Strat Bridge Replacement pickup shootout...

[Lewguitar]

I spent some time comparing my four favorite Strat bridge replacement pickups to each other. Virtually identical 54/57 RI Fender Strats with alder body and maple neck. I used my '58 Fender Deluxe with the 60's Celestion G12 Alnico speaker.

Hottest/Most Overdrive: Duncan Twangbanger...Antiquity Surfer Custom...Fralin Steel Pole 43...Antiquity Texas Hot Custom

Brightest/Glassiest: Surfer...Texas Hot...Twangbanger...SP43

Deepest: Surfer...Twangbanger...SP43...Texas Hot

Most Mids: SP43...Twangbanger...Texas Hot...Surfer

Most Quack...like a duck: Twangbanger...SP43...Texas Hot...Surfer

Most Open/Transparant: Surfer...Texas Hot...Twangbanger...SP43

Creamiest/Smoothest: SP43...Twangbanger...Texas Hot...Surfer

Most Textured/Complex: Twangbanger...Surfer...Texas Hot...SP43

Best Classic Strat Chime when Middle & Bridge pickups are combined: Surfer...Texas Hot...SP43...Twangbanger

Favorite Overall: It's a 3 way tie between the Duncan Twangbanger, Antiquity Texas Hot Custom and the Fralin Steel Pole 43. The Surfer is just a little brighter and glassier than the other three.

In some ways it was hard to rank one over the other they were so close. For example, it was hard to decide which was hotter or louder: the Twangbanger or Surfer Custom bridge. They really tied. In fact, just to play it safe: consider any two pickups ranked next to each other in this shootout to be tied.

Lew

 

[Kelsey]

Re: Strat Bridge Replacement pickup shootout...

Well, looking at your rankings in these categories and considering my tastes, I guess I made the right choice when I bought a Twangbanger. Nice comparison!

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Strat Bridge Replacement pickup shootout...

Man one of these days...Twangerbanger

 

[flank]

Re: Strat Bridge Replacement pickup shootout...

id say thats about right, twangbanger-wise heh

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Strat Bridge Replacement pickup shootout...

Twangbanger is my next strat bridge conquest.
I just did a blind test with some guitar playing friends, and for neck pickups, the Fender CS Fat 50's neck won......It just has a character that beats even my beloved Surfers. The Surfers 2 & 4 positions are impossible to beat for notch positions IMO.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Strat Bridge Replacement pickup shootout...

The Twangbanger really is the hottest and pushes my amps into overdrive the most easily. Only reason it's not my favorite of the four is that it dominates the middle pickup when combined with it and so one of my favorite Strat tones (middle and bridge combined) is compromised.

However, when I compare the Twangbanger to the Antiquity I Tele bridge pickup in my '53 CS Tele or the Jerry Donahue pickup both are even louder and push my amp even harder than the Twangbanger.

The Antiquity II Surfer Custom Bridge has the best middle and bridge combined tones...but it's brighter and glassier than the other three when used for solos. I prefer the smoother tone of the other three.