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I bought a Jimmy Vaughn strat a few months ago that i really like(been a Les Paul guy for years)and i wanted to update the the pick-ups in it.Not that the texas specials are bad i just thought i could get a little sweeter sound out of some better ones.Going by what ive read here i went with a set of Texas Hots.Well im kinda disappointed.They do sound nice but the guitar seems to of lost some of its character and zip i guess you could say.Maybe i should of went with Surfers or California 50s set.I just dont think alnico IIs work in this guitar for that real strat tone.Any comments welcomed and i will be selling the Hots if anyone is interested.Jason

Do you mean the antiquity texas hots JJ? That really surprizes me! I have em in two of my strats and absolutely love em. What kind of strat sound were you looking for. Jimmy and Stevie's sounds are quite different though there both strats.

Jim

The bridge pickup in the California 50's set I checked was not overwound and was about the same output as the neck and middle pickups. That set will sound alot like a stock '62 Strat although the middle pickup is RW/RP and in a 50's or 60's Strat all three pickups are identical. The California 50's are SSL-1's and Great pickups. Bright, deep and lively. It's a little funny that they're called the California 50's set though because they are more like a '62 Strat pickup in terms of output. 50's Strat pickups tend to be weaker.

The Surfers are definately a little better though and personally, I like them even better than the original pickup set in my original '63 Strat. You also have the option of going for the 9.5K Surfer Custom Bridge pickup if you like the bridge pickup in your Strat to have a little more output than the neck and middle. That's a personal call but I do prefer a slightly stronger bridge pickup and it's one reason I don't play my '63 as much as I used to: modern pickup sets with a stronger bridge pickup just sound better to me.

Lew


Originally Posted by LewguitarThe bridge pickup in the California 50's set I checked was not overwound and was about the same output as the neck and middle pickups. That set will sound alot like a stock '62 Strat although the middle pickup is RW/RP and in a 50's or 60's Strat all three pickups are identical. The California 50's are SSL-1's and Great pickups. Bright, deep and lively. It's a little funny that they're called the California 50's set though because they are more like a '62 Strat pickup in terms of output. 50's Strat pickups tend to be weaker.

The Surfers are definately a little better though and personally, I like them even better than the original pickup set in my original '63 Strat. You also have the option of going for the 9.5K Surfer Custom Bridge pickup if you like the bridge pickup in your Strat to have a little more output than the neck and middle. That's a personal call but I do prefer a slightly stronger bridge pickup and it's one reason I don't play my '63 as much as I used to: modern pickup sets with a stronger bridge pickup just sound better to me.

Lew

Sage advice...


Originally Posted by MoodyBlueDo you mean the antiquity texas hots JJ? That really surprizes me! I have em in two of my strats and absolutely love em. What kind of strat sound were you looking for. Jimmy and Stevie's sounds are quite different though there both strats.

Jim

I love the Ant Texas Hots too but they don't have quite as much of the bright glassy tone of a vintage 50's or 60's Strat as the California 50's (SSL-1's) or the Ant Surfers. The Alnico 2 Texas Hots are less quot;sharpquot; sounding than the Alnico 5 Surfers. Cool tone though. I especially like the Texas Hot Custom bridge pickup.

As for the diff in tone between the Brothers Vaughn: it's not so much differant pickups as differences in their playing style. They both used alnico 5 Fender pickups more similar to the SSL-1 or Surfer than to the alnico 2 Texas Hot.


Originally Posted by Luke DukeSage advice...

Thanks Luke...you're becoming quite the tonal linguist yourself!

Yes they are the antiquitys.Dont get me wrong they do sound good,im just looking for a more straty sound i guess.I have a antiquity in the bridge and pearly gates in the neck of my 57 goldtop Paul and frickin love it!I think im looking for the other side of the tone spectrum with the strat.Maybe ill try some Surfers and keep the Hots just in case.Jason


Originally Posted by jj jafarYes they are the antiquitys.Dont get me wrong they do sound good,im just looking for a more straty sound i guess.I have a antiquity in the bridge and pearly gates in the neck of my 57 goldtop Paul and frickin love it!I think im looking for the other side of the tone spectrum with the strat.Maybe ill try some Surfers and keep the Hots just in case.Jason

You have a Texas Hot in the neck position and you don't like it? What amp are you playing through and how long have you had said Texas Hots in your Jimmie Vaughan strat?

I have one Texas Hot in my JV strat and I love the sound. My JV with the Hot Tex Mex in the Bridge and the TH in the neck. I get beautiful notch tones. But, to each is own, if everyone liked Coke there wouldn't be any Pespi or Dr. Pepper.

I really like the Original pups in my JV but I'm sure it'll sound better once I get a full compliment of 's in it. Everyone raves about the Surfers and the premium strat tone you are looking for will likely be found with the Surfer bridge or a full Surfer set.

pepsi rules!!

not that i really drink much soda.

the jimmy vaughan strat comes with the tex mex pups that are around 6.5k neck and middle with a 7.5k bridge with alnico 5 magnets so the texas hots are probably a little lower output with less sparkle. the surfers are brighter and more jangley and chimey


Originally Posted by LewguitarThanks Luke...you're becoming quite the tonal linguist yourself!

Thanks, but I'm not anywhere near as experienced, or knowledgeable as you!

Luke

The Texas Hots are phenomenal pickups! Right up there with the Surfers.I use both..


Originally Posted by STRATDELUXER97The Texas Hots are phenomenal pickups! Right up there with the Surfers.I use both..

I agree. If a guy is looking for a slightly warmer, thicker,maybe ballsy/middier and less edgey tone than a vintage Strat, go for the Texas Hots or the APS-1's or 2's. If you prefer the bright, crisp, glassy, chimey, snappy, jangle of a great vintage Strat and want the ultimate pickups for that tone, go for the Surfers...especially if you're after that Little Wing, Sultans of Swing kind of Strat tone. If you're after that tone and are on a budget, go for the SSL-1's...they're less expensive than the Surfers and almost as nice.