Ok, so I picked up a set of CS'69 pickups pretty much new in box last night for $100 and installed them into my 2007 Hwy 1 Strat. I thought the stock pickups were pretty good, but the CS'69s are like a whole other world! Now, the sound out of my guitar is like, "Hi, I'm a Strat." Unbelievably clear and articulate. Chimey and just plain good. WOW!

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Indeed.

That's the 69's!

Glad you like them.

Arjay

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I definitely agree!! I also like the CS Fat 50 in the neck position.

I'm going to play contrarian here. I had a '95 AmStd and like the stock pups OK, but came across a great deal on some CS69s. I really liked the neck position, and didn't mind the sometimes-maligned bridge position. The quack is great, and I have no problem with non-RW at all. Problem is, I like to play out of the middle position and found the 69s to be very clanky and toneless there-also, I like a little higher output. So the Gold Lace Sensor Strat won out. I'd like to see a "Fat 60s" pup come out, and there are several alternatives should I get another Strat. There is a lot of goodness to be found in the 69s, though, and I hope you have lots of it.

To each their own. Tone is very subjective, not to mention the other factors such as body wood, fretboard wood, bridge, etc that combine to affect tone as well. Sorry to hear you didn't like them. What's awesome to me might be mud to your ears.

I will say that these CS69's are never leaving this guitar.

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I think a lot of it was the guitar--It was VERY trebly and thin-sounding even unplugged, whereas my 89 DlxAmStd is quite resonant and midrangy. I thought the 69s would be the perfect fit-and you are right, it could be the guitar-I'm glad you like them-I didn't hate them, but didn't love them like I thought I would.

i have the 69's in my HW1 as well. took the bridge out and dropped in a seymour duncan JB jr. the OP is spot on when he states that it wakens up your strat.
he should try a JB jr in the bridge, then he will be really rockin.

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63supro
"The good thing is in a club situation, most of the patrons are trashed and really can't tell the difference."

Man, I think I've finally got the pickups tuned to where I want them. Took a while. Fender's measurements in the Strat setup guide get you pretty close.

These definitely are a cooler sounding pickup. Not very warm tone. Very clear and bell-like. If you want a fat, warm sound, the 69s aren't for you.

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[quote="Powdered Toast Man"

These definitely are a cooler sounding pickup. Not very warm tone. Very clear and bell-like. If you want a fat, warm sound, the 69s aren't for you.[/quote]

not from my experience. mine are very warm but clear.

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63supro
"The good thing is in a club situation, most of the patrons are trashed and really can't tell the difference."

Hi there. I thought I might toss in my two cents worth here.

I have gone to the 1969's in the bridge and in the neck, but I wanted hum canceling, so I am using a fat 50's revers wound in the middle.
While I did gain the desired effect, I also gained a higher output for the middle. The two have a very different tone, the 50 is clearer and louder, wile the 69's are warmer.
Together they complement each other quite well, and in single mode, it gives me more tone options.

It may not be for everyone, but it works for me.

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