I think this proves each instrument although similar in many ways, is always going to be a little different. Even if they're in the same configuration!

Exactly, raise the bass end of the pickups.
How old is your guitar?
Did you buy it new? If so, you have a lifetime warranty.
Also, one or more of the pickups could be part of a bad batch.
Part of the fun is messing around with some of the simple things
such as the pickups and saddles.
Take care. Toppscore

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adjusted the pickup heights (to fender specs) and indeed with amp settings you can do a lot.
They sound pretty good actually

So, nothing wrong with the pickups, they sound exactly the same as in my SRV strat, what is a little disappointing actually...

made comparison -> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NroOgVYY6sc&feature
(Posted that in another thread also (regarding fender blues jr attenuator or not) where I was thinking I could here the difference between my SRV strat and the American Special strat)

Tone on the two guitars will be diff because the Am Spec has a maple neck and the srv has a pao neck. Maple will be brighter.

no it is'nt... pao isn't darker sounding because its dark looking like rosewood hé
Have you listened to that comparison clip ?

Yes I watched it and Pao Ferro is very much like rosewood its just harder and lighter in color.

Have you ever played pao Ferro ?
You think the SRV is sounding darker in that clip ?
It's for sure not dark like rosewood man

When I am playing them here back to back I don't hear noticable difference at all.

Do something for me : look at the comparison video and close your eyes and fast forward or go back ... I did the same, with eyes closed I can not make the difference between the two ..

I did and I thought the Special was a bit brighter. I have played SRV strats, I played both and early one with a RW neck and several with PF necks. This is what I hear so thats my opinion. Im not new to this. This is my opinion, its just different than yours. ImOK with that. Sorry for stating it.

you can have an opinion man As long as I am right ! :p

What I do for comparing is adjust the volume and treble of the guitar to my likings, like the "sweet spot" or whatever you want to call it.

Maybe I could put volume and tone at maximum on both guitars, but still there is a difference in electronics then, I think the american special sounds hotter when volume at max.

But that you can hear which guitar is the SRV or american special blind in that video... that's impressive.

ok...test !

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/32755343/srv/compare.wav
1 sample, 2 guitars (again srv strat and american special strat)

Which guitar is first and which guitar is second ?

(both guitars this time with gain and tone to the max and boosted with pedal)

I agree with tbazzone, the special is a lot brighter, a lot
more highs, the SRV sounds a lot more balanced IMO.

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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

I'm more than certain, the bass response is not the same due
to the greasebucket tone circuitry .

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

oogway, kungfu panda 2008

In the youtube video I had my tone button on 8-9 on both guitars.

In this sound sample I put it both to the maximum (also the gain) so its a fair comparison :
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/32755343/srv/compare.wav
can you tell me which one is the SRV ? the one in the beginning of the sample or the one starting at about 50% ?

+1k Exactly what snowy said

and Texas Specials are really attack responsive, dynamic pups that are really mid's biased, they need sensitivity when going for lows and clean highs, When comparing them to most other fender pick ups that are good, you have to be more aware of the pressure you play with..... This is what i find, my 2 Cents, For this reason and where i'm playing at most of the time they have slipped off top spot for me.... But to really caress at strat they are pure gold!!!

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1st one is the SRV

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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