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Post subject: Neck Pickup Gave Up The Ghost
Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2015 7:54 am
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We'll my neck pup on my beloved 72 Strat gave up the ghost. I really liked that pickup too, it sounded really nice for a 70's CBS series Strat. I ordered a Custom Shop Fat 50's for a replacement. I looked at Lindy Fralin, Seymour Duncan and Bill Lawrence but I just wanted to keep the pickups Fender. Didn't want something too hot. I can always add some heat if I want to with a boost. We'll see.

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Post subject: Re: Neck Pickup Gave Up The Ghost
Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2015 9:13 am
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Why not simply have the original re-wound?

Lindy Fralin and Curt Novak both offer such services.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Neck Pickup Gave Up The Ghost
Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2015 9:20 am
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my thoughts too Arjay,,

there's also a fella on the Gibson Forum that does this too,, he's down in Nashville, knows what he's doing..

you wont dislike the fat 50s tho.. These are great pups.


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Post subject: Re: Neck Pickup Gave Up The Ghost
Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2015 11:11 am
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If you're gonna replace it, maybe theres opportunity for you to start a DIY project: pup re-building 101.


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Post subject: Re: Neck Pickup Gave Up The Ghost
Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2015 11:29 am
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Arent you in NY? I have a guy upstate too if you need.


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Post subject: Re: Neck Pickup Gave Up The Ghost
Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2015 8:53 pm
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Thanks for the suggestions. I still might do a rewind later on. For now I'm just doing a replacement. I'm not sure if there's an advantage tone wise, with a rewind, but it would still keep it original. I don't ever plan on selling it, it has too much sentimental value.

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Post subject: Re: Neck Pickup Gave Up The Ghost
Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2015 10:36 pm
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In any event, do not discard the corpse of the dead pickup lest the Fat 50 replacement coil fails to meet your expectations.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Neck Pickup Gave Up The Ghost
Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2015 7:35 am
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Retroverbial wrote:
In any event, do not discard the corpse of the dead pickup lest the Fat 50 replacement coil fails to meet your expectations.

Arjay


+1 No way, I even have the original trem unit. I replace that with a SuperVee Bladerunner and couldn't be happier. It's damn near impossible to throw that thing out of tune.

Arjay, have you ever had a pup rewound? I'm just curious if it's hit or miss or if they keep everything period spec. I've been researching winding my own. Stewmac has the equipment at a reasonable price.

What's going on with this one is it's all thin sounding but if you put press on it it comes back for a little bit. I took it out to see if there was anything obvious but no dice. I'm not sure how this ones built. It has the gray fiber bottom but I'm not sure what was used for a bobbin. No cloth covered wire in there or anything like that. It's a mystery. The only thing I ever replace was a volume pot that went south ages ago but that's fine. I have decent soldering skills so I know that wasn't the problem the joints look nice and shiny, no cold solder joints and I don't use RoHs solder.

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Post subject: Re: Neck Pickup Gave Up The Ghost
Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2015 9:07 am
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Sounds like the coil winding has a sporadic open somewhere. Theoretically it's possible to repair such damage and I've heard tales of success in that regard.

I've never had a pickup go bad so I have no specific experience in such matters. But I know of others who have and they all recommend Fralin and/or Novak. I'm sure there are others (as many responding this thread have mentioned).

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Neck Pickup Gave Up The Ghost
Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2015 9:21 am
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That's kinda what I'm thinking. I never had one go bad either. I know Lindy Fralin is top notch. I almost bought one of his pups but it was a pain in the arse to pay the guy. He only takes certified bank checks and money orders no credit cards or PayPal. Not real convenient. A trip to the bank and all that crap. I'll see how the Fat 50 works out for now. It's the only Strat I have in the stable and actually the only real Fender guitar I own. It fits me like an old flannel shirt. Real comfortable for me and I've had it since I was seventeen. I have a franken Tele, but it has no Fender parts on it.

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Post subject: Re: Neck Pickup Gave Up The Ghost
Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2015 11:09 am
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I can appreciate comfortable guitars, especially those which have aged and grown with their owners.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Neck Pickup Gave Up The Ghost
Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2015 6:47 am
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Okay, I installed the Fender Custom Shop Fat 50 and I gotta say I'm really impressed. Not too hot and sounds very familiar. It's really close to the general vibe of the pup it replaced with just a little more bottom end with a little more bell like highs. It sounds like it really belongs with the 5e3 clone, sounds so nice with that amp.
I think it's a keeper!
I tried to stay away from the Texas Specials and some of the hotter pickups like Seymour Duncan just because for the music I play, I need a little more versatility and I really don't dig the whole SRV tone thing, plus I already have a couple guitars that cover that that type of tone. So this one gets the two thumbs up. :lol:

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