I am seriously considering these pu's for the ash strat that I built but I am worried they might be a bit bright in this guitar. Does anyone have any experience with this setup?

My goal is a vintage sounding strat...I would like to have a set that the middle pu is not reverse would...are the '54's RWRP in the middle?

I have heard both, and like both, but I am worried that the '69's might be a bit bright in an ash guitar.

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CREDO ELVEM IPSUM ETAIM VIVERE

I am thinking of doing the same, and I have exactly the same worries. I was maybe thinking of the 57/62 pickups instead....hmmm decisions....

Fender offers a reverse-wound/polarity CS69 middle single-coil pickup on a couple of Custom Shop guitars. Not sure if they offer the CS69s as a calibrated set.

For ash-bodied maple-neck Strats, I strongly recommend a set of Texas Specials or Custom Fat '50s. But the CS54s and 57/62s are good, too.

Depending upon the density of the ash used for your body, there is a possibility the '69s may sound a skosh brighter than you'd like (especially with a maple fretboard). I've actually used most of Fender's various Custom Shop pickup sets in guitars that I've built (excepting the '54s) so I have some "ears-on" experience. The '69s are a bit smoother and more articulate than the 57/62's or the grittier Texas Specials. However, if you find you need to roll some of the chime off the bridge pickup, you have two useful options: you can install a Fralin base plate to the bottom of the bobbin, or you can wire that pickup to your bottom tone control (in an extreme case of "ice-pickiness" you could conceiveably do both). I'm betting that the '69s will sound fine without assistance. These pickups seem to favor the .022mfd tone caps.

Best of luck, HTH

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

+1, i think it will sound fine. what i do with mine, if i want more brightness or less, you can also lower the treble side. a little bit really goes a long way.

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"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present."

oogway, kungfu panda 2008

Actually I wanted a set that were not RWRP in the middle...just want one guitar that's pure old school single coils.

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CREDO ELVEM IPSUM ETAIM VIVERE

Remember the samples I posted?

http://www.box.net/shared/i1kg2o8v67

The CS 69s were in an ash Strat, they don't sound bright IMO, but that is a 31 year old Strat and it's a hardtail... maybe I should install 'em in my newer Dlx ash to see what they sound like. I also had 'em installed in MIM Classic 60s and did not like the tone at all, sounded much better in the ash body.

Out of all the pups I've tried I find the 69s to be different than all of them, it has a piano like tone, smooth, great for rhythm, but I wasn't that impressed once I turned it up passed 8, not as well defined or articulate as the Fralins or Don Mare. Really depends on the type of tone you're looking for... I prefer a tone similar to the 57/62 pickups for a Strat tone, which I also tested in the same ash Strat, haven't really tried other Fender pups though.

I do remember the samples and have listened to them a few times because I am looking for pu's. I said they were not my favourites out of the bunch but this is a third strat for me and I wanted a bit different tone for unique occassions.

When I heard your sample I was worried about them getting brighter in my ash body, but I think I am going to go for them in the end.

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CREDO ELVEM IPSUM ETAIM VIVERE

If different tone is what you're after then the 69s will do