So, who else changed out the pickups in their Blacktop?

ny_byooboy · **Joined:** Mon Jan 17, 2011 6:42 pm **Posts:** 134

IMO, the neck was God awful. I couldn't pull enough highs or clarity out of it, as I would've liked. To me, it was more suited to someone who appreciates a fuzz tone. The bridge pickup was okay, but didn't have the definition I, personally, was looking for (just my opinion). So I ordered some Seymour Duncan APH-1, Alnico II Pro's, and a three way switch. I have no need for all of that coil tapping, so I'm pulling the super switch (I want to keep things simple, and classic like). When I get the pickups in, I'll jot down a quick review, their pro's and con's, and etc (And a picture). So, has anybody else pulled their stock Blacktop pickups?

ny_byooboy · **Joined:** Mon Jan 17, 2011 6:42 pm **Posts:** 134

So I take it most folks like the stock PU's. Oh well, "TEHO."

shimmilou · **Posted:** Sun Dec 04, 2011 12:41 pm

I like my stock pups just fine. Heck, the guitar is so new that most of us haven't even broken in the strings yet, let alone changed pups. I haven't even pulled the plastic from the pick guard on mine. :lol:

ny_byooboy · **Joined:** Mon Jan 17, 2011 6:42 pm **Posts:** 134

shimmilou wrote:

I like my stock pups just fine. Heck, the guitar is so new that most of us haven't even broken in the strings yet, let alone changed pups. I haven't even pulled the plastic from the pick guard on mine. :lol:

Well, you were giving me pointers on another thread about capacitors, and I feel I might have to give my Blacktop's PU's a cap swap, and another listen. That might cure my woes. :cry:

rkreisher · **Posted:** Sun Dec 04, 2011 2:03 pm

I had a Blacktop several months ago. Then Fender added a Floyd Rose tremolo version of them. I wanted to get one of those, so I used my Blacktop for a trade on an American Standard that I had been looking at for a while.

I just recently put some money down on the FR version. When I got my Mustang V I did not like the tones I was getting from my orginal Blacktop. It sounded too muddy in the neck and Bridge positions as full humbuckers and as I suspected, so is the FR version.

I am also going to build a pickguard built to my specs. Right now I have definately decided on Seymour Duncan pickups with nickel covers and a black pearl pickguard in a HSH configuration. A JB in the neck, a reversed wound middle, and a Pearly Gates in the bridge. Considering a coil tap switch for the humbuckers for more tonal possiblilties.

ny_byooboy · **Joined:** Mon Jan 17, 2011 6:42 pm **Posts:** 134

rkreisher wrote:

I had a Blacktop several months ago. Then Fender added a Floyd Rose tremolo version of them. I wanted to get one of those, so I used my Blacktop for a trade on an American Standard that I had been looking at for a while.

I just recently put some money down on the FR version. When I got my Mustang V I did not like the tones I was getting from my orginal Blacktop. It sounded too muddy in the neck and Bridge positions as full humbuckers and as I suspected, so is the FR version.

I am also going to build a pickguard built to my specs. Right now I have definately decided on Seymour Duncan pickups with nickel covers and a black pearl pickguard in a HSH configuration. A JB in the neck, a reversed wound middle, and a Pearly Gates in the bridge. Considering a coil tap switch for the humbuckers for more tonal possiblilties.

Dude, please post a picture when you get done. That sounds like and awesome looking Strat!

rkreisher · **Posted:** Mon Dec 05, 2011 11:26 am

Keep tuned in and I will post pics as soon as it is done.

63supro · **Joined:** Tue Aug 07, 2007 2:19 pm **Posts:** 8827

Sometimes pickups just don't sound right to your ears, sometimes you get so used to one type of pup or guitar nothing will sound right. I would just give yourself a little while to acclimate your ears to them. It could be the guitar just doesn't work for your playing style. That's one reason I never play just one kind of guitar, amp, effect ever. It can make something new sound really foreign to you.

shimmilou · **Posted:** Mon Dec 05, 2011 3:55 pm

+1 63supro

ny_byooboy,

Has anyone suggested trying to change the pup height to alter the tone? You can raise or lower each side of the pup, lower the low E side of the pup for less bass, and/or raise the high E side of the pup for more treble. Most times you can find a "sweet spot" on the pup height that sounds much better to you. Too close to the strings and you lose sustain, too far away and you lose volume, it's a balance between the two. I tweaked mine, tried up and down and angled and found the spot where they sound their best. You just might be on to something with the tone caps, keep us posted.

Stringjunkie · **Posted:** Mon Dec 05, 2011 7:11 pm

I absolutely hated them also, and I put in a pair of handwound MHD pups, A8/A5 mags in the bridge and neck and extremely hot, changed to a two knob Vol/Tone pickguard instead of three, new bridge/block assy. blacked out everything(jack, all screws) much better.

matt3310 · **Posted:** Mon Dec 05, 2011 8:17 pm

I put a set of texas specials in mine.

ny_byooboy · **Joined:** Mon Jan 17, 2011 6:42 pm **Posts:** 134

shimmilou wrote:

+1 63supro

ny_byooboy,

Has anyone suggested trying to change the pup height to alter the tone? You can raise or lower each side of the pup, lower the low E side of the pup for less bass, and/or raise the high E side of the pup for more treble. Most times you can find a "sweet spot" on the pup height that sounds much better to you. Too close to the strings and you lose sustain, too far away and you lose volume, it's a balance between the two. I tweaked mine, tried up and down and angled and found the spot where they sound their best. You just might be on to something with the tone caps, keep us posted.

Done that. Tweaked the amp settings, stomp boxes, the whole nine. I just don't like these pickups. :cry:

It's a shame, because it sound so good to me on all the demos I saw, and I really liked the switching configuration. Go figure...

StingyCH · **Joined:** Sun Oct 30, 2011 9:00 am **Posts:** 34

Me

but not with the HH pattern anymore

Stringjunkie · **Posted:** Tue Dec 06, 2011 4:55 pm

Hey stingy, ya have a full pic of that?

StingyCH · **Joined:** Sun Oct 30, 2011 9:00 am **Posts:** 34

Sure

here she is:

You can find more pics in my topic

HERE

Andorra	EN	ES	FR
Belgium	EN	DE	FR
Croatia	EN
Czech Republic	EN
Estonia	EN
France	EN	FR
Germany	EN	DE
Italy	EN	IT
Latvia	EN
Lithuania	EN
Malta	EN
Netherlands	EN
Poland	EN
Romania	EN
Slovakia	EN
Sweden	EN
United Kingdom	EN

Austria	EN	DE
Bulgaria	EN
Cyprus	EN
Denmark	EN
Finland	EN
Greece	EN
Hungary	EN
Ireland	EN
Liechtenstein	EN	DE
Luxembourg	EN	DE	FR
Monaco	EN	FR
Norway	EN
Portugal	EN
Slovenia	EN
Spain	EN	ES
Switzerland	EN	DE	FR	IT

	Page 1 of 1	[ 15 posts ]

Mod Shop

Custom Shop

So, who else changed out the pickups in their Blacktop?

Who is online