Im looking to put some new pickups in my strat (it currently has red silver blue lace sensors) to get a more surf sound... do any strat users have any suggestions??? any experience with the 54 custom pu's that are in the dick dale signature strat?
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SurfGuitar101 Forums » Gear »
Fender Strat Pickups
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Joined: Aug 02, 2007 Posts: 6 |
Posted on Aug 02 2007 09:24 AM
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Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 2065 Virginia, USA 
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Posted on Aug 02 2007 09:32 AM
I've heard really good things about Curtis Novak PUP's: Paul |
Joined: Apr 05, 2006 Posts: 1547 Bethlehem, GA
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Posted on Aug 02 2007 09:53 AM
The Custom Shop '54's are perfect for surf music. Just the right amount of twang with no harshness (i.e.,Texas Specials). Two of my three Strats have the '54's, and the only ones I've tried that were better were a set of Abigail Ybarra-wound pups that were in a Custom Shop '65 Strat that I should have kept, dammit. The Novaks are supposed to be good as well, but I have no experience with them. —Jack Booth The Mariners (1964-68, 1996-2005), 2025 |
Joined: Feb 25, 2006 Posts: 19354 Des Moines, Iowa, USA
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Posted on Aug 02 2007 10:15 AM
Here is another thread on this subject. —Site dude - S3 Agent #202 "It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea |
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Joined: Aug 02, 2007 Posts: 6 |
Posted on Aug 02 2007 11:17 AM
woodyj, would you recommend the 54's over the 57/62?? ive narrowed it down to those two...what is the major differences other than price |
Joined: Feb 09, 2007 Posts: 917 Brew City
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Posted on Aug 02 2007 01:55 PM
I have 57/62 pickups in one of my strats - a 1991 MIM Standard Strat- I think that they make that strat the best sounding of the 3 that I have (The other 2 being a 97 American Strat and a Custom Shop '65 relic). I have tried a few of the others as have my bandmates and, to my ears, I think that the 57/62 pickups are the most versatile of the Fender pickups. —The Exotics 1994-Current |
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Joined: Apr 05, 2006 Posts: 1547 Bethlehem, GA
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Posted on Aug 02 2007 02:51 PM
IMO, The '57-'62 AVRI pickups probably are the best bang for the buck. The 54's sound somewhat better to my ears, but if cost is a consideration, the AVRI Strat pickups are just fine for traditional surf. If you play mostly harder edged Slacktone-ish material, you may like a hotter pickup that either the CS '54 or the AVRI. My 1986 '62 AVRI Strat which I bought used came with a set of Rio Grande pickups, and they sound awesome on edgier songs. With that said, pickup selection is a very personal, subjective thing, just like "what are the best strings?", "what is the best amp?" and "what is the coolest color?" There is no single correct answer. —Jack Booth The Mariners (1964-68, 1996-2005), 2025 |
Joined: Feb 23, 2007 Posts: 1650 Santa Rosa, CA
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Posted on Aug 02 2007 04:55 PM
Woody's right..go w/the 54's you don't want too much output..just lots of sparkle....Curtis makes some klller pups..I can vouch for his Jag set... — |
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Joined: Aug 02, 2007 Posts: 6 |
Posted on Aug 02 2007 06:39 PM
thanks for the info...i think im going to get the 54's, the place that is going to install them for me has those in stock and not the 57-62 so he said hed cut me a deal if i bought the pickups/install from him, which actually makes the price difference only about 20 bucks then if i had to buy the 57/62 on line and get the install |
Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 12159 Seattle
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Posted on Aug 02 2007 06:48 PM
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Joined: May 22, 2006 Posts: 500 Hamilton, Ontario 
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Posted on Aug 18 2007 07:53 PM
I have 57/62s in a MIM Classic 50s, and SD Antiquities II "surf" PUPs in a MIM Classic 60s, both are sweet. —http://www.facebook.com/?sk=lf#!/rockinrio.delrosa |
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Joined: Jul 08, 2007 Posts: 106 Brittany |
Posted on Aug 18 2007 09:14 PM
I used to have a 62 RI Strat with CS 54 pickups. Later I got a classic 50's Strat where I tried a set of CS Fat 50's and I liked that a LOT more so I sold the 62 RI. The 54's are nice if you want low output, glassy, "woody" (by lack of a better word) tone. The Fat 50's are closer to late 50's Strat pickup specs, wich were quite a bit hotter. In fact I find it strange that they put the 54's in the DD Strat, since "the beast" is a late 50's Strat and I remember reading its pickup impedance ratings somewhere and they were much closer to Fat 50's. For my Jazzmaster/Strat bastard I went with a set of Bare Knuckle (hand wound in the UK) "Apache" that I really like. I believe these have alnico 3 magnets, wich is unusual for single coils. —Matter is just energy waiting to happen. |
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Joined: Sep 23, 2014 Posts: 1433 Memphis, TN
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Posted on May 01 2015 01:15 PM
Wow, those Custom Shop '54's do sound amazing. I may have to replace my factory Texas Specials with those. I found a brand new set online for $139.95. Do you still play with those, WoodyJ? —MooreLoud.com - A tribute to Dick Dale. New EP Louder Than Life available on bandcamp and website. Taking guitar lessons from Jimmy Dale. |
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Joined: Nov 16, 2013 Posts: 4537 Wisconsin
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Posted on May 01 2015 04:34 PM
SSS, the CS54's are one possibility. Another that seems to work nice is 57/62's, nice clarity, with a Fat 50 in the bridge. I've got a loaded PG still sitting here setup like that in case a budget Strat comes my way & was very happy with it before I got my AV65; traded the old guitar but kept my pups. Another whole thread on surfing Strats here.
Wes DISCLAIMER: The above is opinion/suggestion only & should not be used for mission planning/navigation, tweaking of instruments, beverage selection, or wardrobe choices. |
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Joined: Nov 03, 2011 Posts: 660 |
Posted on May 01 2015 04:58 PM
Look at the newer Fender Pure Vintage '54 (alnico 3), '59 and '64 models. I a have the pure vintage 59 and dig them a ton. |
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Joined: Sep 23, 2014 Posts: 1433 Memphis, TN
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Posted on May 01 2015 05:47 PM
derekirving, those newer 54's look good, but are they too low of an output for Dick Dale type of surf? About half of what I play is Dick Dale. Thanks. —MooreLoud.com - A tribute to Dick Dale. New EP Louder Than Life available on bandcamp and website. Taking guitar lessons from Jimmy Dale. Last edited: May 01, 2015 17:48:44 |
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Joined: Nov 03, 2011 Posts: 660 |
Posted on May 01 2015 06:17 PM
I played a guitar with the '54's (Fender Pure Vintage 54 strat) and the pickups were more mellow. I think you'd like the '59's better. That's what I have - they are alnico 5, have good punch, wound around 6k so they are faily bright and vintage'y sounding. These 59's replaced Don Mare's in my strat. Other places sell them cheaper then Fender but here's the specs: Fender specs on '59 Pure Vintage pickups Theres tons of great pickups out there, but it seems the new Fender Pure Vintage ones nail that early Fender tone best to my ears. |
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Joined: Sep 23, 2014 Posts: 1433 Memphis, TN
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Posted on May 01 2015 08:22 PM
Thanks, those '59's look pretty good. So they will be a lot less harsh than the Texas Specials, correct? I just can't take the harshness anymore lol. I can see how the '54's may be slightly too "soft" or "mellow" for Dick Dale, would you agree? Thanks again. EDIT I now see that Dick Dale uses Custom Shop '54's! Oh my, I apologize for being so fickle. Just can't take the harshness of the Tex Specials anymore. MooreLoud.com - A tribute to Dick Dale. New EP Louder Than Life available on bandcamp and website. Taking guitar lessons from Jimmy Dale. Last edited: May 01, 2015 20:41:49 |
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Joined: Sep 23, 2014 Posts: 1433 Memphis, TN
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Posted on May 02 2015 11:38 AM
I just bought the custom '54's and also a vintage wiring kit that Woody recommended. Thanks to everyone, especially WoodyJ for all the help! —MooreLoud.com - A tribute to Dick Dale. New EP Louder Than Life available on bandcamp and website. Taking guitar lessons from Jimmy Dale. |
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Joined: Nov 03, 2011 Posts: 660 |
Posted on May 02 2015 11:38 AM
Personally I don't care for the Tex Specials. If you have a guitar shop around that carries the new Fender Pure Vintage models the '54 and '59 go check them out. At least you'd get an idea of the pickups. The pure vintage 54 is alnico 3 and the customer shop 54 is alnico 5. A3 will be mellow/softer attack where the A5 will be puncher/louder/more bell/articulate/bright. I personally like A5 for those reasons. |
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