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Hi Folks, I fitted a set of these custom shop 69 pickups to a year 2000 USA Series Fender Strat <maple fingerboard>, replacing the standard single coils about a month ago. Now that the honeymoon period is over I can with confidence give them the highest recommendation. They are a noticeable upgrade over the standard pups. Improvement in all positions ie neck, middle and and both in between <I never really play on the bridge pickup much so cannot comment there>. The improvements relate to a more bell like tone, more clarity and sparkle, the guitar seems a lot more alive without being to bright or harsh.

Recently then to compliment the above I started playing the guitar tuned a half a step down and I upped the string gauge set from 10 to 11's.

All in all the combination of these three changes has yielded a very gratifying result.
    SRV fan? (not playing on bridge pickup, moving to heavier strings, half step down)

    Just wondering... ?
      themanthatwalks wrote: what did the set cost?
      would also be keen to know what they go for
        They are now called the Custom '69 Strat pickup set and are production manufactured. Just over a year ago a set was R2500 retail, so probably over R3K now.

        I had a set of the original Abby Ybarra wound Custom Shop models for a few years and they are one of the nicest, most toneful true single coil sets. Great in an alder body with a rosewood fingerboard - one of the best glassy Strat tones with great 'tween sounds. They can be a bit shrill in a bright ash/maple guitar though and the bridge pickup is icepick city by itself (it's a set that really benefits from moving the middle tone to the bridge pickup). Also be aware that the middle pickup is not reverse wound, so they are prone to hum in all positions.
          This set of custom shop 69 stratocaster pickups that I fitted had Abigail Ybarra's initials hand written on them. According to the packaging she still winds these pickups. fender.com web site also seems to confirm that Abigail Ybarra still has a hand with this particular pickup.

          I actually do not find hum an issue at all, no worse than when I had the standard pickups but maybe I don't play in proximity of hum inducing devices such as personal computers.

          Regarding price I paid R 1800 for the set, there is a story to this though. I ordered and paid for them October 2008. fender SA sent through Texas Specials in error and then were out of stock on the custom shop 69. It took until January this year for them to finally arrive. Fender SA held the price at the October level though as the cock up was on their side. Kudos to them.

          Regarding the half a step down and the higher gauge, yep SRV I enjoy but for his sound Texas Specials would get you closer <warmer than the 69's>. Jimi Hendrix also played half a step down, I know Axis Bold As Love is recorded with his guitars a half a step down. I am not sure if that continued for Electric Ladyland though. Robin Trower also tunes his stratocasters down but he sometimes tunes down a full step to D.

          I just read a couple of articles as to how the stratocaster seemed to shine tuned half a step down so I tried it and liked it. I then found that 10 gauge half a step down was a bit floppy for my taste and hence the step up in gauge.

          I should wish that I could emulate SRV, hendrix, Trower and Co, I am afraid I know my limitations ?
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