Hey Lew! How about a review on them Ant II Surfers?
- Thread starter beandip
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Lewguitar
Guest
Re: Hey Lew! How about a review on them Ant II Surfers?
They're excellant. Brighter and bouncier than the Texas Hots. More bass and highs and a little less mids, but still plenty of quack. I just put them in yesterday...I'll do a real review when I'm had a chance to compare them to:
'63 Strat
Fender Jimmie Vaughn with Duncan SSL-1's
Fender 57 RI with Fralin Vintage Hots
So far so good tho! Just like when I had the Ant Texas Hots in this same guitar, I can't put it down!
Lew
They're excellant. Brighter and bouncier than the Texas Hots. More bass and highs and a little less mids, but still plenty of quack. I just put them in yesterday...I'll do a real review when I'm had a chance to compare them to:
'63 Strat
Fender Jimmie Vaughn with Duncan SSL-1's
Fender 57 RI with Fralin Vintage Hots
So far so good tho! Just like when I had the Ant Texas Hots in this same guitar, I can't put it down!
Lew
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: Hey Lew! How about a review on them Ant II Surfers?
Can't really add much to what I said before...
The new Ant II's are simply wonderful...some of the best sounding Strat pickups I've ever played.
It's hard to compare them to the 40 year old originals in my '63 Strat because that's a rosewood fingerboard, maple neck and alder body guitar and my 57 RI is alder with a one piece maple neck.
The tone of the the '63 is a little rounder and warmer overall...
But the Ant II's appear to be about equal, in terms of inspiring tone, to the 40 year old Fenders in my '63.
The bridge Ant II is much more useful as it has some decent output for soloing.
The Neck/Middle and Middle/Bridge tones of the Ant II's are chunky, chimey and give a perfect Sultans of Swing tone! Couldn't be better...COULDN'T BE BETTER!
The Ant II's have a little more output than the oldies but lack nothing in terms of clarity, texture, complexity and detailed tone.
So how do they compare to the SSL-1's and Ant Texas Hots I had in this exact same guitar?
Great as the Texas Hots are, I prefer the Ant II's. They have less quack and less mids, but more bass and highs.
The tone is bouncier and bubblier (more like my '63) and that's the Strat tone I like.
Compared to the SSL-1's, which are also alnico 5 like the Ant II's, the Ant II's are a little beefier and smoother but just as articulate and inspiring. The SSL-1's seemed a little brighter and snappier...but just a little. The SSL-1's are a little less complex and textured...the Ant II's just have more VIBE.
The Antiquitys are the way to go, IMO, if you're looking for Duncan pickups with the absolute most inspiring vintage tone possible.
These will never leave this guitar!
I love the Fralin Vintage Hots and True Vintage Strat pickups in my other guitars, but these Ant II's are just as fine. Really, really special, IMO.
Lew
Can't really add much to what I said before...
The new Ant II's are simply wonderful...some of the best sounding Strat pickups I've ever played.
It's hard to compare them to the 40 year old originals in my '63 Strat because that's a rosewood fingerboard, maple neck and alder body guitar and my 57 RI is alder with a one piece maple neck.
The tone of the the '63 is a little rounder and warmer overall...
But the Ant II's appear to be about equal, in terms of inspiring tone, to the 40 year old Fenders in my '63.
The bridge Ant II is much more useful as it has some decent output for soloing.
The Neck/Middle and Middle/Bridge tones of the Ant II's are chunky, chimey and give a perfect Sultans of Swing tone! Couldn't be better...COULDN'T BE BETTER!
The Ant II's have a little more output than the oldies but lack nothing in terms of clarity, texture, complexity and detailed tone.
So how do they compare to the SSL-1's and Ant Texas Hots I had in this exact same guitar?
Great as the Texas Hots are, I prefer the Ant II's. They have less quack and less mids, but more bass and highs.
The tone is bouncier and bubblier (more like my '63) and that's the Strat tone I like.
Compared to the SSL-1's, which are also alnico 5 like the Ant II's, the Ant II's are a little beefier and smoother but just as articulate and inspiring. The SSL-1's seemed a little brighter and snappier...but just a little. The SSL-1's are a little less complex and textured...the Ant II's just have more VIBE.
The Antiquitys are the way to go, IMO, if you're looking for Duncan pickups with the absolute most inspiring vintage tone possible.
These will never leave this guitar!
I love the Fralin Vintage Hots and True Vintage Strat pickups in my other guitars, but these Ant II's are just as fine. Really, really special, IMO.
Lew
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Lewguitar
Guest
Re: Hey Lew! How about a review on them Ant II Surfers?
I ordered a few sets yesterday...should be in stock in a couple of weeks. They're about $210 a set...same as the Texas Hots. $10 less than a set of Fralins. Thanks! Lew
I ordered a few sets yesterday...should be in stock in a couple of weeks. They're about $210 a set...same as the Texas Hots. $10 less than a set of Fralins. Thanks! Lew
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: Hey Lew! How about a review on them Ant II Surfers?
I do wish Seymour or Evan had given them a differant name. SURFER implies something real differant from what I'm actually hearing from these AntII's...they sure aren't limited to D*ck Dale, Ventures, or Beach Boys music.
I never play that stuff, tho I did when it was new...I used to do a pretty mean version of Miserlou back in the 60's.
The Ant II's are perfect for getting the tone of those old Strats used by Buddy Guy, Clapton, SRV, Robert Cray, etc., tho they don't seem quite as thin and overtly glassy as some of the weaker a5 Strat pickups. They're plenty ballsy!
Robert Cray goes for that real clean, glassy tone...but that's mostly the way he sets up his amp. The Ant II's will cop that tone easily through a Super Reverb set for a clean tone.
To me, the Ant II's might be Duncan's ultimate vintage style Strat pickup for BLUES.
Lew
I do wish Seymour or Evan had given them a differant name. SURFER implies something real differant from what I'm actually hearing from these AntII's...they sure aren't limited to D*ck Dale, Ventures, or Beach Boys music.
I never play that stuff, tho I did when it was new...I used to do a pretty mean version of Miserlou back in the 60's.
The Ant II's are perfect for getting the tone of those old Strats used by Buddy Guy, Clapton, SRV, Robert Cray, etc., tho they don't seem quite as thin and overtly glassy as some of the weaker a5 Strat pickups. They're plenty ballsy!
Robert Cray goes for that real clean, glassy tone...but that's mostly the way he sets up his amp. The Ant II's will cop that tone easily through a Super Reverb set for a clean tone.
To me, the Ant II's might be Duncan's ultimate vintage style Strat pickup for BLUES.
Lew
Curly
Moe's Bluesman
Re: Hey Lew! How about a review on them Ant II Surfers?
Lew,
this is not good news! I thought I was done with my search for a while - I guess not :sad:
thanks a lot for the review ... the two or three other theads asking about the Antiquity II's died with nary a whimper, as far as I remember, because I was curious myself, and tried to ask several people about 'em without much success :sad:
I loved surf music! but the problem wasn't the pickups, apparently - it was the way they used their amps! -- turned down and clean ... well, except for Dik Dale with his Dual Showman!
when everyone started crankin the old amps after Beano, it was a different story ...
that's why I commented back in the old threads that I thought the Surfer name might be unfortunate - maybe they should've jazzed up the name with something like "Tone Surfer" or "Hot Dawg Surfers" ...
you just know that a lot of great blues and rock n roll was recorded with 60's strats!
Lew,
this is not good news! I thought I was done with my search for a while - I guess not :sad:
thanks a lot for the review ... the two or three other theads asking about the Antiquity II's died with nary a whimper, as far as I remember, because I was curious myself, and tried to ask several people about 'em without much success :sad:
I loved surf music! but the problem wasn't the pickups, apparently - it was the way they used their amps! -- turned down and clean ... well, except for Dik Dale with his Dual Showman!
when everyone started crankin the old amps after Beano, it was a different story ...
that's why I commented back in the old threads that I thought the Surfer name might be unfortunate - maybe they should've jazzed up the name with something like "Tone Surfer" or "Hot Dawg Surfers" ...
you just know that a lot of great blues and rock n roll was recorded with 60's strats!
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: Hey Lew! How about a review on them Ant II Surfers?
Thanks Curly!
I think SURFERS is a bad name for these pickups.
I loved the Ventures as much as the next guy when I was a kid in the early 60's...but if you're a blues player the SURFER handle might scare you off and that would be unfortunate.
These Surfers are actually closer to what SRV, Robert Cray, Buddy Guy, etc., would have had in thier old 50's and 60's Strats.
Since that's the tone I grew up with, that's the tone I prefer.
But these "SURFERS" ( :smack: ) are a little ballsier than the genuine a5 Strat pickups in my '63.
My step-brother Bob Baugh (Bad Bob and the Basement Rockers...) had a killer '62 Strat that I used to compare to my '63. They were only one year apart and I don't really think the two guitars had differant pickups but just the nature of his particular guitar gave his Strat a slightly ballsier tone.
These Surfers ( :smack: ) remind me of that tone of Bob's '62...tho, as I said, I think the pickups in his guitar and in mine were as identical as those old handwound pickups could be.
The diff in tone had more to do the weight and wood I think...plus his guitar had a slightly wider and beefier neck than mine has.
Lew
Thanks Curly!
I think SURFERS is a bad name for these pickups.
I loved the Ventures as much as the next guy when I was a kid in the early 60's...but if you're a blues player the SURFER handle might scare you off and that would be unfortunate.
These Surfers are actually closer to what SRV, Robert Cray, Buddy Guy, etc., would have had in thier old 50's and 60's Strats.
Since that's the tone I grew up with, that's the tone I prefer.
But these "SURFERS" ( :smack: ) are a little ballsier than the genuine a5 Strat pickups in my '63.
My step-brother Bob Baugh (Bad Bob and the Basement Rockers...) had a killer '62 Strat that I used to compare to my '63. They were only one year apart and I don't really think the two guitars had differant pickups but just the nature of his particular guitar gave his Strat a slightly ballsier tone.
These Surfers ( :smack: ) remind me of that tone of Bob's '62...tho, as I said, I think the pickups in his guitar and in mine were as identical as those old handwound pickups could be.
The diff in tone had more to do the weight and wood I think...plus his guitar had a slightly wider and beefier neck than mine has.
Lew
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Lewguitar
Guest
Re: Hey Lew! How about a review on them Ant II Surfers?
Curly, like I said in the PM I sent you:
If a guy is looking for vintage Strat tone but would like to get away from the thin glassy tone of some vintage Strat pickups and get a denser, chunkier tone with more mids ( a tone better for soloing sometimes...and usually easier on the ears) then try the Antiquity Texas Hots.
SRV didn't get a thin tone at all...his tone was fat and full for the most part, and even tho his pickups were alnico 5, I think the a2 Texas Hots actually make it easier for most guys to get that SRV tone you hear on the records. Especially if you don't have VICE GRIPS for hands, a wall of amps (including a $10,000 DUMBLE amp) and if you use 10 - 46 strings instead of steel cables for strings!
If a guy is looking for a vintage Strat tone that's a little more like a real 50's or 60's Strat, but with a better bridge pickup: try the Antiquity II Surfers.
Lew
Curly, like I said in the PM I sent you:
If a guy is looking for vintage Strat tone but would like to get away from the thin glassy tone of some vintage Strat pickups and get a denser, chunkier tone with more mids ( a tone better for soloing sometimes...and usually easier on the ears) then try the Antiquity Texas Hots.
SRV didn't get a thin tone at all...his tone was fat and full for the most part, and even tho his pickups were alnico 5, I think the a2 Texas Hots actually make it easier for most guys to get that SRV tone you hear on the records. Especially if you don't have VICE GRIPS for hands, a wall of amps (including a $10,000 DUMBLE amp) and if you use 10 - 46 strings instead of steel cables for strings!
If a guy is looking for a vintage Strat tone that's a little more like a real 50's or 60's Strat, but with a better bridge pickup: try the Antiquity II Surfers.
Lew
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Buckeyedog
New member
Re: Hey Lew! How about a review on them Ant II Surfers?
Lew, did you get my PM??
Lew, did you get my PM??
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: Hey Lew! How about a review on them Ant II Surfers?
I get jillions of PM's and emails...they just turn into a blur, tho I try to answer most of them. What did you need? Thanks! Lew
Buckeyedog said:
I get jillions of PM's and emails...they just turn into a blur, tho I try to answer most of them. What did you need? Thanks! Lew
SoCalSteve
New member
Re: Hey Lew! How about a review on them Ant II Surfers?
Just when I think I'm finished upgrading my gear, you guys get me excited about something else!
Here's what David Szabados at legendarytones .com says-"I'm going to cut to the chase. The Seymour Duncan Antiquities series pickups that I tested had the best tone of any single-coil pickup I've ever used".
Time to get out my wallet!
Just when I think I'm finished upgrading my gear, you guys get me excited about something else!
Here's what David Szabados at legendarytones .com says-"I'm going to cut to the chase. The Seymour Duncan Antiquities series pickups that I tested had the best tone of any single-coil pickup I've ever used".
Time to get out my wallet!
Buckeyedog
New member
Re: Hey Lew! How about a review on them Ant II Surfers?
Lew, you answered......need the tortoise shell pickguard (8 hole) and a blender pot for my SRV strat!! I sent via paypal, thanks!!
Kevin
Lew, you answered......need the tortoise shell pickguard (8 hole) and a blender pot for my SRV strat!! I sent via paypal, thanks!!
Kevin
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: Hey Lew! How about a review on them Ant II Surfers?
Had some fun last night! The family was away and I had the place to myself so I was able to put in some serious playing time and just blow off some steam.
(And really crank up some of my old Fender amps with these Duncan Ant II's and really see what they can do!)
Guys, they are fantastic. The #2 and #4 switch positions are the chunkiest, cluckiest N & M and M & B tones I've ever heard. Even nicer than the same settings on my '63 Strat.
In fact, my '88 MIJ Fender 57 RI Strat with the Ant II's now sounds BETTER than my '63 and that's not an exageration.
The Ant II's push my amp harder and have a much fuller tone than I originally thought. And they're the quackiest a5 Strat pickups I've ever used... more like the Ant I Texas Hots than I thought.
But they're chimier, crunchier and more textured on top than the Texas Hots...brighter, but not harsh or ice picky at all.
In terms of the ultimate vintage Strat tone, maybe the Fralin True Vintage ( = Lindy's Vintage Hot set but underwound about 3%) are closest to the tone of the pickups in my '63 Strat...I have the Fralins in my '92 MIJ Fender 57 RI and love them.
The Fralins are a little bubblier and more transparant...very lively and bouncey.
But the Ant II's are much stronger and fuller sounding than either the pickups in my '63, or the Fralins in my '92.....even tho, except for the 9.5K Ant II bridge pickup, they spec out fairly close to vintage Strat pickups in terms of DC resistance...just a little hotter.
Someone else here has got to try these puppies and do a review, because in terms of the set that's the most fun to play and just gets me off and makes me think of new ideas and songs and just makes me want to groove and play my guitar:
The Antiquity II Surfers might just be the best set of Stratocaster Pickups I've ever owned!
They are definately the best sounding set I've ever had in this guitar...and I've had some of the best pickup sets available in it: Fender Texas Specials, Duncan SSL-1's, Duncan SSL-2's, Fralin Blues Specials, Duncan Texas Hots and now these Antiquity II's.
As I said, the Ant II's will never leave this guitar.
Lew
Had some fun last night! The family was away and I had the place to myself so I was able to put in some serious playing time and just blow off some steam.
(And really crank up some of my old Fender amps with these Duncan Ant II's and really see what they can do!)
Guys, they are fantastic. The #2 and #4 switch positions are the chunkiest, cluckiest N & M and M & B tones I've ever heard. Even nicer than the same settings on my '63 Strat.
In fact, my '88 MIJ Fender 57 RI Strat with the Ant II's now sounds BETTER than my '63 and that's not an exageration.
The Ant II's push my amp harder and have a much fuller tone than I originally thought. And they're the quackiest a5 Strat pickups I've ever used... more like the Ant I Texas Hots than I thought.
But they're chimier, crunchier and more textured on top than the Texas Hots...brighter, but not harsh or ice picky at all.
In terms of the ultimate vintage Strat tone, maybe the Fralin True Vintage ( = Lindy's Vintage Hot set but underwound about 3%) are closest to the tone of the pickups in my '63 Strat...I have the Fralins in my '92 MIJ Fender 57 RI and love them.
The Fralins are a little bubblier and more transparant...very lively and bouncey.
But the Ant II's are much stronger and fuller sounding than either the pickups in my '63, or the Fralins in my '92.....even tho, except for the 9.5K Ant II bridge pickup, they spec out fairly close to vintage Strat pickups in terms of DC resistance...just a little hotter.
Someone else here has got to try these puppies and do a review, because in terms of the set that's the most fun to play and just gets me off and makes me think of new ideas and songs and just makes me want to groove and play my guitar:
The Antiquity II Surfers might just be the best set of Stratocaster Pickups I've ever owned!
They are definately the best sounding set I've ever had in this guitar...and I've had some of the best pickup sets available in it: Fender Texas Specials, Duncan SSL-1's, Duncan SSL-2's, Fralin Blues Specials, Duncan Texas Hots and now these Antiquity II's.
As I said, the Ant II's will never leave this guitar.
Lew
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Lewguitar
Guest
Re: Hey Lew! How about a review on them Ant II Surfers?
I think because whenever I called Duncan and asked about the "best" Strat pickups they make, the Antiquity Texas Hots were always the ones suggested. And they ARE great...as we all know.
I don't know why the Duncan employees I've spoken to overlook the Ant II's...maybe it's the Surfer handle or something.
Maybe they're never given them a serious work out.
I dunno!
I know I've given them several serious workouts now and had a chance to compare them to the pickups in my favorite Strats and the Ant II's are simply fantastic!
Lew
Curly said:
I think because whenever I called Duncan and asked about the "best" Strat pickups they make, the Antiquity Texas Hots were always the ones suggested. And they ARE great...as we all know.
I don't know why the Duncan employees I've spoken to overlook the Ant II's...maybe it's the Surfer handle or something.
Maybe they're never given them a serious work out.
I dunno!
I know I've given them several serious workouts now and had a chance to compare them to the pickups in my favorite Strats and the Ant II's are simply fantastic!
Lew
Curly
Moe's Bluesman
Re: Hey Lew! How about a review on them Ant II Surfers?
haha, Lew
I get the impression sometimes that you might like a little brighter pickup than me, but there's only one real way to find out
I agree with you ... just logically, if the Ant II's are similar to real 60's strat pickups, that were used on tons of classic rock tunes, then they'd have to be a great pickup. Winding the bridge a little hotter would even make 'em just a little better
and again, the few threads we've had asking about the Ant II's didn't get much response - either nobody's used 'em, or everyone prefers a warmer pup like the Ant I, or it was up to us
sometimes, ya gotta jump in the river and swim
haha, Lew
I get the impression sometimes that you might like a little brighter pickup than me, but there's only one real way to find out
I agree with you ... just logically, if the Ant II's are similar to real 60's strat pickups, that were used on tons of classic rock tunes, then they'd have to be a great pickup. Winding the bridge a little hotter would even make 'em just a little better
and again, the few threads we've had asking about the Ant II's didn't get much response - either nobody's used 'em, or everyone prefers a warmer pup like the Ant I, or it was up to us
sometimes, ya gotta jump in the river and swim
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: Hey Lew! How about a review on them Ant II Surfers?
Yep... I play through my 50's tweed Deluxes and '51 tweed Super more than any of my other amps and those little 20 watt Deluxes and Supers have a fairly warm tone...blackface Fender DR's are brighter and have less mids than the 50's Deluxes...as you know. A warmer sounding pickup sounds like it lacks highs sometimes when played through the 20 watt tweeds...tho it might sound perfect through a blackface Fender.
Plus, I'll admit that my ears have taken a real beating being around screaming guitars and screaming power tools most of my life...I do like a pickup with a little clearer, brighter tone and more articulation than some guys seem to favor.
Never had any complaints about my tone tho...other than: "TURN THAT GUITAR DOWN!" :laugh2:
Lew
Yep... I play through my 50's tweed Deluxes and '51 tweed Super more than any of my other amps and those little 20 watt Deluxes and Supers have a fairly warm tone...blackface Fender DR's are brighter and have less mids than the 50's Deluxes...as you know. A warmer sounding pickup sounds like it lacks highs sometimes when played through the 20 watt tweeds...tho it might sound perfect through a blackface Fender.
Plus, I'll admit that my ears have taken a real beating being around screaming guitars and screaming power tools most of my life...I do like a pickup with a little clearer, brighter tone and more articulation than some guys seem to favor.
Never had any complaints about my tone tho...other than: "TURN THAT GUITAR DOWN!" :laugh2:
Lew
dr.barlo
New member
Re: Hey Lew! How about a review on them Ant II Surfers?
Lew,
Questions on top of what you said in your comparison of AntII's against Fralin Vintage hots.
The vintage hots are chimey, and they sound like Clapton's brownie (derek and the dominoes) tone. Yet strangely enough due to the lack of bass, the mids kinda seem to be too upfront. Not that it is bad, yet whenever I play it I like the van zandt's vintage pluses more. (Mind you these are not the true vintage van zandts; they sound beefier, have a very clearly defined bass, lots of quack and chime.) Fralin has more chime yet, the lack of bass is why I do not like them that much.
But whenever I listen to myself on stage, or some recordings doen with the neck position of that guitar; Fralins seem to cut better! Maybe I do not need that bass anyway. Afterall what's important is the results in a band setting.
Still what I really wanna have for this guitar (ash body; maple-maple neck) is something very close to fralins, BUT with more bass, but same amount of chime. That is, I need the Fralin vintage hot (mine is 5.90K) with more bass. Not more mids, not more highs, but simply more defined bass. And I wanna keep all the other characteristics of that pickup. I am cool with the mids, because I believe that is the place where quack and chime is hidden.
So I figure what you say is somewhat similar to my observations/ideals. The Ant2s are quacky, have more bass, but less mids. What about chime, is it in the highs or in the mids? I know that is kinda vague but I don't know how to express what I am thinking otherwise.
Is the ant2 bridge like 9.50K? Ant custom that I got from you is very cool, but not as quacky and as strat bridge as the van zandt blues special. And frankly, I think I like the van zandt strat bridge more, afterall it sounds like a real strat!
Whenever you have time man! Thanks,
B
Lew,
Questions on top of what you said in your comparison of AntII's against Fralin Vintage hots.
The vintage hots are chimey, and they sound like Clapton's brownie (derek and the dominoes) tone. Yet strangely enough due to the lack of bass, the mids kinda seem to be too upfront. Not that it is bad, yet whenever I play it I like the van zandt's vintage pluses more. (Mind you these are not the true vintage van zandts; they sound beefier, have a very clearly defined bass, lots of quack and chime.) Fralin has more chime yet, the lack of bass is why I do not like them that much.
But whenever I listen to myself on stage, or some recordings doen with the neck position of that guitar; Fralins seem to cut better! Maybe I do not need that bass anyway. Afterall what's important is the results in a band setting.
Still what I really wanna have for this guitar (ash body; maple-maple neck) is something very close to fralins, BUT with more bass, but same amount of chime. That is, I need the Fralin vintage hot (mine is 5.90K) with more bass. Not more mids, not more highs, but simply more defined bass. And I wanna keep all the other characteristics of that pickup. I am cool with the mids, because I believe that is the place where quack and chime is hidden.
So I figure what you say is somewhat similar to my observations/ideals. The Ant2s are quacky, have more bass, but less mids. What about chime, is it in the highs or in the mids? I know that is kinda vague but I don't know how to express what I am thinking otherwise.
Is the ant2 bridge like 9.50K? Ant custom that I got from you is very cool, but not as quacky and as strat bridge as the van zandt blues special. And frankly, I think I like the van zandt strat bridge more, afterall it sounds like a real strat!
Whenever you have time man! Thanks,
B
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Lewguitar
Guest
Re: Hey Lew! How about a review on them Ant II Surfers?
Hi Doc,
I don't notice any lack of bass from my Fralins...maybe you just like more bass than I do.
I have some Van Zandt Vintage pickups from '92 handwound by Mr. Van Zandt himself. Great pickups!
A little more edge to mids than the pickups in my '63 Strat but very similar.
The Fralins have a more refined tone, IMO. They have a really beautiful chime and tho I can make them to trebley, generally Fralin's thing is smooth, chimey highs without the ice pick shrillness. Lindy's pickups have nice quack to the mids but have a little more transparency and bounce and less glassy edge than the Van Zandts.
The Ant II's are a little hotter, chunkier and push my amp into overdrive more easily than the Fralins or Van Zandts. And they have the chunkiest, crunchiest N&M and M&B tones I've ever heard! Much more pronounced and dramatic than the Layla tone Clapton got. The highs are like crushed glass with tons of chunky texture. Really special, IMO, since those are the two switch settings I use as often as not on a Strat!
I'd say the Fralins are more refined and chimier and the Ant II slightly hotter and chunkier.
When I had the Ant Texas Hots in this Strat I thought the pickups in my '63 were just as nice, tho differant.
However, I have to say that I actually like the Ant II's better than the old pickups in my '63.
Lew
Hi Doc,
I don't notice any lack of bass from my Fralins...maybe you just like more bass than I do.
I have some Van Zandt Vintage pickups from '92 handwound by Mr. Van Zandt himself. Great pickups!
A little more edge to mids than the pickups in my '63 Strat but very similar.
The Fralins have a more refined tone, IMO. They have a really beautiful chime and tho I can make them to trebley, generally Fralin's thing is smooth, chimey highs without the ice pick shrillness. Lindy's pickups have nice quack to the mids but have a little more transparency and bounce and less glassy edge than the Van Zandts.
The Ant II's are a little hotter, chunkier and push my amp into overdrive more easily than the Fralins or Van Zandts. And they have the chunkiest, crunchiest N&M and M&B tones I've ever heard! Much more pronounced and dramatic than the Layla tone Clapton got. The highs are like crushed glass with tons of chunky texture. Really special, IMO, since those are the two switch settings I use as often as not on a Strat!
I'd say the Fralins are more refined and chimier and the Ant II slightly hotter and chunkier.
When I had the Ant Texas Hots in this Strat I thought the pickups in my '63 were just as nice, tho differant.
However, I have to say that I actually like the Ant II's better than the old pickups in my '63.
Lew
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