Who here has tried both the Fralin Vintage Hots and the Blues Specials?

[Desert]

I'm deciding between a Fralin Vintage Hot and a Blues Special in the bridge of a Strat.

I want real Strat (or Tele) twang and attack.

Right now I've got some really low power PUs in it, and feel like I have to play really hard to get anything out of it, even with the amp turned up.

What I don't want is overpowering bass, like a humbucker.

Does the Blues Special cross over the Fender county line, or will it still have nice chimy strat tones?

 

[Gforce9]

Re: Who here has tried both the Fralin Vintage Hots and the Blues Specials?

I have a friend that played with Blackhawk a few years back. The word on the street, as I understand it, was the Blues Special in the bridge, Adder Plus in the neck......that's what a lot of Nashville guys were playin'. I would be concerned about fit, unless your Strat is routed for a Tele p/u. I had a JB jr. in a Strat once and it wasn't bad at all....more beef than a typical Strat bridge. If you can fit a Tele bridge, go for it......I've wanted to do that myself.............

 

[Desert]

Re: Who here has tried both the Fralin Vintage Hots and the Blues Specials?

I have a friend that played with Blackhawk a few years back. The word on the street, as I understand it, was the Blues Special in the bridge, Adder Plus in the neck......that's what a lot of Nashville guys were playin'. I would be concerned about fit, unless your Strat is routed for a Tele p/u. I had a JB jr. in a Strat once and it wasn't bad at all....more beef than a typical Strat bridge. If you can fit a Tele bridge, go for it......I've wanted to do that myself.............

Hey Gforce, thank you for all of that.

I think, at least for now, that I'll hold off on routing it for a tele pickup.

Also, I forgot :smack: that I have another strat w/ a Fralin Blues Special in the neck. I played it tonight, and still feel it has plenty of strat vibe...maybe a hair more mids, but only in a good way, so i think I'll go with the Strat Blues Specials.

You know, it's funny, but in our quest to find things "just like the originals", it's easy to overlook that there have been a ton of improvements in pickup design since the 50s and 60s.

 

[IanBallard]

Re: Who here has tried both the Fralin Vintage Hots and the Blues Specials?

Since when do "humbuckers have overpowering bass" as a rule?

 

[AlexR]

Re: Who here has tried both the Fralin Vintage Hots and the Blues Specials?

I was recommended the twangbanger for just the sort of 'drive with vintage tone' requirement you have. Yet to be installed, but all the threads I looked at had happy campers for that application

 

[Desert]

Re: Who here has tried both the Fralin Vintage Hots and the Blues Specials?

Since when do "humbuckers have overpowering bass" as a rule?

What, you didn't get the memo??

 

[Desert]

Re: Who here has tried both the Fralin Vintage Hots and the Blues Specials?

I was recommended the twangbanger for just the sort of 'drive with vintage tone' requirement you have. Yet to be installed, but all the threads I looked at had happy campers for that application

You know, I'm tempted by that one, too. Seems like I heard a clip recently on here of one, and really like it.

 

[357mag]

Re: Who here has tried both the Fralin Vintage Hots and the Blues Specials?

Even though I have never tried the Vintage Hots I'll respond. I did try the Blues Specials which have a 5 percent overwind. In my Eric Johnson Strat I did not hear much of a typical twangy tone. Of course my POD tends to thicken the tone but the Blues Specials have a little more fullness to them.

If what you want is more a typical thinner and twangy sound you're probably better off with the Vintage Hots.