Question re SD Five-Two pup or SD Twangbanger

[orcslayer]

Hi I have a Roadhouse Strat equippred with Fender Texas Specials. I like these except I find the bridge pup a bit shrill.

I am thinking a replacing Bridge pup only with either a Five-Two pup (which has Alnico 2 magnets for trebel strings) or a Twangbanger (which emulates Tele bridge pup).

I would like bridge to blend well with the neck & middle Texas Specials but be a bit smoother in the high end only. I don't want to go to a much more powerful overwound middy sounding pup becuse I would lose the twang in the bass strings (I play some country).

Can anyone advise me if they think of the two pups mentioned above would work for my purpose, or any other true singles coils they feel would work well with the Texas Specials?

Thanks!

 

[stevie_bees]

Re: Question re SD Five-Two pup or SD Twangbanger

I have a Twangbanger in my G&L Legacy and I love it. It's a fab pickup. It doesn't do full-on Tele, but it lends a Tele-ish edge to the sound, and gives it a bit more oomph.

Edit: Welcome to the forum...

 

[Kelsey]

Re: Question re SD Five-Two pup or SD Twangbanger

If the Texas Specials in your Strat are the same as the ones in my Hotrodded Texas Special Strat, then they are wound so that they are compatible with the standard Antiquity I Texas Hot and Custom bridge pickups. That means they are wound opposite of the Twangbanger, so you might have to swap the neck and middle pickups if you go with that one. I think the 5/2 is wound like the Antiquity I, if my 5/2 neck and RWRP middle pickups are labeled correctly. So, based on ease of installation, I'd go with the 5/2 or Antiquity I (Texas Hot or Custom, depending on your preference). For the bridge, I'd choose the Antiquity I Custom bridge. It's meatier than a standard wind but still sounds stratty. The 5/2 might have more twang and brightness for country, as does the Twangbanger, but overall it's tough to beat the Antiquity I Custom bridge. Now, the 5/2 neck and middle are very nice, so I'd guess the bridge would be good, too.

 

[orcslayer]

Re: Question re SD Five-Two pup or SD Twangbanger

If the Texas Specials in your Strat are the same as the ones in my Hotrodded Texas Special Strat, then they are wound so that they are compatible with the standard Antiquity I Texas Hot and Custom bridge pickups. That means they are wound opposite of the Twangbanger, so you might have to swap the neck and middle pickups if you go with that one. I think the 5/2 is wound like the Antiquity I, if my 5/2 neck and RWRP middle pickups are labeled correctly. So, based on ease of installation, I'd go with the 5/2 or Antiquity I (Texas Hot or Custom, depending on your preference). For the bridge, I'd choose the Antiquity I Custom bridge. It's meatier than a standard wind but still sounds stratty. The 5/2 might have more twang and brightness for country, as does the Twangbanger, but overall it's tough to beat the Antiquity I Custom bridge. Now, the 5/2 neck and middle are very nice, so I'd guess the bridge would be good, too.

Thanks Kelsey, any idea where I can listen to sound samples for the 5/2 & Antiquity?