It is currently Tue Mar 17, 2020 3:17 am

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 15 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: N3 swap
Posted: Mon Oct 14, 2013 5:26 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Fri Mar 16, 2012 12:49 pm
Posts: 838
I'm thinking of swapping the N3 pickups in my 2012 American Deluxe (SSS) and would like to hear from those who have done so. What pups did you install? Did you use the S1 switch? I already have Strats with Texas Specials and CS69s so I'd be looking for something different.

Thanks & Cheers!
BM

_________________
This is the Blues. Are you listening?


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: N3 swap
Posted: Mon Oct 14, 2013 5:38 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jan 10, 2013 7:02 pm
Posts: 1978
Location: Manchester
CS54's are my current favourites.

Never found any use for the S1 switch, it looks like a button off a 1970s cassette recorder and it makes the guitar sound like mud.

_________________
Image
Image my stuff on soundcloud


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: N3 swap
Posted: Mon Oct 14, 2013 5:58 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
The S-1 feature, in conjunction with the factory 10-way "super-switch" provides five additional wiring options not possible with a standard Strat configuration. With the right amp, this adds sonic versatility to the guitar without the need for push-pull pots or mini-toggles. I have two Strats wired in this manner, using the now-OOP SCN pickups. Thus, the guitars provide instantaneous single-coil and humbucking tones as the situation warrants.

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: N3 swap
Posted: Mon Oct 14, 2013 7:05 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 4:54 am
Posts: 2573
Location: Laurel, MD
I'm a big fan of the CS '54s I have in my 50th Anniversary Am. Series Strat.

Check out Van Zandt pickups. I really like the set in my '79 Stat.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: N3 swap
Posted: Mon Oct 14, 2013 7:38 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
paris wrote:
I'm a big fan of the CS '54s I have in my 50th Anniversary Am. Series Strat.

Check out Van Zandt pickups. I really like the set in my '79 Stat.


+1

The CS 54's are a beautifully bright and sparkly set of pickups, with unmatched clarity and detail that sound their best through a tweed Deluxe or a brownface Super.

Rawk on!

8)

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: N3 swap
Posted: Tue Oct 15, 2013 4:29 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Fri Mar 16, 2012 12:49 pm
Posts: 838
Hey guys, thanks for the replies. Much appreciated!

I have never played the CS 54s but I don't think I would be too far off the mark if I applied Arjay's description of "beautifully bright and sparkly" to my CS 69s. For those who have played both, would you say that the two sets are distinctly different?

Cheers!
BM

_________________
This is the Blues. Are you listening?


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: N3 swap
Posted: Tue Oct 15, 2013 5:04 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 4:54 am
Posts: 2573
Location: Laurel, MD
Bluer Monkey wrote:
Hey guys, thanks for the replies. Much appreciated!

I have never played the CS 54s but I don't think I would be too far off the mark if I applied Arjay's description of "beautifully bright and sparkly" to my CS 69s. For those who have played both, would you say that the two sets are distinctly different?

Cheers!
BM


The CS '69s are very different from the CS '54s. I have a Why1 with CS ‘69s and the American Series with the CS ‘54s and they sound, behave and are voiced very differently from each other. Though I like the CS '69s for some things, to my ear they aren't as nice sounding as the CS '54s, and would chose them over the CS '69s any day.

I wouldn't use the CS '69s as a model for the CS ‘54s. They are really that different beats.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: N3 swap
Posted: Tue Oct 15, 2013 5:53 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jul 13, 2007 1:10 pm
Posts: 13467
Location: Palm Beach County FL
Bluer Monkey wrote:
Hey guys, thanks for the replies. Much appreciated!

I have never played the CS 54s but I don't think I would be too far off the mark if I applied Arjay's description of "beautifully bright and sparkly" to my CS 69s. For those who have played both, would you say that the two sets are distinctly different?

Cheers!
BM

Too bad the SCN's are OOP. Sometimes newer is not better.

_________________
"Another day in paradise!"


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: N3 swap
Posted: Tue Oct 15, 2013 8:27 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
ZZDoc wrote:
Too bad the SCN's are OOP. Sometimes newer is not better.


I've heard that from folks who've bought guitars with the N3's. The SCN's are kind of quirky and it took me a while to find the correct heights for each pickup to optimize them sonically. The neck pickup is especially fussy but once dialed in, it produces a great single-coil tone. In conjunction with the S-1 system it makes for a pretty convincing "woman-tone" humbucker vibe.

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: N3 swap
Posted: Tue Oct 15, 2013 4:43 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Fri Mar 16, 2012 12:49 pm
Posts: 838
paris wrote:
The CS '69s are very different from the CS '54s. ... I wouldn't use the CS '69s as a model for the CS ‘54s. They are really that different beats.
    Thanks, Paris. I'm going to try and get my ears on some CS 54 samples.

    Cheers!
    BM

_________________
This is the Blues. Are you listening?


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: N3 swap
Posted: Tue Oct 15, 2013 4:46 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sat Jan 29, 2011 6:10 pm
Posts: 2261
Location: Elay
I guess I'll be the lone voice that says I can get great tone from my American Deluxe with N3's and S1. I've been taking it everywhere with me for the last month including open mic nights and band rehearsals. I'm taking it to an audition on Saturday. I wouldn't do that if I didn't think I would sound good. As with all pups, you need to twist some knobs if you don't like what you hear. I'm into pinch harmonics right now, and I had her squealing pretty good last night doing La Grange.

_________________
'10 American Deluxe HSS Sunset Metallic
'10 JA-90 Thinline Telecaster
'15 Music Man JP-15 Blueberry Burst
'07 Les Paul Standard Faded LCPG #82
'14 Carvin ST300
'12 Carvin CS424S
'66 Guild Starfire IV w/Bigsby
'14 Warmouth Partscaster Daphne Blue


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: N3 swap
Posted: Tue Oct 15, 2013 5:37 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jan 10, 2013 7:02 pm
Posts: 1978
Location: Manchester
Bluer Monkey wrote:
Thanks, Paris. I'm going to try and get my ears on some CS 54 samples


http://soundcloud.com/gilgafrank/thorn-in-my-side

_________________
Image
Image my stuff on soundcloud


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: N3 swap
Posted: Tue Oct 15, 2013 5:51 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Fri Mar 16, 2012 12:49 pm
Posts: 838
Drew365 wrote:
I guess I'll be the lone voice that says I can get great tone from my American Deluxe with N3's and S1. ...
    You're not alone, Drew. I'm right there with you as I'm sure are many others. :wink:

    Perhaps I should have said this in my original post, but I'm not looking to swap the N3s because there's anything "wrong" or because they don't sound good. I'm merely looking for something different with as distinct a sound as my CS69s and Texas Specials.

    Cheers!
    BM

_________________
This is the Blues. Are you listening?


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: N3 swap
Posted: Tue Oct 15, 2013 6:08 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Fri Mar 16, 2012 12:49 pm
Posts: 838
GilgaFrank wrote:
Bluer Monkey wrote:
Thanks, Paris. I'm going to try and get my ears on some CS 54 samples

http://soundcloud.com/gilgafrank/thorn-in-my-side
    Thanks, GilgaFrank. A lot of cool guitar work in there and everything blends well so it's a little hard for me to isolate the CS 54s.

    BTW, thumbs up for your cover of "Paint It Black". I really like the drive!

    Cheers!
    BM

_________________
This is the Blues. Are you listening?


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: N3 swap
Posted: Tue Oct 15, 2013 7:05 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 4:54 am
Posts: 2573
Location: Laurel, MD
Drew365 wrote:
I guess I'll be the lone voice that says I can get great tone from my American Deluxe with N3's and S1. I've been taking it everywhere with me for the last month including open mic nights and band rehearsals. I'm taking it to an audition on Saturday. I wouldn't do that if I didn't think I would sound good. As with all pups, you need to twist some knobs if you don't like what you hear. I'm into pinch harmonics right now, and I had her squealing pretty good last night doing La Grange.


I think they have their place and with the right player. My buddy Manny loves them and has a few guitars that have them. I suspect they work well with your style of playing. The right guitar, pickup, and amp, with the right player. For instance, I don't like the way I sound using most modern bum buckers, or the modern Les Pauls. They just don't do it for me. Give me an older Les Paul or PRS McCarty, and I'm there.


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: No registered users 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: