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Post subject: Pickup suggestions
Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 11:20 am
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Hey guys,

Currently I'm playing a Highway One strat and I want to change pickups. I liked the texas specials from when I tried out the SRV signature strat in guitar center. I always like to try out things before I buy and that can be difficult with pickups. Any suggestions? I'd like to try out seymour duncans as well.

Looking for SRV type sound....I have a blues jr. amp, and tube screamer in case you wanted to know.


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Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 8:12 pm
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If you want to try something with outstanding Texas Blues tone, check out the Rio Grande pickup sets. The set most like the Texas Specials is their "Mid-Bottom" Strat set. If you like a fatter bridge pickup, the "Dual Calibrated" Strat set is really good.

Another really good Texas Blues pickup is the VanZandt line of pickups. Many who are reaching for SRV tone go with the VanZandt Blues bridge pickup and the VanZandt Vintage Plus for the middle and neck pickups.


Another very popular choice is the Fralin Blues Specials. Some think the Fralin Vintage Hots do well enough, but I prefer the Blues Specials. Especially with a Tube Screamer.


I don't generally reach for SRV tone, I typically use a bit more gain, but just for reference here is a recording I made with my set of Rio Grande pickups...

http://marksmitchell2.home.mindspring.com/BLueRio1.mp3

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Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 2:50 pm
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SMark wrote:
If you want to try something with outstanding Texas Blues tone, check out the Rio Grande pickup sets. The set most like the Texas Specials is their "Mid-Bottom" Strat set. If you like a fatter bridge pickup, the "Dual Calibrated" Strat set is really good.

Another really good Texas Blues pickup is the VanZandt line of pickups. Many who are reaching for SRV tone go with the VanZandt Blues bridge pickup and the VanZandt Vintage Plus for the middle and neck pickups.


Another very popular choice is the Fralin Blues Specials. Some think the Fralin Vintage Hots do well enough, but I prefer the Blues Specials. Especially with a Tube Screamer.


I don't generally reach for SRV tone, I typically use a bit more gain, but just for reference here is a recording I made with my set of Rio Grande pickups...

http://marksmitchell2.home.mindspring.com/BLueRio1.mp3


Nice playing! can I ask what guitar amp combo you are using? It seems some people swear by the Fralin blues specials. The other ones you recommended I haven't really heard of but I'll check them out. Have you tried out a lot of different pickups? How do the Fralin Blues Specials compare to the Fender Texas Specials in your opinion? The Tx specials were the only ones I've been able to try out thus far...


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Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 4:53 pm
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Yes, I have a collection of Strat pickups. Some folks collect pedals, I collect pickups. I like the Fralin Blues Specials better than the Texas Specials. They are smoother, especially the bridge pickup, they are quieter, which I think is a statement of how well they are made, and they seem to have a bit more depth to their tone. I feel like I can do more with them. But if you are a bridge pickup user, the Fralin bridge pickup alone is worth the extra investment. And I'm not saying that the Texas Specials are bad pickups, because they are not. But the Fralins are better, and easier to dial-in.

That recording was made a set of Rio Grande pickups (Stelly/Halfbreed/Tallboy) mounted into an aftermarket swamp ash/maple top Strat body with no pickguard. The neck is a mid-'90s maple American Standard Strat neck. I'll put a picture of it below. My amp is a 1982 Fender Concert 1x12 which has been modified. That's how I can get that tone without any pedals. And the speaker is an alnico Weber California.

For Texas tones, I tend to lean favor towards the Rio Grande pickups. They just seem to really do it for me. But I will admit that I do have a lot of favorites. There are clearly more good aftermarket pickups than there are bad aftermarket pickups.

Image

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Post subject:
Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 7:25 pm
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That is an unusual finish on
your guitar,,, what is it called ???

==========================

Rasputan2


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Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 7:35 pm
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Contact my friend Bill Lawrence (actually call and talk to Becky, tell her I sent you) www.billlawrence.com

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Post subject:
Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 7:41 pm
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It's just a clear blue poly over quilted maple. I honestly don't even know who made it. It's very lightweight. I got it off ebay years ago...

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Post subject:
Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 10:47 am
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i say get some humbukers but thats just me

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Post subject:
Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 1:57 pm
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:wink: If your looking for SRV sound, steer clear from humbuckers. Go with tex mex or duncan singles. Find a guitar with those pu's on first then try it, see if you like it. If not play a guitar you like the sound of then switch the pickups on your guitar to those.


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