Hi all - music store I shop at is clearing out remaining 2008 Americal Standard strats (2-SSS / 2 HSS). HSS's are black with rosewood and Sienna with rosewood. SSS's are 3 colour sunburst with rosewood and charcoal frost with rosewood. Each Saturday price drops 5% until it sells. Their regular prices were $1295 Canadian (will be down to $1170 this weekend - 2nd week) except for the Sienna - Regular price was $1439.

The HSS's have TexMex single pups and the SSS's have regular MIA single coils.

My question - how close are the texmex pups to Texas Specials for tone? Looking for SRV sound mostly.

My 2008 MIM sounds pretty good, but want to get the sound a little closer.

Been playing a year now have come to the conclusion / preference I like the Strat neck shape as well as my PRS SE Custom wide thin neck, but hate the feel of my wide fat neck on my PRS SE Singlecut (it's up for sale).

I will test all 4, but any advise on what to look for would be appreciated. Thanks!!

The Texas Specials are more expensive, sound better to my ears and according to Fender, are their biggest sellers.

Tex Mex is nothing like the Texas Specials.

Aren't the Tex Mex pickups ceramic whereas the Texas Specials are Alnico 5s?

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-Kirk

GUITARS
'12 Sonoran Acoustic - black (dated 10/31/12)
'13 Standard Strat
AMP
Vox ac4c1-bl
PEDALS
Compressor
Big Muff
Vox Stomplab 1G
Carbon Copy Delay

From what I've heard the TexMex pups aren't bad but not what you are looking for if SRV is the sound you are trying to get. If your present setup is close to SRV then maybe make some small changes? Strings? Maybe different amp?

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Stagemaster
Roadhouse Strat
Epi Traditional Pro Les Paul
Ovation Celeb
Esteban Celestial Night(nicely tweeked)
Blackheart tube amp

The amp has a huge affect on achieving this too!

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

Thanks for the help. I posted another topic about a Super Sonic amp on clearnance at the same store, but it sounds like it's way too much for my needs for home use. Much too loud.

Maybe a Hotrod Deluxe 40w or Blues Junior 15w would be more what I need for Blues type songs. My Peavey Valve King 112 sxzuites me fine for classic rock.

I was going to upgrade my MIM with Lace Sensor Emerald / Silver / Purple set as they state the emerald mimicks the Texas Blues sound very well. And going to get a Callaham block / bridge.

There's a US blues guy on the internet (Youtube and his own site) who uses a standard unmodded Blues Junior - with Jensen driver - to absolutely nail the SRV tone at low to medium volume..

Worth looking up if you're into that style of blues. He also has a useful pedal comparison feature and series of lessons.

No connection to me I must add!

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Fender Highway & Classic 60s Strats, Fender Toronado, Telecaster, Gretsch Projet, Charvel 3, PRS SE Soapbar II & Custom 24, Burns Batwing and many others!