partscaster build - overwhelmed by pup choices (SSL1, 57/62, Fat50s, Antiquities?)

[strangegrey]

Hey guys,

So it's been like forever since I posted here. I've spent a few years pretty happy with my gear and I stayed out of the rabbit hole for a while...but like any good hole, you eventually get sucked back in. This latest return to the hole is because I'm building a partscaster - I need pickups for it and I have no idea where to start. It's going to be a pretty basic early 60s spec build. MJT Alder body, allparts neck with rosewood fingerboard, Gotoh 6-screw trem. The only thing not vintage spec on this build is that I've replaced the nickel tall frets on the allparts neck with medium jumbo Jescar SS frets. Other than that, the guitar will be a bit of my own tribute to early 60s Strats.

I'm all about bell-like, even tempered tones - which is why I'm considering pickups like the SSL1s, the fender 57/62s, Fat 50s....whatever set I put in there, I want maximum quack. Also, the non-rwrp middle on the 57/62 scares me a little. But I have to keep telling myself that's what early Strats had.

All that being said, I'm also very intrigued by the Antiquities. Problem is, besides the magnet differences (AII are A5 right? with the original Antiquities being A2s?), I really dont know much about the two sets. All I know is this video knocked my Richard in the dirt very quickly:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C04...JYlwEBpJA8yRQnBIgnmI8jtzYAc5Zyl2OUKDtwoKoIDrw

Anyway, any advise/comments at all would be a huge help.

 

[jeremy]

the antiquty ii surfers do everything i want from a vintage strat pup, they sound very much like a set of early 60s fender strat pups. the rw/rp middle is nice if you want humcancelling in the notch positions and the custom bridge is a little warmer if you want a less strident bridge pup. i have one set with the rw/rp middle and the hotter bridge and one set of all neck pups to be vintage correct. i did move the middle tone to bridge pup but i do that on almost all my strats

 

[strangegrey]

the antiquty ii surfers do everything i want from a vintage strat pup, they sound very much like a set of early 60s fender strat pups. the rw/rp middle is nice if you want humcancelling in the notch positions and the custom bridge is a little warmer if you want a less strident bridge pup. i have one set with the rw/rp middle and the hotter bridge and one set of all neck pups to be vintage correct. i did move the middle tone to bridge pup but i do that on almost all my strats

Thanks Jeremy. Does the set always come with the hotter bridge? or is there an option to get the set with a more traditional bridge? (or did you build your own second set from single pups?)

 

[jeremy]

i believe if you get a set it comes with the custom bridge and rw/rp middle pup. its not as hot as youd think since it uses different wire. just a little fatter, warmer, and with a bit more output. i bought three "neck" pups for the second set so all the same wind and polarity just like fender put out back in 1962

 

[BluesIsBlood12]

I'm far from a single coil expert, but I really like the Fat 50s neck. The bridge...is ok. I like my bridge hotter. It likely nails the vintage tone many players are looking for.