duncan surfers vs fender custom69

Baltar

New member
Hi all,

i seek those pickup sets to achive some very late 60ies tone
and can't decide. which one would you prefer and why?
(alternatives with grey bobbins welcome)

cheers, Martin
 
Re: duncan surfers vs fender custom69

The Surfers are wound with the same type of wire Fender used in the 50's and early 60's and are a little hotter wind than the 69's, again like a 50's/early 60's style Fender pickup. The Fender CS69's use the correct wire and wind to get that late 60's Fender sound...and it is a different sound.

Surfers are more SRV, pre noiseless Clapton, 50's Buddy Guy, etc where the CS 69's are more early David Gilmour, Hendrix, etc...
 
Re: duncan surfers vs fender custom69

thanks tgwif,

is it correct, that the Surfers match better to maple fretboards?

cheers, martin
 
Re: duncan surfers vs fender custom69

thanks tgwif,

is it correct, that the Surfers match better to maple fretboards?

cheers, martin

No. The Surfers sound equally wonderful with maple or rosewood fingerboards. Makes no difference.

I've never tried the Fender 69's but my favorite Strat pickups that I've ever owned are the Surfers. They're better than the original pickups in my real '63 Strat.

'69 was a crap year for Fender, BTW. Leo Fender had sold the business to CBS four years earlier and CBS was in charge and the quality was in decline.. '62 was a great year and, IMO, the best year for Strat pickups - more output and stronger tone than the Strat pickups Fender made in the 50's or later in the 60's.

Lew
 
Re: duncan surfers vs fender custom69

despite the price difference, it sounds like i should stay away from the fenders - thx!

cheers, Martin
 
Re: duncan surfers vs fender custom69

the '69 pups arent bad pups but arent really my favorite. low wind and pe wire. not bad for neck or middle, i would never use one in the bridge.
 
Re: duncan surfers vs fender custom69

Surfers all the way!

Love those. One of my favorite strat pickups. I am using it in my maple strat, and couldn't be happier.

B
 
Re: duncan surfers vs fender custom69

Another plug for the Surfers...My favorite strat pickups hands down! You won't be sorry with em.
 
Re: duncan surfers vs fender custom69

I find the two sets quite different. The Surfers are voiced with much more midrange and tend to be smoother. The CS69 has a scooped midrange, deeper bottom, and a more glassy top. So your decision should perhaps be based more on what tones you are looking for.
 
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Re: duncan surfers vs fender custom69

;-)

putput.jpg
 
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Re: duncan surfers vs fender custom69

Have you ever tried that Vintage Grey Bottom? I don't like overwounds

Haven't tried the vintage set, but these really don't sound or perform like overwound. In fact they have a very vintage sound, just a tiny bit warmer though imo. Still very quacky and bright like '57 vintage PUs.
 
Re: duncan surfers vs fender custom69

i have googled david barfuss pickups. he is offering some interesting models as well.
but nobody knows his stuff. i still guess seymours surfers are the safest way for me
 
Re: duncan surfers vs fender custom69

I have a Squire Strat that I put surfers in. I love them! We have a whole set of nothing but surfer music and this is THE setup for that set.
 
Re: duncan surfers vs fender custom69

Hi...jumping in late on this thread.

I recently got a Custom Shop Strat, it's a 65 neck shape (big), rosewood, light relic and has CS69 pups in it. This is my first experience with these pickups, and I was really surprised by how light and thin they sound.

The more I've recorded with this guitar, the more I appreciate what people have been talking about when the refer to "bell tones," it has this in spades.

But my problem with it is I do a lot of pop stuff, and use the bridge pickup. This bridge sounds too light and thin to me, especially in a track with other guitars (PRS, etc) strumming away.

Would the Surfer bridge PU be a better choice? I either am playing very clean, or slightly crunchy on that bridge PU.

Also, for what it's worth, I believe the middle PU on this Strat is reverse wound....I've heard some SD pickups won't work with those...?

Thanks
Tom
 
Re: duncan surfers vs fender custom69

the '69 pups arent bad pups but arent really my favorite. low wind and pe wire. not bad for neck or middle, i would never use one in the bridge.

Just one of many, read the previous threads Tom.
Don't mean to sound harsh. Just that the info is
already there. BTW. Welcome to the forum.

Peace,

Darrin
 
Re: duncan surfers vs fender custom69

Just one of many, read the previous threads Tom.
Don't mean to sound harsh. Just that the info is
already there. BTW. Welcome to the forum.

Peace,

Darrin

Thanks, no I understand, and believe me, I've been reading everything I can. It's just that so many of these posts...here and elsewhere, concern music I don't really play. Love Hendrix, SRV, etc, but don't play it. Play more pop stuff, more jangley rhythms, and some overdriven leads, but not blues, etc.

Put it this way, I love the way a Fender Nocaster Bridge PU sounds;) The Twangbanger actually sounds interesting, but the problem is, I really love the way this Strat sounds on all the other positions. It's really a "hi fi" super clear and precise sound, that I guess I will badly screw up if I change the bridge PU......

Need more guitars!

Thanks for the wecome, too;)

Tom
 
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