SurfGuitar101.com | Forums: Custom 54 Strat pickups

stratdancer

Joined: Dec 11, 2013
Posts: 2537
Akron, Ohio
United States

Posted on Nov 14 2019 04:02 PM

I will take anybody's old tex mex pickups. I happen to really like them in a non-surf strat. I have a strat I want to put them in right now.

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SixStringSurfer

Joined: Sep 23, 2014
Posts: 1426
Memphis, TN
United States

Posted on Nov 14 2019 04:09 PM

I'll check to see if I still have mine. I may have sold them on reverb, though. It's been about five years!

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MooreLoud.com - A tribute to Dick Dale. New EP Louder Than Life available on bandcamp and website.

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stratdancer

Joined: Dec 11, 2013
Posts: 2537
Akron, Ohio
United States

Posted on Nov 14 2019 04:55 PM

Nice! Let me know!

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Bluefeather42

Joined: Jul 13, 2019
Posts: 9

Posted on Nov 14 2019 09:48 PM

Surfing_Sam_61 wrote:

SixStringSurfer wrote:

I might be able to help... My American Strat came with Tex Mex pickups in it, and they were too hot for me. I had some Custom 54 Pickups installed, and absolutely love the vintage sound.

When I first played the guitar with the 54's installed, there was a night and day difference. If you want to hear what they sound like, check out my bands facebook page or website. The guitar that has them is the surf green Strat.

Yeah my Tex-Mex pickups were too hot for my taste as well. just couldn'y get the surf sound so changed out the whole pickguard with a cheap Korean squire type that was much better but can't get the same tone I want to replicate. So will either build a replication of DD's set up as much as possible - The 54's or one of the other pickups every one suggested would work I would think for this application.

That switch mentioned can be replace with a push pull duel function switch on a volume pot as well, that would have a cleaner look. Basically my Strat looks like the Beast in 1979, it looked fairly new then and not as road worn etc. Will have Karate sticker as well..

I like my Vegas gold sparkle type body paint, looks better to me than then the signature gold paint, I didn't like the upside down head stock either. So never got that Strat, I wish I could just buy a loaded pickguard, I hate wiring and soldering.

Wow, you guys are giving me a lot to think about!

Oh, don't get me wrong. I love the tex mexes. I had a set installed in my Squier. They sounded better than the Seymour Duncan hotrail I had in it when I was trying to imitate Bob Balch AND the humbucker in the American, and humbuckers are "supposed" to be better than single coils at heavy stuff. I'm just not sure if I want two guitars with the exact same pickups. Honestly, they're the dark horse choice. They run about $70 on ebay and I know I like them. Right now, though, it's the Custom 54s or the PV 59s. I'm driving myself so nuts looking up whatever comparisons I can find that I'm tempted to pull names from a hat and roll with it.

I asked before about the differences between the PVs and the customs...while I got a good explanation, does anybody know if they're made in different factories or something? Like one in America, the other in Mexico? Do the CS pickups just have that named slapped on them because the Custom Shop uses them or are they actually higher quality parts?

Last edited: Nov 14, 2019 21:48:59

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Surfing_Sam_61

Joined: Jan 15, 2019
Posts: 1515

Posted on Nov 14 2019 10:32 PM

yeah when it comes to pickups there are so many options and even new technology to boot. I like trying new technology, was looking at this new item below recently

EMG RA-5 Retro Active Pro Series Prewired Guitar Pickguard, White

https://www.amazon.com/EMG-Prewired-Guitar-Pickguard-Black/dp/B06Y4FKS3R?th=1

Features

Pre-loaded with the Maverick Five pickups for the surf tones of artists like The Chantays, The Surfians, and the king Dick Dale
Each pickup is uniquely voiced to create a brilliant combination when brought together
Wired like a traditional strat, the RA-5 has tone controls for the neck and middle pickups only
Be prepared for the added punch and power of the active world married to the classic feel of passives
Get vintage Strat tone with no buzz or hum

Best thing to do is search YouTube for demos of whatever pickup or other options like above to get a general idea of where you want to go with and even then it depends on the amp and other gear in the loop and what settings they have. Many videos just compare guitars with the same amp settings which I never could do, I always had to adjust for each guitar to get a sound I like with that guitar.

It really comes down to what sound you like and what amps you use.

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SixStringSurfer

Joined: Sep 23, 2014
Posts: 1426
Memphis, TN
United States

Posted on Nov 15 2019 05:09 PM

Sorry stratdancer, I sold them on Reverb 5 years ago. I did find my original Classic Player Jaguar pickups, though!

Feather, you will love the 54's. Didn't Dick Dale's backup guitar have 54's in it?

—

MooreLoud.com - A tribute to Dick Dale. New EP Louder Than Life available on bandcamp and website.

Top

stratdancer

Joined: Dec 11, 2013
Posts: 2537
Akron, Ohio
United States

Posted on Nov 15 2019 07:39 PM

SixStringSurfer wrote:

Sorry stratdancer, I sold them on Reverb 5 years ago. I did find my original Classic Player Jaguar pickups, though!

Feather, you will love the 54's. Didn't Dick Dale's backup guitar have 54's in it?

Glad I could help!

—

The Kahuna Kings

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahuna-Kings/459752090818447

https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases

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Bluefeather42

Joined: Jul 13, 2019
Posts: 9

Posted on Nov 16 2019 03:52 PM

SixStringSurfer wrote:

Sorry stratdancer, I sold them on Reverb 5 years ago. I did find my original Classic Player Jaguar pickups, though!

Feather, you will love the 54's. Didn't Dick Dale's backup guitar have 54's in it?

Probably the closest thing to it, I'd guess. I'm gonna sleep on it a few more days then make a decision. Listening the samples on this premier guitar article helped (https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/23144--way-frenzy-vintage-style-strat-pickup-review-roundup?page=4)

That's another good question: Did Dick Dale keep the original pickups in the Beast or did he switch them out at some point?

Last edited: Nov 16, 2019 15:55:36

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Redfeather

Joined: Jul 30, 2016
Posts: 896
3 Download Pins

Posted on Nov 16 2019 04:18 PM

Story goes that someone stole the Beast's original pickups in the 1970s while it was in the shop so he put something from that era in to replace them.

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stratdancer

Joined: Dec 11, 2013
Posts: 2537
Akron, Ohio
United States

Posted on Dec 05 2019 08:53 AM

Redfeather wrote:

Story goes that someone stole the Beast's original pickups in the 1970s while it was in the shop so he put something from that era in to replace them.

Interesting information if true! I contend that his output was monstrous and there are two ways to achieve this. 1, use two Dual Showmans pushing 4 D130's at high volume or 2, use higher output pickups. I just picked up an American Deluxe Strat with David Allen Big Dipper style vintage hot pickups. My initial take is pure Dick Dale tone. The bridge pup is 6.8 ohm.

—

The Kahuna Kings

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahuna-Kings/459752090818447

https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases

Top

BillAqua

Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 1054
Chicago IL.
3 POTD Pins

Posted on Dec 05 2019 10:25 AM

Are these the same pickups as the limited 2019 '54 AV RI pickups?

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"as he stepped into the stealthy night air... little did he know the fire escape was not there"

https://www.facebook.com/reluctantaquanauts/
https://www.facebook.com/TheDragstripVipers/

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SurfGuitar101 Forums » Gear »

Custom 54 Strat pickups - A question or two

stratdancer Joined: Dec 11, 2013 Posts: 2537 Akron, Ohio	Posted on Nov 14 2019 04:02 PM I will take anybody's old tex mex pickups. I happen to really like them in a non-surf strat. I have a strat I want to put them in right now. — The Kahuna Kings https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahuna-Kings/459752090818447 https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases Top
SixStringSurfer Joined: Sep 23, 2014 Posts: 1426 Memphis, TN	Posted on Nov 14 2019 04:09 PM I'll check to see if I still have mine. I may have sold them on reverb, though. It's been about five years! — MooreLoud.com - A tribute to Dick Dale. New EP Louder Than Life available on bandcamp and website. Top
stratdancer Joined: Dec 11, 2013 Posts: 2537 Akron, Ohio	Posted on Nov 14 2019 04:55 PM Nice! Let me know! — The Kahuna Kings https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahuna-Kings/459752090818447 https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases Top
Bluefeather42 Joined: Jul 13, 2019 Posts: 9	Posted on Nov 14 2019 09:48 PM Surfing_Sam_61 wrote: SixStringSurfer wrote: I might be able to help... My American Strat came with Tex Mex pickups in it, and they were too hot for me. I had some Custom 54 Pickups installed, and absolutely love the vintage sound. When I first played the guitar with the 54's installed, there was a night and day difference. If you want to hear what they sound like, check out my bands facebook page or website. The guitar that has them is the surf green Strat. Yeah my Tex-Mex pickups were too hot for my taste as well. just couldn'y get the surf sound so changed out the whole pickguard with a cheap Korean squire type that was much better but can't get the same tone I want to replicate. So will either build a replication of DD's set up as much as possible - The 54's or one of the other pickups every one suggested would work I would think for this application. That switch mentioned can be replace with a push pull duel function switch on a volume pot as well, that would have a cleaner look. Basically my Strat looks like the Beast in 1979, it looked fairly new then and not as road worn etc. Will have Karate sticker as well.. I like my Vegas gold sparkle type body paint, looks better to me than then the signature gold paint, I didn't like the upside down head stock either. So never got that Strat, I wish I could just buy a loaded pickguard, I hate wiring and soldering. Wow, you guys are giving me a lot to think about! Oh, don't get me wrong. I love the tex mexes. I had a set installed in my Squier. They sounded better than the Seymour Duncan hotrail I had in it when I was trying to imitate Bob Balch AND the humbucker in the American, and humbuckers are "supposed" to be better than single coils at heavy stuff. I'm just not sure if I want two guitars with the exact same pickups. Honestly, they're the dark horse choice. They run about $70 on ebay and I know I like them. Right now, though, it's the Custom 54s or the PV 59s. I'm driving myself so nuts looking up whatever comparisons I can find that I'm tempted to pull names from a hat and roll with it. I asked before about the differences between the PVs and the customs...while I got a good explanation, does anybody know if they're made in different factories or something? Like one in America, the other in Mexico? Do the CS pickups just have that named slapped on them because the Custom Shop uses them or are they actually higher quality parts? Last edited: Nov 14, 2019 21:48:59 Top
Surfing_Sam_61 Joined: Jan 15, 2019 Posts: 1515	Posted on Nov 14 2019 10:32 PM yeah when it comes to pickups there are so many options and even new technology to boot. I like trying new technology, was looking at this new item below recently EMG RA-5 Retro Active Pro Series Prewired Guitar Pickguard, White https://www.amazon.com/EMG-Prewired-Guitar-Pickguard-Black/dp/B06Y4FKS3R?th=1 Features Pre-loaded with the Maverick Five pickups for the surf tones of artists like The Chantays, The Surfians, and the king Dick Dale Each pickup is uniquely voiced to create a brilliant combination when brought together Wired like a traditional strat, the RA-5 has tone controls for the neck and middle pickups only Be prepared for the added punch and power of the active world married to the classic feel of passives Get vintage Strat tone with no buzz or hum Best thing to do is search YouTube for demos of whatever pickup or other options like above to get a general idea of where you want to go with and even then it depends on the amp and other gear in the loop and what settings they have. Many videos just compare guitars with the same amp settings which I never could do, I always had to adjust for each guitar to get a sound I like with that guitar. It really comes down to what sound you like and what amps you use. Top
SixStringSurfer Joined: Sep 23, 2014 Posts: 1426 Memphis, TN	Posted on Nov 15 2019 05:09 PM Sorry stratdancer, I sold them on Reverb 5 years ago. I did find my original Classic Player Jaguar pickups, though! Feather, you will love the 54's. Didn't Dick Dale's backup guitar have 54's in it? — MooreLoud.com - A tribute to Dick Dale. New EP Louder Than Life available on bandcamp and website. Top
stratdancer Joined: Dec 11, 2013 Posts: 2537 Akron, Ohio	Posted on Nov 15 2019 07:39 PM SixStringSurfer wrote: Sorry stratdancer, I sold them on Reverb 5 years ago. I did find my original Classic Player Jaguar pickups, though! Feather, you will love the 54's. Didn't Dick Dale's backup guitar have 54's in it? Glad I could help! — The Kahuna Kings https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahuna-Kings/459752090818447 https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases Top
Bluefeather42 Joined: Jul 13, 2019 Posts: 9	Posted on Nov 16 2019 03:52 PM SixStringSurfer wrote: Sorry stratdancer, I sold them on Reverb 5 years ago. I did find my original Classic Player Jaguar pickups, though! Feather, you will love the 54's. Didn't Dick Dale's backup guitar have 54's in it? Probably the closest thing to it, I'd guess. I'm gonna sleep on it a few more days then make a decision. Listening the samples on this premier guitar article helped (https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/23144--way-frenzy-vintage-style-strat-pickup-review-roundup?page=4) That's another good question: Did Dick Dale keep the original pickups in the Beast or did he switch them out at some point? Last edited: Nov 16, 2019 15:55:36 Top
Redfeather Joined: Jul 30, 2016 Posts: 896	Posted on Nov 16 2019 04:18 PM Story goes that someone stole the Beast's original pickups in the 1970s while it was in the shop so he put something from that era in to replace them. Top
stratdancer Joined: Dec 11, 2013 Posts: 2537 Akron, Ohio	Posted on Dec 05 2019 08:53 AM Redfeather wrote: Story goes that someone stole the Beast's original pickups in the 1970s while it was in the shop so he put something from that era in to replace them. Interesting information if true! I contend that his output was monstrous and there are two ways to achieve this. 1, use two Dual Showmans pushing 4 D130's at high volume or 2, use higher output pickups. I just picked up an American Deluxe Strat with David Allen Big Dipper style vintage hot pickups. My initial take is pure Dick Dale tone. The bridge pup is 6.8 ohm. — The Kahuna Kings https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahuna-Kings/459752090818447 https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases Top
BillAqua Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 1054 Chicago IL.	Posted on Dec 05 2019 10:25 AM Are these the same pickups as the limited 2019 '54 AV RI pickups? — "as he stepped into the stealthy night air... little did he know the fire escape was not there" https://www.facebook.com/reluctantaquanauts/ https://www.facebook.com/TheDragstripVipers/ Top