Pickups for a surfy Fender Mustang

Mikejazz3

Joined: Sep 09, 2021
Posts: 20

Posted on Sep 18 2021 08:48 PM

i just purchased a mustang vintera, and was wondering about pickup replacements. I read that strat pickups can go in the mustang (with different pickup covers to compensate for the poles). So im not sure which would be better for surf guitar sounds. Should i go with the Vintage 65 strats or the Lindy Fralin Vintage Hots? I do like how the vintage hots sound, but even though the 65 strats would sound a little different cause of the neck scale, i read that those are some of the best pickups for surf guitar. Any suggestions would be appreciated

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cirecc

Joined: Mar 06, 2006
Posts: 311
seattle, wa
1 News Pin

Posted on Sep 18 2021 09:34 PM

I do like fralins in general but have no experience with his strat pickups.

I really like the sd antiquity ii surfer strat pickups. The bridge is wound a little hotter to balance it out nicely. I would go that route with a middle and bridge pickup personally.

I’ve used the av 57/62s and some pv 59s (I think, it was long ago) and think they’re great pickups but like the surfers more personally. I have some pv 65 jag pickups in a jag which are good, but I’m not sure how much that helps you with your question about strat pickups. You could modify a pickguard and use Jaguar pickups though - kind of like the cyclone.

—

-Eric

New music!
https://thedesolatecoast.bandcamp.com/releases
Spotify

Also:
https://theverb.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/theverbseattle/

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Mikejazz3

Joined: Sep 09, 2021
Posts: 20

Posted on Sep 19 2021 12:42 AM

Cool, im going to research the antiquity II. Those sound like it might be what im looking for. Thanks

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Mikejazz3

Joined: Sep 09, 2021
Posts: 20

Posted on Sep 19 2021 12:48 AM

I forgot to mention in the original post that the Fralin pickups were mustang pickups, not strats

Last edited: Sep 19, 2021 00:49:39

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edwardsand

Joined: Jun 29, 2018
Posts: 801

Posted on Sep 19 2021 10:18 AM

You could still use the Mustang pickup covers if the strat pickups don't have staggered poles.

If you are aiming for loud and clean sound, you might want to avoid "hot" pickups, as they are designed to push things more and break up earlier/easier. Good vintage strat pickups work well in a Mustang - Mustang pickups are usually a bit anemic and something like the Pure Vintage 65 pickups would help fill out the sound without going overboard.

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Reverbenator

Joined: Jul 26, 2015
Posts: 261
San Diego, Ca
26 Security Pins

Posted on Sep 19 2021 11:28 AM

Seymour Duncan and Curtis Novak both make vintage style pickups, specifically for the Fender Mustang, wound to vintage specs.

If it were my guitar, that’s what I’d install. But hey, that’s just me.

—

-Cheers, Clark-

-Less Paul, more Reverb-

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Mikejazz3

Joined: Sep 09, 2021
Posts: 20

Posted on Sep 25 2021 12:49 AM

im on the fence for the antiquity surfer strat and fender pure vintage 65s. i think im going to avoid the mustang pickups. i heard demos and before and after vids, and they sound more flat than what i want. thanks for the help

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Reverbenator

Joined: Jul 26, 2015
Posts: 261
San Diego, Ca
26 Security Pins

Posted on Sep 25 2021 08:57 AM

I have the Antiquity II’s in one of my Strats, and I like them a lot.
You can dime them and they get nice and glassy, but not shrill.

If you’re leaning towards a set of Strat pickups, I think you’d be pretty happy with them.

—

-Cheers, Clark-

-Less Paul, more Reverb-

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cirecc

Joined: Mar 06, 2006
Posts: 311
seattle, wa
1 News Pin

Posted on Sep 25 2021 09:26 AM

Exactly! The price will be different, with the antiquities being a bit more. You might be able to negate that somewhat by buying just two individual pickups which I don’t think you can with the pv65s.

I think the little bit of extra oomph on the bridge pickup makes a huge difference in getting that glassy but not shrill tone. Plus, they just seem to balance so much better to me with the other pickups without having to lower you neck and middle so much, and therefore the overall output of the guitar.

—

-Eric

New music!
https://thedesolatecoast.bandcamp.com/releases
Spotify

Also:
https://theverb.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/theverbseattle/

Top

Mikejazz3 Joined: Sep 09, 2021 Posts: 20	Posted on Sep 18 2021 08:48 PM i just purchased a mustang vintera, and was wondering about pickup replacements. I read that strat pickups can go in the mustang (with different pickup covers to compensate for the poles). So im not sure which would be better for surf guitar sounds. Should i go with the Vintage 65 strats or the Lindy Fralin Vintage Hots? I do like how the vintage hots sound, but even though the 65 strats would sound a little different cause of the neck scale, i read that those are some of the best pickups for surf guitar. Any suggestions would be appreciated Top
cirecc Joined: Mar 06, 2006 Posts: 311 seattle, wa	Posted on Sep 18 2021 09:34 PM I do like fralins in general but have no experience with his strat pickups. I really like the sd antiquity ii surfer strat pickups. The bridge is wound a little hotter to balance it out nicely. I would go that route with a middle and bridge pickup personally. I’ve used the av 57/62s and some pv 59s (I think, it was long ago) and think they’re great pickups but like the surfers more personally. I have some pv 65 jag pickups in a jag which are good, but I’m not sure how much that helps you with your question about strat pickups. You could modify a pickguard and use Jaguar pickups though - kind of like the cyclone. — -Eric New music! https://thedesolatecoast.bandcamp.com/releases Spotify Also: https://theverb.bandcamp.com/ https://www.facebook.com/theverbseattle/ Top
Mikejazz3 Joined: Sep 09, 2021 Posts: 20	Posted on Sep 19 2021 12:42 AM Cool, im going to research the antiquity II. Those sound like it might be what im looking for. Thanks Top
Mikejazz3 Joined: Sep 09, 2021 Posts: 20	Posted on Sep 19 2021 12:48 AM I forgot to mention in the original post that the Fralin pickups were mustang pickups, not strats Last edited: Sep 19, 2021 00:49:39 Top
edwardsand Joined: Jun 29, 2018 Posts: 801	Posted on Sep 19 2021 10:18 AM You could still use the Mustang pickup covers if the strat pickups don't have staggered poles. If you are aiming for loud and clean sound, you might want to avoid "hot" pickups, as they are designed to push things more and break up earlier/easier. Good vintage strat pickups work well in a Mustang - Mustang pickups are usually a bit anemic and something like the Pure Vintage 65 pickups would help fill out the sound without going overboard. Top
Reverbenator Joined: Jul 26, 2015 Posts: 261 San Diego, Ca	Posted on Sep 19 2021 11:28 AM Seymour Duncan and Curtis Novak both make vintage style pickups, specifically for the Fender Mustang, wound to vintage specs. If it were my guitar, that’s what I’d install. But hey, that’s just me. — -Cheers, Clark- -Less Paul, more Reverb- Top
Mikejazz3 Joined: Sep 09, 2021 Posts: 20	Posted on Sep 25 2021 12:49 AM im on the fence for the antiquity surfer strat and fender pure vintage 65s. i think im going to avoid the mustang pickups. i heard demos and before and after vids, and they sound more flat than what i want. thanks for the help Top
Reverbenator Joined: Jul 26, 2015 Posts: 261 San Diego, Ca	Posted on Sep 25 2021 08:57 AM I have the Antiquity II’s in one of my Strats, and I like them a lot. You can dime them and they get nice and glassy, but not shrill. If you’re leaning towards a set of Strat pickups, I think you’d be pretty happy with them. — -Cheers, Clark- -Less Paul, more Reverb- Top
cirecc Joined: Mar 06, 2006 Posts: 311 seattle, wa	Posted on Sep 25 2021 09:26 AM Exactly! The price will be different, with the antiquities being a bit more. You might be able to negate that somewhat by buying just two individual pickups which I don’t think you can with the pv65s. I think the little bit of extra oomph on the bridge pickup makes a huge difference in getting that glassy but not shrill tone. Plus, they just seem to balance so much better to me with the other pickups without having to lower you neck and middle so much, and therefore the overall output of the guitar. — -Eric New music! https://thedesolatecoast.bandcamp.com/releases Spotify Also: https://theverb.bandcamp.com/ https://www.facebook.com/theverbseattle/ Top

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Pickups for a surfy Fender Mustang