software

To all ~

I've waited to post this thread for quite some time since I wanted to get reacquinted with my '92 Clapton Strat and get a feel for how she sounds acoustically and plugged-in through my Vibrolux - it had been a while since I played her given how obsessed I've become with my Les Paul. I also needed to put the Ant I's through their paces to give this thread some integrity. So, after 3 months of listening and testing, here goes:

LIKES:
Neck Position:
~Great clarity and vibe. Decently round through my vibrolux but not too much shimmer. Under high gain conditions with my Landgraff, I can do a very convincing SRV vibe - it is quite scary, actually, and rather fun.

Middle Position (RW/RP):
~Very usable once I adjusted the neck pickup to my liking. At first, the pickup sounded a smidge dark, but I was able to re-adjust the pickup height to compensate. I'm not sure what guitar quot;termsquot; to use to describe this pickup other than I really liked it and achieved a great slide tone with moderate gain. Overall, I was very pleased with it and loved playing slide in that position.

Bridge Position:
~This one required the most height adjustment because I tailored my sound around the neck pickup. And, since I have a universal tone control for all three pups, I needed to the get the pickup height just right.
~No ice-picky tones or harshness with the Custom Bridge. I didn't prefer the clean tone that much, but I've never used the bridge of a Strat to rip clean runs.
~Under high-gain condition, this pickup ROCKS. It compresses very well and takes my Landgraff/Klon combo with ease. This was the most exciting part about the guitar since I now have a useable bridge pickup that allows for decent tones in the #4 position (even though the pickup is overwound by vintage standards). DISLIKES: ~Overall, because my Clapton is such a dark sounding guitar, the Alnico II mags just weren't bright enough for her. It is a shame because you can hear the SRV quot;chimequot; and quot;shimmerquot; itching to jump out of the those pickups - just not in my Clapton. She is such a piece of quot;deadwoodquot; that I'm afraid I'll have to go with the Surfers to brighten her up. CONCLUSION:
~The Ant I's have a smidge more mids than I expected from a vintage Strat pickup and that may due to the fact that the they are wound with thinner wire rather than the traditional 42 awg wire that is normally used on vintage strat pickups. Someone correct me if I'm wrong on that.
~In the correct guitar (not my quot;deadwoodquot; Clapton), these pickups would be PHENOMENAL. Like I said, you can hear the SRV tones trying/wanting to jump out of the guitar, but my guitar's natural acoustics were holding them down. It is a classic case of one pickup does not fit all guitars. The wood on your guitar ABSOLUTELY makes a difference.
~Overall, I give these pickups a standing ovation because the early Claptons (which are phenomenal playing guitars with great necks) are tough to turn into SRV-type axes - frankly they sound like poop, stock. These pickups have done a phenomenal job of getting her into the quot;greatquot; sounding category, but I will need the Surfers to really bring her back to life.

OUTRO:
~Like I said, for a bright Strat, these would be the most phenomenal pickups on the planet if you want the versatile, semi-vintage Strat tones ala SRV. If you have a darker sounding guitar, though, you need to look for something else like the SSL I's or Ant II's. As the resident 'Deadwood Toneologist', I recommend the A5's for maple board, non-nitro strats. The Surfers will have to be my next purchase.

Respectfully Submitted,
Lee Moore

Search Words:
Antiquity I , I's / Antiquities for Stratocaster
Surfers
SSL I , SSL I's
Clapton Stratocaster / Strat
SRV


Originally Posted by Lee_M.As the resident 'Deadwood Toneologist'I vote Lee be dubbed with that moniker . Great review on the pickups, sounds like I'd love that setup in my strat if I didn't like the A2P/Twangbanger setup so darn much. Thanks for taking the time to type it up!

Cool Lee, very cool!

I think you'd like the surfers more than the ant I's.

B


Originally Posted by Lee_M.
~The Ant I's have a smidge more mids than I expected from a vintage Strat pickup and that may due to the fact that the they are wound with thinner wire rather than the traditional 42 awg wire that is normally used on vintage strat pickups. Someone correct me if I'm wrong on that.

Respectfully Submitted,
Lee Moore

Lee,
good review

I think the Texas Hots, neck and mid, are wound with regular 42 ga wire, and the Custom bridge, at almost 10K is probably wound with 43 ga wire.

Nice review. And I agree with your insights. Thanks!

For brighter tone, you might want to go with the Antiquity Surfers.

The Surfers are alnico 5 pickups and have deeper and tighter bass and brighter treble than the alnico 2 Texas Hots.

I use a combo of the Surfers for the neck and middle and the Texas Hot Custom bridge.

Thanks!!!! I can almost hear them....


Originally Posted by CurlyLee,
good review

I think the Texas Hots, neck and mid, are wound with regular 42 ga wire, and the Custom bridge, at almost 10K is probably wound with 43 ga wire. 1.

The Texas Hots AND the Surfers are would with #42 wire...the Custom bridge(s) are #43 wire.

The mix of Alnico II magnets, the aging process, and the fact that 6.4k is a little hotter that most vintage Strat pickups make for a pretty thick Strat pickup...if you want a touch more glass go for the Surfers!

Killer review!


Originally Posted by FretFireI vote Lee be dubbed with that moniker . Great review on the pickups, sounds like I'd love that setup in my strat if I didn't like the A2P/Twangbanger setup so darn much. Thanks for taking the time to type it up!

Hey thanks! I thought that was appropriate since all of my guitars (2 Strats, Les Paul and Tele) are dark sounding. I need to do what I can to get them into the chimmier end of the spectrum! Surfers will be next!Originally Posted by Lee_M.'Deadwood Toneologist'
Great review, very descriptive!


Originally Posted by CurlyLee,
good review

I think the Texas Hots, neck and mid, are wound with regular 42 ga wire, and the Custom bridge, at almost 10K is probably wound with 43 ga wire.

Curly,

Thanks for the correction. I wasn't sure if I had that fact straight. I appreciate it.

DLM

Lee,

Excellent detailed review. Thanks, man.

It's helpful that you considered the natural tone of your Strat in the review. Since that makes a huge difference.

Jeff