HSS strat.... Texas Specials vs YJM Fury

[ruger9]

I just bought an HSS strat, and I'm doing kind of a Sambora inspired thing....

I'm going with a JB in the bridge. I know his USA Sig has a PAF Pro, but he used the JB in all his Kramers, and I have a JB in my old Charvel 3DR and have always loved it.

For the singles, I was going to go with TS, I love the neck TS in my tele, Henry Garza uses TS, and Sambora's USA had TS singles. BUT... I'd love noiseless.

At first, I went looking at the various STKs (JB/STK4/STK7 seems to be a popular combo), then DMZ VV, also Fender Hot Vintage Noiseless, but then I thought... what about the Furys? I had a neck Fury in my Charvel, and it matched GREAT with the JB. I'm looking at the Fury as maybe a kinda' "noiseless TS", I read the YJMs aren't high output, just more in the "hot vintage" category?

Any suggestions welcome, but I'm really wondering how the Furys will differ tonally from the Texas Specials. And, how any of the STKs also compare. It's really the neck tone I'm after, I don't use the middle alone.

Oh- and as for the middle position, it will be dropped down, it gets in my way, so it'll be weaker than the neck and bridge anyway, which I figure will help a little with the quack in 2 & 4.

 

[Mincer]

Re: HSS strat.... Texas Specials vs YJM Fury

Only thing about the Furys is that they will be considerably lower output. For some, that is a bonus...some people hate the volume bump though. Thing is, as you increase the output (this works in single coils, as well as stacks), you get more mids, and less Stratty. Two STK-S7s would probably be a better choice if volume balance is a concern.

 

[gregory]

Re: HSS strat.... Texas Specials vs YJM Fury

Yngwie has always used single coils on the weak(est?) end of the spectrum.

For the neck I would go with a DiMarzio Injector to best compliment the output of JB and still sound Stratty at the same time. Unlike hotter Duncans, the Injector Neck is able to be hot without getting overly middy, dark or compressed (and this with Alnico 2, no less).

The Area 67 is the perfect middle pickup to pair with the Injector for outstanding strat quack. The Area 67 will also do well by hot bridge pickups for the same reasons it does for the Injector: it has a fair amount of output and lots of glass (and without having to be split to get it). However, since you want to drop the middle for clearance, I'd go with an Area 61. Besides that, the Area 61 has the best *hot* Texas position 3 tone I've heard from a noiseless pickup (hotter than a Texas Special, and very bright but not chimey; works extremely well with gain).

 

[gregory]

Re: HSS strat.... Texas Specials vs YJM Fury

Now if you're just trying to cop Fender Texas Specials but noiseless and like the weaker output against the JB, I'd look at the Area 58s:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ym5qDAymTks

A dropped Area 61 in the middle could still quack pretty well with the Area 58 in the neck but not as well as a pair of Area 58s if the 58s were at the same height.

An Area 67 in the mix will still give you the best quack but would probably need to go in the neck position which may be a deal breaker since it sounds more like a CS 69 than a TS.

So for middle/neck I would do either the Area 58/Area 58 or the Area 61/Area 58, depending on how you want the middle to sound and whether you want glassy, but neck heavy quack; or less glassy, but more balanced quack. Both are compromises.

 

[ruger9]

Re: HSS strat.... Texas Specials vs YJM Fury

Only thing about the Furys is that they will be considerably lower output. For some, that is a bonus...some people hate the volume bump though. Thing is, as you increase the output (this works in single coils, as well as stacks), you get more mids, and less Stratty. Two STK-S7s would probably be a better choice if volume balance is a concern.

But, as I said- I ran a Fury neck with a JB, and they balanced fine; there was no output imbalance. True enough I had the YJM raised up pretty good- but then I run my JBs the same way: as close to the strings as I can get them. I'm really more interested in the tonal difference between TS & Fury (and STK), because I did not experience a volume balance problem.

And yes- the STK-7's description does sound like what I'm after: "Our slightly overwound Vintage Hot Stack Plus design delivers authentic Stratocaster tone with a touch more warmth, sustain, and sweetness." And I like the flatter poles; not a huge fan of the staggered/protruding poles on the TS and Fury.

 

[ruger9]

Re: HSS strat.... Texas Specials vs YJM Fury

Now if you're just trying to cop Fender Texas Specials but noiseless and like the weaker output against the JB,

I haven't personally tried a TS with a JB. But I've seen videos and read posts where people say this balances fine? And I have no way of knowing how the output of a TS compares to a Fury, as you can't use the DCR as a guide stick, but as I said I had no issues running a Fury neck with a JB bridge. (altho a Fury middle, dropped down, might be a little weak).

Really more interested in the tonal differences... I know everyone thinks the TS are "middy", but I don't hear that when discussing the neck pickup. More middy that a std strat pickup? Yes. But to me it just sounds like a slightly fatter/warmer, slightly overwound, strat pickup. I do think the Fury, by comparison, is more scooped/stratty... whether that's from less output or other features IDK, since the TS is a SC and the Fury is a HB.

And yeah- a "noiseless TS" is kind of what I'm going for, at least for a start. I like Henry Garza's neck tone, I love the TS neck in my tele, and I love SRV tones (I realize SRV did not play TS's.) I hear the TS as the "JB" of single coils: basically, a "hot-rodded" SC, which is how Duncan has always described the JB... just a little more muscle, more mids, a little fatter/warmer.

Also, I know alot of people talk about the JB being trebly; I have never heard this. BUT I do have an older JB, wound in probably 1989; I've read some people think the JBs have changed, despite SD saying they haven't. The JB in my Charvel with a single 500K pot sounds great- just enough treble bite, I have never heard it as harsh. I guess I won't know about the new JB until I get it into a strat... whether it'll be connected to 250K or 500K pots depends on the other pickup choices, and I can always wire a 470K resistor inline with the JB if I feel it necc.

 

[ruger9]

Re: HSS strat.... Texas Specials vs YJM Fury

I keep reading & reading..... re: STKs

There seems to be little difference between the STK6 & 7. They seem to be almost redundant to one another? The 7 has 1 "point" more mids than the 6. And I guess a tad more output. That's it? I get the difference between the 4 & 6/7.... traditional vs overwound. But choosing between a 6 & 7 seems either difficult (because they're virtually the same) or easy (because it doesn't matter, LOL)

Also, on the middle, while I was thinking a 4, I guess since I'm dropping it down, a 6/7 would be better there too...


As for the Furys, their EQ is also similar to the STKs... with a little more mids. Not sure how the output compares tho... STK4, STK6/7, Fury...

 

[Mincer]

Re: HSS strat.... Texas Specials vs YJM Fury

But, as I said- I ran a Fury neck with a JB, and they balanced fine; there was no output imbalance. True enough I had the YJM raised up pretty good- but then I run my JBs the same way: as close to the strings as I can get them. I'm really more interested in the tonal difference between TS & Fury (and STK), because I did not experience a volume balance problem.

And yes- the STK-7's description does sound like what I'm after: "Our slightly overwound Vintage Hot Stack Plus design delivers authentic Stratocaster tone with a touch more warmth, sustain, and sweetness." And I like the flatter poles; not a huge fan of the staggered/protruding poles on the TS and Fury.

If you are OK with the volumes, then I would say tone-wise, they are fine. Yes, the YJMs sound like clearer singles, and the JB is a humbucker with lots of high mids. But we already know this. If you like the tone of the pickups individually, and don't care about the volume thing, then go for it.

 

[ruger9]

Re: HSS strat.... Texas Specials vs YJM Fury

If you are OK with the volumes, then I would say tone-wise, they are fine. Yes, the YJMs sound like clearer singles, and the JB is a humbucker with lots of high mids. But we already know this. If you like the tone of the pickups individually, and don't care about the volume thing, then go for it.

But can you COMPARE the tones of Fury vs TS vs STK 6/7 ? You're one of the authorities with lots of experience around here, lol

The JYM I had seemed more scooped than the TS, but they were in 2 different guitars, and I've never played an STK. Both the TS and YJM seemed to have that slightly gritty high end that cuts well... again, I have no personal experience with STKs.

 

[gregory]

Re: HSS strat.... Texas Specials vs YJM Fury

I hear the TS as the "JB" of single coils: basically, a "hot-rodded" SC, which is how Duncan has always described the JB... just a little more muscle, more mids, a little fatter/warmer.

Also, I know alot of people talk about the JB being trebly; I have never heard this. BUT I do have an older JB, wound in probably 1989; I've read some people think the JBs have changed, despite SD saying they haven't. The JB in my Charvel with a single 500K pot sounds great- just enough treble bite, I have never heard it as harsh.

I'd say the Area 61 is most akin to the JB. I'm not sure if you'd consider a treble bleed (perhaps a dedicated volume for the neck pickup (or neck and middle), but have a listen to this:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=t8isoHVY0Tk

But again, I think the Area 58 sounds more like a TS.

Based on everything else you've said, I would not choose either an Injector, or an Area 67, or a Fury; or an STK-S7, for that matter.

 

[ruger9]

Re: HSS strat.... Texas Specials vs YJM Fury

I'd say the Area 61 is most akin to the JB. I'm not sure if you'd consider a treble bleed (perhaps a dedicated volume for the neck pickup (or neck and middle), but have a listen to this:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=t8isoHVY0Tk

But again, I think the Area 58 sounds more like a TS.

Based on everything else you've said, I would not choose either an Injector, or an Area 67, or a Fury; or an STK-S7, for that matter.

I love treble bleeds. I have one on my JB, and it works well to sort of make the JB more like a PAF; lessening bass and mids, adding clarity. Ditto if a neck pickup is a little too boomy.

I am definitely looking at Dimarzios too, but will probably start with Duncans, for no other reason than the JB is a Duncan. Both companies make great pickups.

I was originally going to to the Andy Timmons thing: AT-1 with 2 bridge cruisers. And someday, I may still. But I really prefer the look of poles, and I really want to try a JB in a strat. (yes, I know the AT is basically designed to sound like a JB on a 250K pot while using a 500K needed for the cruisers).

 

[gregory]

Re: HSS strat.... Texas Specials vs YJM Fury

I listened to the older stuff AT did with a JB just yesterday. The AT-1 is quite a bit different than a JB with 250k pots. The AT-1 with 500k pots is much warmer with a more muscular bottom end.

 

[ruger9]

Re: HSS strat.... Texas Specials vs YJM Fury

I listened to the older stuff AT did with a JB just yesterday. The AT-1 is quite a bit different than a JB with 250k pots. The AT-1 is much warmer with a more muscular bottom end.

I did notice the enhanced bottom end... I don't think I like it (at least in the guitar it was in, a 2-HB tele with a maple cap). Timmons of course makes it sound amazing, but when I played it, I kept feeling like it had a bit too much bass, and could use more mids (which would accomplished by lowering the bass a tad). If I find the JB to high-middy, I'll likely drop an AT-1 in there.

Of course all dependent on the wood, I won't truly know anything until I actually INSTALL pickups into the strat, but I gotta' start somewhere, lol

 

[Ayrton]

Re: HSS strat.... Texas Specials vs YJM Fury

Just chiming in to add that I have several guitars with both the JB and the AT1. The JB (Antiquity) is great in the right guitar, but to my ears the AT1 is a better overall pickup. The AT1 and Humbucker from Hell are my “go to” DiMarzio combo.

 

[gregory]

Re: HSS strat.... Texas Specials vs YJM Fury

While I said I wouldn't get a Fury or an STK-S7, I didn't say what Duncans I would consider to suit your preference for a weaker set of singles.

I'd look into an STK-S4N for the neck spot and an STK-S4M for the middle spot and split them for position 4. Of all the Duncan HBs, I like the JB slug coil combined with a vintage single in the middle for position 2. If you need to, dropping the STK-S4M lower for picking clearance should still do the job just fine. The STK-S4M is south* so you won't have to flip the magnet and reverse the wiring of the JB (split both the JB and the STK-S4M in order maximize quack and have position 2 be hum-cancelling). The S4N is north so it will cancel the hum when combined with the S4M in position 4 when both are split which will also maximize quack.

FWIW, the STK-S4B is the next step up from the STK-S4N. It could also work in the neck for a little extra output, but the hotter wind is not going to give you as much glass. Jeremy uses an STK-S4B in the neck and says it's pretty dark (which I think is better with gain), but he doesn't split it. If he did he'd likely see an improvement in position 4.

 

[Mincer]

Re: HSS strat.... Texas Specials vs YJM Fury

But can you COMPARE the tones of Fury vs TS vs STK 6/7 ? You're one of the authorities with lots of experience around here, lol

The JYM I had seemed more scooped than the TS, but they were in 2 different guitars, and I've never played an STK. Both the TS and YJM seemed to have that slightly gritty high end that cuts well... again, I have no personal experience with STKs.

The YJMs are more like traditional single coils. They have the high end that most single coils have. They have an open-ness to them. I like them a lot better than the S7s but not as much as the S4s, which sound like ideal 'single coils' to me. The S7s have a lot more mids...they are closer to say, the Quarter Pounds.

 

[gregory]

Re: HSS strat.... Texas Specials vs YJM Fury

That begs the question, what is a traditional single coil?
How is it different from an ideal single coil?

What about the sound of a '54 Strat vs. a '56 Strat vs. a '69 Strat?
Which one is traditional? Which one is ideal?

 

[ruger9]

Re: HSS strat.... Texas Specials vs YJM Fury

FWIW, the STK-S7 is the next step up from the STK-S4B. It could work in the middle, but the hotter wind is not going to give you much glass, if any. Jeremy uses an STK-S4B in the neck and says it's pretty dark. The S7 is only going to be darker.

So even if I drop the middle down (to get it out of the way of my pick), STILL you're thinking a 4 for better splits? The 7 dropped down still won't be clear enough for good splits you think?

 

[ruger9]

Re: HSS strat.... Texas Specials vs YJM Fury

The YJMs are more like traditional single coils. They have the high end that most single coils have. They have an open-ness to them. I like them a lot better than the S7s but not as much as the S4s, which sound like ideal 'single coils' to me. The S7s have a lot more mids...they are closer to say, the Quarter Pounds.

Oh wow. So that has me thinking Fury over S7s for the neck anyway. Maybe the middle too. This reply, combined with the info from Gregory, has me thinking 4s or Furys in both positions now. I thought the 4s were "traditional" strat output? Are they hotter than that?

Agreed on the Furys being open- the TS have some compression (as I imagine the S7s do), but that Fury neck was very immediate, great pick attack.

 

[Mincer]

Re: HSS strat.... Texas Specials vs YJM Fury

The 4s do seem a little hotter with a little tamer high end than something like the SSL-1/2. I think that is why I like them so much (and the fact that there is no hum).