Texas Blues style single coils

[kylewrt1986]

Just after a quick bit of advice, as I can't really afford to buy loads of pickups and chose after trying them all (i am but a poor student)

Mainly just wondering what, in your opinions, gives the best tone (I know that's objective, but I trust you guys more than harmony central) for blues / texas blues.

I'm already pretty much set on APS-1s for Neck and Middle, but am wavering between SSL-5 or 6, or a Dimarzio Virtual Vintage blues or solo for the bridge (in the bridge i'm thinking more of a hot texas blues sound, ala SRV / ZZTop / Bonnie Raitt ). Or possibly the Fender Texas Special. (The other possibility I guess would be the SD Antiquity, but I think they're a little out of my price range)

I've heard good things about all, but am a bit cautious as a lot of those good things were on harmony central, where everyone has been gigging for 30 years and neailed stevie ray vaughan's tone with every pickup...

Thanks!
Kyle

 

[bungalowbill]

Re: Texas Blues style single coils

Antiquity Surfer or SSL-1 for vintage Strat tones. SRV used stock Fender pups at around 6K or so. I would advise you to play a guitar with a texas special bridge pup, I found the pup to be very bright and shrill. If you want to try something a little smoother for the bridge there is the SD antiquity texas custom bridge or a twangbanger. You can also look here.

http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/stratsdescr.shtml#VintageStaggeredforStrat

Good Luck!
Joe

 

[Curly]

Re: Texas Blues style single coils

both the Antiquity Custom and the Fender Texas Special are wound differently than the APS-1s.
I believe the Antiquitymight work by simply reversing the leads, but someone else will have to tell youl. The Texas Special might be more of a problem, and in any case the SSL- 5 or 6 would be a better pickup, although not a strictly vintage tone.
my best sounding strat has APS-2s with an SSL-3 bridge, which is even hotter then the 5 or 6. What you sacrifice is the stock B/M notch tone, so you have to decide if that's OK, or else go to a tapped version.

there is a wealth of info in the reviews in The Vault section. However, at this point it may only confuse you...

your original idea of an SSL-5 or 6 is fine

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Texas Blues style single coils

If you are going with the APS', I'd take the Twangbanger just to keep the whole set alnico II.

 

[captain cavman]

Re: Texas Blues style single coils

I have 2 strats , both have a twangbanger bridge (I'm addicted !) , one is loaded with SSL1 middle & neck and the other one is loaded with APS .
Both have a RWRP middle PU !

Those combo are really great for a texas tone . I play those axes through a Mesa Lonestar combo for small gig or a Soldano Hot Rod 50 half stack where the place is bigger .

 

[koolkat]

Re: Texas Blues style single coils

I found the Texas Specials harsh and muddy. The SSL-1's (or Surfers if you can afford them) and APS-1's are both great pickups for texas blues if you're using heavier guage strings. The SSL's are a little chimier w/ more bass and treble while the APS-1's have a softer attack with more mids. If you need a hotter and thicker sound, the SSL-5 is a great choice.

I would highly recommend going w/ a Twangbanger in the bridge. It has just the right amount of punch and thickness in the bridge position for a hot texas blues tone.

Yeah, I never completely trust the reviews on harmony central - especially the ones where they rate everything a 10. It's usually written by people who just bought the pickup and are in the "honeymoon" stage.

 

[Guitar Toad]

Re: Texas Blues style single coils

I have a set of Seymour Duncan's Antiquity Texas Hot pickups and I think they are great. The Custom Bridge in the Texas Hot set is fatter sounding and still authentically straty. I would highly recommend the Texas Hot set.

BTW, what amp are you playing through? The amp is significant too, but you already know that.

If you want SRV chime you might rather go with A5 pickups and go with the SSL-1's or Surfers in the neck and middle with the Texas Hot Custom Bridge.