Insights about alnico 2 vs alnico 5 Strat pickups...

[Jeffrec]

Re: Insights about alnico 2 vs alnico 5 Strat pickups...

Jeff.....I Love the Fat 50s and wouldn't change them out in one of my strats! The strat I'm talking about is an early 80's American Standard and it's got a Fralin SP43/Fat 50/Fat 50....This guitar has a Floyd Rose on it and these pickups work great on that axe.I don't play this guitar much cause I really am a vintage strat bridge kinda guy,but this was a strat that I saved up money and had on layaway and so it's got alot of sentimental value to me! I've played alot of tunes on it also!:laugh2: This was the first brand spankin new sunburst/maple necked strat that I owned and bought new...

John,

I know what you mean. Before I got the Fat '50's, I bought a set of Texas Specials and was underwhelmed to say the least. The Fat '50's sound so beautiful, but I'm addicted to my Antiquity hums in my LP, so I'm always itching to try the Strat set (Custom->Texas Hot->Texas Hot).


Jeff

 

[ErikH]

Re: Insights about alnico 2 vs alnico 5 Strat pickups...

I bought the Texas Specials when they first came out because my friend Bob raved about them...I didn't care for them,but then the Fat 50s cams along,and to this day,I still love those pickups..I get the feeling the Fat 50s were pretty similar idea wise to the TS pickups but they don't sound the same to me?

So many choices though huh buddy? :yell: :laugh2:

Lucky for all of us! :13: :dance: :banana:

I've heard nothing but good things about the Fat 50's. I had thought about those too but then I would have only been cheating myself yet again, ya know?

Sometimes there's just way TOO many choices. :yell: :laugh2:

 

[LJ King]

Re: Insights about alnico 2 vs alnico 5 Strat pickups...

:13: Sounds like you knew what you wanted from the very beginning!:13:

Cognitive dissonance: The tendency to find confirming proof for previously made decisions. :fingersx:

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Insights about alnico 2 vs alnico 5 Strat pickups...

Fat 50's are very nice. Like most vintage sets, the bridge is a little thin, but the neck and middle are wonderful.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Insights about alnico 2 vs alnico 5 Strat pickups...

Fat 50's are very nice. Like most vintage sets, the bridge is a little thin, but the neck and middle are wonderful.

Yep....I have the Fat 50 on the middle and neck and a Fralin SP43 in the bridge in this one strat of mine...Pretty cool combination.

 

[Farkus]

Re: Insights about alnico 2 vs alnico 5 Strat pickups...

Fat 50's are very nice. Like most vintage sets, the bridge is a little thin, but the neck and middle are wonderful.

That's my exact feeling about the Fat 50's. Neck and middle...you'd be hard pressed to find better pickups. The bridge is just too thin and icepicky; of course I guess that's how the stock ones were, too. If Fender was to release a vintage flavored idealized set, I think it would be the Fat 50's in neck and middle and a hotter bridge version. Have you come up with a custom bridge for the set Zhang? (I hear you wind pickups...) My favorite set now are Chubtone 63 neck and middle with an El Gordo bridge (all A5).

In fact I guess the Texas Specials were/are Fender's answer to giving players that 'hot rodded' ideal strat set, more modern and free to eliminate perceived shortcomings in the Strat pickups (like a cold bridge). They do sound great in the right axe AND with the right amp; they're pretty finicky pickups. When you get 'em dialed in right they're killer though.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Insights about alnico 2 vs alnico 5 Strat pickups...

The Fat 50's are my favorite Fender set. I have a spare set not installed right now. I replaced them with the Chubtone El Gordo/63's set.

Awhile back, I did a blind tone test with 3 rosewood necked American Strats.
I asked guitar players and non guitar players which set they liked the most, between Fat 50's, Surfers, and Fralin Vin Hots. Surpising everyone chose the Fat 50's neck as the best neck tone. The Fralin Vin Hot bridge won for bridge tone.

Someone recently told me that Chubtone's Mike Gray is no longer taking orders for pickups, and that he might be the new pickup maker for a popular manufacturer. I don't know the manufacturer, so maybe I should Email him and get the scoop. His claim to fame is pinpointing specific eras of Fender, but his pickups sound even better than those old originals.

 

[Farkus]

Re: Insights about alnico 2 vs alnico 5 Strat pickups...

GJ, check you PM's.

I was going to post some info regarding the OP's subject, but got sidetracked last time, lol.

My A5/A2 coolest experience so far has been the Duncan 5/2 set for Strat. I have an older Strat (70's) that has a pretty tight low end which sounds great, but the high end is too icepicky with most pickups. The 5/2 set really opened up the guitar. The A5's on the low strings kept the definition I like there and the A2's on the high strings added some much needed warmth (or filtered out some highs, however you want to look at it). While I could see the A2's being better for distortion overall, they have really helped the basic sound of this Strat. After having tried several different pickup combos in the Strat the 5/2's are staying.

 

[gripweed]

Re: Insights about alnico 2 vs alnico 5 Strat pickups...

GJ, check you PM's.

I was going to post some info regarding the OP's subject, but got sidetracked last time, lol.

My A5/A2 coolest experience so far has been the Duncan 5/2 set for Strat. I have an older Strat (70's) that has a pretty tight low end which sounds great, but the high end is too icepicky with most pickups. The 5/2 set really opened up the guitar. The A5's on the low strings kept the definition I like there and the A2's on the high strings added some much needed warmth (or filtered out some highs, however you want to look at it). While I could see the A2's being better for distortion overall, they have really helped the basic sound of this Strat. After having tried several different pickup combos in the Strat the 5/2's are staying.

Interesting. The 5/2's don't seem to have many fans, at least around here. I think they are an underrated pickup.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Insights about alnico 2 vs alnico 5 Strat pickups...

Lew,

Great review!

I played a Daytona years ago and was very impressed (I love Hamers so it was no big stretch:laugh2: ). I know you like your '57 best , but how do you rate the Hamer?

p.s. I've got an '95 American Standard Strat with Fat '50's that I love to death, but I'll eventually put Ants into it (I'll call you when I get to that point:smokin: )

Jeff

Other than the weight, I love it. It plays great and looks great and the workmanship is outstanding. It's my heaviest Strat though. I don't know what it's made of...feels like Northern Ash as opposed to lighter Swamp Ash or Alder. It came with three Duncan APS-1 pickups...I replaced the bridge pickup with a Duncan Twangbanger. I also rewired it so it now has: master volume, master tone, blender pot to combine the neck and bridge pickups.

Lew

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Insights about alnico 2 vs alnico 5 Strat pickups...

Lew......Your explanation is absolutely identical to the pickup combinations I Like in my own strats....My favorite strat is my blue(Mongrol)one I put together from parts...:laugh2: Like yourself it has a TB/Surfer/Surfer....I find the bridge pickup to be warmer and a bit rounder with the A2 poles,but yet I always want a clear,articulate,chimey tone in my neck and neck/middle positions and so I also favor the A5 poles there...I hardly ever use the straight middle pickup alone though...

For some reason though Lew,I find I prefer the TB over the Antiquity Custom bridge pickups and in fact the TB is still my favorite single coil strat pickup...It's a cool marriage for me between a strat and some of the things I Love about a tele's bridge pickup.The TB pickup is slightly hotter,and has some cool grind because of that base plate and all,but yet it also seems to always be a clear sounding pickup...It's not diehard vintage bridge pickup but it works great in my situation...

In my case I don't find the TB to be "cloudy" sounding and I felt the TB was not as thin and bright(to me) compared to the ATHCB pickup? Again our ears and gear at work.

I knew your post(as always)was going to be informative Lew!

Thanks John! I find the Twangbanger to sound just a little "heavy and thick" compared to the Antiquity Texas Hot Custom bridge pickup. Could be the baseplate on the TB that's thickening it up just a touch to much for my own tastes and making the tone seem just a little darker than I prefer. The Texas Hot is brighter...

Lew

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Insights about alnico 2 vs alnico 5 Strat pickups...

Thanks for the review! Now, if you didn't like the notch (2&4) positions, would you prefer the Barden set to the others?

I love them in my Tele. LOVE THEM!

In my Strat, I prefer the Antiquitys...just sounds more like a Strat.

Lew

 

[Johtosotku]

Re: Insights about alnico 2 vs alnico 5 Strat pickups...

I love them in my Tele. LOVE THEM!

In my Strat, I prefer the Antiquitys...just sounds more like a Strat.

Lew

Ok, thanks!

The reason I asked was that I'm more of an Yngwie/Blackmore type of guy(not that bad company, eh?), that I prefer to use the singles on their own. I've been thinking of getting a second strat and wondering what pups it should have.

I have to say, though, that I've been considering getting a tele instead as I don't have one yet. This conversation may well steer me to the right direction... we'll see. Maybe it would be better for my kind of work. Although I do like the middle single too.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Insights about alnico 2 vs alnico 5 Strat pickups...

Thanks John! I find the Twangbanger to sound just a little "heavy and thick" compared to the Antiquity Texas Hot Custom bridge pickup. Could be the baseplate on the TB that's thickening it up just a touch to much for my own tastes and making the tone seem just a little darker than I prefer. The Texas Hot is brighter...

Lew

I Like heavy and thick I guess then in the bridge positions of my strats! :laugh2:

 

[stevie_bees]

Re: Insights about alnico 2 vs alnico 5 Strat pickups...

I Like heavy and thick I guess then in the bridge positions of my strats! :laugh2:

I'm with you on that one!

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Insights about alnico 2 vs alnico 5 Strat pickups...

I'm with you on that one!

Thin and bright doesn't do it for me ever! :laugh2:

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Insights about alnico 2 vs alnico 5 Strat pickups...

That's my exact feeling about the Fat 50's. Neck and middle...you'd be hard pressed to find better pickups. The bridge is just too thin and icepicky; of course I guess that's how the stock ones were, too. If Fender was to release a vintage flavored idealized set, I think it would be the Fat 50's in neck and middle and a hotter bridge version. Have you come up with a custom bridge for the set Zhang? (I hear you wind pickups...)

I do wind, but for obvious reasons can't talk about my stuff here. Even if I could, I wouldn't because it would be extremely disrespectful to our gracious host.

 

[bungalowbill]

Re: Insights about alnico 2 vs alnico 5 Strat pickups...

I've always had trouble with the bridge pup in a Strat.....always a compromise.

Humbuckers would be great for a nice lead tone, but clean would be too fat and would sound like poo when combined with the mid pup.

An A5 singlecoil would be great for everything except a good overdriven lead tone...too bright and thin.

I tried an A2 Twangbanger...great pup dirty, but like the humbuckers doesn't play well with the mid pup.

Here is a list of the pups I tried

Little 59
JB jr
59
JB
Texas Special
Fat 50
SSL-1
Twangbanger
Custom/59 Hybrid (If you want GREAT overdriven lead tone, check one out)

I ended up getting a Zhangligun wound A5 singlecoil, 9.7K full and 7.3 tapped..........it does everything. Clean tapped is vintage Strat all the way and when it is full it gives a nice singing lead tone. If you roll down the tone control just a bit, it gets pretty thick, almost buckerish. Happy camper I am.

Just read Zhang's post...if anyone wants this deleted, let me know.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Insights about alnico 2 vs alnico 5 Strat pickups...

As far as single coil bridge pickups in a Strat go, the only one I've ever been satisfied with over the long haul is the 10K Antiquity Tex Hot.

I liked the 10K Surfer too...but liked the Tex Hot better.

Personally, I think around 10K (9.5K to 10K) is the "right" wind for me.

Lew

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Insights about alnico 2 vs alnico 5 Strat pickups...

I've always had trouble with the bridge pup in a Strat.....always a compromise.

Humbuckers would be great for a nice lead tone, but clean would be too fat and would sound like poo when combined with the mid pup.

An A5 singlecoil would be great for everything except a good overdriven lead tone...too bright and thin.

I tried an A2 Twangbanger...great pup dirty, but like the humbuckers doesn't play well with the mid pup.

Here is a list of the pups I tried

Little 59
JB jr
59
JB
Texas Special
Fat 50
SSL-1
Twangbanger
Custom/59 Hybrid (If you want GREAT overdriven lead tone, check one out)

I ended up getting a Zhangligun wound A5 singlecoil, 9.7K full and 7.3 tapped..........it does everything. Clean tapped is vintage Strat all the way and when it is full it gives a nice singing lead tone. If you roll down the tone control just a bit, it gets pretty thick, almost buckerish. Happy camper I am.

Just read Zhang's post...if anyone wants this deleted, let me know.

See now I use my Twangbanger with Surfers and the notch position of bridge and middle is pretty decent,but alot of that has to do with where your middle pickup height is to get that tone....

Also.....I don't find the TB to be dirty sounding,in fact it's quite clear and articulate and maybe it's because I Like my pickup a bit lower than most guys,but it has a bit of "snarl" mixed in with it...I find the Antiquity Custom bridge pickups I've tryed to be a bit too toppy and thinner sounding in my applications,but the Surfers in the neck and middle are my end all strat pickups in those positions...

I Love a good Tele bridge pickup tone and maybe that's why I Like the TB..I guess I hear some of that with the TB?

A fullsized strat bridge humbucker is always a compromise to me,unless I want that tone,but forget about getting a single coil or any good notch tones from a humbucker! That's just me though..:laugh2: