Texas hot vs texas hot custom vs surfer bridge

[jrockytop]

I stumbled on this site looking for pickup replacements for my '87 squier strat. Google pointed me to "The Greatest Strat pickups EVER??" thread from last year. The surfer II's mentioned in the thread sound like they're exactly what I'm looking for in the neck and middle pickups (Clapton / Hendrix / SRV tone!). The popular bridge pickup from the thread was a Texas hot custom. However, I haven't made up my mind on the bridge pickup yet.

My guitar has what looks like a hot rail in the bridge (Got the guitar used in '90, so I don't know about the pickup). Whenever I switch between pickups, I have to adjust the volume because the bridge pickup is so much louder than the others. I would like to eliminate this with new pickups. But, if the higher output custom is one of the greatest strat pickups ever, I might reconsider. Is there any disadvantage to just getting a plane jane Texas hot and turning up the volume whenever I want higher output? Does the custom have more sustain because of the higher output?

The surfer II bridge might be a better match with the other surfers... But, I'm concerned about the "too much treble" comments I've seen. My main reason for getting new pickups is the ear splitting treble of my current bridge pickup when playing clean. Is there anyway to hear these antiquity pickups before buying? I can hear samples for other seymour duncan pickups, but can't seem to find a link to the sound samples for the antiquity line.

This looks like a really cool site. Thanks for your help!

-Jason

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Texas hot vs texas hot custom vs surfer bridge

I have the Texas Hot Antiquity with the RW/RP middle and the Custom bridge in a G&L Legacy.

I like it. I'm not one to do a lot of pickup swapping, and I like the stock G&L pickups just fine. The Antiquitys have a nice, smoky, complex midrange--very sweet and full. I like the bridge, but the neck pickup is about the best strat neck pickup I've ever heard.

And I'm old enough to still remember every single one of those late '50s, early '60s Strats I could have bought for a $100 back when I was a teenager. If I'd known then, what...well,....

Bill

 

[martinsixstringcustoms]

Re: Texas hot vs texas hot custom vs surfer bridge

Welcome, Jason.

I'm using Texas Hots in my American Strat and they are the best I've played thus far. I'm using a "regular" Texas Hot in the Neck & Bridge and a RWRP Texas Hot in the Middle. I did NOT like the Texas Hot Custom Bridge because I thought it was a bit much, so I opted to switch it out for a normal Texas Hot.

The Surfers are excellent pickups too. You really can't go wrong with either.

Matt

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Texas hot vs texas hot custom vs surfer bridge

The Surfer middle and neck are the Cat's meow for me hands down! In the bridge I favor A2 pickups and I use either the Texas Hot Custom or a Twangbanger. The TB edges out over the texas hot though..

 

[Kelsey]

Re: Texas hot vs texas hot custom vs surfer bridge

I have an Antiquity I Texas Hot neck and Custom bridge in my Fender Texas Special Strat with the stock RWRP Texas Special in the middle. This combo is hum-canceling in the 2/4 positions. I had a lot of trouble dialing in the neck pickup -- the low end seemed lacking and murky. However, I finally figured out the height adjustment that brings these pickups to life -- I raised the bass sides of the neck and bridge pickups so that they are virtually parallel with the treble sides (I usually set the bass side at least 1/32" lower than the treble side with Strat pickups). Now the wound strings and low end sound deep and strong and balance beautifully with the warm chime of the plain strings and high end. I am very pleased with this setup now.