Fender Strat pups

JK

I'm looking to replace the pickups in my Highway1 strat. Looking to get a chunkier blues sound.

I was thinking of Texas specials, SRV style. It's a pity Fender don't sell the Big Dippers from the John Mayer Sig series. I really enjoy the tone and warmth.

Considering you cant really test pickups out, any suggestions on what i should listen to online before i go purchase the Texas specials? Looking for thick blues/rock sound.

AlanRatcliffe

We've discussed this at length fairly recently. SRV never used the TS pickups or anything like them - his were a set of standard early '60s pickups - relatively low powered and bright. SRV made them sound so big and ballsy just by the way he played.

The Custom Shop Fat '50s are always my first recommendation for someone looking for a slightly bigger, hotter and warmer bluesy tone without having to beat the c**p out of the guitar like Stevie did.

Nothing really wrong with the TS's - but they are a bit hot and midranged focused for the SRV sound.

Cannon

I put Tex-Mex Pups in my highway1 & they certainly did the trick!!!
They are a lot cheaper than TS cos of the ceramic magnets but are wound identically.
U get the same sound but for less. I did however get the Texas Specials too and in my opinion, with heavier strings, u do crack a SRV sound pretty down! As far as i know the overwound TS pups were designed after consultation with SRV to get the vintage hot texas sound.

Anyway all i play is Texas blues/rock and i have never found pups that can do it better!
Texas Specials or Tex Mex.....u cant go wrong!!!

JK

Great, thanks for the replies.

We've discussed this at length fairly recently.

Missed that one, will go check for it.

I put Tex-Mex Pups in my highway1 & they certainly did the trick!!!

Great, I will consider it for sure. Dont suppose you have any recordings of the sound? ?

winny-pooh

guitar fetish does great strat sets with hot bridge pickups and lower output neck pickups, if you wants to sound more like SRV then start using 11's and up your string height.

JK

Will check out guitar fetish, thanks man.

I dont want to mimic the great SRV in all aspects. Couldn't do it even if i wanted to anyway.
I am just looking at tones i really enjoy out there and using that as a base.

I think 11's would still not do the trick, would prob need 13's. The man's hands must have been uber powerful hey!

AlanRatcliffe

I think 11's would still not do the trick, would prob need 13's. The man's hands must have been uber powerful hey!

.011s work fine, but .012's are better (but then I play .011s at standard). The tuning down a half step makes a huge difference in playability for the heavier strings.

selbydoodl

I put a set of Jeff Beck noiseless into a mate's highway 1 and the sound was brilliant.

Guitar Fetish does sell brilliant pickups - my suggestion is to go for the "hot"ones from GF>

JK

Thanks everyone, got plenty of suggestions to think about now. Will lookout for these pups, see if i can hear some of them at some stores. Shot.!