SRV Texas Special Pickups

[Open lane]

Anyone here ever try the texas special pups that come loaded in the fender SRV model?

If i get it, I'm likely looking to replace the pickguard (i don't dig the logo) and i was think of swapping it with a loaded aftermarket guard.


The big question is, for the price of the guitar (retail $1700), would i be trading in all of the goodies that make this a $1700 strat to begin with?


I'm digging the gold hardware and the sunburst, wishing itbwith nitrocellulose finished

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: SRV Texas Special Pickups

Mark Knopfler loves those pickups.

Last I heard he was still using them in his Strats and you couldn't find a Strat player with better Strat tone than Mark Knopfler.

I like them too. I've owned them and used them.

They seem to be a little stronger than vintage 50's and 60's Strat pickups that I've owned but that's not a bad thing.

I use Duncan Surfers or Fralin Vintage Hots in my Strats but the Texas Specials are fine pickups too.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: SRV Texas Special Pickups

IMO, the SRV signature Stratocaster is an AVRI 62 Strat with the following upgrades (in order or rarity/importance):
-Custom neck profile
-Left handed Tremolo
-SRV signature pickguard
-Texas Special pickups (remember, these were only available in the SRV model for a decent period after the launch)
-Gold hardware

Now you can make a more accurate assessment on what value you place on each feature, over and above the standard AVRI '62. The neck profile is the killer feature on the SRV, if you like it, it's perfect. The LH Trem is something that a few people really like, and have come to prefer over the RH, due to the angle. (Anthony at Texas Blues Alley is one) Everything else on the list is easily replaceable or upgradable.

Fender has made, over the years, a nitro/lacquer version on the AVRI 62. (My Ice Blue Metallic Deluxe Vintage Player 62 is nitro) Maybe you'd want to upgrade hardware to strap locks, Gotoh vintage style locking tuners and/or a Callaham bridge. OTOH, maybe you've idolized the SRV strat for years?

When it comes down to it, if you are in love with the neck profile, LH trem and the "aura" of the SRV Strat, you should absolutely go for it and upgrade it to make it your own. If you want a nitro 62 style guitar with some personal upgrades and the Fender headstock, I'd seek out a nitro 62 model. If you want the neck profile and LH trem but don't care about it being a Fender, I'd go to Warmoth/Musikraft and spec out exactly what you want and have someone do a nitro finish for you.

If you really like the SRV and find one that has a great unplugged tone, I'd swap the guard with an AVRI Tortiose guard and play it for a while to see if you need to replace the pickups, and if you do, what direction to go.

Good luck!

 

[astrozombie]

Re: SRV Texas Special Pickups

I like the Texas special pickups. I've had them in several strats, always provided solid tone.

I think that so much of the classic strat twang depends on how new your strings are.

I just listened to some demos I did with Texas special pickups the other day, that strat sounded every bit a strat as SRVs and hendrix's


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[Open lane]

Re: SRV Texas Special Pickups

Very good info, fellas. I keep flip flopping back and forth. My favorite strat pickups are currently the set of lollars in a boutique strat i own. I'd like to get another boutique strat with some dif features, but unfortunately i'm kind of over a barrel with guitar center/ sweetwater. Their financing plans get an axe in my hands a bit faster than saving the old fashioned way.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: SRV Texas Special Pickups

Which Lollars? Texas Specials may compliment a set of Blonde/Dirty Blondes for a while...

 

[Mr. B]

Re: SRV Texas Special Pickups

Newer American Special Strats have Texas Specials in them, if you can find one to test drive.

 

[Open lane]

Re: SRV Texas Special Pickups

I'm not sure. I THINK they're dirty blondes. It's actually in a "k-line Springfield" boutique strat. I tested the guitar compared to 3 or 4 others, including LSL and reissue fenders. There was only one guitar (a sadowsky strat) that i thought sounded any better. Whatever the lollars i have are, they're pure magic. Actually that whole guitar is pure magic.

 

[HiFiRebel]

Re: SRV Texas Special Pickups

The pickups can be had separate nowadays. If you love tje neck then I say go for it. I would swap out that pick guard in a heartbeat as well.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: SRV Texas Special Pickups

I really like texas specials particularly if you are using overdrive. They have a real strong midrange snarl. Not polite pr "pretty" sounding pickups by any stretch of the imagination, but if you want some of that real strat single tone, but that sounds pissed off and ready to rock they are excellent. Particularly if you are playing loud.
They are very different to the clear, chimey balanced ssl-1/vintage alnico 5 sound or the smooth smoky alnico 2 sound but they definitely have something cool to offer.
Much, much nicer than the american standard pickups.
It really comes down to how you play and what you think constitutes the perfect strat tone so you really need to try them out for yourself.

 

[philthis]

Re: SRV Texas Special Pickups

Some people complain they are kinda squealy but when you check their gear they.are using very bright amps like a hotrod deluxe or.blues Jr. To me they sound good with deluxe reverb, Bassman, or Twins. I loved them with my big ol Twin with its 4 6L6 tubes. The Twin has a big tone that the Texas Special pickups seem to really compliment. They can make a big tube Amp sound articulate and chimey. I had them in a strat with a maple neck so it could be bright as you can imagine. I played them with the tone knob at 6 and when I stepped on a fuzzy fat distortion pedal I cranked the tone knob to 9 or 10 and it really is a cut through the mix tone. You still get a cool jazz tone leaving them around 5 or 6 tone knob wise. They really have a singing treble tone when you need it.

 

[Mincer]

Re: SRV Texas Special Pickups

I'd think the only reason to spend the $1700 is if you really love the neck. Otherwise, you can build a great sounding Strat by either modding a cheaper one or building it from parts and putting those pickups in it.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: SRV Texas Special Pickups

G&L S-500 with the MFD pickups. Option it out with the finish, woods and neck profile you want. The MFDs are really great sounding and powerful pickups that deliver what the Texas Specials promise...a raw blues and classic rock tone that will push your amp.

Bill

 

[VinceT]

Re: SRV Texas Special Pickups

I'd think the only reason to spend the $1700 is if you really love the neck. Otherwise, you can build a great sounding Strat by either modding a cheaper one or building it from parts and putting those pickups in it.

+1


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[dotsdad]

Re: SRV Texas Special Pickups

For that kind of money you should get what you want right out of the box. Just my .02

 

[Mincer]

Re: SRV Texas Special Pickups

For that kind of money you should get what you want right out of the box. Just my .02

I agree. I see no reason to spend money on a guitar you will change radically. But if you are just changing the pickguard, and you love everything else (like the neck, the hardware, and the backwards trem) then go for it.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: SRV Texas Special Pickups

I agree. I see no reason to spend money on a guitar you will change radically. But if you are just changing the pickguard, and you love everything else (like the neck, the hardware, and the backwards trem) then go for it.

That's what I was attempting to get at in post #3.

Personally, a pickguard swap is nothing, and I almost expect to change pickups on nearly any guitar I buy...