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Post subject: Pick ups
Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2014 1:29 pm
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I have recently bought a 2010 USA standard Strat and sold a 2007 USA standard strat, the pick ups on the 2010 are much harsher than the 2007 was. Can any one recommend some pick ups to give me a nice warm tone please. I was thinking of 69's.


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Post subject: Re: Pick ups
Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2014 1:57 pm
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First thing to do is play around with the heights of your pickups. Closer to the strings will normally mellow out the pup, but try them both ways so you really see the difference.

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Post subject: Re: Pick ups
Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2014 4:44 pm
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I agree, moving the pickups up and down does change the overall sound, but disagree with the idea that they get more mellow. In fact, I own a '75 Strat that I needed to back the neck pup down so I could tame it a bit. Also, I the strings vibrated and rang longer. When the neck pup was too high the notes sounded awful past the 12th fret. It has been my experience that moving the pickups further away tames them a bit.

Also, to my ear, the CS '69s are very clean sounding and have sharper attack. I put a set in Hwy1. They sounded good, but not Strat-like enough for me.

I really dig the CS '54 pups.


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Post subject: Re: Pick ups
Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2014 6:11 pm
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Those pickups are really bright. I had a 2012 with overly bright pickups. Get a set of Fender CS Fat 50's.That will warm it up and smooth it out for you. Lowering those pickups will not help very much. Put them around 3.5 to 4mm from the bottom of the strings and see how it sounds.


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Post subject: Re: Pick ups
Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2014 7:40 pm
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I think Drew just had a brain fart. We should listen to what he meant, not what he typed.

krambennett, lowering your pickups (down, further away from the strings) will soften them somewhat. It will also yield just a smidgeon more sustain because the pole magnets will be further away from the strings lessening their pull on them. Experiment with it before you decide to tear apart your guitar. It might surprise you how much tone you can dial into it. Don't forget, the pickups do not have to be level. On almost every guitar I own the pickups are not adjusted evenly from end to end. Some are sort of half way level. Others aren't even close.

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Post subject: Re: Pick ups
Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2014 8:24 pm
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BMW-KTM wrote:
I think Drew just had a brain fart. We should listen to what he meant, not what he typed.

krambennett, lowering your pickups (down, further away from the strings) will soften them somewhat. It will also yield just a smidgeon more sustain because the pole magnets will be further away from the strings lessening their pull on them. Experiment with it before you decide to tear apart your guitar. It might surprise you how much tone you can dial into it. Don't forget, the pickups do not have to be level. On almost every guitar I own the pickups are not adjusted evenly from end to end. Some are sort of half way level. Others aren't even close.


The neck pickup on my '75 for some reason is very sensitive. With the pickups too high, they really "choke" the string movement. I was getting really strange sounds out of the guitar. Also, the pickups are from '74 and '75, so two of them are micro-phonic. Moving them back helped with the feedback I was getting.

I used to worry about old micro-phonic pickups, but I've learned that they don't hinder the guitar too much. I might get them potted one day.


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Post subject: Re: Pick ups
Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2014 4:39 pm
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SNick wrote:
Those pickups are really bright. I had a 2012 with overly bright pickups. Get a set of Fender CS Fat 50's.That will warm it up and smooth it out for you. Lowering those pickups will not help very much. Put them around 3.5 to 4mm from the bottom of the strings and see how it sounds.


I thought 2012 Strats came with Fat 50's in it already?

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Post subject: Re: Pick ups
Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2014 8:58 pm
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krambennett wrote:
I have recently bought a 2010 USA standard Strat and sold a 2007 USA standard strat, the pick ups on the 2010 are much harsher than the 2007 was. Can any one recommend some pick ups to give me a nice warm tone please. I was thinking of 69's.


Dominger Hippie '68s?


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Post subject: Re: Pick ups
Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2014 9:55 pm
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I've seen the '57/'62s recommended many times by forum members as well as techs who have replaced Strat pickups.The 57/62 pickups impart the glassiness and quack that give you the classic Strat tone but they are not as harsh and bright as other Fender replacement pickups,they are closer to the pickups that were in the desirable L series from '62 - '65.

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Post subject: Re: Pick ups
Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2014 10:38 am
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rjake wrote:
SNick wrote:
Those pickups are really bright. I had a 2012 with overly bright pickups. Get a set of Fender CS Fat 50's.That will warm it up and smooth it out for you. Lowering those pickups will not help very much. Put them around 3.5 to 4mm from the bottom of the strings and see how it sounds.


I thought 2012 Strats came with Fat 50's in it already?


My 2012 American Standard came with Fat 50's The OP's was a 2010 American Standard Strat
mud


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Post subject: Re: Pick ups
Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2014 5:22 pm
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Some of the early, Jan-March, 2012 production Strats still had the Standard pickups. Fender had to use up the supply they had on hand.


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Post subject: Re: Pick ups
Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2014 6:59 am
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SNick wrote:
Some of the early, Jan-March, 2012 production Strats still had the Standard pickups. Fender had to use up the supply they had on hand.


Did not know that, mine was purchased new in Feb of 2013, still it is marked 2012 on the serial, came with a sticker that said "Custom Shop Fat 50's" so I am very happy :D :D
mud


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Post subject: Re: Pick ups
Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2014 5:31 am
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Many people get wrapped around the axle about things like this. S/N dates and the like cause a lot of heart ache for no reason. A 50th Anniversary American Series Strat I purchased in 2004 had a 2003 serial number.

I receintly purchased a '75 Strat (had to trade in the 50th Anniversary and a PRS McCarty for it) that had a neck pick up dated 1974. It was difficult giving up the 50th Anniversary Strat, but I think you will agree that it was worth it (or maybe not).


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Post subject: Re: Pick ups
Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2014 5:43 am
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In my experience, not every pickup is created equal. I've heard variance, although subtle at times, in the same set of the same pups (i.e. Fat 50s, 57/62s, etc).

There is always a risk factor when swapping out pups, but on the other hand, nothing ventured, nothing gained. :wink:

Try the CS Fat 50s.

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