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What pickups does JV use in his personal strats? Surely he doesn’t use the Tex-Mex’s that are in his sig strat.

He does. He uses the standard Tex Mex pickups. Just read an interview with him last week where he was bragging up those pickups. They're good! They're not as nice as Antiquitys or even SSL-1's, IMO, but they're still very good pickups. Plastic bobbins.

Wow. Good for him. Fender must really love that! Are they exactly what are in my JV or does he get them custom wound?

They are good! The bridge pickup was too ice picky for me, but I have that problem with all Strats so YMMV.

Mine are definitely not ice picky. I play it through a Reverend HellHound. Mine could be a but brighter with a little more low end. But, I think I can live with them. But, they will be coming out soon. I've caught the SD-itis.

Seymour is going need to work and bringing Mr. JV over to his stuff!

BTW, help me with YMMV.

I didn't find them to be ice picky either. I've worked on two guitars with Tex Mex pickups. The bridge pickup is pretty overwound and that seemed to make it fatter and warmer than vintage. One guitar now has Antiquitys (MUCH BETTER!) and the other one now has Duncan SSL-1 neck and middle and a Fralin Steel Pole 43 bridge pickup (Also MUCH MUCH BETTER!). But the Tex-Mex pickups get surprisingly good tone for a budget pickup.

Lew

Gripweed says the Tex Mex’s are ice picky. I say that they aren’t.

But, my JV strat still has the stock wiring and controls. Am I losing some signal quality because it needs better wiring? Plus I am using a cheap online .com brand cable guitar to amp, will that affect my tone significantly?

Do these things account for the difference between our two reviews of the Tex Mex’s?


Originally Posted by Guitar ToadGripweed says the Tex Mex’s are ice picky. I say that they aren’t.

But, my JV strat still has the stock wiring and controls. Am I losing some signal quality because it needs better wiring? Plus I am using a cheap online .com brand cable guitar to amp, will that affect my tone significantly?

Do these things account for the difference between our two reviews of the Tex Mex’s?

I doubt it. The differences are probably personal taste and choice of amplifier and settings.


Originally Posted by Guitar ToadGripweed says the Tex Mex’s are ice picky. I say that they aren’t.

But, my JV strat still has the stock wiring and controls. Am I losing some signal quality because it needs better wiring? Plus I am using a cheap online .com brand cable guitar to amp, will that affect my tone significantly?

Do these things account for the difference between our two reviews of the Tex Mex’s?No, I said that I thought the *bridge* pickup was ice picky to my ears. I also said that I find that to be true with almost any Strat bridge pickup.

I think the neck and middle pickups are wonderful! Sparkly and plenty of quack. Trust Lew's ears anyway, he's got some good ones.


Originally Posted by gripweedNo, I said that I thought the *bridge* pickup was ice picky to my ears. I also said that I find that to be true with almost any Strat bridge pickup.

I think the neck and middle pickups are wonderful! Sparkly and plenty of quack. Trust Lew's ears anyway, he's got some good ones.

Gripweed, sorry for mis-quoting you.
I think they could all be a little brighter. Even the bridge. But they do sound pretty good as they are.

I am still wrestling over APS-1's or SSL-1's. Lew has me leaning one way and Curly the other. It may come down to a coin flip for me to decide which way to go.


Originally Posted by Guitar ToadI am still wrestling over APS-1's or SSL-1's. Lew has me leaning one way and Curly the other. It may come down to a coin flip for me to decide which way to go.

My buddy Curly likes a warmer tone than I do.

IMO, if you're after a tone with smooth warm highs and broad plucky mids go for the APS. If you're after the brighter, bubblier classic Strat tone you hear from players like SRV, Knopfler or Hendrix then go for the SSL.

I agree with Gripweed that almost all Strat bridge pickups are ice picky.

What works in the neck and middle positions may be to bright and thin for some players (me!) in the bridge position.

Three identical SSL-1 pickups, for example, will give you the tone of a vintage '63 Strat...but the bridge pickup will sound a little thin and ice picky just as they always have in those vintage guitars.

Personally, I'd go for a hotter bridge pickup than the neck and middle pickup regardless of what pickups you choose for the neck and middle.

And the bridge pickup I would recommend would be the Twangbanger or Antiquity Texas Hot Custom.


Originally Posted by Guitar ToadGripweed, sorry for mis-quoting you.
I think they could all be a little brighter. Even the bridge. But they do sound pretty good as they are.

I am still wrestling over APS-1's or SSL-1's. Lew has me leaning one way and Curly the other. It may come down to a coin flip for me to decide which way to go.

Its all good.

YMMV is your mileage may vary.

You could always split the difference and go for the 5/2's