I am going to change the pickups on my MIM 2009 strat. The quaestion is I prefer Texas specials..I really don't like the vintage noiseless...Love the Samarian Cobalt but would want S-1 switching which probably isn't dost efective..But the tex-mex pickups are almost half the cost of the Texas Specials...Is there that big a difference in the Tex Mex and Texas Specials?? Thanks in advance for your opinions, Steve

Hey Fellow StratHead-

I switched out my 2000 MiM pick-ups for Texas Specials and I am very satisfied. I was going to go for the "Tex-Mex" but ...IMHO they had too much of a sharp bite for my taste. Texas Specials have a great midrange without taking away any of that Vintage Strat highs.

They are well worth the extra $100.00

The Freeze

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

I was trying to avoid the "brittle", "harsh" edge to these so it certainly sounds as if the Texas specials are worth it for that smoother, cleaner tone. I wonder do they sell them prewired in a pickguard so you can just drop them in and solder the jack and be done or are the just sold as a set?

Did you already order your 2009 MIM, makinglemonade? Which one did you decide on?

Yes.t arives today. an Artick white with a maple fretbpoard....I always liked off-white. Just going to upgarde the pickups but i will give them a month first and see how they do and how clean I can get them with spank. Really looking forward to seeing if the frets and neck are different from last years model. I had a 2008 candy apple red one.

Cool! I've got a black hss maple that I love!! You will definitely enjoy it!

Yes, there is a difference! You and I probably have similar tastes when it comes to pickups. I have Vintage Noiseless pups in my MIM Strat (I'm going to add a mid boost, maybe that will help) and Texas Specials in my Squier. I've also played several other guitars equipped with Tex-Mex pups and Texas Specials.
The Texas Specials have a thicker, warmer quality to them. The Tex-Mex pickups do sound very good, but they are definately not Texas Specials. They're a little more vintage Strat sounding, brighter with more bite. I nearly went with the Tex-Mex pups for my Strat, but after I listened to some demos on youtube and played them myself I decided that I liked the Texas Specials better. However, if you want something similar to the Texas Specials but with less mid range, your best bet would be to go with the Tex-Mex pups. It just depends on what you're after.

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+1 vote for TX Specials. You would like them better according to your description. It seems here in Toronto canada that retailers constantly stock CS TX Specials as the best sellers.

I am going through the upgrade too on my 09 MIM (white/maple ala Jimy tribute), but with CS 69. I'll post some sound samples after I finish.