Antiquity Texas Hot.

[jalguitarman]

High all, it's been quite a while since I have been on here. Hope everyone is well. So about a year ago I bought a used (like new) 1960 NOS Custom Shop Strat off Reverb. It is a very resonant and vibrant sounding instrument. So I have had a lot of time to get to know it. The neck is thicker than what normally comes on these which I love as it's comfy and has a 9.5 radius.

I am finding more and more that the highs from the stock pickups are bit too sharp for my liking. I think that the guitar is naturally pretty clean and clear sounding but not over bright on it's own. I already have a Surfer neck and was thinking about doing a surfer set. Then I thought about doing Surfer neck and middle but with a Texas Hot bridge as I want a water bridge single coil.. After hearing Lari Basilio demo the The Texas Hots But I am wondering if perhaps a whole set of them might be the way to go. I tried one in the neck position of a Strat I had years ago and I didn't really feel it but, that was an American Standard Strat with a maple fretboard and this one is a much more vibrant sounding guitar. And to be honest I don't remember the sound of it as it's been at least 9 years ago. I am wanting to smooth out the highs but still retain clarity. I think the extra mids would be nice.

I use a Blues Junior but I am planing on upgrading to a hardwired Vox AC 15 at some point. I run a full tone Mosfet II with a Strymon Timeline and Strymon Bigsky. I am mostly a lead player. Iplay Rock, Fusion, a little blues, a little smooth Jazz and modern praise much on Sunday. basically everything but metal and country. Am I on the right track here with getting a full set of Texas Hots or should I perhaps consider a hybrid set with a surfer in the neck and Texas Hot in the bridge and toss a coin on the middle pick up? Lol Advice, recommendations. Thank you.

 

[Lewguitar]

The Surfers are alnico 5 and have the classic Strat sound we're all used too.

The Texas Hots are alnico 2 and have sweeter treble and a less glassy sound with more mids. They are chewier sounding.

 

[Mincer]

I think Texas Hots would be a wonderful match in that guitar.

 

[jeremy]

the surfer neck and middle with texas hot custom bridge would be a great set. i ran that for a while and i think lew did as well. i also ran a texas hot set for a while and thats great too. i was missing some of the a5 chime from the surfers when using the texas hot in the neck but its very amp/player dependent. since you already have the surfers, id just get a custom texas hot bridge to start and see what ya think. you may need to swap the neck and middle surfers to get hum cancelling in 2 & 4 since the two sets are opposite magnetic polarity.

 

[jalguitarman]

the surfer neck and middle with texas hot custom bridge would be a great set. i ran that for a while and i think lew did as well. i also ran a texas hot set for a while and thats great too. i was missing some of the a5 chime from the surfers when using the texas hot in the neck but its very amp/player dependent. since you already have the surfers, id just get a custom texas hot bridge to start and see what ya think. you may need to swap the neck and middle surfers to get hum cancelling in 2 & 4 since the two sets are opposite magnetic polarity.

I only have the neck surfer. I got rid of the guitar it was in but kept it because I really did love the tone of it. And thank you for the heads up about the polarity. I did not realize the sets were wound with different polarity. I definitely want 2 and 4 hum cancelling.

 

[jalguitarman]

I think Texas Hots would be a wonderful match in that guitar.

I am very temped after hearing that Lari Basilio demo.

 

[Ascension]

I only have the neck surfer. I got rid of the guitar it was in but kept it because I really did love the tone of it. And thank you for the heads up about the polarity. I did not realize the sets were wound with different polarity. I definitely want 2 and 4 hum cancelling.

The Texas hots are indeed North leading so are reverse from normal Duncan singles in polarity. I'm a huge fan of the Texas Hots myself and had a set in a Mex Rosewood board Strat and loved them. They aren't cheap but man do i love the tones!

 

[Mincer]

I am very temped after hearing that Lari Basilio demo.

That was one of the factors I was basing this on, besides my own experiences.

 

[Lewguitar]

I only have the neck surfer. I got rid of the guitar it was in but kept it because I really did love the tone of it. And thank you for the heads up about the polarity. I did not realize the sets were wound with different polarity. I definitely want 2 and 4 hum cancelling.

I had to get creative to use Surfers in the neck and middle positions and a Texas Hot Custom in the bridge.

I think I reversed the positions of the Neck and Middle Surfer. I put the middle in the neck position and the neck in the middle.

And then, if I remember right, I reversed the leads on the Texas Hot bridge so black was hot and white went to ground.

That gave me humcancelling in settings 2 and 4 on the five way switch.

I liked that set a lot and still use those neck and middle Surfers but I eventually replaced the bridge pickup with an Alnico 2 HOT FOR TELECASTER bridge pickup MJ wound for me.

My Strat was sloppily routed for a bridge humbucker so the Tele pickup fit.

I ordered a new custom pickguard and put it back together with two Surfers and Tele bridge pickup.

 

[jalguitarman]

I think I am going for the full Texas hot set. I am not sure that it would be right for every Strat but, I think they will be the golden ticket in this particular one. And if not I cam always do surfers in the neck and middle. I am convinced that the bridge Texas Hot will be a winner. Thank you all for your help.

 

[jalguitarman]

I had to get creative to use Surfers in the neck and middle positions and a Texas Hot Custom in the bridge.

I think I reversed the positions of the Neck and Middle Surfer. I put the middle in the neck position and the neck in the middle.

And then, if I remember right, I reversed the leads on the Texas Hot bridge so black was hot and white went to ground.

That gave me humcancelling in settings 2 and 4 on the five way switch.

I liked that set a lot and still use those neck and middle Surfers but I eventually replaced the bridge pickup with an Alnico 2 HOT FOR TELECASTER bridge pickup MJ wound for me.

My Strat was sloppily routed for a bridge humbucker so the Tele pickup fit.

I ordered a new custom pickguard and put it back together with two Surfers and Tele bridge pickup.

I would love one of those for made for my Strat but I am not sure I want to drop that much on just a bridge pick up right now. The custom shop isn't even making stuff right now are they?

 

[Lewguitar]

I would love one of those for made for my Strat but I am not sure I want to drop that much on just a bridge pick up right now. The custom shop isn't even making stuff right now are they?

I don't know.

All Antiquitys are made in the Custom Shop though.

If you can find a set of Antiquity Texas Hots in stock somewhere buy them.

I'm not sure if the Texas Hot Custom bridge comes with Texas Hots without asking for it.

Mention that you want the Custom Bridge when you place your order if you want a bridge pickup with a little extra output.

 

[jalguitarman]

I don't know.

All Antiquitys are made in the Custom Shop though.

If you can find a set of Antiquity Texas Hots in stock somewhere buy them.

I'm not sure if the Texas Hot Custom bridge comes with Texas Hots without asking for it.

Mention that you want the Custom Bridge when you place your order if you want a bridge pickup with a little extra output.

Every set I have found has a 9.8 k bridge while the neck and middle are somewhere around 6,3 or 6.4. Would that be the custom bridge pickup?

 

[Lewguitar]

Every set I have found has a 9.8 k bridge while the neck and middle are somewhere around 6,3 or 6.4. Would that be the custom bridge pickup?

Yes. Enjoy!

 

[Mincer]

I think I am going for the full Texas hot set. I am not sure that it would be right for every Strat but, I think they will be the golden ticket in this particular one. And if not I cam always do surfers in the neck and middle. I am convinced that the bridge Texas Hot will be a winner. Thank you all for your help.

Come back and let us know how this project turns out.

 

[jalguitarman]

I thought I would share a few more pics of her.

 

[jalguitarman]

Come back and let us know how this project turns out.

Will do, I just got my pickups ordered, I am excited. Funny, there was a time when I wasn't enthused about fatter sounding single coils but, my tonal preferences seem to have changed some. I check out a video on the Duncan YouTube channel with side by side clips of the two set's and I actually preferred the tone of the I's over The II's. I am sure mcc of it depends on the amp and player . :dance::banana::arms:

 

[PFDarkside]

You mention the neck being thicker than a typical 60’s Strat, what does profile does it say on the CS card, and how would you describe the thickness/profile?

 

[Artie]

My friend Nick Johnston demos the Seymour Duncan Texas Hot guitar pickups. If any of you are looking for a sweet single coil tone, check these out!

Wow! That guy has some sweet licks. Now, I want some.

 

[jalguitarman]

You mention the neck being thicker than a typical 60’s Strat, what does profile does it say on the CS card, and how would you describe the thickness/profile?

The thickness is .880 at the 1st fret and ,980 at the 12th fret. The Dealer Spec sheet lists the neck profile as 10/ 56 V. It Doesn't feel massive by any means but I find it very comfortable to play.