your Strat is a H-S-S configuration and you have a humbucker size hole) or you can also get a P90 that fits in a humbucker slot. The advantage to the Duncan is that it's coil tappable if you want a very twangy single coil sound. Alternatively you could replace the pick-guard and put the single coil of your choice there. The question is whether its worth spending the money either of these options would entail on a standard Squier.
The Classic Vibe Squiers are a different kettle of fish entirely though. I went shopping with a friend who was looking for a Tele and I thought the Classic Vibe Tele was far and away the best Telecaster you could get until you spent at least four times as much - certainly played and sounded better than the Mexican Baja one in my opinion. They are great and if I had no guitars and less than a 1000$ to spend I would probably buy one of those - I nearly bought one anyway - but I already have three Telecasters ... which brings me on to the Duo - Sonic.
I loved these too and will probably buy one someday for its short scale and light quirkiness and its simple clear tone. However, if I was looking for a main guitar to cover several different styles, then the CV Tele is a much more serious tool. Neither of these have trems though so I'm wondering why you have discounted the CV Strat if you want it to do Surf. I have the '60s one I bought on a whim despite the fact that I don't get on with Strats - I still don't really 'do' Strats tbh, but it's a great guitar and all my Strat-fan friends love it.
— http://www.myspace.com/thepashuns
Youth and enthusiasm are no match for age and treachery.
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WaveOhhh
Joined: Apr 24, 2006
Posts: 236
Plantation, FL
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Posted on Aug 07 2009 10:05 AM
I bought a Seymore Duncan P-90 which was sized to fit a humbucker slot.
I wasn't too impressed but I think it was in a Squire guitar that had poor sonic qualities anyway. I think the blue paint on the body was like putting a coat of deadening rubber on it.
I wonder how that PU would sound in a more resonant, toneful guitar.
— What day is Surf Rock's birthday? Looks like Surf Rock and I was born the same year. Maybe we are both Libras?
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seafoam_johnny
Joined: Jul 27, 2007
Posts: 1099
4 faces. (Where the buffalo roam)
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Posted on Aug 07 2009 12:53 PM
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ColtsSurf
Joined: Apr 03, 2008
Posts: 477
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Posted on Aug 07 2009 01:06 PM
I have a Tele with two TV Jones Classics. Very powerful pickups compared to the single coils on my other Teles. You get the quiet advantage of humbuckers, but without that muddy roar. They are sort of like halfway between a single coil and a normal humbucker.
Paul
— Paul
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Mrgreen
Joined: Jun 20, 2007
Posts: 351
Toronto, ON
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Posted on Aug 07 2009 01:53 PM
Woodsurfer
Curious about the qualifier 'sized' in the question. Are you looking for humbuckers -- or single-coils that are the same size as humbuckers?
-- Woody
P.S. 'participative' is, in fact, a word.
No humbuckers are not really my thing but the pickup configuration on my Strat is in fact, HSS so a humbucker sized single coil would be easy to throw in there without much fussing around.
ColtsSurf
I have a Tele with two TV Jones Classics. Very powerful pickups compared to the single coils on my other Teles. You get the quiet advantage of humbuckers, but without that muddy roar. They are sort of like halfway between a single coil and a normal humbucker.
Paul
I have given the T.V. Jones idea some thought and they do have models that fit normal HB sized slots but from what I hear in the audio samples they offer at their website they aren't precisely clean. But maybe I'm wrong, feel free to correct me if I am.
— Augusto Vite
www.facebook.com/carne.y.cosas
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estreet
Joined: Mar 17, 2007
Posts: 839
United Kingdom
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Posted on Aug 07 2009 02:04 PM
seafoam_johnny
 http://surfguitar101.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=7422
I don't know about in the USA - but here in the UK, that pickup costs about the same as the guitar he's looking at putting one in 
— http://www.myspace.com/thepashuns
Youth and enthusiasm are no match for age and treachery.
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seafoam_johnny
Joined: Jul 27, 2007
Posts: 1099
4 faces. (Where the buffalo roam)
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Posted on Aug 07 2009 02:10 PM
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SURFmole
Joined: Nov 22, 2007
Posts: 901
Portland, OR
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Posted on Aug 07 2009 02:21 PM
If it was my guitar I'd replace the pickguard and install any pickup of choice. Just because you have a cutout for a humbucker it doesn't mean you have to fill it.
— www.apollo4.com
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zak
Joined: Sep 24, 2007
Posts: 2728
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Posted on Aug 07 2009 02:41 PM
This post has been removed by the author.
Last edited: Sep 27, 2009 18:34:42
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Woodsurfer
Joined: Feb 07, 2009
Posts: 310
Bel Air, MD USA
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Posted on Aug 07 2009 06:36 PM
Even though it's a bit more work to take everything off the pick guard and swap it to a new one, it'll vastly increase the choices for single coil replacements. I'd do it in a heartbeat.
-- Woody
— It takes a lot of mussel memory to avoid clams.
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Richard
Joined: Mar 02, 2006
Posts: 1683
Georgia
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Posted on Aug 07 2009 09:08 PM
I have a pair of Vintage Vibe humbucker-sized P-90's in my Squier Jagmaster and I'm happy with them. They are made by a guy named Pete Biltoft and at the time cost me $90.
— The Mystery Men?
El Capitan and The Reluctant Sadists
SSS Agent #31
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Voodoo_Idol
Joined: Jul 30, 2008
Posts: 94
Pasadena, CA
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Posted on Aug 08 2009 01:03 AM
A lot of options here (look at the Dream 90s):
http://store.guitarfetish.com/humbuckers.html
and here (Nashville Filtertron style):
http://store.guitarfetish.com/vintagestyle.html
I have no personal experience with GFS, but the consensus on the TDPRI telecaster forum is pretty positive on them, especially for the price. These are all humbucker sized.
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mad_dog
Joined: Sep 23, 2008
Posts: 349
Montclair, NJ
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Posted on Aug 08 2009 08:05 AM
I'd use a Harmonic Design Z-90 pickup. HB sized, but based on P-90. Has a distinctive sound, loud, punchy and beautiful. I put two of these in a Dearmond M-72 along with a Vibramate and Bigsby. It became my instant number one for gigs. More P90 than anything else, but can also sound rather Gretsch like if that's what you want.
MD
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CaptainSensible
Joined: Nov 08, 2006
Posts: 650
Leesburg, VA
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Posted on Aug 17 2009 01:10 PM
Mrgreen
Or plan b is buy one of those new Duo-Sonics from Squier or a VintageVibe Tele also from Squier.
I have a Classic Vibe Telecaster and it is a really sweet guitar. It has a real nice neck on it, stays in tune well, and has a great Tele sound.
— Sean
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DeadRanchHands
Joined: Apr 15, 2008
Posts: 1281
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Posted on Aug 17 2009 01:47 PM
Voodoo_Idol
A lot of options here (look at the Dream 90s):
http://store.guitarfetish.com/humbuckers.html
and here (Nashville Filtertron style):
http://store.guitarfetish.com/vintagestyle.html
I have no personal experience with GFS, but the consensus on the TDPRI telecaster forum is pretty positive on them, especially for the price. These are all humbucker sized.
Yes, I've heard that Dream 90s actually sound more like Strat pickups than conventional P90s. If so, ideal for surf.
— http://www.reverbnation.com/thedeadranchhands
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZEW74mHjQk
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Thunderhead
Joined: Apr 11, 2009
Posts: 201
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Posted on Aug 17 2009 04:26 PM
I put a set of Dream 90's in a Mahogany Set-Neck Tele with great results. It had Humbuckers that were decent but I wanted a little more cut and the Drean 90's were the answer. I was even able to get the middle postion truly "out of phase". They are also priced right and shipped very quickly.
— www.myspace.com/thethunderheads
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