I bought a '96 AmStd a few years back that had sat unplayed for its entire time. I liked the guitar and the stock pickups, but was really hooked on the idea of changing them out. A set of CS69s came available for a great price. I jumped at them, as I thought that would be the sound I wanted. I was very disappointed in the except for the luscious neck position. THe instrument always sounded a bit wimpy and trebly to me, but overall I liked the original pups better, especially in the middle position, which is a common resting place for my Strats. Definitely in agreement on trying them for six months through various amps, recording and at least one gig. Most of all, have fun with the Strat!

And sometimes it isn't. I could never get the tone I wanted from my stock single coil Alnico III bridge pickup from my Highway 1. It was just too "thin". I kept it stock for almost 6 months before buying my Dimarzio Super Distortion. I do love the middle and neck pickups that came stock with it and they are still in it to this day. I am extremely happy with it now. My American Standard is a HSS model that came with Tex-Mex single coils and a Diamondback Humbucker. It is staying stock.

Usually when I buy a guitar, it is because I like the look, feel, and sound of the guitar. Sometimes the look and playability superceeds the tone when I purchace, especially if it is a minor thing like a single pickup that needs to be adjusted a bit.

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RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

When I got my MIM I knew it had ceramic pups. The sound wasn't bad. but just not what I was looking for. I loved everything else about the guitar. The color the neck the 50's logo. So out came the ceramics and in went my Rose Mariposa AlNiCo V.

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Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding. It is the bitter potion by which the physician within you heals your sick self. Therefore, trust the physician and drink his remedy in silence and tranquility.-Khalil Gibran

I have a 2010 black w/ maple neck. The pickups in them appear to be the same ones they have been putting in the Stratocaster for at least a decade, except hotter (my bridge pickup measures 7.2k). The same plastic bobbin mold is used and even the pole pieces are the same. The magnets are pushed up to give the staggered look, and are the same size. I felt too much of the pole pieces for strings 3 and 4 were pushed out of the coil, so I adjusted them as follows:

Pole pieces for strings 1, 5, and 6 are flush to the bottom of the pickup.
Pole piece for string 2 is pushed down flush with the top of the pickup.
Pole pieces for strings 3 and 4 are pushed up a little less than 1\32 above pole 5.

I have a set of 57/62's, and they made the guitar sound vintage of course, which I wasn't sure I wanted. The stock pickups are back in it and it sounds like a modern Stratocaster. I think it has a David Gilmour type of sound. They are not as clear as 57/62's, they have more treble than CSTS's, and more attitude than CS69's. I have a hard time accepting plastic bobbins, but I'm leaving it alone for now.

Looks like Strat pickups to me.

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The design of each element should be thought out in order to be easy to make and easy to repair.
Leo Fender