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Post subject: MIM pup swap: CS Fat '50s or '57/'62
Posted: Sat May 25, 2013 4:53 am
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I'm looking to change pickups on a Standard Strat and would like to hear from those who've replaced the stock pups with either CS Fat '50s or '57/'62s which are the two choices I'm considering.

Is it a simple matter of swap-n'-play or are there other things to keep in mind?

Thanks & Cheers!
BM

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Post subject: Re: MIM pup swap: CS Fat '50s or '57/'62
Posted: Sat May 25, 2013 5:31 am
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i have the 57/62s in one of my strats. i've used them for several years and the ones i have aren't rw/rp. they sound real vintage. warm in every position except the bridge, it's sharp and twangy but it really cuts through when you need it. i use a .1uf ceramic cap in the guitar to go for a more early 60's sound. i mainly play it through a rangemaster i made and a vox ac30, so i love the brighter driven sounds (think Rory Gallagher if it's not ovious). great pups IMHO. they are for the most part install and play but some highth adjustments are nessisary. if you decide on these pups go to the fender guitar support page and wire them like the standard strat is wired(NOT THE AMERICAN) this will render a slightly brighter sound and a bit better control with the tone knobs. sounds crazy but it is true the wiring position on the tone controls does make a difference(i'll get some crap for this statement). by the way playing the bridge pup at 8 on the volume on the guitar is killer, the bass comes in slightly. a long explanation but i hope this helps.


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Post subject: Re: MIM pup swap: CS Fat '50s or '57/'62
Posted: Sat May 25, 2013 5:44 am
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I can only speak for a set of Texas Specials which are fantastic.
If you want to go really esoteric you can fit the 'black strat' set:
B: Seymour Duncan SSL-5
M: Fender Custom '69
N: Fender Fat '50


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Post subject: Re: MIM pup swap: CS Fat '50s or '57/'62
Posted: Sat May 25, 2013 11:08 am
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shinkicker wrote:
i have the 57/62s in one of my strats. ... great pups IMHO.
    Hi shinkicker, and thanks for the detailed reply which is, in fact, quite helpful.

    Is your Strat with the '57/'62 pups a MIM Standard or another model?

    Thanks!
    BM

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Post subject: Re: MIM pup swap: CS Fat '50s or '57/'62
Posted: Sat May 25, 2013 12:48 pm
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I have Strats with both of those pickup sets (my 57/62's are the earlier non-RW/RP version) and of the two, I prefer the Fat '50s as having the more authentic vintage tone. Of course, the type of amp has a lot to do with a guitar's sonic signature -- mine are all vintage Fenders (blackface and silverface).

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: MIM pup swap: CS Fat '50s or '57/'62
Posted: Sat May 25, 2013 3:12 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
I have Strats with both of those pickup sets (my 57/62's are the earlier non-RW/RP version) and of the two, I prefer the Fat '50s as having the more authentic vintage tone. Of course, the type of amp has a lot to do with a guitar's sonic signature -- mine are all vintage Fenders (blackface and silverface). Arjay
    Thanks for the reply, Arjay.

    Unfortunately I do not have any vintage Fender amps :mrgreen: so I'll have to make do with their modern counterparts.

    Which of your Strats have the FFs? The reason I'm asking is because I'm planning to swap out the stock pups of a MIM Standard and wondering if the FFs will sound as good in there as they do on an American Standard. I suspect they may not and I'm basing this on my experience with C69 pups which sound significantly different on my FSR American Standard than they do on Classic Player '60S Strat.

    Cheers!
    BM

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Post subject: Re: MIM pup swap: CS Fat '50s or '57/'62
Posted: Sat May 25, 2013 3:23 pm
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glad to help bluermonkey. the guitar i have the 57/62s in is a mim 2011 model. when i went to buy another strat i tried the one i own and an american i liked the mim better. maybe it was the price or the fact that i already own an e.c.strat. the mim just resonated better and had the possibility of modding. i love it. it is my" go to guitar". i also have a bdri amp as well i can get a great sound with a silicon based booster into that amp but for some strange reason the germanium booster dosen't do so well with a fender amp. vox amp yeh.


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Post subject: Re: MIM pup swap: CS Fat '50s or '57/'62
Posted: Sat May 25, 2013 4:51 pm
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This is my Fat 50's Strat......

Image

The body is two-piece fifty-year old swamp ash and the neck is a CIJ '57 re-issue. With those pickups and the hardtail configuration, the guitar has sustain for days. And it sounds like frying bacon smells. She tips the scales at 6 lbs, 14 oz.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: MIM pup swap: CS Fat '50s or '57/'62
Posted: Sat May 25, 2013 5:04 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
This is my Fat 50's Strat...... The body is two-piece fifty-year old swamp ash and the neck is a CIJ '57 re-issue. With those pickups and the hardtail configuration, the guitar has sustain for days. And it sounds like frying bacon smells. She tips the scales at 6 lbs, 14 oz. Arjay
    WOW!!

    And a HARD TAIL to boot! I've been searching high and low for this rare species of Strat and you have (at least) two in your collection. First you had me drooling with your Robert Cray build. Now this. I can't take anymore. Arjay, this can't be fair. :lol:

    Cheers!
    BM

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Post subject: Re: MIM pup swap: CS Fat '50s or '57/'62
Posted: Sat May 25, 2013 6:10 pm
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sweet axe arjay. ash strats are awesome. it's amazing what wood the bodies are made of can do. i never was fond of the hard tails though. my strats have thier bridges blocked, i hate tremelos(except floyd rose types, my 80's throwback problem).


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Post subject: Re: MIM pup swap: CS Fat '50s or '57/'62
Posted: Sat May 25, 2013 6:23 pm
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Bluer Monkey wrote:
And a HARD TAIL to boot! I've been searching high and low for this rare species of Strat and you have (at least) two in your collection. First you had me drooling with your Robert Cray build. Now this. I can't take anymore. Arjay, this can't be fair.


All told, I have three -- including this reproduction '63 I built......

Image

This one is SCN-equipped, with S-1 switching. Aftermarket body in Firemist Gold Metallic and the leftover Cray neck.

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


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Post subject: Re: MIM pup swap: CS Fat '50s or '57/'62
Posted: Sun May 26, 2013 5:50 am
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Retroverbial wrote:
All told, I have three -- including this reproduction '63 I built......
This one is SCN-equipped, with S-1 switching. Aftermarket body in Firemist Gold Metallic and the leftover Cray neck. Arjay
    Cool! 8)

    When you wrote "Cray neck" I did a double take because upon first glance it looks like you have a painted and matching head stock. Also, the color appears closer to orange than to gold. I think it's just the lighting in the picture or maybe my monitor but regardless, that's one sweet looking guitar.

    And I see what you're playing through is a little bit bigger than a BJr. :lol:

    Cheers!
    BM

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Post subject: Re: MIM pup swap: CS Fat '50s or '57/'62
Posted: Sun May 26, 2013 7:57 am
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the color on that 63 repro is great


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Post subject: Re: MIM pup swap: CS Fat '50s or '57/'62
Posted: Sun May 26, 2013 9:44 am
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While the amp may appear physically larger than a Blues Junior, in reality it's a 12-watt non-verb Princeton that I converted to a piggyback configuration. The amp now drives a pair of 12-inch JBL's in a Showman-sized cab. Plenty loud for a small venue.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: MIM pup swap: CS Fat '50s or '57/'62
Posted: Sun May 26, 2013 10:45 am
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I am a big fan of the custom shop '54s.


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