Antiquity Surfer bridge question.

J

jim in texas

New member
Surfer guys I need your help.........

I've got a set ordered for a Am '62 ri and I've read a few threads that have described the bridge as a little "too brite".

Has anyone added a Fralin or Callaham base plate to a Surfer bridge and does it need it?

I put a Callaham plate on the original '57/62's bridge and that calmed it down nicely. The bridge is actually useable now and sounds pretty good for a stock fender pup.

I'm trying to get all my parts ordered so I can do everything at once so your help is appreciated.
 
Re: Antiquity Surfer bridge question.

If the Antq II Surf bridge PU is too bright, the easiest thing to do would be to go with an Antq Texas Hot Custom bridge model. The wind is similar, but it uses alnico II magnets instead, so it ends up being a bit warmer.
 
Re: Antiquity Surfer bridge question.

depends on what you play, if you use distortion, it really works great. I hardly use it alone when clean though, my favorite positions are 1 and 2. position 4 is good too, quackier than pos 2, since the bridge is brighter. If you want to use the bridge pickup more, try a blend pot like lew suggests. Mix the bridge with the neck slightly to balance out brightness
 
Re: Antiquity Surfer bridge question.

jim,

true, Stratdeluxer said he felt the Surfers were bright when he first put 'em in, but after a pot change, he liked the bridge more

here's the thread:
Surfers

I can't say about the baseplate, but on a bright bridge pickup, I think you'll want it wired to the tone pot.
 
Re: Antiquity Surfer bridge question.

Adding a bassplate won't reduce the treble of that pickup. It'll just add about 5% more bass and maybe some low mids. The bridge pickup in the Surfer set isn't really to bright if you know and like vintage Strat pickups. John prefers the alnico 2 Antiquity 1 Texas Hot pickups...which have more mids and a thicker, chunkier tone. THAT is not the tone of real 50's and 60's Strat pickups tho...the tone of 50's and 60's Strat pickups is alnico 5 like the Surfers. It's great to have a choice and I like them both. Lew
 
Re: Antiquity Surfer bridge question.

Curly said:
jim,

true, Stratdeluxer said he felt the Surfers were bright when he first put 'em in, but after a pot change, he liked the bridge more

here's the thread:
Surfers

I can't say about the baseplate, but on a bright bridge pickup, I think you'll want it wired to the tone pot.
Click to expand...

Curly...I did end up pulling the Surfer bridge out and opting for the Twangbanger though..I like the TB alot more....I see myself trading the Antiquity Surfer for a Texas Hot Bridge down the road....

John
 
Re: Antiquity Surfer bridge question.

John,
thanks for the correction

I think the thing that gets lost sometimes talking about a certain pickup, is the other factors like wood, and the amp you're playing through

Lew often plays through tweed amps, which to me are more forgiving of the brightness of some vintage style pickups then, say, a Marshall
 
Re: Antiquity Surfer bridge question.

Curly said:
John,
thanks for the correction

I think the thing that gets lost sometimes talking about a certain pickup, is the other factors like wood, and the amp you're playing through

Lew often plays through tweed amps, which to me are more forgiving of the brightness of some vintage style pickups then, say, a Marshall
Click to expand...

Maybe so Curly...My old non-master volume Marshall is warm though,like almost in a BF fender way...The master volume Marshalls however,rip your face off with top end...Probably more of a style thing,as I like a warmer,rolled off bridge pickup...I Like presence,but I Like the lows to be as strong as the highs I think and I also like the whole sweetness of an A2 magnet in the bridge in almost every situation...I don't dislike the Surfer bridge,but let's just say that for today it's a bit too toppy for me....I have it boxed up in case my tastes change,but I Must say,this Twangbanger is a very cool pickup...I should try to trade up the Surfer for the Texas Hot bridge...I'll call Scott and Duncan and see if we can do that? Not sure with Antiquities though due to the numberings and it being a CS pickup etc..We'll see?

John
 
Re: Antiquity Surfer bridge question.

Curly said:
John,
thanks for the correction

I think the thing that gets lost sometimes talking about a certain pickup, is the other factors like wood, and the amp you're playing through

Lew often plays through tweed amps, which to me are more forgiving of the brightness of some vintage style pickups then, say, a Marshall
Click to expand...

That is absolutely true, and even my blackface Fenders have been modded for more mids. That's one result of changing out the stock blackface .1 and .047 tone caps to a pair of .02 caps in the tone stack of a blackface Fender. Plus, at 54, my hearing is not what it used to be and I just prefer a brighter, more articulate tone. Tho hearing issues aside, I always have prefered a brighter, more articulate tone. I hate mush and woof! Which is one reason I've never favored a neck humbucker and prefer single coils or a brighter neck humbucker like the Jazz or a neck humbucker with less bass than a 59N, like the Seth Lover. Lew
 
Re: Antiquity Surfer bridge question.

Great information guys and thanks for the help.

I use this strat with a Victoria Double Deluxe and a '59 Bassman so if the Surfers like tweed, "we have ignition".

As an aside........the guitar is an alder bodied '00 AmStd 62' ri. The neck's been replaced with the Allparts "fat strat" maple/slab rosewood neck. This neck's bigger than the baseball bat on a R7 Les Paul and it's given the guitar a woodier, more resonant tone.

I think the clarity of the Surfers will match up great with this combo.
 
Re: Antiquity Surfer bridge question.

jim,
those Double Deluxes are the best sounding Victoria I've tried!

fat and warm - cool also because it's kind of a unique design, but practical
 
Re: Antiquity Surfer bridge question.

Curly

I agree completly.

I've played with mine a bit to get more of a "Bassman sparkle" and single string definition/articulation. It's just amazing what you can do with a handful of Hoveland and Auri caps.

I left the 5751 in V1, put a Mullard in V2, and dropped in a quad of Mazda 6V6's. The 5Y3 been replaced with an 5AR4 style Coppercap. This boosts the watts to about 40 and really tightens things up. The speakers are a P12R and a P12Q and they voice great together. The Q gives just a hair more sparkle.

This amp kills with a tele or a strat.

I've got a few Blackface amps that I love but just can't get off the tweed.
 
Re: Antiquity Surfer bridge question.

To me, a tweed Bassman and a tweed Deluxe or early 50's Super/Dual Professional are two very differant animals with little in commen except the tweed! The tweed Deluxe is cathode biased and has the spongey, singing, touch sensitive quality I love. The tweed '59 Bassman and '59 Super are grid biased and are brighter and tighter and more like a "modern" late 60's or 70's Marshall or Fender. Love 'em both...but my tweeds are about all I plug into anymore...especially when I'm playing at lower volumes and want to be able to shape the notes with my hands without cranking the volume to 7 or more.

The Surfers do sound nicer and more articulate to me through my cathode biased Deluxes and Super than the Texas Hots. And the Texas Hots sound smoother and less ice picky through my tweed Bassman, '70 Marshall and Fender Super Reverb.

Lew
 
Re: Antiquity Surfer bridge question.

jim,
haha ... I run a P12Q RI in my 5E3 clone, with Mazdas, so we have similar taste ...

I'm guessing that you asked Ted about the coppercap, as there are some voltage issues
 
Re: Antiquity Surfer bridge question.

Curley

No, I haven't talked to Ted about the Coppercap. I using the GZ34/5AR4 style. The Double Deluxe can use either the 5Y3 for 30 watts with a little sag or the 5AR4 for 40 watts and a little more headroom and volumn.
 
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