Fralin Blues Special vs. Surfers

[gripweed]

Maybe Lew is best qualified to answer this question, but does anyone have experience with both of these pickups? How do they compare? I noticed some of the specs are very similar. Thanks!

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Fralin Blues Special vs. Surfers

I wish I could say that I have compared them directly but I have not. I have compared the Surfers to the Fralin Vintage Hots...but not to the Blues Specials.

I can give this info though:

The Vintage Hots are brighter and less thick sounding than the Blues Specials and the Blues Specials have a little more output and slightly less glassy tone than the Vintage Hots.

And the Surfers seem a little ballsier and throatier than the Vintage Hots....whereas the Vintage Hots seem more refined and chimier than the Surfers.

The Surfers and Vintage Hots are very similar though.

But I believe the Surfers are wound with 42 ga. wire as are the Vintage Hots.

I'm pretty sure the Blues Specials are wound with thinner wire...43 ga.

Lew

 

[dr.barlo]

Re: Fralin Blues Special vs. Surfers

I wish I could say that I have compared them directly but I have not. I have compared the Surfers to the Fralin Vintage Hots...but not to the Blues Specials.

I can give this info though:

The Vintage Hots are brighter and less thick sounding than the Blues Specials and the Blues Specials have a little more output and slightly less glassy tone than the Vintage Hots.

And the Surfers seem a little ballsier and throatier than the Vintage Hots....whereas the Vintage Hots seem more refined and chimier than the Surfers.

The Surfers and Vintage Hots are very similar though.

But I believe the Surfers are wound with 42 ga. wire as are the Vintage Hots.

I'm pretty sure the Blues Specials are wound with thinner wire...43 ga.

Lew

No clue about the strat blues specials, but I believe that the tele fralin blues special bridge is wound to 7.30-7.40K with #42 wire. Also knowing that van zandt blues specials are wound with #42s makes me kinda suspect that this holds also for fralin's blues sp's.

Best,

B