Psychedelic Strat vs. Antiquity Surfers

[gripweed]

What are the differences between the Psychedelic Strat pickups and the Surfers? Here is my guess; the Surfers are slightly warmer and hotter, with a touch more midrange. Perhaps closer to a mid sixties Strat pickup. Whereas the Psychedelic Strat is brighter, with less midrange and output. It’s perhaps closer to a late sixties Strat pickup. What say ye, who hast experienced both?

 

[jeremy]

yes, that is correct. surfers are a '63 strat pup, the psychedelic are like a '68. your general assessment is correct as well, surfers are slightly warmer, hotter, and middier. both are really good sounding sets, but different.

 

[switchman]

On the technical side, the Surfers are atypical for Antiquities. The magnets reportedly are full strength and more curiously the bridge is 43AWG wound to 10K not 42. I've tried lots of 60's Strat style Strat sets and Antiquities, but never tried the Surfers for that reason...

 

[Mincer]

On the technical side, the Surfers are atypical for Antiquities. The magnets reportedly are full strength and more curiously the bridge is 43AWG wound to 10K not 42. I've tried lots of 60's Strat style Strat sets and Antiquities, but never tried the Surfers for that reason...

How they are made aside, the Surfers are remarkable sounding pickups.

 

[switchman]

I'm sure... when I was really into Strats and willing to spend more lol I wanted everything weaker magnets and thought the bridge was going to sound overwound. This is before there was much online info or modern demos. By the time I learned more I scaled back to just one Strat with the Wilde hum-canceling 280's.

 

[marcello252]

excuse my ignorance, I clearly know the SSL-1, how do they compare to them ?

 

[Mincer]

excuse my ignorance, I clearly know the SSL-1, how do they compare to them ?

Both are noticeably warmer and less 'peaky' than the SSL-1.

 

[jeremy]

On the technical side, the Surfers are atypical for Antiquities. The magnets reportedly are full strength and more curiously the bridge is 43AWG wound to 10K not 42. I've tried lots of 60's Strat style Strat sets and Antiquities, but never tried the Surfers for that reason...

the custom bridge is wound different, yes. same for the texas hots. but if you want a straight vintage set, get three neck pups. same polarity, same wind. just like fender back in the day. the rw/rp middle and custom bridge are options that most players prefer. the custom bridge isnt much higher output than the neck version but isnt as toothy in the highs and has a bit less mid scoop.

 

[switchman]

Yeah of course someone can by 3 neck pickups that still leaves the magnet question. I've had at one time all of the P-90, Humbucker, Firebird, and Mini-Hum Antiquity sets. The bridge overwound about 10% on all of those is a welcome update.

I've seen Antiquities described by as if they were a pickup made "back then" which has aged to now. Dun-Aged magnets are a big part of that. The Surfer product info says degaussed Alnico 5. Whether they're actually aged I've seen questioned more than once in reviews going back a while. This analysis almost 10 years old from a very reliable source on GuitarNutz​ I saved.

That doesn't mean they can't or don't sound good its just confusing marketing.

 

[gripweed]

Both are noticeably warmer and less 'peaky' than the SSL-1.

The Psychedelic Strat is warmer than the ssl-1?

 

[Mincer]

The Psychedelic Strat is warmer than the ssl-1?

Yes, to my ears, certainly.

 

[jeremy]

the ssl1 has more mids and output, i dont know if id call the psychedelic warmer, but less peaky in the mids i agree with