Eric Johnson Strat pups vs Antiquity II Surfers

[calibre2001]

I'm looking for pup replacements for my 80s MIJ Strat. Body is basswood ( I presume?), maple fretboard, bone nut, 50s style body etc. Neck and middle pups were replaced with MIM Std Strat middle and bridge pups, bridge pup is stock (thin and trebly). It plays well and is very reasonant, a great guitar basically. However, I'm not happy with the plugged in sound.

I tried the EJ Strat and must I agree the pups are great, especially the bridger for me. Simply the best Strat bridge pup I've played. The neck and middle are nice too. Might buy a set off ebay. I definitely want the bridger.

But, after browsing the threads there, I'm starting to believe in the Antiquity Surfers II hype having not tried it. My only experience w SD vintage reproduction are Seth Lovers (great pups). I feel Seymour wouldn't disappoint with the Surfers. They must be excellent stuff. But these are more pricey than a set of EJ pups.

I'm looking for pups capable of Rory Gallagher (esp the BBC Sessions album), Hendrix at Woodstock...basically great traditional Strat overdriven sounds. What are the differences btw EJ pups and Sufers? Thanks.

 

[Zhurh]

Re: Eric Johnson Strat pups vs Antiquity II Surfers

I don't know all that much about all the pups out there, ordered a bruno and on another bruno owners recommendation; I put a set of those surfers on my strat a few weeks back. At first, I wasn't sure as they seemed quite bright; considered sending them back exchange for tex hots. THen I started adjusting them up and down; now they ain;t going anywhere's. I really like them, sound so rich & quick responding. I think that I'm going to put new S.D. pups on my other fenders. No way you won't like surfers and if you do call the guys at S.D. 21 day exchange policy and I'm sure they'll have something that sounds better than any fender pups out there.

 

[walt]

Re: Eric Johnson Strat pups vs Antiquity II Surfers

I'm not sure as to which pups are in the new E J Strat, but he used to use a dimarzio hs-2 in the bridge with the stock neck and middle. The hs-2 was used in split mode.

 

[gripweed]

Re: Eric Johnson Strat pups vs Antiquity II Surfers

I'm not sure as to which pups are in the new E J Strat, but he used to use a dimarzio hs-2 in the bridge with the stock neck and middle. The hs-2 was used in split mode.

The neck and middle are an a3/a5 magnet configuration and the bridge is an a5 magnet. Other than that I'm not sure of the specs. I'd bet the Surfers would get you close to the Johnson Strat sound.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Eric Johnson Strat pups vs Antiquity II Surfers

Surfers are GREAT pickups, although they're definitely vintage sounding. I'd recommend buying the 9.7K Surfer Custom Bridge, and 2 Surfers. rw/rp for the middle. Expensive, but if they end up in your main strat, it's worth it.

To answer your question about EJ pickups. I like the bridge, and it sounds about the same as a Surfer Custom. However, the neck/middle sounded less than the tone I hear out of Surfer neck/middle. A little 'less alive.'

 

[calibre2001]

Re: Eric Johnson Strat pups vs Antiquity II Surfers

Yeah I agree on the neck and middle EJ pups. That is why I'm toying with the idea of using an EJ bridge together with Surfer neck and middle pups. Do they match? I mean I understand Duncan and Fender pups have different polarity issues. Is this true?

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Eric Johnson Strat pups vs Antiquity II Surfers

Yeah I agree on the neck and middle EJ pups. That is why I'm toying with the idea of using an EJ bridge together with Surfer neck and middle pups. Do they match? I mean I understand Duncan and Fender pups have different polarity issues. Is this true?

Yeah, I've run into this problem everytime I've mated Duncans with Fenders, and I won't do it anymore. I'd suggest staying with same brands within a strat set.

With Fenders, I've heard that some people like to use a Texas Special bridge with either Fat 50's or 69's as the neck/middle. I'd imagine that an EJ bridge with 2 Fat 50's would be great. I like the Fat 50's neck a lot, and probably like it more than the EJ neck.

 

[Farkus]

Re: Eric Johnson Strat pups vs Antiquity II Surfers

I like the Fat 50's neck a lot, and probably like it more than the EJ neck.

Couldn't agree more...the Fat 50's neck is great, I like the middle as well. The bridge is too weak for my tastes.

I'm working on a set of Ant I pickups to compare to my Chubtone 63-63-El Gordo set, which are my fav's for Strat so far.

 

[calibre2001]

Re: Eric Johnson Strat pups vs Antiquity II Surfers

I'm no electronics guru but won't reverse wiring the odd Fender pup with SD pups solve the polarity issue?

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Eric Johnson Strat pups vs Antiquity II Surfers

Having owned many many sets of Strat pickups, including sets from the 50's and 60's and sets by Seymour, Lindy Fralin, Rio Grande, Dimarzio, Van Zandt, etc. it's hard to believe that any set could be better than the Surfers. Differant? Sure! Equal? Maybe... Better? I doubt it...

 

[Prolik]

Re: Eric Johnson Strat pups vs Antiquity II Surfers

Lollar Blonde...I just have to mention,as I have those in my 77' Strat.
I still can't belive...

My Music
http://alandovic.tripod.com

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Eric Johnson Strat pups vs Antiquity II Surfers

Having owned many many sets of Strat pickups, including sets from the 50's and 60's and sets by Seymour, Lindy Fralin, Rio Grande, Dimarzio, Van Zandt, etc. it's hard to believe that any set could be better than the Surfers. Differant? Sure! Equal? Maybe... Better? I doubt it...

I agree. When you own high quality strat pickups from different manufacturers, they all sound good, but all have a slightly different flavor. It's almost hard to believe, because many of them are almost identical specs. With the EJ neck and middle, I know that A3 is not necessarily a great sounding magnet, and that may be why I don't love them. The pickups that blow me away are Surfers and Chubtone 63's and 69's.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Eric Johnson Strat pups vs Antiquity II Surfers

I agree. When you own high quality strat pickups from different manufacturers, they all sound good, but all have a slightly different flavor. It's almost hard to believe, because many of them are almost identical specs. With the EJ neck and middle, I know that A3 is not necessarily a great sounding magnet, and that may be why I don't love them. The pickups that blow me away are Surfers and Chubtone 63's and 69's.

Never tried Chubtones...but my faves of all time would be the Surfers, followed by Fralin Vintage Hots for vintage tones and then Bardens for "better than vintage".

So the EJ pickups are alnico 3? That would be what was in the '54 Strat but I thought EJ changed the pickups in his 54 because he wasn't crazy about that tone? I know he used some vintage alnico 5 Strat pickups rewound by Lindy Fralin...and by others too. I'm surprised he would choose alnico 3 Strat pickups if they are indeed alnico 3.

I've always found alnico 3 single coils to be a little to bright and somewhat shrill under some playing conditions...that's certainly the way I felt about the alnico 3 Nocaster pickups. They're good...but not my favorites, so in my Custom Shop Tele I switched the Nocasters to alnico 2 Duncan Antiquitys...much nicer!

lew

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Eric Johnson Strat pups vs Antiquity II Surfers

I'm no electronics guru but won't reverse wiring the odd Fender pup with SD pups solve the polarity issue?

Yeah, but then that notch position won't be hum free, even though it sounds right. Then, you may have to swap the neck and middle pickups, to get the rw/rp pickup away from your bridge....over to the neck. And who knows if there's one variable that makes it impossible to mate a Fender with a Duncan.
I'm no wiring expert either, and by that time, I'm frustrated and angry for having to keep pulling the pickguard off. That's why I said I won't do it anymore. I like wiring to be plain and simple! :yell: :fingersx:

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Eric Johnson Strat pups vs Antiquity II Surfers

So the EJ pickups are alnico 3?

I'm going by memory here, but I think that the EJ bridge is A5, and the neck and middle are either A3 or are hybrid A3 on wound/A5 on plain......something like that. In any case, I play the EJ strat everytime I go into a store that has one because I want it to be my next guitar....when I can find one cheap.
The bridge pickup sounds fine, but the neck sounds flat compared to my Antiquity II's, Fralins, and Chubtones.

 

[calibre2001]

Re: Eric Johnson Strat pups vs Antiquity II Surfers

How different are SSL1s to Antiquities Surfers anyway? Just slightly, but relatively less 3D than Surfers? Like Alnico Pro 2s to Seth Lovers?

 

[calibre2001]

Re: Eric Johnson Strat pups vs Antiquity II Surfers

bump

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Eric Johnson Strat pups vs Antiquity II Surfers

How different are SSL1s to Antiquities Surfers anyway? Just slightly, but relatively less 3D than Surfers? Like Alnico Pro 2s to Seth Lovers?

The Surfers are similar but are better...more growl when I pick hard and just a richer tone. Just better. Every Antiquity I've owned has been better than its stock counterpart...which isn't a put down of the SSL-1. It's still a great pickup.

Lew

 

[stevie_bees]

Re: Eric Johnson Strat pups vs Antiquity II Surfers

The Surfers are similar but are better...more growl when I pick hard and just a richer tone. Just better. Every Antiquity I've owned has been better than its stock counterpart...which isn't a put down of the SSL-1. It's still a great pickup.

Lew

If you're on a budget, then the SSL-1's are great. You get what you pay for, so if you can afford the Surfers, go for it. If not, then you won't go far wrong with the SSL-1's.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Eric Johnson Strat pups vs Antiquity II Surfers

So much of it has to do with your amp. When you see Eric Johnson, he's using the best amps on earth, and I'm pretty sure he tuned his signature pickups to his rig.

I'll be honest, my tele has Chubtone III/V's in it, which are Alnico 3 on wound and Alnico 5 on plain, so I know what EJ was going for......ultimate clarity on the wound and nice bass on the plains. In my tele, it sounds awesome, but it's possible that they'd sound better to me, being completely A5.
That's what I think of strat pickups....if they aren't Alnico 5 scatterwound to vintage specs with a hotter bridge, they won't be perfect, in my opinion.
That's the opitome of great strat pickups....the same specs that Surfers with
Surfer Custom bridge are.