Re: VanZandt pickups?
I have an older set of Van Zandts wound by Mr. Van Zandt himself, prior to his passing. These would be his "True Vintage" set and all three pickups are wound to just under 6K...which, according to Cesar Diaz, was SRV's preference.
My favorite Fralins are the Fralin "True Vintage" set: Vintage Hots Lindy underwinds for me about 3%. The neck and middle pickups in that set are also just under 6K.
Both sound almost identical to the pickups in my '63 Strat but the Fralins are a little bubblier and smoother and the Van Zandts are a little snappier and more crisp.
The Fralins are scatter wound to minimize much of the harsh, shrill, ice picky single coil Strat tone as possible while retaining the classic vintage Strat tone...so in a way the Van Zandts I have are more authentic. But I prefer the Fralins.
Van Zandts are terrific pickups though. Great bang for the buck.
Lew
