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Post subject: Custom Shop Pickups
Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 10:13 am
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I was wondering if anyone knows if the pickups in the 60's custom shop relic and the 65' custom shop closet classic are the same?

The website is rather vauge in the description.

Or are they similar tone wise?

Please Help

Thanks


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Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 11:28 am
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There is a definite difference in the custom '60s versus the custom '65 pickups. I have both sets and for starters, the CS '60s have a bright, but full mids and highs that can really wail, but punchy and dull low end in my opinion (which is similar sounding to the low end on most sets of Fender pickups). Not a bad thing, just how they sound. The custom '65s on the other hand are a whole different animal altogether in that they have this stunning piano like quality on the bass strings that really rings out. The mids are a bit less but the highs scream! If you've ever seen Jimi Hendrix at Monterey where he sets his '65 Fiesta Red Strat on fire where the Intro to Wild Thing roars and wails and the beautiful tones on his black '65 Strat that he plays Like A Rolling Stone, Foxy Lady, etc. THAT's what the custom '65s sounds like! In fact, Jimi used a Sunburst '65 Strat to record "Hey Joe", "Foxy Lady" and most of Electric Ladyland. I prefer Jimi's early Monterey/Experienced/Axis tones much more than his later sounds where he played later '60s pickups and maple necks.

The physical differences between the CS '60s and CS '65s is that the CS '60s use a black bobbin on top and bottom with a thinner plain enamel wire with a higher number of turns while the cs '65s use a slightly larger diameter plain enamel wire with a black bobbin on top and it was the year that the new "greybottom" bobbin was introduced at the base which is what is also used on the CS '69s and what they say is accountable for the thumping low end. However, that is not the case with the CS '65s because they use the plain enamel wire while the CS 69s use the darker purple-ish colored formvar wire of thinner diameter and more winds. So while the 69s thump on the low end, the '65s ring out like a piano! It's fantastic!

Here are some comparison clips I made as well as pics of the 2 and their output readings so you can see the physical differences:


http://areyouexperienced.net/fender_custom_65_pickups.html

&

http://areyouexperienced.net/cs-60s.html

You can sometimes find them on ebay for between $150-$500/set. Mine cost $325 for the CS '65s and the CS 60s I nabbed for $120, but that could have easily been the other way around as prices can vary greatly for these depending on the fool who decides to rip them out of a Relic, NOS, CC and decides to get rid of them for some noisless pups! ;-) Well the reason mine cost so much is it was a chop shop seller who buys relics and parts them out and charges top dollar. Lots of those guys floating around if you don't mind paying the price.

Enjoy!


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Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 4:03 pm
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Thank you so much yes.

I just ordered a '65 custom shop closet classic in sunburst...actually I ordered it yesterday and read this today. lol

I had played the 60's in a CS Relic and loved them. But after reading your research and the sound clips, I am glad I got the 65. Great tone out of those. Will play really nice when I jam some blues on her.

I was wondering what kind of set up you are running through in those sounds clips. I have a Hot Rod Deluxe right now and will be looking for pedals soon(I am liking the Robert Keeley TS808).

Thank you again very much.

LilBoyBlues


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Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 5:42 pm
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Ah great choice! You won't be sorry about that one because I've played a '65 Relic Sunburst and it was the nicest Strat I've ever laid hands on. They hand slect lighter woods for better resonance and it will probably really sing with those pickups.

On pedals, with a Fender amp, one word, Fulltone OCD!

I was running a Highway 1 Strat 2003 with a Callaham steel block trem, the CS '65 pickups into a Fulltone OCD with drive set super low at 9am just to give it a tinge of overdrive and be able to keep the amp down low. The amp is a Dr Z. Route 66 which is modeled after Jimi's original JTM45 Marshall 32 watt using the warmer sounding KT-66 power tubes. However, my buddy uses a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe and an OCD pedal and loves it so that should work out fne for you. Get a Fulltone OCD and you'll be rockin' with all the classis 60's and 70's tones. Just make sure to set your treble low since the Fender amps tend to be very bright sounding as are '65 pickups. Let us know how you like it when you get it!


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