Duncans that are similar to Eric Johnson's signature set with Fuzz

[Jimmy R]

Hi everyone,

Thanks for taking the time to read. I'm thinking about having a Custom Shop Strat built and my favorite Strat pickups are the Eric Johnson signature set (I suppose the neck could be a tad livelier). I absolutely love how they sound with his signature Fuzz Face in the bridge and bridge/middle positions and haven’t really encountered anything that sounded remotely similar from Fender.

The tone I'm talking about is in this video at 1:10

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZVODLLiOhM

Believe it or not, a Duncan Lipstick (Alnico 6?) sounded the most similar, but I want a traditional look. I tried the DiMarzio HS-2 in split mode but was left really disappointed.

Have any of you played either Duncan Antiquity I Texas Hots or Antiquity II Surfers with his Fuzz? I’m thinking they might work for me. The Surfer bridge is Alnico V while the Texas Hot Bridge is an Alnico II, so maybe the Surfers would be a better match? I could always just get an after market set of the EJs off eBay but I would REALLY like to not have to change anything out of the box.

Aside from the lipsticks, I've tried:

Fender Fat 50s
Fender American Vintage '56 pickups
Fender Custom Shop '50s
Fender Abby Red Hots
Fender Abby Handwounds
Fender John Cruz Ltd in the Wildwood '10s (LOVE the neck pickup when clean)

Thanks again,

Jim

 

[firebirdguy72]

Re: Duncans that are similar to Eric Johnson's signature set with Fuzz

Will they not build a CS guitar with his signature pickups?

 

[Jimmy R]

Re: Duncans that are similar to Eric Johnson's signature set with Fuzz

Will they not build a CS guitar with his signature pickups?

Nope. It must be a part of the agreement Eric has with Fender.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Duncans that are similar to Eric Johnson's signature set with Fuzz

Ok, you're spending a lot on a Custom Shop guitar. Surely you can select "masterbuilt handwound" pickups, then specify they sound "similar to the EJ set but with a tad livelier neck", right?

 

[SJ318]

Re: Duncans that are similar to Eric Johnson's signature set with Fuzz

Hi,
I like and use on stage (when I get to play) A Fender 57/62, very chimney, no so much ice pick in ears either. Use in mid position. IIRC-about 6.2K or so.
Also, on another Strat partocaster, a Fender '69 pup (Jimi H./Woodstock tribute) in the mid position, more high end, in the 5.8K territory.
I use these as they go so well with my Seth Lover trembucker bridge, and on my other, the '69 mid goes fabulous with my ECPickup trem spaced "Freedom" bridge.
I played an Eric Johnson Sig. Strat, to me they sounded plain, not modded at all, liked the 57/62 pup for more of an Eric J "violin" sound without all the complicated stuff Eric has behind his amp, just using a tube screamer with all settings close to 12 (half way up), just to be clear.
I hope in some way this might help in your search. Duncan makes a set that supposedly sounds Eric J-ish but can't remember which, maybe their "psycodelic" '69.
SJB