Posted on Jun 28 2016 05:01 AM
Thanks, Jetpack and Chipper -
More info from me:
I am in a bit of a conundrum and not sure of my course of action - advice is welcome:
This is for my Classic Player JM (strung with TI flatwound '12s') that I find the pickups to be a bit too flat and beefy for clean guitar tones (i.e. not chimey enough, although I definitely do not want brittle spikeyness). Very good for rocking-out with my non-surf cover band but I want to gear this towards more trad surf.
For the pittance I could get for the CP pickups, I will keep them in case of a future need or I give up on surf (HAHAHAHAHAHA...yeah, not likely...)
In the past week, based solely on local (actually, national!) availability, I picked up a SD Vintage Bridge and an Antiquity I neck.
SD Vintage neck pickups were available but I jumped at the Antiquity I as it was my first choice (I would be happy with Antiquity I in both neck and bridge but the bridge unit is not available here)
The output of the Vintage bridge seemed to be a bit higher than the Antiquity I neck but I think this could be a good blend esp. with some slight height tweaks in each of the pickups).
I have the option of returning either one (or both) of these pickups as it is a national retailer with a 30-day no dicker return policy and I am in very good standing with the staff there, too.
If my history knowledge is correct, the '59-ish sounding pickups would be closer to the classic first-wave players as this is the variation that they would have been using pre-CBS. I am surmising that with the downturn in surf music and the move to amps with integrated reverb tanks, a chimey-er pickup would have been appropriate, ergo, a brighter '65 pickup (but who am I to figure out CBS's business decisions, hey?).
If the Antiquity I bridge is the way to go, I will order one from Darren Riley along with some witch hat knobs.
If the SD Vintage bridge will work ok for me, then I will rest with what I have. Just second-guessing myself.
Sidebar: I recently bought Pure Vintage '65s for my CP Jag due to the solid recommendations here on the forum. I am no stranger to wiring-up entire pickguards of new pickup assemblies for Strats, etc. but I usually stick with stock value caps and pots. Getting into different values of caps and pots is fine but I really have no expertise in what I should be striving for in different values.
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Lorne
The Surf Shakers: https://www.facebook.com/TheSurfShakers
Vancouver BC Canada
Last edited: Jun 28, 2016 05:19:33
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