I think they change the packaging because I did buy the ones that said custom shop on the a few years ago but im sure there the same as they sell today.

I don't know what is currently done, but in the past the Texas Special pickups that were installed as "stock" items in guitars DID NOT have the Custom Shop sticker, but the Texas Special pickups purchased separately (in their own nice little plastic box) DID have the Custom Shop sticker. They were the same pickups.

I don't know if they now make the "same" pickups in different places and call them Texas Specials.

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

I have Custom Shop Texas Specials in my Squier Strat (yes, I said Squier) and I did notice a little difference between them and the ones that I tried on an SRV signature Strat. There was a difference between the two but I'm not sure if the pickups were different or if it was just because of the differences in the guitars themselves. They both sound full, warm and HUGE. I can't say I liked either of them better, I'd probably have to do a side by side comparison for that.

I also tried the Tex-Mex pups on a Road Worn and they sound way different then the Texas Specials. The Tex-Mex pickups sound brighter and clearer, they have a classic Strat sound yet they're still overwound. I'd describe the Tex-Mex pickups as somewhere in between the Vintage Noiseless pickups on my Fender MIM and the Custom Shop Texas Specials on my Squier. And they're more twangy than my Texas Specials for sure. I like the Texas Specials a little bit more because they sound real beefy, but for people who like a more vintage strat sound they'd probably like the Tex-Mex pickups better. It's just a matter of taste.

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To me, the Tex Mex and the Texas Specials are very much in the same tonal family. The TS are closer to that classic SRV tone, while the Tex Mex are slightly brighter with more quack ... with the differences between the two being relatively subtle.

An interesting thing to note is that Tex Mex was installed as the only available pup in the Road Worn release for both Strats and Teles. With Road Worn being such a huge and important product release for Fender, that gives Tex Mex quite a significant endorsement from Fender. Consider that they had a huge selection of non-CS pups to choose from that would have equally met their cost targets.

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Laughing out loud with fear and hope, I have a desperate plan ...

That's the long and short of it.

The rest is about labels...

Cheers - C

Hey Stratheads-

Let me pop in here with my own Txas Shop/ Tex-Mex Story......

Last month I decided to upgrade the pups on my 2000 MiM Strat. I liked the Tex-Mex for their price and I was willing to give their tone a good fighting chance.(To me they sound very Vintage) I put in my order through Musicians Friend....and waited...and waited. Seems they are out of stock till the end of February...Ahhh Curses...So i decided to bite the bullet and get the CS Texas Specials- They should arrive any day now. My order was specific ...Custom Shop TS - I never heard that there was a non CS Texas Special-

I think they are both great pick-ups- The Texas Specials have more midrange "Chunk" which is what I want. As Far as henerys and output- The Tex-Mex are a little highter output...but nice and bright. I think Tex-Mex's would sound great in a Tele...or in a strat looking for that vintage Twang.

As for which is better - It's Tasters Choice my friends- You really have to try before you buy and see what appeals to you. Guitar Center (The Evil Empire) Is a great place to try gear ... Then order it from Musicians friend and avoid the tax.

Shop Smart People-

The Freeze

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There's Always Room For MELLOW !!!!

2000 MIM Stratocaster, Midnight Wine W/Texas Specials
2000 Fender Hot Rod Deluxe
1969 Fender Vibro Champ