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Post subject: Which Pups - 54s or 69s?
Posted: Thu Oct 28, 2010 4:04 am
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I recently picked up a '99 USA Standard Strat (still in great shape with a little roadwear on the edge of the neck which is perfect). Anyway, it's got some serious 60 cycle hum going on in it. Even my MIM is quieter than these things. I figure that if I'm gonna shield the cavity I may as well try out some new pickups also. In fact, I'm gonna lift the pickguard out and replace the pickguard, pots, caps, switch, and pickups.

Anyway, I can't decide which ones I really want - the 54 Custom Shops or the 69 Custom Shops. I listened to a couple of YouTube vids comparing them, but those vids can be sketchy with what you hear sometimes. So what is your experience with these pickups? I'm just curious about your impressions and how they sound to you - extra bright, chimey, dull, lifeless, too bassy, PERFECT, etc. Thanks


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Posted: Thu Oct 28, 2010 4:51 am
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I like both, but there are reasons to go with one over the other. The CS69 is a very glassy pickup with outstanding vintage tones. The CS54 set tends to sound a bit more aged by comparison. If you play clean, it's hard to beat the CS69. If you play with distortion you may prefer the CS54 set. If you are a bridge pickup player, the CS54 bridge pickup is IMO Fender's best bridge pickup, while the CS69 can be a challenge to dial-in in the bridge position.

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Posted: Thu Oct 28, 2010 5:25 am
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Hmmm...Sounds like I need a CS69 neck and middle with a CS54 bridge. I play mostly Pink Floyd, Eagles, Rolling Stones, surf stuff, classic 50s to 70s rock so sometimes distortion is needed and sometimes it isn't. I think that if I had to choose a set, I'm leaning toward the CS54s now.


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Posted: Sat Oct 30, 2010 10:08 am
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The CS69 neck is luscious-I really didn't mind the bridge pup, but found the middle to be clanky and lifeless-my strat with 69s was a very trebly instrument to begin with. Martian is a proponent of CWS69 in the bridge, 54 in the middle and Texas Special in the bridge-I think that would be a good mix. Honestly, I have come to accept the fact that I like Lace Sensors best, and if I got another Strat would go with Fat 50s, Fralin Vintage Hots, or get Aaron from Rumpelstiltskin to wind me what could be called "Fat 60s"


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Posted: Sat Oct 30, 2010 7:48 pm
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I prefer the CS54. If you are a pickup player, there is none finer.


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Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2010 8:22 am
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can't speak for the 54's, but for what it's worth, the 69's are the best pickups i've personally ever played. if you pick them up, try the neck and bridge pups almost flush to the pickguard, leaving the bridge just a hair higher, and then put the middle pickup about twice the height of the bridge pickup. flat out quacktastic on 2 & 4, and 3 sounds huge and growly. that neck pickup is of course lusciously smooth, and i don't use the bridge alone much, but i certainly wouldn't even dream of complaining about what it sounds like. especially considering what it sounds like in combination with the middle. that's my $0.02....


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Posted: Fri Nov 05, 2010 8:57 am
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I did raise the middle pickup a few days ago, and it made a very big difference-I play the middle pickup a good deal of the time and was frustrated by the clankiness of it-But it sounds much better now-maybe I'll keep the guitar after all.


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Posted: Fri Nov 05, 2010 10:17 pm
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cs69s are clean I think they are the cleanest of pickups
I have heard the 54s have little bit more character it really depends on what
your guitar sounds like the 69s can sound a little hollow
though when recorded
the 54s have more punch and may cut better

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1956 Gibson CS Lemon Les Paul
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1960 Fender CS 3tsb Strat
1961 Gibson SG Wildwood Pelham blue
1966 Fender CS Firemist Metallic Silver Strat


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Posted: Sat Nov 20, 2010 10:15 pm
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I ordered the pups last week and got them in on Wednesday. I put them in that night along with a new pickguard, pots, 5-way switch, and a .1 cap. Something told me at the last second to get the 69s instead of the 54s. So I did. I love them. I really love the clarity in these. They even got the 1969 60 cycle hum down too. Actually, I just think something's not grounded as well as it should be so I'll check it out eventually. It's kinda funny but my MIM Strat's stock pickups sound very similar to these only a little rawer (more bite). But those are very bright and chimey and clear as well. So these just really sounded perfect to me when I finally got to get away from fixing other people's gear and actually try out some of my stuff. Anyway, here's a pick with the new stuff added. You can kinda guess who one of my fave players is. Just thought I would try out this combination for a while and see if it grew on me.

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