Fender Custom Shop fat 50's
- Thread starter Bluesman
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bungalowbill
Luckybastidologist
Re: Fender Custom Shop fat 50's
Check out the trader section.
Check out the trader section.
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TheArchitect
Guest
Re: Fender Custom Shop fat 50's
Fat 50's will hum. Its the nature of the beast. Shield the guitar and the problems will be minimized to an acceptable degree unless you play in from of a computer or surround yourself in neon. As for tone, I like true single over noisless every time but its really something only you can decide. The Fat 50's are pretty glassy sounding to my ear. Its a one trick pony but if SRV soloing is what you want the Texas Specials are the call. Personally I prefer SD Antiquites or Suhr V60LP's
Fat 50's will hum. Its the nature of the beast. Shield the guitar and the problems will be minimized to an acceptable degree unless you play in from of a computer or surround yourself in neon. As for tone, I like true single over noisless every time but its really something only you can decide. The Fat 50's are pretty glassy sounding to my ear. Its a one trick pony but if SRV soloing is what you want the Texas Specials are the call. Personally I prefer SD Antiquites or Suhr V60LP's
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TheArchitect
Guest
Re: Fender Custom Shop fat 50's
I think 'smooth' would be a better term than fat and thats why I prefer them for anything but covering SRV. The SRV tone needs big mids and sharp attack. The antiquities are singers, not screamers IMO.
I think 'smooth' would be a better term than fat and thats why I prefer them for anything but covering SRV. The SRV tone needs big mids and sharp attack. The antiquities are singers, not screamers IMO.
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: Fender Custom Shop fat 50's
Fat 50's are my favorite Fender pickups. Even though I've tried out a lot of other good strat pickups, I still have 1 strat with Fat 50's, because there's something about them I love.....probably the great character, killer neck pickup tone, and also the fact that they sound better with gain than many other A5 strat pickups.
I also love Surfers, but I did a blindfold test with some people that weren't guitar players, where I played 2 strat neck pickups in 2 different Am strats.
Surfers and the Fat 50's. They picked the Fat 50 neck pickup over the Surfer.
Fat 50's are my favorite Fender pickups. Even though I've tried out a lot of other good strat pickups, I still have 1 strat with Fat 50's, because there's something about them I love.....probably the great character, killer neck pickup tone, and also the fact that they sound better with gain than many other A5 strat pickups.
I also love Surfers, but I did a blindfold test with some people that weren't guitar players, where I played 2 strat neck pickups in 2 different Am strats.
Surfers and the Fat 50's. They picked the Fat 50 neck pickup over the Surfer.
zimmer
New member
Re: Fender Custom Shop fat 50's
There's a set of Fat 50s in my avatar's strat. They are sweet and fat at the same time, if that makes sense to you. I haven't tried Antiquities, but I respect the opinions of many of the folks here.
Mine can stay where they are, as I'm not restless for a better sound right now. They are quieter for me than the oem's, which was an unexpected bonus.
There's a set of Fat 50s in my avatar's strat. They are sweet and fat at the same time, if that makes sense to you. I haven't tried Antiquities, but I respect the opinions of many of the folks here.
Mine can stay where they are, as I'm not restless for a better sound right now. They are quieter for me than the oem's, which was an unexpected bonus.
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: Fender Custom Shop fat 50's
All single coils will have some 60 cycle hum.......the kind where you face a certain direction and it cancells out......move the other way, and HUM!
That's just the nature of true single coils, and most people just deal with it.
If it drives you crazy, definitely buy the brand new Stack Plus set! I'm tempted to buy it myself.
All single coils will have some 60 cycle hum.......the kind where you face a certain direction and it cancells out......move the other way, and HUM!
That's just the nature of true single coils, and most people just deal with it.
If it drives you crazy, definitely buy the brand new Stack Plus set! I'm tempted to buy it myself.
STRATDELUXER97
Stratoblaster Tone Meister
Re: Fender Custom Shop fat 50's
Regarding single coils,shielding,and hum...I've been a strat player since the 70s...Even if you shield the cavity you are going to get hum,why? Because most of the noise or hum we pick up comes from the outside poles of the pickup and into the instrument.The pickups are antennas..Shielding will also knock down some of your highend...This could either be a good thing or a bad thing...The hum and noise is just a part of the single coil sound...On stage or wherever you play,you just have to find that sweet spot where that noise is minimized...To me the shielding is a joke and minimal at best...Some guys even go as far as placing copper strips around the windings on the bobbins,this also cuts your highs down a bit...I only thoroughly shield the backside of my entire pickguard with copper or aluminum foil and I'm good to go...More important is good clean wiring and good shiny clean grounds to your pots....And great pickups!
Regarding single coils,shielding,and hum...I've been a strat player since the 70s...Even if you shield the cavity you are going to get hum,why? Because most of the noise or hum we pick up comes from the outside poles of the pickup and into the instrument.The pickups are antennas..Shielding will also knock down some of your highend...This could either be a good thing or a bad thing...The hum and noise is just a part of the single coil sound...On stage or wherever you play,you just have to find that sweet spot where that noise is minimized...To me the shielding is a joke and minimal at best...Some guys even go as far as placing copper strips around the windings on the bobbins,this also cuts your highs down a bit...I only thoroughly shield the backside of my entire pickguard with copper or aluminum foil and I'm good to go...More important is good clean wiring and good shiny clean grounds to your pots....And great pickups!
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TheArchitect
Guest
Re: Fender Custom Shop fat 50's
I really don't see how you can make that statement. No it doesn't eliminate hum completely but it certainly makes a significant difference when done properly. My strats were useless for recording prior to being shielded because the PC monitor and the transformers in the audio gear permeated everything with hum drowning out the actual guitar signal. God help you if you tried to use any kind of gain. It got worse by a factor of 10 at least. With everything shielded you have to "find mecca" ie face where the pups are 90 degrees from the source but at that point the silence is deafening where before anywhere in the room regardless of position was completely unusable
STRATDELUXER97 said:
I really don't see how you can make that statement. No it doesn't eliminate hum completely but it certainly makes a significant difference when done properly. My strats were useless for recording prior to being shielded because the PC monitor and the transformers in the audio gear permeated everything with hum drowning out the actual guitar signal. God help you if you tried to use any kind of gain. It got worse by a factor of 10 at least. With everything shielded you have to "find mecca" ie face where the pups are 90 degrees from the source but at that point the silence is deafening where before anywhere in the room regardless of position was completely unusable
Bluesman
New member
Re: Fender Custom Shop fat 50's
Thanks to all of those who answered me. I really appreciate it. My mind is made up and I'm going for the Fat 50's.
By the way, if you're willing to answer, STRATDELUXE97, I know you got good knowlidge on amps. Do you happens to make cabs? I'm looking for a 1x12 cabs on witch I would put my HotRod Deluxe. The ones on the market are all to small(not wide anough). I would put a different speaker in the cab compare to the original one of my HotRod. What speaker would make my amp. sing? If I bother you too much, forget about it.
Thanks to all of those who answered me. I really appreciate it. My mind is made up and I'm going for the Fat 50's.
By the way, if you're willing to answer, STRATDELUXE97, I know you got good knowlidge on amps. Do you happens to make cabs? I'm looking for a 1x12 cabs on witch I would put my HotRod Deluxe. The ones on the market are all to small(not wide anough). I would put a different speaker in the cab compare to the original one of my HotRod. What speaker would make my amp. sing? If I bother you too much, forget about it.
STRATDELUXER97
Stratoblaster Tone Meister
Re: Fender Custom Shop fat 50's
I don't make speaker cabs....:wave: I'm a fan of the Vintage 30s..
Bluesman said:
I don't make speaker cabs....:wave: I'm a fan of the Vintage 30s..
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STRATDELUXER97
Stratoblaster Tone Meister
Re: Fender Custom Shop fat 50's
I know it doesn't make a significant difference and I Know it shaves some highs away....I don't hide behind alot of gain anyway and I guess that helps alot and I don't stand anywhere near tv sets or computers...A guy just has to get used to lots of overall noise from single coil pickups cause that's the nature of the beast...I stand behind my statement that the pickups is where you're getting about 90% of the noise from the antenna effects of the poles,windings,and non-dual coils to cancel out hum...Shielding is pretty minimal and the only way to rid any guitar of noise is to go with "humbuckers"....We can agree to disagree and I'm cool with that...I own 5 strats and none of them are cavity shielded,just the pickguard backing..Whatever works for you is all that matters really..
TheArchitect said:
I know it doesn't make a significant difference and I Know it shaves some highs away....I don't hide behind alot of gain anyway and I guess that helps alot and I don't stand anywhere near tv sets or computers...A guy just has to get used to lots of overall noise from single coil pickups cause that's the nature of the beast...I stand behind my statement that the pickups is where you're getting about 90% of the noise from the antenna effects of the poles,windings,and non-dual coils to cancel out hum...Shielding is pretty minimal and the only way to rid any guitar of noise is to go with "humbuckers"....We can agree to disagree and I'm cool with that...I own 5 strats and none of them are cavity shielded,just the pickguard backing..Whatever works for you is all that matters really..
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zimmer
New member
Re: Fender Custom Shop fat 50's
Bluesman, one of the reasons I picked the Fat 50s, other than the sounds, was that the middle pickup is RWRP, and has some hum cancelling in positions 2 and 4 as a result. Other Fender Custom Shop pups that I was considering didn't offer this.
Granted, I've used a MIM Stratocaster that had "okay" pups to start, but I'd say the hum now is less than half of what it was before the swap. For me the upgrade has been excellent.
Bluesman, one of the reasons I picked the Fat 50s, other than the sounds, was that the middle pickup is RWRP, and has some hum cancelling in positions 2 and 4 as a result. Other Fender Custom Shop pups that I was considering didn't offer this.
Granted, I've used a MIM Stratocaster that had "okay" pups to start, but I'd say the hum now is less than half of what it was before the swap. For me the upgrade has been excellent.
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Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: Fender Custom Shop fat 50's
So you already installed the Fat 50's? One thing to know is that they're opposite of Duncan in polarity/wind. That means it's difficult or impossible to get some other brands, like Duncans, to jive with the Fenders.
I love the Fat 50 sound, but amp thinking of glueing a copper base plate onto the bridge pickup to give it more beef and twang.
So you already installed the Fat 50's? One thing to know is that they're opposite of Duncan in polarity/wind. That means it's difficult or impossible to get some other brands, like Duncans, to jive with the Fenders.
I love the Fat 50 sound, but amp thinking of glueing a copper base plate onto the bridge pickup to give it more beef and twang.
Re: Fender Custom Shop fat 50's
I've got fat 50's in my strat and love them. non muddy sweet sounding neck tone, very good mid pos tone which I think is kind of rare and fantastic 2&4 quack. some of the best I've heard. the bridge is good and less ice picky than most fender pups but a little lacking. most folks I've heard from like to put a CS 54 in the bridge spot and say thats the ticket. I'm gonna try it at some point. but I think you'll like your new fat 50's.
I've got fat 50's in my strat and love them. non muddy sweet sounding neck tone, very good mid pos tone which I think is kind of rare and fantastic 2&4 quack. some of the best I've heard. the bridge is good and less ice picky than most fender pups but a little lacking. most folks I've heard from like to put a CS 54 in the bridge spot and say thats the ticket. I'm gonna try it at some point. but I think you'll like your new fat 50's.
