A True Vintage Tone, Please!

Re: A True Vintage Tone, Please!

have you tried .1uF caps on your strat? .1uF is the correct value for 50s strats(up to around 1970 actually)
 
Re: A True Vintage Tone, Please!

the snarks are kinda between a ssl2 and ssl6, not sure if you can get them any more or not
 
Re: A True Vintage Tone, Please!

dstrats said:
Hi all,

Thanks so much for all the great replies and suggestions.

Those SSL-1 seems right up my alley, but now I am a lil confused on which is the better p/u between the Surfers and the SSL-1. I understand the true vintage strat tone is a tad bright but my DiMarzio Area '58 sounds like a bridge p/u at the neck, so as long as the SSL-1 or Surfers aren't that bright at the neck either should be fine.

As for my bridge p/u I have a DiMarzio HS-2 wired single coil. I really love that p/u in that position which made me think I'd love the Area '58 but I guess not. It has a great tone there and really smoothes out my overdriven tones. And yea, I have the bridge p/u wired to the last tone pot and the middle p/u is free of a tone pot.

Again, thanks for the replies. I look forward to hanging out here. :^)
Click to expand...
Yeah, Eric Johnson swears by the HS-2 as sc too!
 
Re: A True Vintage Tone, Please!

Hi all,

Thanks so, so much! I got a neck and middle SSL-1 and man, do they sound great!

I can't thank you guys enough for the info and advice. These SSL-1s' were exactly what I needed. I know y'all were telling me that '50s type p/u are bright but when I got these sweet thang's in my strat, there was nuffin but sweet warmth.

I though I might just be crazy so I brought my strat to my buddies house. He's a bassist and he knows tone pretty well. Right off the bat he says, "What did you do to your guitar? It sounds so warm and full!". That was such a great validation that I wasn't just hearing things. He then admitted, "I always thought your other p/u where way too bright, but these sounds so perfect. Full of the right mid overtones and full bass. Very warm and round". Don't get me wrong, I can hear some highs in these SSL-1s' but the DMZ where so glassy and sterile. These SSL-1s' really put the organic warmth where it belongs.

The SSLs' are so perfectly balanced! The bass side of the p/u are so articulate. You hear every note crystal clear and with great e.q. of bass and mids. The high side of the p/u is perfect as well! Their a great match with my DMZ HS-2.

Thanks again all. YOu guys rock! Thanks for steering me in the right direction.

Take care!

Oh BTW, I do have a .1uf on my tone pots. And, EJ had the HS-2 in his '54 Strat, "Virginia". He doesn't use that p/u anymore, specially since he prolly has a dude at Fender making him his own style via his signature strat.
 
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Re: A True Vintage Tone, Please!

dstrats said:
Hi all,

This is my first post on this forum. I hope y'all can help.

MIM50sStrat.jpg


This is my MIM '50s alder body strat. I'm looking for a true '54-'57 tone. I'm not interested in Fender's CS '54 due to the fact I feel they are too bright. I'm looking or that true vintage wood-y, organic, hollow tone from the neck and that sweet quack in the neck/mid, mid/bridge position.

Currently I have DiMarzio Area '58s in the neck and middle. I don't feel that their organic enough. They are extremely bright though. The neck p/u is just too bright and misses that sweet wood-y tone. And, the in-between tone is not as full as I'd like. Folks are telling me that the stacked single coil lacks in true vintage feel. Sure I'll get hum but I'd gladly take it for that true vintage tone.

Any advice or suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...


Welcome to the Duncan forums . . .

Another brand to keep in mind when it comes to 100% accurate vintage tone :

SD pick ups : Stephens Design PU's

http://www.sdpickups.com/sdpickups.shtml - 100% hand made by only one person, from beginning to end !

http://www.sdpickups.com/twister.shtml - Strat pu's


I am beyound impressed with the customer service that i got from this gentleman !


My 2cents
James
 
Re: A True Vintage Tone, Please!

I've owned real '54, '57 and '63 Strats and lived with my step brother who owned a '62 Strat I used to play a lot.

The Strats from the 50's had the weakest pickups and the '62 had the strongest and best pickups.

If a guy truly wants the ultimate vintage Strat pickups, that's the Duncan Antiquity Surfers - they are based on the '62 Strat pickups which, IMO, are the best.

The other set I like a lot, and which are not true vintage but sound great to me, is the Duncan APS-2/APS-2 RW/RP/Twangbanger set. It's warmer and less glassy but great!

Lew
 
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