stratdancer
Joined: Dec 11, 2013
Posts: 2537
Akron, Ohio
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Posted on Nov 27 2014 06:00 AM
Wow! After spending hours reviewing threads on the best surf pup for the strat I found this thread that I started. Can't believe the help I got on this and those that chimed in. Some of my favorite guitarists have posted here. Thank you all!
This goes back to the gearaholics thread where I was going to find a new #1 strat and move my current guitar that this entire thread was written about to #2. At this point with all the work I have put into it I have chosen to put CS 57/62's into the guitar and order vintage saddles for it. Amazon has them for 93.00 and free shipping. Can't beat that!
Now the electronics. Am I right to say I want a blender pot and 250K pots? How about the capacitor? 1K?
— The Kahuna Kings
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahuna-Kings/459752090818447
https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases
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Badger
Joined: Nov 16, 2013
Posts: 4537
Wisconsin
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Posted on Nov 27 2014 06:21 AM
No Fat 50 in the bridge?
— Wes
SoCal ex-pat with a snow shovel
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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stratdancer
Joined: Dec 11, 2013
Posts: 2537
Akron, Ohio
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Posted on Nov 27 2014 06:38 AM
Well now that you bring this up I see you can buy just the F50 bridge pup. I guess I have more thinking to do. How much better do you like the change you made with swapping out the 57/62 bridge with the F50?
— The Kahuna Kings
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahuna-Kings/459752090818447
https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases
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Badger
Joined: Nov 16, 2013
Posts: 4537
Wisconsin
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Posted on Nov 27 2014 07:53 AM
I was just surprised 'cause I thought you really liked the Fat 50.
So you know what a Fat 50 sounds like. For me it was a very slight but noticeable increase in substance to the pickup. It was like not having to wonder what else to step on, or what else I might have to do to give it some more meat. There was zero loss in clarity; it's a Strat bridge pickup no question. It's just not as thin & I can run it at the height I like so it gets benefit of string vibration & no funny tones. (If it had turned to be some really hot thing that was slamming my pre-amp it would've been returned.) Just a very slight difference, but noticeable to my ear.
Resistance numbers obviously aren't whole story but here's that junk:
DC Resistance (ohms)
- - - - Fat 50 57/62
Neck: 6.0k 5.6k
Middle: 6.3k 5.6k
Bridge: 6.2k 5.6k
I note that any Fat 50 is a tad higher than the uniform 57/62's; huh. The 57/62's are LOVELY in the neck & middle positions. Don't get me wrong about them; I'm very happy with them & probably would've just continued along if I couldn't find a single Fat 50. But apparently they can be had from time to time if you look.
If you don't have a 57/62 on hand & would like to try one (in any position) PM your address & you can try the one I just took out. It's just sitting here. Your amp & pedal situation or the tone in your head may be different than mine & you'll think it's the cat's meow. Might save you another quandary.
Oh... that turkey smell is just starting to come through from the kitchen downstairs.
— Wes
SoCal ex-pat with a snow shovel
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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stratdancer
Joined: Dec 11, 2013
Posts: 2537
Akron, Ohio
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Posted on Nov 27 2014 08:48 AM
This has me really thinking. I did really warm up to the F50's when I played them. I do want to finish building the ultimate strat. I would like to try out the extra pup you have but I am just wondering if I will just ultimately want the combination you are working with now because it sounds like it's the ultimate.
We are missing out on Turkey smell right now. Brother-in law has those duties this year. We will make the venture out later this afternoon!
— The Kahuna Kings
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahuna-Kings/459752090818447
https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases
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stratdancer
Joined: Dec 11, 2013
Posts: 2537
Akron, Ohio
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Posted on Nov 27 2014 09:00 AM
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Badger
Joined: Nov 16, 2013
Posts: 4537
Wisconsin
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Posted on Nov 27 2014 09:56 AM
That's a good deal (and I'm kinda lazy). My Strat originally was an HH, so I did a loaded PG as well since I needed all the bits (and the original with Duncans Alnico II's on a superswitch sits here). I love mint PG's but my guitar's sonic blue tends to wash both of them out, so parchment instead.
I don't have enough experience to know whether this is an ultimate setup; but I'm happier than I've ever been before with 2 57/62 and Fat 50 bridge & don't foresee any changes now, so that tonebox checked.
Again, if you want I can send that 57/62 for you to stick in and compare it to something you have a Fat 50 on. Since you're building your ultimate surf Strat for you might be nice to know which way to go before pulling trigger on a loaded PG. Probably several shops have combos they'd probably do for you, your colors, 2x 57/62 + 1x Fat 50, or all one or the other. Finding someone who makes up alot of those would be worth simply picking up the phone and say, "Hey, can you do...?"
— Wes
SoCal ex-pat with a snow shovel
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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stratdancer
Joined: Dec 11, 2013
Posts: 2537
Akron, Ohio
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Posted on Nov 27 2014 10:26 AM
That Ebay guy might be able to build the 57/62 N&M and put a Fat 50 into the bridge. I'm going to message him. I do know someone on here that will know the answer to this. I'm going to message him right now. I will let you know on that 57/62 bridge. That is very generous of you Wes!
— The Kahuna Kings
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahuna-Kings/459752090818447
https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases
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Badger
Joined: Nov 16, 2013
Posts: 4537
Wisconsin
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Posted on Nov 27 2014 11:01 AM
Good luck. I love it with 57/62's all around; even just a bit better with the F50 in the bridge but if the F50 didn't exist I'd still be happy. Just let me know if you want try it before doing a build.
— Wes
SoCal ex-pat with a snow shovel
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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stratdancer
Joined: Dec 11, 2013
Posts: 2537
Akron, Ohio
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Posted on Nov 27 2014 11:04 AM
It sounds killer Wes! I messaged the ebay guy to see if he could build one that way. I will let you know on the spare 57. I may want to buy it outright for another strat.
— The Kahuna Kings
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahuna-Kings/459752090818447
https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases
Last edited: Nov 27, 2014 11:05:02
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JObeast
Joined: Jul 24, 2012
Posts: 2762
Finknabad, Squinkistan
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Posted on Feb 29 2016 07:22 AM
Reviving this thread to ask about bridges that sound more classic. Are the bent steel saddles a big part of early 60s Strat sound?
My 1974 hard tail Strat might take on a new more surfy voice without any invasive modification if that's true of the saddles.
Also, I have this Danelectro ca. 2001 baritone that I want to get more happening tone out of. I got better AlNiCo "scatterwound" Strat p'ups that were an improvement on the OEMs. Maybe replacing the east Asian electronics and bridge would Open up its voice more. Any love for the GFS " Import Strat UPGRADE trem- Solid STEEL block" that has the bent steel saddles?
— Squink Out!
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stratdancer
Joined: Dec 11, 2013
Posts: 2537
Akron, Ohio
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Posted on Feb 29 2016 07:45 AM
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stratdancer
Joined: Dec 11, 2013
Posts: 2537
Akron, Ohio
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Posted on Feb 29 2016 09:19 AM
stratdancer wrote:
I bought a GFS 2-point at one time and hated it. I have the vintage mount and it's not to bad. Bent steel is the way to go though.
— The Kahuna Kings
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahuna-Kings/459752090818447
https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases
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CrazyAces
Joined: Jul 31, 2012
Posts: 4054
Buffalo, N.Y.
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Posted on Feb 29 2016 09:33 AM
The bent steel saddles are a big part of the 50's and 60's sound, especially when compared to the solid zinc saddles of the 70's.
A steel block is part of the equation as well, with shallow drilled string holes.
One of the biggest things I notice first when playing an old strat is the sound/tone emanating from the block. Alloys are not what they once were.
The Gotoh SB-5208-010 form Allparts is a nice replacement.
Bent saddles, steel block, the intonation springs are a little flimsy but function fine.
I've done direct comparisons with this bridge and the more upscale ones such as Callaham and have noticed no difference in tone.
Hope that helps,
Jeff
— http://www.facebook.com/CrazyAcesMusic
http://www.youtube.com/user/crazyacesrock
http://www.reverbnation.com/crazyacesmusic
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JObeast
Joined: Jul 24, 2012
Posts: 2762
Finknabad, Squinkistan
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Posted on Feb 29 2016 11:23 AM
Any opinions of this one f rom GFS?
http://www.guitarfetish.com/Made-in-Mexico-Import-Strat-UPGRADE-trem-Solid-STEEL-block_p_489.html
The Dano as the narrower 10.5mm string spacing.
— Squink Out!
Last edited: Feb 29, 2016 11:23:56
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JakeDobner
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
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Posted on Feb 29 2016 11:26 AM
Visually, it looks like garbage. It looks like the cheapest bridge one could make to put on a Squier.
And this:
This is our own Proprietary trem- designed by us, made for us.
Um... not it isn't propietary. No you didn't design it. You copied it.
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CrazyAces
Joined: Jul 31, 2012
Posts: 4054
Buffalo, N.Y.
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Posted on Feb 29 2016 11:45 AM
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Surf_Skater
Joined: Sep 06, 2012
Posts: 1300
Lawrenceville , GA
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Posted on Feb 29 2016 11:55 AM
Jo, I have a GFS strat. If it's the same trem system that came with mine the quality leaves a lot to be desired. It just feels cheap.
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stratdancer
Joined: Dec 11, 2013
Posts: 2537
Akron, Ohio
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Posted on Feb 29 2016 07:42 PM
JObeast wrote:
Any opinions of this one f rom GFS?
http://www.guitarfetish.com/Made-in-Mexico-Import-Strat-UPGRADE-trem-Solid-STEEL-block_p_489.html
The Dano as the narrower 10.5mm string spacing.
That's the exact one I have on my partscaster. Compared with all my fender trems it's not to bad.
— The Kahuna Kings
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahuna-Kings/459752090818447
https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases
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JObeast
Joined: Jul 24, 2012
Posts: 2762
Finknabad, Squinkistan
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Posted on Feb 29 2016 10:38 PM
The discussion seems to indicate you get what you pay for. I will keep hunting for a bridge with vintage bent steel saddles that has the 'import' screw spacing.
Maybe this one?
SB-5316-010 Wilkinson® Licensed Vintage Tremolo Chrome
— Squink Out!
Last edited: Feb 29, 2016 22:41:03
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