ParaGuitarMedic
New member
I can't find any difference except for that the magnet polarity is opposite in each one. Website says they have same DC Ohms and Inductance. What are the tonal differences...c'mon strat dudes!:usa1:
Surfers vs. Texas Hots
- Thread starter ParaGuitarMedic
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Guitar Toad
Toadily Stratologist
Re: Surfers vs. Texas Hots
The Surfers are bright, The Texas Hots are not as bright. I have a set of Texas Hots and I really like them. I've never used Surfers. Can't help you there.
Try a search of the Pickup Lounge you'll find some info Like this thread But this link is better, otherwise you might go to the main SD site and read the descriptions for the SSL-1's and the APS-2 production line pups. That'll give you a good idea.
The Surfers are bright, The Texas Hots are not as bright. I have a set of Texas Hots and I really like them. I've never used Surfers. Can't help you there.
Try a search of the Pickup Lounge you'll find some info Like this thread But this link is better, otherwise you might go to the main SD site and read the descriptions for the SSL-1's and the APS-2 production line pups. That'll give you a good idea.
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Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: Surfers vs. Texas Hots
Texas Hots, being Alnico II, have more mids and a rounder feel under the fingers.
Surfers, being Alnico 5, are glassier, have a tighter bottom, flat mids, and more sparkle on the high end. Most traditional strat pickups are A5.
Texas Hots, being Alnico II, have more mids and a rounder feel under the fingers.
Surfers, being Alnico 5, are glassier, have a tighter bottom, flat mids, and more sparkle on the high end. Most traditional strat pickups are A5.
dr.barlo
New member
Re: Surfers vs. Texas Hots
While I respect the opinion of others, to me texas hots sound simply too smooth. Not strat enough. Of course if you were to have a bright rig, by all means go with them. But for more "regular" strat tones, I'd say surfers are much better.
The surfer custom bridge by the way is the best strat bridge I have ever come across. The only problem I had with it was the bridge/middle tone. That tone was not "stratty" enough to my ears with the surfer middle pickup. That's why I am using an underwound fralin vintage hot in the middle. The surfer neck is great by the way.
B
While I respect the opinion of others, to me texas hots sound simply too smooth. Not strat enough. Of course if you were to have a bright rig, by all means go with them. But for more "regular" strat tones, I'd say surfers are much better.
The surfer custom bridge by the way is the best strat bridge I have ever come across. The only problem I had with it was the bridge/middle tone. That tone was not "stratty" enough to my ears with the surfer middle pickup. That's why I am using an underwound fralin vintage hot in the middle. The surfer neck is great by the way.
B
Guitar Toad
Toadily Stratologist
Re: Surfers vs. Texas Hots
That's a good description. The Texas Hots are definitely smooth. I hope to experience the Surfers some day and see what they are like. I think I would like the chimey glass and the tight bottom end that are characteristic of the Surfers.
dr.barlo said:
That's a good description. The Texas Hots are definitely smooth. I hope to experience the Surfers some day and see what they are like. I think I would like the chimey glass and the tight bottom end that are characteristic of the Surfers.
Guitar Toad
Toadily Stratologist
Re: Surfers vs. Texas Hots
Get the new Classic Stack Plus pickups!
Get the new Classic Stack Plus pickups!
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: Surfers vs. Texas Hots
My favorite Strat set is the glassier, more vintage accurate Surfers used as the neck and middle pickups and the Texas Hot Custom, with less glass and more plucky/chewy mids, as the bridge pickup.
My favorite Strat set is the glassier, more vintage accurate Surfers used as the neck and middle pickups and the Texas Hot Custom, with less glass and more plucky/chewy mids, as the bridge pickup.
Guitar Toad
Toadily Stratologist
Re: Surfers vs. Texas Hots
Lew, for your personal strat would you still pick the Surfers over the new Classic Stack Plus pickups?
Lew, for your personal strat would you still pick the Surfers over the new Classic Stack Plus pickups?
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: Surfers vs. Texas Hots
Tough call.
But I'll admit that the Strat I've been playing from last summer on is the Strat with the Classic Stack Plus pickups.
I think the Surfer/Surfer/Texas Hot Custom set is the best set of "vintage" Strat pickups I own...and that the Classic Stack Plus set is the best set of noiseless Strat pickups that I've ever heard.
There is only one thing I'm not 100% happy about when it comes to the Classic Stack Plus pickups, and I demonstrated this for Evan: when I do a double stop bend or play my pedal steel licks on my Strat with the Stack Plus pickups, there's a subtle, but noticeable, harmonic that is generated that is out of tune. It's not annoying enough that I don't love the Stack Plus pickups...but I don't hear that harmonics to such a noticeable degree with the Surfers.
For example, if I'm holding the high E and high B at the 12th fret, and bend a F# on the G string at the 11th fret up to a G# to create an E major triad (G#, B and E) , there's a harmonic generated that goes down in pitch as I am bending that F# up to a G# (the major third).
I also hear that harmonic when I'm holding the E at the 12th fret and bend up the B at the 12th fret of the B string to a C#...the sixth in the of E. That's a pedal steel lick. But a third note appears with the Stack Plus pickups that is a harmonic that goes down in pitch as I am bending the fifth up to a sixth.
It's not super annoying, and all pickups pick that up to some degree. But it's more noticeable with Stack Plus pickups.
But I do I like one set better than the other? I have to say that at this point I prefer playing the Stack Plus set. The tone is just as nice, overall, and I love the hum free operation.
I've always loved my '63 Strat but hated the hum.
I've been recommending the Stack Plus Pickups to everyone who'll listen! :dance:
Guitar Toad said:
Tough call.
But I'll admit that the Strat I've been playing from last summer on is the Strat with the Classic Stack Plus pickups.
I think the Surfer/Surfer/Texas Hot Custom set is the best set of "vintage" Strat pickups I own...and that the Classic Stack Plus set is the best set of noiseless Strat pickups that I've ever heard.
There is only one thing I'm not 100% happy about when it comes to the Classic Stack Plus pickups, and I demonstrated this for Evan: when I do a double stop bend or play my pedal steel licks on my Strat with the Stack Plus pickups, there's a subtle, but noticeable, harmonic that is generated that is out of tune. It's not annoying enough that I don't love the Stack Plus pickups...but I don't hear that harmonics to such a noticeable degree with the Surfers.
For example, if I'm holding the high E and high B at the 12th fret, and bend a F# on the G string at the 11th fret up to a G# to create an E major triad (G#, B and E) , there's a harmonic generated that goes down in pitch as I am bending that F# up to a G# (the major third).
I also hear that harmonic when I'm holding the E at the 12th fret and bend up the B at the 12th fret of the B string to a C#...the sixth in the of E. That's a pedal steel lick. But a third note appears with the Stack Plus pickups that is a harmonic that goes down in pitch as I am bending the fifth up to a sixth.
It's not super annoying, and all pickups pick that up to some degree. But it's more noticeable with Stack Plus pickups.
But I do I like one set better than the other? I have to say that at this point I prefer playing the Stack Plus set. The tone is just as nice, overall, and I love the hum free operation.
I've always loved my '63 Strat but hated the hum.
I've been recommending the Stack Plus Pickups to everyone who'll listen! :dance:
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ParaGuitarMedic
New member
Re: Surfers vs. Texas Hots
Thanks for the input fellas!
Lew, I like your Surfers w/Texas Custom Idea.
Worth a mention is that I ABSOLUTELY ADORE my Antiquity I Tele Lead. Is that any indication of what I can expect in the Texas Hots? vs. The Antiquity II being similiar to surfers.
Thanks for the input fellas!
Lew, I like your Surfers w/Texas Custom Idea.
Worth a mention is that I ABSOLUTELY ADORE my Antiquity I Tele Lead. Is that any indication of what I can expect in the Texas Hots? vs. The Antiquity II being similiar to surfers.
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: Surfers vs. Texas Hots
I think so...at least in so far as it's possible to compare Tele and Strat pickups.
I also love the Ant I Tele pickups, BTW.
The Texas Hot Custom sounds great with a Baseplate, BTW, and adds a little bass to the tone. I've customized quite a few Texas Hot Custom bridge pickups that way for customers, and I like that customized Texas Hot bridge pickup better than the Twangbanger...more complex.
Lew
ParaGuitarMedic said:
I think so...at least in so far as it's possible to compare Tele and Strat pickups.
I also love the Ant I Tele pickups, BTW.
The Texas Hot Custom sounds great with a Baseplate, BTW, and adds a little bass to the tone. I've customized quite a few Texas Hot Custom bridge pickups that way for customers, and I like that customized Texas Hot bridge pickup better than the Twangbanger...more complex.
Lew
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