software

Hey I know what the answer is going to be but I have to ask.
I am thinking about taking the big step and spending to me what is some pretty big $$ to get the Antiquities.
The question is which set?
I want a med output something like 5.9 or so I guess, I always thought it was funny that the SRV strat had Texas Specials that were pretty hot and his were actually pretty low.

OK I am sure this as been discussed ad-naseum(sp?) but maybe we will all learn something new!

Thanks!
Aaron

actually SRV did not play texas specials. he may have tried them, (or according to F**DER used them) but everything i've read indicates that he ended up going back to the 57/62 set.

another thing to consider. when you think about the strat tones you love, do most of players use 60's strats? Hendrix and such?

or do the players you like use 50's strats? Clapton?

anyway, the regular antiquities have alnico 2 mags like the 50's strats and the antiquity II's have the alnico 5 mags in them? for me the best strat i've ever heard was a 64 strat played by Jason LeRoy of Scarlet Runner. so the choice was pretty simple, I went with the aniquity II's for my strat.

generally speaking the alnico 2 magnets are little warmer, but I like nice chime on my strat pups, especially since my strat has a rosewood board. also i've tried other pups based on alnico 2 magnets and just found them to be a little too dark for my taste. but considering the first strats were ash-bodied with maple fretboards, those darker sounding pups probably worked well with the bright complement of body and neck woods. it really comes down to whether your guitar is bright or dark sounding on its own.

I haven't seen any Antiquity I or II single coils in the 5.9K range...but I'm sure they could be custom ordered wound that way.

But regarding SRV, Cesar Diaz has stated that Stevie liked Strat pickups in the 6K or under range because with his huge strings and heavy attack pickups hotter than that wouldn't give him the bell-like clarity he required.

Stevie's needs were almost the opposite of what most of us are looking for: he couldn't get a clean enough tone to satisfy him!

I use the Lindy Fralin Vintage Hot set underwound about 3% in one of my Strats...those are extremely bell like and chimey in tone and neck and middle pickups measure 5.9K

Lew