Hello,

I'm swapping out the stock pickups in my strat and wanted your input. I have another strat with a duncan ssl1/ssl1/ssl5 set-up and really like it, but I want to try something different for my other alder body/rosewood fretboard strat.

This is what I'm looking for:
1. vintage single coils that aren't 'hot' or overwound
2. a warm fender chime/bell-tone/quack in positions 2 & 4
3. a great neck pickup
4. pickups that sound great clean but also ones that work well with overdrive, mild distortion,
and takes kindly to some modulation effects
5. I don't want brittle, thin ice-picks sounds (again, think 'warm')
6. A decent bridge pickup, though I don't use it very much (this will be wired to a tone
control)...I don't mind if the bridge is a bit hotter, BUT it has to play nice with the middle
pickup for my position 2 quack.

So, what are your thoughts on the Custom Shop Fat 50's, 54's, and 69's? Would you consider the Fat 50's hot or overwound? Also, I really like John Mayer's clean and overdriven tones, if that narrows things down.

I value your opinions and wanted to bounce my questions off of the forum to get your thoughts and opinions b/f I shell out the money. THANK YOU!

For the tone you are looking for I would suggest either CS69's or CS 57/62 set, they would be the easiest to get a hold of. Both sets sound great clean or with some dirt.

If you have the cash, you could always spring for a set of Big Dippers or you could search for a set of CS 60's.

There are a ton of more qualified opinions than mine though

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2010 American Standard Strat - Sienna Burst (Big Dippers)
2008 50's Road Worn Strat - 3 Tone
2004 Squire Strat - Gold
2009 72 Deluxe Thinline Telecaster RI - 3 Tone
2008 Taylor 426CE

BareKnuckles Apache set, or 57/62's

I can't in good conscience recommend a pickup set with no mids.

I think no option has more to offer than Seymour's SSL pickups though.... really.

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No no and no

Based on your requirements, I'd go with Seymour Duncan SSL-2s in the neck and middle and an SSL-6 in the bridge.

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You dig?

I was just giving Fender pickup suggestions. If you want to go outside, you could try a set of Lollar Blonde's, Bare Knuckles Mothers Milk, Klein S5's or Jazzy Cats

_________________
2010 American Standard Strat - Sienna Burst (Big Dippers)
2008 50's Road Worn Strat - 3 Tone
2004 Squire Strat - Gold
2009 72 Deluxe Thinline Telecaster RI - 3 Tone
2008 Taylor 426CE

I like my Texas Specials VERY good quack on 2 and 4 and a darn sweet neck pickup. The bridge pickup is ok, but buy a set of Texas Specials and swap out the bridge PU if you don't like it, but I think you will like the other 2

Perhaps swap the bridge out for a CS 69 bridge?

_________________
2010 American Standard Strat - Sienna Burst (Big Dippers)
2008 50's Road Worn Strat - 3 Tone
2004 Squire Strat - Gold
2009 72 Deluxe Thinline Telecaster RI - 3 Tone
2008 Taylor 426CE

I agree, I swear by my Texas Specials. But the OP is looking for something which is not overwound. In which case I'd recommend CS '69s or 57/62s.

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Website: http://www.rebeccalaird.com
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I have a CS69s and FAT50s and you can dial approximate JM clean tone with both if you have an amp with a lot of headroom i.e Twin Reverb. My own sound comes from the 6V6 tubed amps with a lot less headroom, however I am quite happy with the clean. Now onto review.
CS69:
I like a "piano type" clarity of 69s neck pickup (middle position is ok too). Bridge position I am not fond of at the moment and that is why this pickup is going in another guitar as the neck. All three pickups are supposedly identical with no rw/rp in my set.
This set is spec-ed as under wound mid scooped set. While they have a mid scoop natural response, this set was definitely driving the amp harder than american standard set which is hotter (on paper). With this set I like to even the eq with the TS-9.

CS FAT50s
A bit friendlier (easier to dial in a sweet spot) and more versatile because of rw/rp middle.
This is the only factory full set that I am happy with how all three pickups sound in any switch position. What I like with this set is that I don't need pedals with my amps to shape/drive the tone. All you need is a guitar cable between guitar and the amp and work tone and volume controls to get a tone you want.
You have to have a very light touch strumming picking hand if you are playing lower wattage/headroom amp to keep the pristine clean.

I have a limited experience with non fender pickups so I will not comment.

+1

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 bought some of these just 2 weeks ago, i'm loving the tone on them.
They're very cheap for a set and possibly an option is you arent set on fender custom shop pickups.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mz6C95cq67U