Dear all,

I wanted to share my experiences on different PUs I ve installed on my strats.
So, I bought my first strat 6 years ago; it was an American series model with a maple neck. I had no idea then what different neck woods and PUs do to a strat. Soon I wanted a fatter sound so I put the CS fat 50s which I couldn't appreciate 'cause of my cheap amp and my digital pedal board..
Then I saw the American deluxe with the S1 and system and being a jazz trainee I thought this would be the right strat for me (I know jazzers use archtops etc but I think jazz playing with a strat is more unique).
So I got the American Deluxe with a rosewood fretboard for a darker tone and for a while I was happy with all the tones.
Then I bought a blues junior amp and a TS9 pedal and I realised that the American deluxe didn't sound like a real strat (the American series with the CS fat 50s sounds great with the bj (jensen speaker)!).
So I got rid of the S1 staff and installed the CS Texas specials on it. By then I had realised that the strat tone you hear in blues records comes mostly from old - pre CBS strats. So CS TS was a huge improvement BUT..

2 months ago a local guitar store had an offer on a 62 vintage reissue and I thought it was a unique opportunity so I bought it.
If I 'd known what a good strat sounds like 6 years ago I would have saved some money and bought a better vintage-flavoured strat than the American series and avoid all the hussle..
Anyway, after the 62ri I wasn't happy with the CS TS on my American deluxe so I started searching for better PUs. I didn't want the two guitars to sound the same but I did want my American deluxe to sound vintage.
Yesterday I replaced the CS TS with a set of Suhr Fletcher-Landau standards and I cannot describe how happy I am!!!

I am even tempted to replace the 62ri PUs with a set of Suhr V60LP but I like them and I wanted to keep everything stock so I ll probably wait a while.
Overall, the PUs that make me happy are:
1. Suhr FL
2. CS Vintage 57/62
3. CS fat 50s

I might upload some samples once I get a proper audio iterface.

Anyway, this has been my ''proper strat sound'' quest so far (hope it will end 'cause I cannot afford it anymore..).
I understand that had I known better I would have saved much money by product research but my lust for a strat initially and for tone was uncontrollable..
Sorry for the huge thread.

All the best!

I sympathise - you could (and I have done) go mad chasing these definitive tones and end up spending a whole heap of cash (done that too).

I'm learning it's not always necessary to change out a good set of stock pickups. I go to meetings - "hello, I'm Adey, and I haven't changed any pickups today.."

Glad you've found your definitive set up.

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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!

I have no experience with the Suhr's but two of my Strats are configured with the Fat 50's and the 57/62's......they're great pickups IMO.

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

I just bought a 59 thinskin with custom shop 50s in it and its my favorite guitar.I really like the low output pickups.But my SRV still has the texas specials.My texas specials have a time and a place ,but the 50s pickups are where its at.

Pics Bud or didn't happen!



Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY