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Post subject: Blues pickups in American standard
Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2017 8:43 pm
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I am currently in the middle of upgrading the quality of my guitars. I have sold a few that I simply wasn't playing enough and doing some mods to others. My main goal is to reduce down to 3 very good useable guitars that give me good flexibility in sound and different genres. I gig monthly in a band that plays everything from oldies to classic rock and the occasional blues tune. However I have a fairly serious side interest in blues. I have a Shawbucker Strat with Fat 50's neck and bridge and a Blacktop Tele which I have upgraded with SD '59 in neck and a Pearly Gates Bridge. So I am pretty well covered for just about anything but would like an option of something a little more blues specific. I have a 1989 AM Std that I would like to change pups in to accomplish this more bluesy sound.
I have researched forums a fair bit and have heard the arguments for and against Texas Specials. I have heard pretty good things also about Lindy Fraling Blues Specials. My main question is if I do either blues pup will that guitar be too pigeonholed to blues or can I still get other decent sounds from it? I may be OK if I am but just wonder? Also the ssl5 sounds great but is it more Gilmourish or can I get traditional Texas blues also?
Thanks for your help!!


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Post subject: Re: Blues pickups in American standard
Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2017 2:55 am
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I don't own any but I've installed a few sets of Fralins in several clients' guitars, both the Vintage Hots and the Blues Specials. They always sounded quite "spanky" and authentic when played through one of my vintage amps. Curiously, I always thought the VH's sounded better for a pure blues environment but that might just be my ears. Lindy has a few new Strat pickups now but I have no experience with them. As for Fralins being a one-trick pony, no way. You can get literally anything out of them, from squinchy surf to in-yer-face squawk and aggressive prog-rock.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Blues pickups in American standard
Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2017 2:33 pm
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Good to hear that about the VH and Blues Special. Do you have any experience with the Texas Specials, as in having some flexibility?


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Post subject: Re: Blues pickups in American standard
Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2017 6:27 am
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The Texas Specials aren't too hot at around 6.5 kOhm, so they have a fair amount of flexibility.

In my personal opinion, less hot quality pickups combined with a good boost/drive pedal gives far more flexibility than hot overwound pickups.

There are other good options too, of course, like diMarzio.


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Post subject: Re: Blues pickups in American standard
Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2017 6:57 am
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I've never been a big fan of Texas Specials and have pulled a fair share of them OUT of clients' Strats -- to be replaced with Fat 50's, Rio Grande's, DiMarzio's, Kinman's, etc.

Early examples (pre-1998) did sound a lot smoother and more organic than the later offerings.

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Post subject: Re: Blues pickups in American standard
Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2017 11:09 am
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I have to admit I am a little leary of the Texas Specials, which is why I am researching the Fralins somewhat.
Curious though you said you thought the VH in your opinion sounded better for blues but it is obviously a hot pup. I guess as you said a hotter pup may not need as much help from a pedal whereas a low output pup would, I suppose? I do like my fat 50s but do use a pedal. Am looking for "different". What about the ssl5's?


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Post subject: Re: Blues pickups in American standard
Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2017 11:46 am
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bluesguy996 wrote:
What about the ssl5's?


Of those I know nothing.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Blues pickups in American standard
Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2017 2:16 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
Early examples (pre-1998) did sound a lot smoother and more organic than the later offerings.

That, I believe, applies to a lot more Fender products than the Texas Specials :)


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Post subject: Re: Blues pickups in American standard
Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2017 4:10 pm
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arth1 wrote:
Retroverbial wrote:
Early examples (pre-1998) did sound a lot smoother and more organic than the later offerings.

That, I believe, applies to a lot more Fender products than the Texas Specials :)


The amps were certainly higher quality.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Blues pickups in American standard
Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2017 6:16 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
arth1 wrote:
Retroverbial wrote:
Early examples (pre-1998) did sound a lot smoother and more organic than the later offerings.

That, I believe, applies to a lot more Fender products than the Texas Specials :)


The amps were certainly higher quality.


And internal electronics. It sucks when you have to spend the fortune of sixty cents at Mouser to get a bleed cap that doesn't behave differently depending on room temperature... I'd rather they spend a few pennies on better components than bundle an ugly strap and half a dozen stickers.


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Post subject: Re: Blues pickups in American standard
Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2017 6:28 pm
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I too am not much of a fan of the Texas Special pups and favour the Fat 50s for blues instead.

It seems to me that most single coil pups with the word "blues" implied or attached directly to the name are a little hotter and a little less bright than usual. That's what I seem to notice, anyway. I imagine there may be some exceptions to that little rule of thumb but none have confronted me. I've always suspected companies get the idea blues pups need to be hotter and darker because of the tone of BB King, which is fairly dark compared to a Strat. That's fine I suppose but if that's the tone you're looking for you might want to just go ahead and get a Gibson rather than trying to make a Fender sound like one. Lots of other great blues players use Strats with the typical bright, spanky, chimey tone Strats are known for and they sound great doing it.

It's my belief that if you're going to play the blues you will want a true single coil that isn't overly hot or dark which flies in the face of the above "blues-pup" reasoning, I know. For me, playing the blues is about a guitar and an amp and a good set of hands and not much else. Maybe a little dirt but for the most part you shouldn't need a silent pup because there shouldn't be a whole lot of f/x being used. The idea is to use your hands for expression. You'll want all the brightness and dynamic range and fine nuances you can get.

My 2 cents.

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Post subject: Re: Blues pickups in American standard
Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2017 6:38 pm
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BMW-KTM wrote:
...but if that's the tone you're looking for you might want to just go ahead and get a Gibson rather than trying to make a Fender sound like one.


+1

This observation may also be applied to other Strat scenarios.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Blues pickups in American standard
Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2017 7:47 pm
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LOL

I knew you were gonna say that.

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Post subject: Re: Blues pickups in American standard
Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2017 9:23 pm
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I totally get where you are coming from. I guess since I have a guitar with the fat 50's already ( and they do sound great) I was thinking just to vary things a bit. I will have to rethink it a bit. I still may opt for maybe the Vintage hots just for some variation as Arjay said he thought they sounded pretty good for blues.We'll see.
Thanks for your help.


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Post subject: Re: Blues pickups in American standard
Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2017 10:35 pm
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I don't think the VH's will disappoint. If you've got a decent amp, you'll fall in love with them the first time you plug in.

Arjay

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