What Pickups SD Surfers or Rocketfire on MIM strat

[VanWayward]

Hi im new to the forum this is my first post.

So iv'e been wondering for months what pickups to get on my strat
iv'e got a back routed MIM strat its back routed so it doesn't have a pick-guard making it sound a little darker.

i'm considering 2 main pickup brands.
rocketfire total 60's pickups all three or
Seymour Duncan Antiquity surfers in which case what should I get all three or neck and middle and something else for bridge like an ssl1 or rocketfire (iv'e heard people say bad things about the bridge surfer pickup) or should I mix the two brands. what will sound most classic?

iv'e been thinking about this for months but its almost impossible to try them in store but i'm still looking. Whats your opinion?

 

[AlexR]

Re: What Pickups SD Surfers or Rocketfire on MIM strat

Welcome!!

I can only attest to the quality/sound of the antiquity range out of your list. The ant's are by far the best pickup I've tried. My guitar is brighter so I have the Texas hot (same resistance, but alnico 2 polepieces), but they are superb. There is a real depth to them and the notes sustain like no other singlecoil I've had. They are well worth the purchase. The custom bridge is a bit hotter but not by a huge margin. It all depends what you want from that position. The twangbanger is a great punchy-but-still-vintage type tone as an alternative, also the ssl 5 or 6 is great for thicker drive with a slightly darker tone

 

[VanWayward]

Re: What Pickups SD Surfers or Rocketfire on MIM strat

So i am considering the antiquity surfers but whats better for the bridge pickup texas hot custom bridge or surfer custom bridge i know one is alnico 2 and the other is alnico 5 but which is better for more classic strat mid 60's sound but also can handle warmth / edge / distortion well

 

[jeremy]

Re: What Pickups SD Surfers or Rocketfire on MIM strat

fender never used alnico II magnets in the classic years. fender also didnt make different strat pups for different positions so any change is going to make it sound less classic mid 60's stratty. so the surfer custom will be a little more fendery but the texas hot custom sounds better over driven.

i like the surfer (rwrp)/surfer/texas hot custom bridge combo the best

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: What Pickups SD Surfers or Rocketfire on MIM strat

Since the OP requests the most realistic Sixties Stratocaster sound, I am going to suggest the Fender 57/62 set. These are stock on the AVRI '62 Stratocaster.

My Fender MIM mongrel is alder/maple with Fender Fat Fifties pickups - an altogether brasher instrument.

If you are considering a hot bridge PU, this is not absolutely "classic" Stratocaster tone. One of my favourite not slavishly true to vintage Fender combinations is Twangbanger (b), Five-Two (c), Five-Two RP/RW .

 

[VanWayward]

Re: What Pickups SD Surfers or Rocketfire on MIM strat

Iv'e decided its defenitly between the rocketfire total 60's or Seymour Duncan Antiquity Surfers with custom surfer bridge.(if it helps I play mosty Gilmour and some Hendrix)

 

[VanWayward]

Re: What Pickups SD Surfers or Rocketfire on MIM strat

Come on you guys has nobody tried out both sd antiquites surfer and rocketfires to make a judgment on wich sounds better or different? Please im desperate for opinians!

 

[VanWayward]

Re: What Pickups SD Surfers or Rocketfire on MIM strat

Are rocketfire pickups rw/rp or not? If they are that almost certanly rules them out.

 

[jeremy]

Re: What Pickups SD Surfers or Rocketfire on MIM strat

never tried them, sorry man.

 

[VanWayward]

Re: What Pickups SD Surfers or Rocketfire on MIM strat

I went the rocketfire route n this one and I have to say they sound fantastic.