It is currently Tue Mar 17, 2020 5:19 am

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 15 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: Custom Shop 69 PUs
Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2013 2:14 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sat Dec 26, 2009 9:42 am
Posts: 62
Wondering if there are any users of this PU set, and what differences you may have noticed from other sets that you had on your guitar (particularly if you have used Texas Specials)? The product description is a bit vague. Are the magnets staggered, and I'm assuming that the 2nd and 4th positions are hum cancelling?? That last feature is not mentioned in the product description on those PUs but it is mentioned on at least one other set. Thanks.


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: Custom Shop 69 PUs
Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2013 2:20 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
No RP/RW on the CS 69's middle pickup (as per the original prototype). They're a bit smoother and more evenly-balanced than either the TS's, 57/62's, or Fat '50s (all three of the 69's are wound to the same spec). They have a lower DCR value than many of Fender's other sets but they're still pretty loud, relatively speaking.

HTH

Arjay

_________________
"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


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Custom Shop 69 PUs
Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2013 2:27 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sat Dec 26, 2009 9:42 am
Posts: 62
Retroverbial wrote:
No RP/RW on the CS 69's middle pickup (as per the original prototype). They're a bit smoother and more evenly-balanced than either the TS's, 57/62's, or Fat '50s (all three of the 69's are wound to the same spec). They have a lower DCR value than many of Fender's other sets but they're still pretty loud, relatively speaking.

HTH

Arjay


Thanks, so I take it there is no hum cancelling in either the 2nd or 4th positions?


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Custom Shop 69 PUs
Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2013 2:34 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Thu Oct 08, 2009 7:58 am
Posts: 2187
I found these to be the absolutely cleanest sounding pickups I've ever used. I had a really hard time getting any dirt out of them. The gain settings on my amp and pedals to get any crunch was what I used for playing hard rock, heavy stuff with a humbucker loaded guitar. I really didn't like the lack of humcancelling on the 2 and 4 positions. It has a nice quacky strat tone, but I like the Tex-Mex and Texas Specials over them, but neither of those have been my favorite either. I struggle with single coil tones a lot when it comes to balance. Trying to keep the output of the B and High E to cut through like the other strings is a bit difficult. The Fat 50's are really nice, but the nicest tone I've heard from a stock model was the Classic Series 50's (Not the Classic Players).

_________________
"Epitaph on a blues musician’s tombstone: “I didn’t wake up this morning”" Davy Knowles


facebook.com/313DBC


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Custom Shop 69 PUs
Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2013 3:43 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 4:54 am
Posts: 2573
Location: Laurel, MD
I really dig mine in my Hwy1.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Custom Shop 69 PUs
Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2013 6:59 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sat Dec 26, 2009 9:42 am
Posts: 62
DetroitBlues wrote:
I found these to be the absolutely cleanest sounding pickups I've ever used. I had a really hard time getting any dirt out of them. The gain settings on my amp and pedals to get any crunch was what I used for playing hard rock, heavy stuff with a humbucker loaded guitar. I really didn't like the lack of humcancelling on the 2 and 4 positions. It has a nice quacky strat tone, but I like the Tex-Mex and Texas Specials over them, but neither of those have been my favorite either. I struggle with single coil tones a lot when it comes to balance. Trying to keep the output of the B and High E to cut through like the other strings is a bit difficult. The Fat 50's are really nice, but the nicest tone I've heard from a stock model was the Classic Series 50's (Not the Classic Players).


Interesting. Someone else here described them as being "quieter" sounding. I wonder if that is synonymous with what you are saying? I appreciate your feedback, thanks. I have been debating whether or not to get them, but I have been aprehensive due to not knowing what they sound like. I like the hum cancelling that I get in the CS PUs that I have now, but I just wanted to try something diferent. Maybe not though...


Last edited by Jared Purdy on Fri Feb 22, 2013 11:37 am, edited 1 time in total.

Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Custom Shop 69 PUs
Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2013 7:23 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
One genre of music that particularly favors the CS '69 set is vintage Motown, and to a lesser extent, R&B. Crank in some pedals and they're equally at home doing funk (think the Isley Brothers' "That Lady", Ace's "How Long", or Mother's Finest "Piece Of The Rock").

HTH

Arjay

_________________
"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


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Custom Shop 69 PUs
Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2013 9:48 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jun 28, 2009 6:57 pm
Posts: 1868
Location: Kansas City Mo
I installed these in the other guitarist in the bands 08 standard.
They were very chimey very glassy.
I actually thought they were cool probably the stratiest pickups I have heard.
When he played Hey Joe or The Wind Cries Mary, they sounded perfect.

_________________
https://www.facebook.com/groups/fenderguitarandamp/


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Custom Shop 69 PUs
Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2013 5:23 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sat Dec 26, 2009 9:42 am
Posts: 62
donnycraven wrote:
I installed these in the other guitarist in the bands 08 standard.
They were very chimey very glassy.
I actually thought they were cool probably the stratiest pickups I have heard.
When he played Hey Joe or The Wind Cries Mary, they sounded perfect.


Well, I ordered a set, and they have arrived, but I'm thinking of backing off on them as I like the hum cancelling that happens in the 2nd and 4th positions. It's a really nice tone with the set that I have, and quiet in the house. But those 69s are making me very curious.....


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Custom Shop 69 PUs
Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2013 4:44 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Thu Oct 08, 2009 7:58 am
Posts: 2187
Jared Purdy wrote:
DetroitBlues wrote:
I found these to be the absolutely cleanest sounding pickups I've ever used. I had a really hard time getting any dirt out of them. The gain settings on my amp and pedals to get any crunch was what I used for playing hard rock, heavy stuff with a humbucker loaded guitar. I really didn't like the lack of humcancelling on the 2 and 4 positions. It has a nice quacky strat tone, but I like the Tex-Mex and Texas Specials over them, but neither of those have been my favorite either. I struggle with single coil tones a lot when it comes to balance. Trying to keep the output of the B and High E to cut through like the other strings is a bit difficult. The Fat 50's are really nice, but the nicest tone I've heard from a stock model was the Classic Series 50's (Not the Classic Players).


Interesting. Someone else here described them as being "quiter" sounding. I wonder if that is synonymous with what you are saying? I appreciate your feedback, thanks. I have been debating whether or not to get them, but I have been aprehensive due to not knowing what they sound like. I like the hum cancelling that I get in the CS PUs that I have now, but I just wanted to try something diferent. Maybe not though...


They are probably the lowest output of any Fender Single Coil. If you want hum-cancelling, I'd avoid the CS '69 middle pickup. Opt for something else. They are really chimey, so I'd also suggest the bridge pickup tied into the tone controls too.

I have started a lot of arguments over the staggered pole pieces. Originally they were designed for a balanced output on guitars that had a 7.25" radius. However, as the fretboard gradually became flatter, the staggered poles have not. So your A, D, and G strings have a much louder, noticeable output. Typically, I try to angle the pickups were I lower the bass side and raise the treble side, but it still causes the G string to have more output over the B pole piece. When you do a lot of bending like I do, the high E string ends up over the B pole piece giving the string a near muted sound in comparison to the G string.

If you don't believe me, next time you play a guitar with humbuckers, do a full step bend at the 12th fret with the E, B, and G string. Try not to strike the other strings when you do. Repeat the process with a staggered single coil guitar and see if you hear the difference. You'll notice most humbuckers are flat to match the strings and have a much improved string tone/volume balance.

_________________
"Epitaph on a blues musician’s tombstone: “I didn’t wake up this morning”" Davy Knowles


facebook.com/313DBC


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Custom Shop 69 PUs
Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2013 5:15 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sat Dec 26, 2009 9:42 am
Posts: 62
DetroitBlues wrote:
Jared Purdy wrote:
DetroitBlues wrote:
I found these to be the absolutely cleanest sounding pickups I've ever used. I had a really hard time getting any dirt out of them. The gain settings on my amp and pedals to get any crunch was what I used for playing hard rock, heavy stuff with a humbucker loaded guitar. I really didn't like the lack of humcancelling on the 2 and 4 positions. It has a nice quacky strat tone, but I like the Tex-Mex and Texas Specials over them, but neither of those have been my favorite either. I struggle with single coil tones a lot when it comes to balance. Trying to keep the output of the B and High E to cut through like the other strings is a bit difficult. The Fat 50's are really nice, but the nicest tone I've heard from a stock model was the Classic Series 50's (Not the Classic Players).


Interesting. Someone else here described them as being "quiter" sounding. I wonder if that is synonymous with what you are saying? I appreciate your feedback, thanks. I have been debating whether or not to get them, but I have been aprehensive due to not knowing what they sound like. I like the hum cancelling that I get in the CS PUs that I have now, but I just wanted to try something diferent. Maybe not though...


They are probably the lowest output of any Fender Single Coil. If you want hum-cancelling, I'd avoid the CS '69 middle pickup. Opt for something else. They are really chimey, so I'd also suggest the bridge pickup tied into the tone controls too.

I have started a lot of arguments over the staggered pole pieces. Originally they were designed for a balanced output on guitars that had a 7.25" radius. However, as the fretboard gradually became flatter, the staggered poles have not. So your A, D, and G strings have a much louder, noticeable output. Typically, I try to angle the pickups were I lower the bass side and raise the treble side, but it still causes the G string to have more output over the B pole piece. When you do a lot of bending like I do, the high E string ends up over the B pole piece giving the string a near muted sound in comparison to the G string.

If you don't believe me, next time you play a guitar with humbuckers, do a full step bend at the 12th fret with the E, B, and G string. Try not to strike the other strings when you do. Repeat the process with a staggered single coil guitar and see if you hear the difference. You'll notice most humbuckers are flat to match the strings and have a much improved string tone/volume balance.


Thanks for the feed back. The PUs that I have on my CS are staggered (master built by Cruz as the thread mentions, and as I learned are an incarnation based off the Texas Specials). The E and B strings appear to be near flush, but the G, D, A and E strings are all staggered. I don't have the time right now to test what you're suggesting, but I will when I get home later today. What you're suggesting makes sense, though I suspect that it also has some bearing on action, and how high the poles are, no?


Last edited by Jared Purdy on Thu Feb 21, 2013 7:35 am, edited 1 time in total.

Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Custom Shop 69 PUs
Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2013 5:21 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Thu Oct 08, 2009 7:58 am
Posts: 2187
the distance between the string and the pole piece is related to the action. But action typically is the distance between the string and the fret....

_________________
"Epitaph on a blues musician’s tombstone: “I didn’t wake up this morning”" Davy Knowles


facebook.com/313DBC


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Custom Shop 69 PUs
Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 11:44 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sat Dec 26, 2009 9:42 am
Posts: 62
DetroitBlues wrote:
the distance between the string and the pole piece is related to the action. But action typically is the distance between the string and the fret....

Yes I understand what action is, but the staggered poles, particularly the g, d and a strings would sound quite different if they were not staggered, no?

Now I'm not so certian. I haven't picked them up yet. I play mostly blues and bluesy rock (classic late 60's early 70's stuff). And as much as I like the tone that Stevie Ray Vaughn produces, it's not the tone that I am after. What's your take on the Fat 50's?


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Custom Shop 69 PUs
Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 12:28 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Wed Feb 03, 2010 1:00 am
Posts: 310
I have these in my standard strat. When I installed them I used adhesive copper tape to shield the cavity, pick guard and even the insides of the pup covers.

I use a Line 6 wireless system and my pedal board is powered by a Sanyo Pedal Juice battery.

I can honestly say that this is one of the quietest guitars I have seen. Yes there is some hum in all positions but nothing annoying or overpowering.

When I first got my American Standard with the Fat 50's, it was a much noisier guitar than my standard with the CS69's, so I did the same shielding to it and that fixed all the problems.

I love my CS69 equipped guitar and highly recommend the pickups.

_________________
http://www.facebook.com/UCtheband
2012 American Standard Strat Charcoal Froast
2009 Standard Strat Sunburst Brown
Blues Junior Tweed NOS
2007 Line6 Spider Jam
Image


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Custom Shop 69 PUs
Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 2:12 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Thu Oct 08, 2009 7:58 am
Posts: 2187
Jared Purdy wrote:
DetroitBlues wrote:
the distance between the string and the pole piece is related to the action. But action typically is the distance between the string and the fret....

Yes I understand what action is, but the staggered poles, particularly the g, d and a strings would sound quite different if they were not staggered, no?

Now I'm not so certian. I haven't picked them up yet. I play mostly blues and bluesy rock (classic late 60's early 70's stuff). And as much as I like the tone that Stevie Ray Vaughn produces, it's not the tone that I am after. What's your take on the Fat 50's?


I like the flat pole pieces, to my ears more balanced then staggered, much like a humbucker.

Never tried the Fat 50's. Have to check them out on the new American Standards...

_________________
"Epitaph on a blues musician’s tombstone: “I didn’t wake up this morning”" Davy Knowles


facebook.com/313DBC


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 15 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: stratele52 and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: