Vintage Rails vs. Fender Custom Shop (54/69) vs. other SD's

[Leomusic]

Hello!

New to the forums here. I've referred to them a lot and they have been quite useful in the past.

However, I am now at an impasse as to what pickups to select for my MIM std Strat. The Strat is a lefty with an alder body and maple fretboard.

Since I'm going to put something fairly hot/modern in the bridge, I'd ideally like to have true vintage single coils in the neck and middle position for a bit of contrast and versatility. I've been really eying either the Fender Custom Shop 69's or 54's. However, I believe they do not offer those in a left-hand stagger.

Has anyone found a left-handed equivalent of the Fender pickups? Or, which SD's would match the '69 or '54 pickups, respectively? I've seen that SD pretty much offers their whole line in lefty stagger. :approve:

Alternatively, I've been looking at the Vintage Rails since, being a "rails" pickup, they're reversible, and with the added benefit of hum-cancelling. However, I'm not sure how close to a single coil tone this is and it has a ceramic magnet (not to be a snob, but from what I've gathered, the general consensus is ceramic =/= vintage). Anyone have any experience with these?

FWIW I'm either going to put an TB-4 (JB Trembucker) or an SSL-5 in the bridge...the body is routed for HSS but I'd need a new pickguard for the JB. SSL-5 sounds sweet too though.

I prefer to play blues (a la Hendrix, Page (when he used a Tele), SRV, Buddy Guy etc. etc.) and (especially) Gilmour-esque lead material (nice, big, and spacy), yet I still like to have a good modern crunch tone from time to time.

Sorry for long post...any thoughts or suggestions would be very helpful and GREATLY appreciated! :approve:

Thanks guys!

-Leo.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Vintage Rails vs. Fender Custom Shop (54/69) vs. other SD's

welcome to the forum!

the ssl1/ssl1/ssl5 combo would be fantastic for those styles. gimour used/uses the ssl5 in the bridge with more vintage singles. the vintage rails is ok, but doesnt sound exactly like a real classic fender strat pup.

 

[Leomusic]

Re: Vintage Rails vs. Fender Custom Shop (54/69) vs. other SD's

Thanks for your reply!

So, would the SSL-1 be more similar to a '69 or a '54? I'm not sure if you have any experience with these other two. It's hard to find a full spec sheet for the Fenders to compare with the SSL-1's, but from what I've heard, the '69's are "the" Strat sound.

Do they offer the SSL-1/SSL-1/SSL-5 in a set? And does said set come in lefty?

Thanks again,

-Leo.

 

[LReese]

Re: Vintage Rails vs. Fender Custom Shop (54/69) vs. other SD's

My $.02...

If you can deal with the hum, go SSL-1/5.

I think of the Vintage Rails as a single coil with the edge polished up. Output is lower to me than true singles (I still run them fairly low on the pickup height), though you do have an option of running in series (sound will change though). It can do an excellent Strat sound, quack and everything. Might be a little too polished sounding for Hendrix/Page, but I'd say VR's could do Gilmour in spades.

 

[astrozombie]

Re: Vintage Rails vs. Fender Custom Shop (54/69) vs. other SD's

If im not mistaken, pickups dont come in "lefty". these are single coils, if the poles are stagered and you absolutely need them to be lefty just put the pickup upside down in the pickguard and the poles should line up with the appropriate strings.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Vintage Rails vs. Fender Custom Shop (54/69) vs. other SD's

The Fender MIM Std Stratocaster features a 9.5" fingerboard radius. Equal height polepieces will suffice. Also, if you ever decide that you no longer like them, there will be a wider market than for LH staggered polepiece pickups.

I have only ever known of one person who put LH Stratocaster pickups into a RH guitar. Me!

 

[jeremy]

Re: Vintage Rails vs. Fender Custom Shop (54/69) vs. other SD's

the cs 69 is a great pup, but it doesnt sound like an early 60's strat pup. it sounds like a late 60's or early 70's strat pup. so it depends on what you want. personally i prefer the late 50's/early 60's sound.

If im not mistaken, pickups dont come in "lefty". these are single coils, if the poles are stagered and you absolutely need them to be lefty just put the pickup upside down in the pickguard and the poles should line up with the appropriate strings.

you cant do that with vintage style pups cause the base isnt the same shape as the bobbin. the ssl5 you could flip, the ssl1 and all the fenders you cannot.

The Fender MIM Std Stratocaster features a 9.5" fingerboard radius. Equal height polepieces will suffice. Also, if you ever decide that you no longer like them, there will be a wider market than for LH staggered polepiece pickups.

I have only ever known of one person who put LH Stratocaster pickups into a RH guitar. Me!

flat poles are a good option but will sound just a touch different

 

[Leomusic]

Re: Vintage Rails vs. Fender Custom Shop (54/69) vs. other SD's

You know, I haven't really considered flipping them...sounds brilliant! I guess it was too obvious haha :smack: I'll do that!

SO with that said: the verdict...tonal characteristics between SSL-1, CS '69, and CS '54? I can deal with hum; as in, if the tone is good, hum is fine. But if the SVR-1 is indistinguishable from the above, then hum-cancelling is a nice little bonus. I plan on shielding my guitar when I change out the pickups as well FWIW.

Thanks again,

-Leo.

EDIT: How do the dimensions of vintage pickups compare to the stock MIM ones? They too have that bevel on the bobbin and seem to fit upside-down in the cavity. Also, AFAIK, Fender doesn't make flat poles...do they?

 

[jeremy]

Re: Vintage Rails vs. Fender Custom Shop (54/69) vs. other SD's

if you want as close as you can get to real single coil tone but humcancelling, look at duncans stack + line.

the custom stack is similar to the ssl5
the classic stack is similar to the ssl1

 

[Leomusic]

Re: Vintage Rails vs. Fender Custom Shop (54/69) vs. other SD's

I'll definitely keep those in mind!

But for the most part, I'm fine with hum.

Would anyone happen to know on the tonal differences between the SSL-1, CS '69, and CS '54?

Thanks,

-Leo.

 

[Leomusic]

Re: Vintage Rails vs. Fender Custom Shop (54/69) vs. other SD's

Anyone?

Would anyone happen to know how the SSL-1, CS '69, and CS '54 compare to each other? :help:

 

[357mag]

Re: Vintage Rails vs. Fender Custom Shop (54/69) vs. other SD's

The SSL-1's can't touch the Fender CS 69's or CS 54's for that matter. Fender simply has better tone. The CS 69's have a glassy, airy Hendrix, Trower vibe. Although at times the bridge can be just a tad too thin.

The CS 54's have a sweet sound to them. I have heard both Lindy Fralin Blues Specials and CS 54's in my Malmsteen Strat and they sound kinda similar.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Vintage Rails vs. Fender Custom Shop (54/69) vs. other SD's

welcome to the forum!

the ssl1/ssl1/ssl5 combo would be fantastic for those styles. gimour used/uses the ssl5 in the bridge with more vintage singles. the vintage rails is ok, but doesnt sound exactly like a real classic fender strat pup.

sorted!

fyi to the op: ssl1s are in the ballpark of fat 50s. but fatter.
They are nice and warm with plenty of smoothness. its what i like, cos the real trebly pickups can sound thin in some circumstances.
Its all preference of course. But Jeremy has nailed it in so far as providing a set that will adress all of your needs.
Some sets (texas specials for example) sound good in 1 position, but not so much in others, same with most sets. Its all about balance.

 

[Leomusic]

Re: Vintage Rails vs. Fender Custom Shop (54/69) vs. other SD's

Ah! Yes, that makes sense. Balance is key with me especially, since I guess I'm looking for something...mm transparent enough for use with pedals and a clean amp, yet still punchy enough to stand out on its own with a dry signal into the amp (amp clean or with amp drive). This is also why bright vintage singles are ideal.

Which would be best suited for this application?

Thanks again,

-Leo.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Vintage Rails vs. Fender Custom Shop (54/69) vs. other SD's

of the fender offerings the only one that i would use is the fat 50's which is the most like the ssl1. the 69 and 54 are too thin for me but are great pups none the less, just not my flavor.

 

[Despair]

Re: Vintage Rails vs. Fender Custom Shop (54/69) vs. other SD's

The Fender MIM Std Stratocaster features a 9.5" fingerboard radius. Equal height polepieces will suffice. Also, if you ever decide that you no longer like them, there will be a wider market than for LH staggered polepiece pickups.

I have only ever known of one person who put LH Stratocaster pickups into a RH guitar. Me!

It's a pretty common trick among Hendrix fanatics.

 

[tmmblues]

Re: Vintage Rails vs. Fender Custom Shop (54/69) vs. other SD's

I originally rewired my '97 Am Std with Hendrix 69's and it's got Jimi's tone even if I don't have his technique. However, I further refined it by swapping out the middle 69 pup for a reverse wound 69 pup (also signed by Abigail Ybarra). Eventually I had a new pickguard routed for the reverse angle bridge pup but had it routed to accomodate two singles (or full-size HB). I added a lil '59 with an on-off switch next to the bridge 69. Needless to say it's got some kick when playing in Jimi's electric church.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Vintage Rails vs. Fender Custom Shop (54/69) vs. other SD's

Ah! Yes, that makes sense. Balance is key with me especially, since I guess I'm looking for something...mm transparent enough for use with pedals and a clean amp, yet still punchy enough to stand out on its own with a dry signal into the amp (amp clean or with amp drive). This is also why bright vintage singles are ideal.

Which would be best suited for this application?

Thanks again,

-Leo.

i use either a fender twin reverb, or a princeton reverb with overdrive from a pedal. A full set of ssl-1s is just flat out wonderful. Best set (out of 7 - including some fenders and overwounds etc) that has gone thur on my strat. An ssl-5 in the bridge will give you a little more beef for the rockier stuff you mentioned tho.